Just completed our first cruise and airline flight using the Inogen oxygen system. Very smooth with only a glitch at checking in for our Alaska Airlines flight home. Agent had no knowledge of what to do, it was in the record and also we had medical info and approval on Alaska's form. She disappeared for about 30 minutes and returned with a photocopy of a page from a manual, showed us the picture, and asked if this was our machine? We made the flight but our luggage didn't as she would not check the luggage until the oxygen was resolved. All I can say is it was a good thing it happened at the end of the trip instead of the beginning.
This is a fairly new system and FAA has approved for use on all airlines, however, most of the majors have approved it but have not set up computer system so it can't be used yet. At a cost of $100 per trip leg, this has to be a small profit center for the airlines. It may take more action by the FAA to give them a little push.
For more info on the system, go to www.inogen.net
I would be happy to answer questions based on our experience.
Bob
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Thank you for posting this - I know the issue of onboard oxygen is a daunting one, and prevents many people from contemplating trips involving air travel.
Airlines have made it very difficult for oxygen users especially if you need it full time. Problems:
Getting to gate
Changing planes
Arriving at destination
Inogen System has solved these problems, even on the airlines that are not set up for this system, You can use it to get to the gate, change planes and upon arrival. On the majors, at this time you still have to buy oxygen from the airlines, but you can carry on the Inogen System.
We have been using oxygen on planes for about 10 years due to the altitude. They say the planes are pressurized to 8000'. but how can you tell.
It has only been 1 1/2 years that my wife needed it full time so our traveling was limited to the car and carrying a concentrator and tanks.
Bob
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Thank you very much for this informative post! My mom has been placed on oxygen recently and wants to travel internationally. We have been looking at the Inogen One. Nice to hear a positive review of it. Do you have any suggestions about where to buy one? I have seen some "deals" from certain suppliers with free batteries etc but want to make sure we get it from a credible location .
She was wanting to fly BA so I am going to try to get in touch with their medical desk as Inogen said that BA accepts the unit for use in flight on a case by case basis.
Morgan,
We purchased ours from American Medical Sales, Centennial, Co. The owner is Gorden Wessner and # is 303-455-5850 and www.1oxygen.com. He also rents the inogen1 for people traveling.
For transcontinental or flights to Europe, I would buy the supplemental oxygen from the airlines instead of using the Inogen. The large major carriers have OK'ed the Inogen system per FAA guidelines but most have not yet OK'ed the actual useage.
A non stop long flight would require more batteries than we have.
Call Gorden and talk to him and if you would like to talk to me re the system, send me a private message and email address and I'll send you my phone number.
Bob
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Hyatt Diamond
Thanks very much for all of your helpful information. I unfortunately saw the reply a little late as my mom ordered the unit yesterday. I didnt expect for her to order it so quickly. She decided to go with the local medical supplier so she can get it serviced easily even though it was a bit more expensive.
We ended up booking on Delta as they authorize use of the Inogen One in flight. She will have to get extra batteries as you mentioned. As she is flying 4 segments the savings of $400 on oxygen will help to pay for the extra batteries.
I was very pleased in dealing with Delta, the agents were well informed and very helpful. They also have info about using the Inogen one in flight on their website as well as an authorization form to complete and send back.
Morgan, buying local is good. We had a problem with ours and they overnighted us a new machine and we used the box to return the old one.
Depending on her liter flow is how long each battery will last. My wife's flow is 4 and she gets about 2.3 hours before having to change the battery.
If she is flying a real long distance, USA to France, or etc. I would still buy the airlines oxygen since they charge by the segment and not the distance.
Another suggestion is to buy the aux. charger. We use this everyday.
Hope your mom enjoys her travels.
Bob
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AA million miler, Platinum
Hyatt Diamond
Thanks again for your suggestions Bob . My mother's oxygen flow level is 2 so her batteries appear to last around 3.5 hours. She traveled with 4 batteries to France and used the Inogen in both directions. Delta was well informed and she was approached upon boarding to let her know that they were aware she was traveling with oxygen and to feel free to request for any assistance she may need. On the outbound flight the FA indicated that she was not allowed to use the in seat power, she didnt try on the way home. The entire trip went very very well. She actually extended it for a week as she felt so good being able to do so many things she thought she wouldnt be able to. The Inogen allowed her to change her plans easily, something that would not be the case with delivered cannisters of oxygen.
Morgan,
I'm glad your mom had a good trip. The Inogen system is the way to travel.
As for travel, we have been to Paris many times and love the city. Have stayed at both Hyatts twice, rented an apartment for two weeks and also spent several weeks in the apartments belonging to the Hapimag Holiday Club.
Our last time wa 3 years ago. First to Paris, Hyatt Vendome, TGV to south of France where we picked up a self-catering houseboat on the Canal du Midi for a week. This was Part of Hapimag, a train ride to Italy, just across the border from France, for a week in a Hapimag apartment followed by our first visit to Lyon. 28 days in total.
Great trip.
Bob
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AA million miler, Platinum
Hyatt Diamond
I don't know what American's ideas about the Inogen unit are, as they are not currently shown on aa.com. But if anyone wishes to check it out, from aa.com: "Should you require special assistance, please contact your travel agent or speak to an American Airlines Reservations Representative directly at 1-800-433-7300 (TDD for hearing & speech impaired: 1-800-543-1586)." Personally, I'd recommend calling directly and not using any agent filters.
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I went to travel to Florida with a new inogen one. I actually purchased one to find out that it only has a pulse mode. I needed to sleep with my portable oxygen concentrator and found out I needed continous flow to sleep with. Thank heavens the company I purchased it from took it back. I found a company www.drmedicalequipment.com that will rent you a unit so you can make sure its right for you. They actually will credit your rental price to the unit if you decide to buy it. I did just that. I rented the sequal eclipse. It was perfect for what I needed so after using it for a week I purchased it. Don't make the mistake I did. Find a company that will let you rent first
Anyone have experience with renting oxygen abroad?
Hi,
My mom needs oxygen at night only so we don't need to bring it on the plane. Plus I don't think we could with all of the connections we need to take. Anyone have experience with renting abroad?
I wanted to follow up on my moms continued use of Inogen since 2006. We recently traveled to France together. On the flight over the Inogen gave a " low oxygen" error twice. It would go away by just turning the machine off and back on. Upon arrival in France we immediately contacted Inogen. Unfortunately, the only solution was to replace the machine. They normally would have you send it in for service but as we were abroad they have a separate procedure. They sent us a replacement unit via Fedex with a prepaid return invoice. The cost was $250 and the new unit is hers to keep as a warranty replacement.
It worked fairly smoothy except that Inogen doesnt offer Saturday delivery and due to the time change shipping on Thursday from California does not allow for the unit to arrive the next day. So we had to settle for Monday. Fedex didnt see fit to deliver it on Monday so we didnt get it until tuesday. This was actually the fault of fedex's subcontractor which handles deliveries in the south of france where we were located. Fortunately, according to the Inogen support staff, the unit supplies oxygen correctly as long as there is no error message so we were able to continue to use it until the replacement arrived.
As she only uses the Inogen when she travels, going forward she will use it for a couple of days or so well ahead of travel time so we can be sure there are no issues with the unit.
