Read our guide for those travelling on a plane with Oxygen. This guide is complete with FAQs, tips to prepare before a flight and prevent issues from arising when flying with oxygen and how to add oxygen at the time of booking.
The air we breathe is made up of about 21% oxygen. However, this changes when the amount of oxygen in the air becomes less the higher up we go, for example, you may feel out of breath when climbing up a mountain or flying on a plane. In order to ensure that there's enough oxygen for passengers to breathe onboard, airlines are therefore built to keep the oxygen levels inside the plane at the right pressure.
However, the level of oxygen is only at this level up to 8,000 feet in the air. Higher than this will mean the amount of oxygen in the air drops to about 15% and therefore there'll be lower levels of oxygen in your blood. If you don't have a lung condition, the drop in oxygen won't make a big difference. However, if you do have a lung condition, your oxygen levels may already be low at this point, or your lungs may not be able to function normally in order to keep the amount of oxygen in your blood at a safe level.
Having low levels of oxygen in your blood may make you feel unwell or it could even be harmful to you on or after your flight. Additional oxygen such as a Portable oxygen concentrator (POC) keeps the oxygen levels in your blood at a comfortable level and keeps you safe.
Follow the simple steps below to book flights and add oxygen to your booking.
Navigate to the top of the page and enter the departure and arrival destinations, along with the dates you plan to travel, the number of passengers in your booking and the cabin class you'd like to fly in. Then press ‘Search flights’.
Then you'll be displayed with all the available flights based on your search criteria. If you're looking to fly with a particular airline, use the 'Airlines' drop-down filter to narrow down your search.
You'll then be taken onto the passenger details page where you'll need to enter your passenger and contact details.
Scroll onto the 'Special Baggage' section and add oxygen to your booking. Once you've added oxygen to your booking, head to the payment section and pay the way you want! At Alternative Airlines we offer 40+ payment methods including 'buy now, pay later' methods, virtual wallets and even cryptocurrency. Please note that the payment option available at checkout will depend on the country you live in and the currency you pay.
In order to have a smooth and trouble-free journey when you fly, follow these simple guidelines to help you prepare for your flight.
Your doctor will test you to see your current health, the Hypoxic Challenge also known as 'Fit to Fly', recreates the oxygen levels on an aircraft and measures how your body responds. The test will involve you breathing in air containing less oxygen than normal and seeing how it affects you in a controlled environment. The results of the test will show if you need additional oxygen when you fly.
If you feel your oxygen levels may be low in the air or a doctor has already tested you and advised you in taking a POC. You need to now speak to your airline about their policy in taking one onboard and also you can ask if they emergency provide in-flight oxygen, which you will often have to pay for. If you aren't sure whether an airline allows oxygen onboard, click here for some examples, or contact Alternative Airlines and we can give you all the information you need before you make the final booking.
We recommend that you look at your current level of medical insurance in regard to your health. If you are not fully covered, it is then important for you to look into upgrading in order to cover yourself in the case of any event.
It's important to remember to take with you a fully charged POC whether you own or on rent in order to last you through your journey. Also, remember to take with you a bag that stores your POC and that it is easily available for inspection by the airport security officers. Airlines recommend taking extra batteries for your POC in case your flight is delayed and you have access to oxygen. Also, we recommend taking with you a spare POC in your hold luggage so that there's no worry about a POC being lost or broken.
We’re super proud of our Trustpilot rating, but don’t just take it from us. See why millions of others love booking their flights through Alternative Airlines
The air pressure within the cabin of an aircraft in the air is not the same as the air pressure on earth, meaning that when you fly, oxygen will not enter your body as easily as it normally would. You may feel breathless and your chest may feel a little tight, especially on long-haul flights. But, fewer people face issues when travelling with the correct medical advice and precautions.
No, not with an oxygen tank as for safety reasons liquid oxygen and oxygen tanks are prohibited onboard any commercial aircraft. In order to fly with oxygen, most airlines accept a portable oxygen concentrator, just remember to charge those batteries before your flight. You should inform your doctor before you fly and the airline you’re flying with in regards to their policy on this.
Inform Alternative Airlines that you need to carry oxygen on your flight in advance and well before your day of departure. You should state that you intend to use your own POC during the flight and clearly specify the approved manufacturer and model.
If you require additional oxygen onboard your plane, some airlines may ask you to show them a prescription or doctor's note at the airport. These documents show that you are healthy enough to fly. If you do not have the satisfactory documentation, the airline is prohibited from allowing you to board. A copy of your prescription and doctor's note is required for you to fly with oxygen. Some airlines have a pre-made form you can print and have your doctor complete. You must carry your concentrator with you and show it to the airline employees as required.
The FAA doesn't require passengers travelling with POCs to who a prescription or doctor's note, however, some airlines still want you to provide one, and others want you to also show before boarding that you can respond to your POCs alarms and use it correctly. Passengers using POCs must not sit in exit rows, and POCs shouldn't block another passenger's access to seats or to the cabin aisles. Some airlines such as Southwest Airlines, are more specific and require passengers with a POC to sit in a window seat. If you're flying with the following airlines Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines make sure to check their websites as they update their rules quite often.
Absolutely! When you're carrying your POC to and from the airport, there shouldn't be any smoking near the equipment. Oxygen is flammable and can cause fatal injuries.
You must carry an FAA-approved POC. The label must have the following in red text: “The manufacturer of this portable oxygen concentrator has determined this device conforms to all applicable FAA requirements for portable oxygen concentrator carriage and use onboard aircraft.” Airline staff can look for this label to decide whether or not the POC may be used on the plane.
The FAA on nearly all domestic flights wants you to have 150% of your flight time in battery life which includes time spent on the aircraft, as well as at the gate, take-off, in-air, landing and other delays. Most airlines want you to have enough batteries to power your POC for flight time plus three hours. Other airlines don't need to let you connect your POC into an electrical system on the aircraft.
If you want to book a flight and oxygen to your booking then simply follow the step-by-step guide from above. Oxygen will appear under the 'Special Baggage' button on the passenger details page. Please note that Alternative Airlines doesn't allow you to add oxygen equipment to your booking at this moment in time, however, we are working extremely hard for you to add this option to your booking.
Each airline will have different rules for flying with oxygen. Some airlines will only allow you to bring a portable oxygen concentrator onboard at a small additional cost. Please contact the airline you're flying with in order to find out theiir rules for flying with oxygen.
