Question
I had an accident that caused me an injury and my right wrist is broken, which is now in a cast. I have been here for the last one and a half months, and the cast will be removed in 3 weeks if appropriate, surpassing the 90 day rule.
My question is, what if I am still not fit enough to travel, would I be breaking the 3-month rule if I overstayed because of the illness or not? Thanks.
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“It’s unlikely that you would not be able to fly.”
“Your injury won’t stop you from getting on a plane I’m afraid. Your casting can be removed in another country.”
“Get a fit to fly certificate if you can & get home! As long as you can prove the cast is more than 5 days old, you can fly with it. Less than 24 hours old it will have to be split (pressurization issues)…”
“Ask for assistance at the airport. People with disabilities travel all the time.”
“You can easily get help, stop making excuses.”
“I have flown with a broken elbow, a dog, and a carry-on bag. I was given assistance and a wheelchair. It can be done.”
“If you wanted to stay longer than 90 days for health reasons you would need to apply at a comisaría. It’s very difficult to get an extension to the 90 days. If you are interned in a hospital for some reason then yes. Plenty of people fly with casts on. If you think you’ll struggle at the airport, then just book assistance, it’s free. My partner’s parents use it all the time.”
“Why can’t you fly with a cast, see a man boarding a flight on crutches with a broken ankle.”
“My husband had a knee replacement 28 days before our transatlantic flight and was still using mobility aids to walk. We got assistance for him from the airport and he had no problems, including descending the boarding stairs to the tarmac upon arrival in Spain. You should have no problem with your casted wrist.”
“During Covid, I saw a girl who had lots of ‘cosmetic’ surgery absolutely covered in casts and bandages. She was complaining that she had asked for an extension but was told it was her own fault (her operations had been postponed several times due to Covid). It appears that you wouldn’t get an extension, but be prepared to be taken to a side room at security, as she was, to be thoroughly searched.”
Conclusion
The consensus among the group members suggests that an injury such as a broken wrist should not prevent air travel. Assistance is available at airports, and accommodations can be made to ensure safe and comfortable travel even with a cast.
Extensions of the 90-day limit due to such injuries are generally not granted, and it’s advisable to prepare for normal security procedures, possibly with some additional scrutiny.
