Traveling With a personal Oxygen Tank
Dec 22, 2008, 1:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 43
Traveling With a personal Oxygen Tank
My mother has a friend who would like to visit in the spring. However, she requires oxygen at all times.
What kinds of issues will she face with the TSA and does each airline have it's own policy regarding her bringing the tank onboard the plane?
Thanks!
What kinds of issues will she face with the TSA and does each airline have it's own policy regarding her bringing the tank onboard the plane?
Thanks!
Dec 22, 2008, 1:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
She can not bring her personal oxygen tank onboard.
Most airlines offer a medical oxygen service for a fee. The airline will provide the oxygen on the airplane but your mother will have to arrange for oxygen to be available at the destination. Her current medical supply providor should be able to help her with the arrangements.
Most airlines offer a medical oxygen service for a fee. The airline will provide the oxygen on the airplane but your mother will have to arrange for oxygen to be available at the destination. Her current medical supply providor should be able to help her with the arrangements.
Dec 22, 2008, 1:23 pm
#3
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,997
Find out on which airline your mother will be a passenger for availability and other details regarding medical oxygen aboard their aircraft. Then, post to the appropriate FlyerTalk airline forum to discuss this topic, and consult the airline directly as well.
The Everything You Want to Know About Medical Oxygen on UA Planes thread might be a good place to start researching for answers.
The Everything You Want to Know About Medical Oxygen on UA Planes thread might be a good place to start researching for answers.
Dec 22, 2008, 1:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 234
confirm your need
NOTaFF,
if you are planning to use oxy in air provided by the airline, please make sure that your need/request is properly communicated (directly with airline, NOT with travel agent) and documented (in the airline reservation system)
please call the airline 24 hrs before departure and confirm that they know and understand what your needs will be once on plane
(if possible, make sure to get names of folks you talk to)
< i was assisting a patient who developed breathing difficulty while in air - when i asked for oxy, we discovered that one of the tank's valve was stuck and could not be turned...and the other tank was almost empty as shown on the indicator !>
if you are planning to use oxy in air provided by the airline, please make sure that your need/request is properly communicated (directly with airline, NOT with travel agent) and documented (in the airline reservation system)
please call the airline 24 hrs before departure and confirm that they know and understand what your needs will be once on plane
(if possible, make sure to get names of folks you talk to)
< i was assisting a patient who developed breathing difficulty while in air - when i asked for oxy, we discovered that one of the tank's valve was stuck and could not be turned...and the other tank was almost empty as shown on the indicator !>
Dec 22, 2008, 3:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Likewise, confirm and re-confirm that oxygen will be available, even if you think it has been ordered. My brother made the arrangements with the airline but apparently they contacted his doctor to confirm. The doctor's office did not FAX back the order to the airline and the oxygen was cancelled - without notifying my brother. He arrived at the airport thinking it was all laid on to find nothing and it was too late to correct the deficiency.
Check and check again.
Check and check again.
Dec 26, 2008, 4:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,551
I would look at the option of hiring (or purchasing) a portable oxygen concentrator - this would meet the need on the flight and at destination.
A POC can be used on most airlines (but you need to check as not all airlines accept all the POCs - eg United does not accept POCs yet).
All the main airline websites have the information on what can be used and how to organise the approval for the friend flying.
There are 5 different models that are approved - all provide pulse dose oxygen, but only the Sequal Elipse can provide continuous oxygen.
Hire rates I have seen vary between $195 to $395 per week.
A POC can be used on most airlines (but you need to check as not all airlines accept all the POCs - eg United does not accept POCs yet).
All the main airline websites have the information on what can be used and how to organise the approval for the friend flying.
There are 5 different models that are approved - all provide pulse dose oxygen, but only the Sequal Elipse can provide continuous oxygen.
Hire rates I have seen vary between $195 to $395 per week.
Jan 2, 2009, 6:39 pm
#9
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Posts: 62,948
American Airlines list their requirements on this page, and specifically therapeutic oxygen here.
They will require advance notification (minimum of two days for domestic travel, three days for international,) a medical certificate and $100 per segment to provide (tanked) oxygen for a passenger needing it. A hire rate of $195 a week would pay for itself, given a round trip with no intermediate stops would cost $200 in airline-provided oxygen, and would provide peace of mind in case the airline flubs the request (not to mention, it is much more a priority and interest of the passenger than of the airline.)
AA also do allow oxygen concentrators:
"Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Customers needing medical oxygen can travel on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection using approved portable oxygen concentrator (POC) during all phases of flight, provided the conditions listed below (under "Travel Requirements and Restrictions") are met.
Approved Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs)
Only the following POCs are allowed for use onboard our aircraft:
* Inogen One
* AirSep Lifestyle displaying an RTCA sticker
* AirSep FreeStyle
* SeQual Technologies Eclipse
* Respironics Inc. EverGo
Note: FAA Regulations forbid the carriage of other personal oxygen units including units which contain compressed or liquid oxygen. Compressed and liquid oxygen are classified Hazardous Materials."
Note that arranging for oxygen provision in flight with an airline does not have anything to do with provision of oxygen on the ground (e.g. en route to / from flights.) I believe the best route is to have a companion accompanying the passenger to the airport (who can recover the oxygen unit and keep it until the passenger's return) and have the passenger met by someone essle with another portable oxygen system, if we are still discussing oxygen tanks per se and not considering the use of a POC / Portable Oxygen Concentrator.
Attempting to check in a gas (including scuba or oxygen) tank of gas that has not been emptied and have the valve removed with an airline will not fly well these days.
(Sometimes, I must confess, I've had my own issues with O2 - as a trained oxygen provider, I have occasionally encountered bogus requirements for medical certificates, etc. from those selling medical oxygen.
)
They will require advance notification (minimum of two days for domestic travel, three days for international,) a medical certificate and $100 per segment to provide (tanked) oxygen for a passenger needing it. A hire rate of $195 a week would pay for itself, given a round trip with no intermediate stops would cost $200 in airline-provided oxygen, and would provide peace of mind in case the airline flubs the request (not to mention, it is much more a priority and interest of the passenger than of the airline.)
AA also do allow oxygen concentrators:
"Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Customers needing medical oxygen can travel on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection using approved portable oxygen concentrator (POC) during all phases of flight, provided the conditions listed below (under "Travel Requirements and Restrictions") are met.
Approved Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs)
Only the following POCs are allowed for use onboard our aircraft:
* Inogen One
* AirSep Lifestyle displaying an RTCA sticker
* AirSep FreeStyle
* SeQual Technologies Eclipse
* Respironics Inc. EverGo
Note: FAA Regulations forbid the carriage of other personal oxygen units including units which contain compressed or liquid oxygen. Compressed and liquid oxygen are classified Hazardous Materials."
Note that arranging for oxygen provision in flight with an airline does not have anything to do with provision of oxygen on the ground (e.g. en route to / from flights.) I believe the best route is to have a companion accompanying the passenger to the airport (who can recover the oxygen unit and keep it until the passenger's return) and have the passenger met by someone essle with another portable oxygen system, if we are still discussing oxygen tanks per se and not considering the use of a POC / Portable Oxygen Concentrator.
Attempting to check in a gas (including scuba or oxygen) tank of gas that has not been emptied and have the valve removed with an airline will not fly well these days.
(Sometimes, I must confess, I've had my own issues with O2 - as a trained oxygen provider, I have occasionally encountered bogus requirements for medical certificates, etc. from those selling medical oxygen.
)
Jan 3, 2009, 1:19 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,551
If using a POC, don't forget you need to take into account the flight time (and delays) and any need on ground and have enough batteries available.
I guess some people need oxygen 24hours a day, but some like my partner are on 16 hours a day recommended and in fact can manage without it for lengthy periods if little physical exertion.
(BTW for internal flights in New Zealand passengers need to organise their own oxygen. One option is to 'rent' a cylinder from a registered supplier or use POC).
I guess some people need oxygen 24hours a day, but some like my partner are on 16 hours a day recommended and in fact can manage without it for lengthy periods if little physical exertion.
(BTW for internal flights in New Zealand passengers need to organise their own oxygen. One option is to 'rent' a cylinder from a registered supplier or use POC).