Is it ok to pack medicines in the convenient Mon/Tue/Wed etc flip top boxes you get from the drug store? Or do I have to have each individual bottle with the prescription number, etc with me? Somehow I remember when travelling internationally, you need it that way. Does add to luggage space problems though.

Thanks!

I can't speak to flights departing from the US, but to and from China no one took one glance at any of my medications, or anything else in my bags...

Thanks, ekscrunchy! And you were just there, so up to date info. Did you feel the pollution was bad enough to warrant using a face mask?

I`m not Ekscrunchy, but just got back from China too. No one paid any attention to any meds I had. It was a non issue. I took a face mask and never wore it. The pollution was bad in Beijing the day we arrived, but had blown away by the next AM and the skies were blue. It wasn`t too bad in Shanghai, and blew away on our last day there too. Souchou was pretty polluted, but it didn`t bother me any. I didn`t get sick either. Xian was polluted from what I heard, but I didn`t go there.

Thank you , Pat. What type of mask did you bring that you ended up not using?

I`m a nurse, so just got a disposable one from the OR. It takes up no room, so you might as well take one. Do you have a friend who is a nurse who can get you one? I saw a few people with masks but most did not have them.

I did not use one, either. There was lots of smog but I had no problems. They did not even care about carrying liquids on the plane but I think that is changing.

Strange as Air China took away my 2 oz bottle of liquid hand sanitizer.

Pat,
Did they give you a reason as to why? Seems the amount was way too small for them to be concerned.

No they didn`t give a reason why. I would have said something about it only being 2 oz, but was already late, and I was afraid of missing my flight home.

You're right, certainly not worth missing your plane. Puzzling.

??? I wouldn't waste my time on finding a face mask. I can't remember the last time I saw anyone wearing one in the major tourist cities I've been in China. (Ok, except during SARS years ago and in winter when people don't want to spread a cold.) Today we even had our 1 month old baby outside in downtown Shanghai and that wasn't her first time out.

When we travel abroad, I put my meds in those snack size zip lock bags. I peel the label off of the pharmacy bottle and attach it to the zip lock bag. That way I have the official prescription information, but the bags take up a lot less room than bottles.

This is slightly off-track - but am I allowed to carry a small (2 inch) pocket knife on airlines in China? I use it for a hundred things a day and am leaving mine home since I will only have carry on. Thought I would pick up a cheap one along the way.