Imagine the panic of realising you’ve come on your period at 30,000ft, with no tampons or pads in your hand luggage.
That was the reality for Iman Orths, who was on an EasyJet flight from London to Palma when she unexpectedly started bleeding.
Sharing her experience on TikTok, Iman said she was told by the flight attendants (three male and one female) that there weren’t any sanitary products stocked on the plane.
Her only option was asking strangers or using tissues. Thankfully, another female passenger came to Iman’s rescue, but she says she was left ’embarrassed’ by the experience.
Speaking to Metro, Iman says: ‘I felt anxious and a bit annoyed. I felt like I was “causing a fuss” just trying to get through this flight with dignity.
‘I felt embarrassed, as if it was my fault. At the same time, I wasn’t surprised because this is what our society is like – women’s health needs are the last priority. I’m used to this happening.’
Iman says she was in ‘survival mode’ just trying to get ‘through to the other end without bleeding into the seat’.
And while the female flight attendant was ‘sweet and empathetic’, she was still unsure of how to help.
‘I don’t think the onus is on the individual staff members, but rather on the airline and larger infrastructure,’ Iman continues.
‘Airlines stock every product under the sun, luxury items like perfumes, spray tan and makeup – but not essential items like sanitary products. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not okay when half the population has a period.’
Are airlines required to stock sanitary products on planes?
Around 1.8 billion people – that’s 26% of the population – menstruate every month worldwide, yet there are no UK or international policies that require airlines to carry emergency menstrual products.
Some airlines can choose to do so, and sanitary products are available on board with carriers including Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, but it isn’t always guaranteed.
Additionally, information on whether or not sanitary towels or pads are stocked is difficult to find online, which could leave many passengers confused and unsure of what to expect.
Erin Reid, founder of menstrual health company LU Innovations, has experienced her period unexpectedly arriving twice while on long-haul flights.
She tells Metro: ‘In both cases, I relied on the plane’s thin toilet paper, which offered very little support. Wrapping it around my underwear was all I could do and I found myself needing to go back to the bathroom every half hour, feeling self-conscious the entire time.
‘Not to mention the possible health risks such as bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections from the sub-class make-do.’
Erin adds: ‘A small stock of pads or tampons on board would make flights more comfortable for many travellers. I think it’s long overdue for airlines to rethink the way they support travellers’ needs – and period products should be part of the basics.’
Why is it important for sanitary products to be available on planes?
Women’s health and intimate expert Dr Shirin Lakhani tells Metro that access to emergency sanitary products is important not just for comfort, but also for health, safety, and inclusivity reasons.
‘Those caught off-guard on a flight could face a stressful, uncomfortable and sometimes humiliating situation if there’s no access to sanitary supplies,’ she explains.
‘Lack of availability also puts passengers at risk of potential health issues, such as infections or toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which can result from prolonged use of improvised or unfit solutions like tissue paper.
‘Flights typically stock a range of essentials – like first aid kits, toilet paper, even items like headphones and blankets – yet menstrual supplies are often overlooked. This oversight suggests a lack of understanding of basic needs that half the population could experience at any time.’
Dr Shirin believes menstrual products should be a ‘basic consideration’ for airlines, adding: ‘Companies need to take accountability for making women feel just as comfortable as men.’
In response to Iman’s video, EasyJet comments: ‘While we appreciate the difficulty of this customer’s situation, we do not stock period products onboard and would advise customers to ensure they have brought with them anything they may need while onboard.’
Metro has also approached Tui, Ryanair and Jet2 for comment.
Why aren’t period products stocked on planes?
Marina Efthymiou, professor of aviation management at Dublin University, explains: ‘Many airlines do not currently stock these items, largely due to operational considerations such as limited space, inventory priorities, and the complexity of standardising such amenities across different aircraft and routes.
‘Airlines traditionally prioritise medical and essential safety supplies, while items like period products may not be universally seen as critical from a regulatory perspective.’
However, Marina says this could soon change ‘as societal awareness and expectations around inclusivity in travel services evolve,’ and creates ‘a growing call for airlines to consider carrying these products as a standard offering.’
‘Some airlines have begun to review their policies to align with broader accessibility and inclusion efforts, but industry-wide adoption remains uneven,’ she adds.
‘As a woman, I believe that having period products available onboard, even if they are available for purchase, is a sensible and essential service for travellers on both short and long-haul flights.’
It’s a sentiment that Jo Atkins-Potts, head of communications and campaigns at Bloody Good Period, a UK-based charity that works to achieve menstrual equality, agrees with.
She tells Metro that the reason sanitary products aren’t a given on airplanes – and many other public spaces – says a lot about the world we live in today.
‘It’s incredibly upsetting – but far too common – that people are caught out without access to period products, especially in confined, public spaces like airplanes,’ Jo says.
‘Meeting such basic needs should be a fundamental right. It’s hard to imagine a shortage of toilet paper, yet period products, which are equally essential, are too often ignored.’
According to Jo, ‘the lack of an international law requiring airlines to stock these products speaks volumes about how the world is still not built for people who bleed.’
She adds: ‘Period products are rarely prioritised in public spaces, and this oversight is driven by deep-rooted period stigma and shame, which continue to limit conversations and progress on menstrual equity.
‘We must treat periods as the normal part of life that they are and build a world for people who bleed.’
What to do if your period unexpectadly arrives while flying
Dr Lakhani shares some practical advice for those who find themselves caught out on board a flight:
1. Ask the the flight attendant for help: ‘While the airline may not officially stock sanitary products, flight attendants often have emergency resources or might offer creative solutions, like asking fellow passengers or checking among the crew.’
2. Lean on community: ‘This incident shows that passengers are often willing to help. If you feel comfortable, a quiet word with a neighbour might yield assistance.’
3. Stay calm and use temporary alternative: ‘If you can’t find a sanitary product, using layered tissue or paper towels as a temporary solution may help until you can access proper supplies. However, this isn’t always ideal due to the risks outlined above [infections and TSS].’
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