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Top Tips
for traveling with your Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Your Portable
Oxygen Concentrator Travel
Checks Airline
Specific Information
If you have
any of your own tips or any specific airline information you would like
to share then please let us know and we will add them to this page.
Most
airlines will let your travel and use your FAA approved portable oxygen
concentrators from Smile Rehab on board, but we advice that you do check
and notify the airline before you book, below are some of the favourite
airlines' policies.
The
information provided herewith is a general guide. You must check with
your airline before booking, Smile Rehab cannot be held responsible for
incorrect or changes to travel information.
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Your
Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Ensure your unit is clean
and in good condition.
To make sure your unit
is in top condition use the unit frequently (if not using your unit
you should still turn it on and run it for 2 x 2hr periods per week
minimum.)
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Do not store your unit in a
damp or humid environment.
Make sure all batteries and
extra batteries are fully charged, keep at 1/2 charge if storing for a
while.
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Travel
Checks
Make sure you arrive
at the alloted time specified by your carrier, normally at least
2 hrs before your flight or boarding.
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Check your airlines regulations
on items you can take on board and regulations concerning any medications.
Most companies will require a fit to fly letter or their own medical form
to be completed by your doctor.
Check the onboard baggage capacity
and weight allowance, especially if you are also taking your trolley on
board.
If going abroad don't forget
to always carry medical documentation such as a fit to fly letter from
your doctor and your prescription giving your oxygen medication details.
Make sure you have enough battery
to allow for flight delays and/or check that a mains supply is available
at the airport, some airlines will let you use power during the flight,
check before booking.
Make sure you have a back-up
plan, e.g. check out and take details of oxygen suppliers local to your
destination.
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Airline
specific information
The Airlines below allow
use your Portable Oxygen Concentrator on board but you must use
its battery power. Most airlines will not allow you to use the unit
during take-off and landing.
This is not a definitive
list, just some of the more well known and we will be adding more
airlines to this page soon.
Please note, although
a few of the airlines call their medical form MEDIF, these are actually
arline specific forms so you must obtain the form from the relevant
airlines website.
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| Air
Canada - oxygen
can be also provided on board, for which there is a charge and you
should request this when you make your reservation, you will need
your doctor to complete a Fit For Travel form, forms and further details
can be found at: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/specialneeds/oxygen.html |
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| Air
France - oxygen
can be also provided on board, for which there is a charge and you
should request this when you make your reservation, in addition if
your oxygen requirements are over 2lpm you will need your doctor to
complete a MEDIF form - full details and forms can be found at: http://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/common/guidevoyageur/assistance/pmr_reservation_airfrance.htm |
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| American
Airlines - units
can be used on American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection.
Cxygen can also be provided on board, for which there is a charge,
you will need to request this when you make your reservation, in addition
you will need your doctor to complete a Physicians MEDIF form - full
details and forms can be found at: http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/planningAhead.jsp |
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| BMI
- British Airways
- you will need your doctor
to complete a MEDIF-POC form found full details and forms can be found
at: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/healthmedinfo/public/en_gb
then select "Travelling
with medicines or medical equipment" and scroll to Portable Oxygen
Concentrators. |
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British
Midland
- you will
need to provide details of the oxygen concentrator (you can download
a pdf from the relevant product page) and where you wish to travel
to and from. Also oxygen can be provided on board, for which there
is a charge, you will need to request this when you make your reservation,
you will also need your doctor to complete a MEDIF form,
full details and forms can be found at: http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/flight-and-airport-info/pre-travel/special-assistance/special-assistance.aspx
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| Easy
Jet - you will
need a medical certificate from your doctor to be produced at check-in.
Also small (.5 metre long and 250 mm in diameter) compressed oxygen
or air cylinders are permitted for personal medical use. A maximum
of two cylinders are permitted per passenger. The cylinders must be
able to be stored in the overhead locker or under the seat. |
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| Flybe
- Passengers
are permitted to use their own Portable Oxygen cylinders, but only
after a medical form outlining the reason for use has been completed
by the passengers Doctor. This must be forwarded to the Flybe Customer
Relations Department who will assess the request No more than 4 cylinders
are allowed.
Cylinders should weigh
no more than 5 kgs to be stowed in the overhead locker or under
the seat and should be in a suitable carrying case.
There are limits to the
amount of Oxygen a passenger may use during a flight, above 2 litres
you need to call the Customer Relations Department on 0871 700 5000.
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Ryanair
- you will need a
fit to fly letter from your doctor,
full details can be found at:
http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/can-i-carry-and-use-a-portable-oxygen-concentrator-on-board-my-flight.
Also oxygen can be provided on board for a charge, see http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/how-can-i-book-oxygen |
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| SAA
(South African Airlines)
- you will need to complete a MEDIF form. Oxygen is also available
on board for which there is a charge. Full details and forms can be
found at: http://www.flysaa.com/Shared/sa_special_needs_en.html#Q5 |
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Swissair
- you will need to
complete the POC form and your doctor is required to complete an INCAD
form - full details and forms can be found at:
http://www.swiss.com/web/EN/services/special_needs/health/Pages/medical_certificates.aspx |
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| Thomas
Cook - oxygen
can be provided for flights less than 5 hours only, your doctor must
confirm in writing your fitness to fly, medical condition, flow of
oxygen (in lpm) required, intermittent or constant. There is a charge
for a constant oxygen supply (.£100, £200 return). You
will need to contact their Pre Flight Service team on 0844 855 0515. |
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Thompson
- you will
need to gain authorisation from their Special Assistance Team on
0871 231 4691 (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras). Portable
Oxygen Concentrators must use their own battery power supply and
time should be allowed for delays e.g. you will need to make sure
you have sufficient batteries for 150% of the flight duration. Oxygen
can be provided on board, which is free but only provides a pulse
dose.
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| Virgin
- you will need
to contact special assistance and complete MEDIF forms. Also oxygen
can be provided, only "pulse" is available on board, there
is no charge for this service. Full details, contacts and forms can
be found at: http://virginatlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/specialassistance/oxygen/index.jsp |
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| Quantas
- you will need your
doctor to complete a Travel Clearance Form - full details and forms
can be found at: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/medical-assistance/global/en
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