| Portable oxygen concentrators have been approved | | | | 2. Arriving at least two hours before the flight. |
| by the FAA for air travel. | | | | 3. Baggage check and security process; potential |
| The FAA has approved some portable oxygen | | | | delays prior to boarding. |
| concentrators for passengers traveling on airlines. It | | | | 4. During the flight -Is it a direct flight or with stops? |
| used to be complicated and stressful to travel by air | | | | Delays once you have boarded either before take |
| if you depended on an external oxygen supply. You | | | | off or before landing. |
| were not allowed to bring your own supply and had | | | | 5. Post flight - Baggage recovery, in airport transit |
| to request it from the airline. | | | | time. |
| One time for example, after requesting oxygen from | | | | 6. Reaching your final destination. |
| the airline, we were surprised to find that they had | | | | On a recent flight we suffered delays when the |
| brought insufficient oxygen. They had a tank with | | | | security people checked my Dad's POC. Apparently |
| enough oxygen for one hour and it was a four hour | | | | they hadn't seen one before and unfortunately he |
| flight. This meant having to get off and canceling the | | | | got nervous, which in turn provoked the security |
| trip. | | | | people and we all began to feel the stress. We got |
| Starting in May 2009 Portable Oxygen Concentrators | | | | through eventually but the tension made him short of |
| (POC's) must be allowed on all flights originating or | | | | breath. The moral of the story: Keep calm at all |
| ending in the United States. All airlines operating in the | | | | times. |
| US, both foreign and domestic, must allow the | | | | You should advice the airline when you make your |
| approved POC's on board. | | | | reservations and again at least two days before your |
| The Portable Oxygen Generators that have been | | | | flight that you will be traveling with oxygen. Take |
| approved are: | | | | your prescription with you, just in case. |
| Inogen One - AirSep Lifestyle - AirSep Freestyle - | | | | Airlines do not allow you to carry on any other types |
| SeQual Eclipse - Respironics EverGo. | | | | of oxygen supply units and you cannot take filled |
| Oxygen concentrators extract oxygen from the | | | | oxygen tanks (liquid or compressed) as baggage. |
| surrounding air and portable ones are both battery | | | | Some do allow you to take empty tanks but you |
| operated and can be plugged in. So for your travel | | | | must check with them before. |
| needs, and remember times can be longer than | | | | It all sounds complicated, but with a bit of planning |
| projected, make sure you have sufficient battery | | | | everything should go smoothly and after all the new |
| power available. You should you have enough power | | | | regulations are allowing people who are dependent on |
| for your portable oxygen concentrator to cover the | | | | portable oxygen to travel with fewer problems than |
| times involved in the following: | | | | before. |
| 1. Getting to the airport. | | | | |