Can You Fly With a Blood Clot or After DVT?

Most people can fly again after a blood clot, once they're stable on blood-thinning treatment. You'll usually need to wait a few weeks, especially after a pulmonary embolism, so always check with your doctor or anticoagulation clinic before you book.

There are two main types of clot to know about:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg.
• Pulmonary embolism (PE) happens when part of a clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. It's more serious and needs urgent treatment.

Having had a clot doesn't mean your travelling days are over. At Total Travel Protection, we specialise in medical travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, including previous clots, and we have no upper age limit. This guide explains when it's usually safe to fly and how to reduce your risk on the journey.

Quick Reads [TLDR] 

• Don't fly with a suspected or untreated blood clot; get medical help first.
• After a pulmonary embolism, flying is generally not advised for the first four weeks, particularly on long-haul flights. You may need to wait longer depending on your recovery and should seek medical advice before flying.
• Most people can fly again after a DVT or PE once they're recovering well and stable on treatment
• Keep moving on long flights, drink water and ask about compression stockings.
• Declare any past DVT or PE for travel insurance, even if it was years ago.

Can you fly with a blood clot? 

You shouldn't fly with a blood clot that hasn't been diagnosed or treated. When a clot is new, there's a risk that part of it breaks off and travels to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Sitting still for hours on a flight can also make a clot worse.

If you think you might have a clot, get medical help straight away, before you travel anywhere. Warning signs include:

• Pain, swelling or tenderness in one leg, usually the calf
• Warm or red skin over the painful area
• Sudden breathlessness
• Chest pain that's worse when you breathe in
• Coughing up blood

Once a clot has been diagnosed and you've started treatment, your doctor will look at how you're recovering, whether your symptoms have settled and how well you're tolerating your medication. They'll then advise when it's safe to fly.

How soon can you fly after a DVT or pulmonary embolism? 

There's no single waiting time that applies to everyone. It depends on the size and position of the clot, how you're recovering and how long the flight is. As a general guide:

NHS patient guidance generally advises against flying, especially long-haul, in the first 4 weeks after a PE. After that, most people can travel once their symptoms have settled and they're managing well on their medication.

Your doctor or anticoagulation clinic will give you advice based on your own situation. You may find you can take a short-haul flight before you're ready for a long-haul one.

Flying on anticoagulants 

Most people treated for a clot take an anticoagulant (blood thinner), such as apixaban, rivaroxaban or warfarin, for at least a few months. You can fly while taking them, but a little planning helps.

• Keep taking your medication on schedule, and ask your pharmacist how to adjust your timings if you're crossing time zones.
• Carry your anticoagulant alert card with you at all times.
• Pack enough tablets for your whole trip, plus extra in case of delays, in your hand luggage.
• If you take warfarin, make sure your INR monitoring is up to date.
• Be aware of the risk of bleeding. Seek urgent medical advice if you experience unusual bleeding, and seek emergency assessment following a head injury, even if you initially feel well.

For more detail, read our guide to flying on blood thinners and our tips on taking prescription medication abroad.

Who is at higher risk of a clot when flying? 

For most travellers, the risk of a blood clot on a flight is very low. The main cause is sitting still for a long time, so the risk rises on flights of more than 4 hours.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority lists several factors that increase the risk, including:

• A previous DVT or PE, or a family history of clots
• Recent major surgery, particularly hip or knee surgery
• A recent leg injury or a leg in plaster
• Increasing age, particularly over 40
• Taking the combined hormonal contraceptive pill or oral HRT

Cancer, pregnancy, obesity and significantly reduced mobility also raise the risk.Having more than one risk factor can increase your risk further. If you're at increased risk, speak to your healthcare team before a long journey about whether you need any additional precautions.

If you've recently had joint surgery, our guide to flying after hip and knee replacements explains the usual recovery timelines.

How to reduce your risk of a blood clot on a flight 

A few simple habits can make a real difference, whether or not you've had a clot before.

Checklist: tips for avoiding a blood clot when flying 

• Book an aisle seat so it's easy to get up and move around.
• Walk around the cabin every hour or so, when it's safe to do so.
• Exercise your legs in your seat. Circle your ankles, point and flex your toes and squeeze your calf muscles.
• Stay well hydrated and avoid excessive caffine
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and avoid sitting in the same position for long periods,

Compression stockings 

Graduated compression stockings (often sold as flight socks) gently squeeze your legs, with the most pressure at the ankles, to help improve blood flow. They can help reduce the risk of DVT on long flights, particularly if you're at increased risk of developing a clot. You can buy them from pharmacies, but they need to be the correct size and aren't suitable for everyone. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional for advice.

Medication to prevent clots 

If you're at particularly high risk of developing a blood clot, your doctor may recommend additional precautions, which sometimes include a blood-thinning injection before a long flight. This depends on your individual risk factors and whether you're already taking anticoagulants. Don't take aspirin or additional blood-thinning medication to prevent a clot when flying unless specifically advised by your doctor.

Remember that clots can also form on long car, coach and train journeys, so the same tips apply wherever you're sitting still for hours.

Travel insurance after a DVT or blood clot 

If you've ever had a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you'll need to declare it when you buy travel insurance, even if it was years ago. You should also declare any anticoagulants you take, and any condition they're treating, such as atrial fibrillation. If you don't, a claim linked to your condition could be turned down. Our guide to what counts as a pre-existing condition explains why honesty matters.

Before you get a quote, have these details to hand:

• The dates of any clots you've had, and whether it was a DVT, PE or both
• The treatment you had, including any hospital stays
• A list of your current medication
• Any ongoing tests or follow-up appointments
• Any other medical conditions you have

At Total Travel Protection, our medical screening takes around five minutes, online or over the phone. We'll ask a few simple questions about your health, so we can give you a quote that covers your conditions. We have no upper age limit, and we specialise in travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions.

Travel with confidence after a blood clot

A past blood clot rarely stops anyone from travelling. Most people can fly again, as long as they get their doctor's go-ahead, wait until they're stable on treatment and take a few sensible precautions on the journey.

The other key step is declaring your clot when you buy travel insurance, so you're covered if you need help while you're away. At Total Travel Protection, we make buying travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions quick and easy, with no upper age limit. You can get a quote online in minutes, or call our friendly team on 0330 053 3747.