Free Spirit’s Top Tips for Travelling with Asthma

Travelling with Asthma? Follow our top tips to travel with peace of mind.

Posted Friday, 5 December 2025 | Topic: Travel Advice | Type: Air Travel, Health Tips

Travelling with asthma shouldn’t hold you back from pursuing your travel dreams. Although there’s currently no cure, the symptoms of this common lung condition can be managed. In the UK, over 8 million people living with asthma lead full and active lives. Plus, going on a relaxing holiday not only reduces the symptoms of stress, it can also help to keep asthma under control too.

Each year, the first Tuesday in May marks World Asthma Day. Organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GIMA), it aims to raise awareness about the condition and its management, as well as promoting research. In 2025, this annual event took place on 6 May, with the central theme of “Making Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”. In keeping with this ethos, we’d like to share some asthma travel tips and advice, plus some useful information if you’re travelling with someone who is asthmatic.

We’ll take a look at where to travel, as well as providing a checklist of actions to carry out pre-trip. We’ll uncover everything you’ll need to consider, in order to give you the confidence to travel. Are you or your companions travelling with asthma? If so, our top tips below will help you travel with peace of mind…

Where Can I Travel with Asthma?

A key point to think about is how long it’ll take you to reach your chosen destination. If you’re travelling by aircraft on a long-haul flight, you’re more likely to experience asthmatic symptoms. This is because, in the air at high altitudes, oxygen is not as freely available to us as it is as sea level. As a plane’s altitude increases, the external air pressure lowers. Aircraft cabins are pressurised to compensate for this. However, cabin pressure re-adjustments as the altitude changes can lead to fluctuations in oxygen concentration in the cabin. As a result, everyone onboard will experience a drop in the amount of oxygen circulating in their bloodstream.

To make a plane journey more comfortable, consult your doctor to see if you’ll require supplemental oxygen. Plus, check the airline’s allergy policy before making a final decision. This will ensure you’ll have a safe journey. Alternatively, you could consider a choosing a train or river cruise holiday nearer to home, such as a range of destinations across Europe.

After you’ve chosen a country and decided how to venture there, look at its climate and weather. Aim to pick a location where your asthma won’t get triggered. If you know whether your triggers are hot and humid conditions, or cold, dry and windy weather, you should be able to pinpoint an appropriate destination with a suitable climate. However, it’s always a good idea to carry your reliever inhaler with you, just in case you have any breathing issues.

When picking the best location for your trip, if low air quality and high pollution trigger your asthma, avoid large, industrial cities. In contrast, if a countryside setting with a high pollen count isn’t helpful, plan a beach holiday where you can swim at the pool or in the sea. In fact, swimming is a recommended exercise for people living with asthma. So, if you’re organising a break for someone with asthma, including this activity is good move as it’s less likely to trigger their symptoms.

As an overall consideration, make sure that you’re up-to-date with yours or your travelling companions’ asthma triggers before planning or heading off on a trip. Before you book, go through our handy asthma travel checklist first…

Free Spirit’s checklist – 12 things to do before travelling with asthma

when travelling with asthma take your inhaler

When booking a trip, request a hotel that is non-smoking, pet, and mould-free.
Take a GHIC Card for reduced healthcare entitlement if you need medical assistance when visiting an EU country or Switzerland.
Visit a healthcare specialist to create or review your personal asthma action plan.
Then take a copy away with you on your trip. It’ll remind you what to do if you have symptoms.
Ensure you have enough medication. If you’re away for a few months, give yourself enough time to “stock up” with more medication than your regular prescription might provide.
Book an appointment with your GP for a fit-to-fly to see if you require oxygen at higher altitudes.
If you do require in-flight oxygen during your flight, check your airline’s rules about supplying oxygen to passengers during a flight before you book.
Ask for oral steroids/antibiotics from your GP when travelling to a remote location. These will be invaluable if you’re unwell. Always carry the usage instructions for assistance in case you need to take them.
If you need any vaccinations, it’s important to check that they won’t affect your medication. Leave good time to organise having the vaccinations before your trip.
Ask your doctor for a letter that confirms the level of severity of your asthma condition. Plus, make sure you get a copy of your prescription. In addition, if you’re travelling by plane, you’ll need these to ensure your medications can be taken onboard.
Learning a few key asthma-related phrases in the local language of your chosen destination is a good idea. This is helpful if you experience severe symptoms when exploring, relaxing or socializing. Useful phrases include “asthma attack”, “inhaler”, and “Where is the hospital?”
If you suffer from severe asthma and you’re travelling by plane or rail, contact your air or train line 48 hours before departure. You’ll need to inform them if you have any special requirements for mobility issues while travelling. These can include help arriving at the departure gate on time, carrying luggage, or asking if you can pre-board. Also, ask your GP if issues such as cabin air pressure or allergens within in your rail carriage may trigger your asthma.
If you’re travelling with other people, tell them you have asthma. Also, give them a copy of your asthma action plan, so they can help if you have any difficulties. Pack your action plan within your asthma travel kit…

Packing an Asthma Travel Kit

Creating an asthma travel kit ensures that all your medicines and their instructions are together. Plus, they’ll be easy for you and your travelling companions to grab when you need them.

What should an asthma travel kit include?

Your quick-relief and controller medicine
Delivery devices, such as a nebuliser or spacer
Copies of your asthma action plan for your travel companions or guide
Extra prescriptions, if your medicines get lost/damaged
Your travel insurance policy and emergency contact information
A prescribed peak flow meter. Speak to your doctor to understand how often you need to use this
Any allergy medicines, such as a Ventolin asthma inhaler

medicament and drugs for travelling with asthma

Now that you’ve organised the above, and are packed and ready to go, here are our tips to follow while travelling with asthma…

9 Tips to Follow While Travelling With Asthma

Keep a list of emergency contact numbers saved on your phone. Free Spirit’s emergency contact number is: +44 (0) 208 608 4227.
Download a translation travel app. It can help you find the key foreign phrases you’ll need, such as “where is the nearest hospital?”
Always carry your inhalers and medication in your hand luggage. Doing so will avoid them getting lost.
Keep all medication and asthma devices in their original packaging to show at border control.
Keep your inhalers in a cool bag out of direct sunlight so they will work properly.
Carry a small scarf to cover your nose and mouth if the weather turns windy or cold.
On arrival, ask your hotel reception where the nearest pharmacy is. This will enable you to buy more medicine/s if needed.
Download a weather app, which includes a daily air quality report. After checking the air quality each morning, you can prepare for your day.
Always be prepared for an emergency, regardless of the typical severity of your asthma symptoms. Carry your inhalers and asthma devices, such as a spacer or peak flow meter.

Free Spirit Travel Insurance For Asthma

Its safe to travel with asthma. However, its even safer if you’re covered by Free Spirit Travel Insurance. We offer travel insurance for all asthma sufferers, whether your symptoms are mild or server. Plus, insurance cover is also provided for everyone on your policy who’s travelling with you, regardless of their age or medical condition.

Read our policy in full. With Free Spirt, you can travel, with confidence.