Flying + Narcolepsy

[numinicious]

When: Modern time (21st Century)
Where: Italy
Google-fu: combinations of narcolepsy, narcoleptic flier, airline protocol, airport protocol, unconscious flier, flying unconscious

Situation: I have a character who needs to be completely unconscious before, during, and after a flight. He is young, has no medical problems, and will be voluntarily

Comments

[vlad_badger]

I belive the Airline would not let them on or atlest not in a aisle seat.

I know TSA (if they are flying out stateside) would hold them up, and the local PD at the airport would also prod into whats going on.

[y2jdingo]

I don't know how much help this would be, but some people with severe flight anxiety can dope themselves up to that level. I'd imagine there'd have to be some kind of contact with the airline when your main man is conscious and articulate and able to tell them exactly what's going on.

[silversolitaire]

Well, I'm not from the business, so I can't say for sure, but I know from personal experience that they really don't like people boarding the plane who, in case of an emergency, cannot take care of themselves. I've got a bad knee which often gives me trouble when flying so I always mention it to them when I book my seat so I can sit comfortably and then I always hear a world of rules and restrictions on where I can't sit and what I can't do if I can't jump up and bring myself to safety on my own (which I could, really, but they tell me anyway).

So I really could imagine that they'd get the creeps if you'd carted along an unconscious person. You'd probably need to register it as an emergency transport. This would definitely be possible, again, with rules and restrictions. So if you had them come up with a cover story about how he'd gotten into an accident while on vacation and now needed to be brought home or whatever, they might buy it. How about you research terms and conditions for something like that?

[nineveh_uk]

For a start, if he hasn't got any medical papers, then the syringes (as sharp objects) and liquids aren't going to get on the flight.

I cannot imagine that an unconscious person would be permitted to board an ordinary plane. After all, it's going to be a bit hard for him to answer "Did you pack your bag yourself", and for all the security people know he could be being kidnapped - why should they beleive the letter that says "Hi, these friendly people are not abducting me?". Drunk people are also not allowed to board aircraft, so that confusion won't help him.

If the people involved have the necessary cash, your easiest way may be one of the air ambulance/medical repatriation services that are available (search under those terms on Google). If your person is doing this because he is simply scared of flying, then they might be able to make appropriate arrangements in advance, either with a commercial airline or charter/other flight.

[kuriadalmatia]

You indicated that this is an international flight on an Italian airline. I have flown on Alitalia out of Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino airport (Rome) to the US as well as from Milan Malpenso airport to Stockholm, Sweden about a year ago