There has been a significant increase in the number of people flying to their destinations. This increase has made airlines make modifications to board even those with a disability, and that’s where the question comes in which airlines provide inflight oxygen? Few airlines like the Philippines and United Airlines provide inflight oxygen and others may allow you to get on board with your oxygen concentrator. We have created a guide to help you board your flight without any difficulties.
Understanding The Need For Inflight Oxygen
Travelling by air can be challenging especially when it’s your first time, the altitude is high and your anxiety kicks in. That’s why flights maintain a pressure inside of the cabin that equals an altitude of 6000 to 8000 feet, this altitude is much lower than the one outside the flight. Even though the flights do this to make the passengers comfortable, there are chances that it can cause oxygen saturation in blood levels to decrease.
Blood saturation gets lowered due to the difference in the altitudes and it can have serious aftereffects like it can lead to a condition called hypoxia, which can further cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. This condition when combined with other medical diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) can turn fatal.
Types Of In-Flight Oxygen Allowed
There are primarily two types of oxygen available on commercial airplanes:
Compressed Oxygen Tanks
These tanks are portable cylinders that are filled with pressurized oxygen. They can be very helpful and convenient due to emergencies but their availability is minimal due to restrictions due to weight and the amount of oxygen it can hold.
Portable Oxygen Concentrators
The POCs are becoming very popular and they take in the oxygen present in the surroundings, filter the absorbed oxygen, and concentrate it in breathable form. POCs are also conveniently used because they are lightweight, usable, and can provide a continuous flow of oxygen. This makes them usable for a longer period which is suitable for longer flights.
Airlines That Provide Inflight Oxygen
- Philippine Airlines: This airline provides you with an oxygen cylinder for a fee, if you submit a request 24 hours before boarding the flight.
- United Airlines: This airline provides you with onboard oxygen only for several routes such as Guam, Manila, Honolulu, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
Guidelines For In-Flight Oxygen
- Before You Fly
Don’t wait to board the flight, every airline has its own rules and regulations regarding inflight oxygen. You can contact the customer care support and know about their needs and requirements.
- Advance Notice: Most airlines would ask you to give an advanced notice about 24-48 hours before so that they can prepare for your oxygen needs.
- Medical Form: Before your request for oxygen is approved, you may need to submit a medical statement by a doctor or a clearance informing the airlines about your requirements.
- POC Requirement: Some of the airlines may have restrictions based on the type and size of portable oxygen concentrators allowed. You need to check their guidelines to ensure you are not in a bind later.
- Battery Regulation: You should ensure that your POV has a battery that suffices for the flight including layovers and will meet airline weight regulations.
- Early Booking: When you make an early booking it will ensure that your airlines are prepared for your oxygen needs and at the last minute you are not stuck.
- At The Airport
Be prepared for added security checks because of POC, you have to explain clearly and extensively. You have to explain your need for inflight oxygen and confirm if there are any procedures needed.
- During Your Flight
- You can keep the POC in front of your seat to avoid blockage of emergency exits, or you can keep them in special places for their storage in some airlines.
- You can prepare to carry hydrating things with you, the cabin air is dry and causes dehydration.
- Ensure you keep doing slow movement to ensure better circulation, you can also talk with your doctor if you stand and walk the aisle.
Airlines In Which You Can Request Portable Oxygen
Most of the airlines provide portable oxygen, we have listed 30 of them for your convenience.
- Aegean Airlines
- Avianca Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Aer Lingus
- British Airways
- Qantas
- Air Canada
- China Southern Airlines
- Ryanair
- Air China
- Continental Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Air France
- Delta
- South African Airways
- Air Iceland
- EasyJet
- Southwest
- Air New Zealand
- Emirates
- Sun Country
- Air Malta
- Frontier
- Swiss Air Lines
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Iberia
- United Airlines
Flying With Portable Oxygen On American Airlines
If you are a patient suffering from a lung or breathing disease, then traveling with portable oxygen can leave you anxious. That’s the reason most of the patients like to travel on buses and trains rather than taking a flight.
- You need to provide a doctor’s consultation, your doctor should take you to the airline 48 hours before you board the flight.
- It is advisable to board early so you can check in with the help of an agent.
American Airlines and FAA Approved In-Flight Oxygen
Mentioned below are the oxygen concentrators that the FAA has approved and the airline also allows to use.
- AirSep Freestyle
- AirSep Freestyle 5
- Delphi Medical Systems RS-00400
- AirSep Focus
- Devilbiss Healthcare iGO
- Inogen One
- Inogen One G2
- LifeChoice Activox
- Inogen One G3
- Inogen One G4
- Inova Labs Lifechoice
- Invacare SOLO2
- Inova Labs Lifechoice Activox
- International Biophysics Lifechoice
- Oxlife Independence
- Invacare XPO2
- Precision Medical Easy Pulse
- Oxus RS-0400 Evo
- SeQual Eclipse 3
- Respironics EverGo
- Respironics SimplyGo
- SeQual Eclipse, Models 1, 2, and 3
- SeQual eQuinox – Model 4000
- SeQual Saros
- VBOX Trooper
Flying With Portable Oxygen On United Airlines
If you are traveling with United Airlines and need to bring in portable oxygen on board, you need to give advance notice 48 priors along with all your medical documents. The devices must fit overboard or underneath your seat during travel.
United Airlines and FAA Approved In-Flight Oxygen
Here is the list of oxygen concentrates that the airline has approved and it depends on weight and carry-on requirements.
AirSep Freestyle
AirSep Freestyle 5
Delphi Central Air
AirSep Focus
AirSep Lifestyle
Inogen One G2
Devilbiss iGO
Inogen One
Inogen One G3
Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox
Invacare XPO2
International Biophysics Lifechoice
Invacare SOLO2
Precision Medical Easy Pulse
Oxlife Independence
Respironics EverGo
SeQual Eclipse
Respironics SimplyGo
Respironics SimplyGo Mini
SeQual SAROS
SeQual eQuinox
VBOX Trooper
Flying With Portable Oxygen On Delta Airlines
Delta Airlines allows you to carry POC, only if you inform them of the requirement in advance notice at the time of buying your ticket. Your POC will not be considered against your carry-on limit and you can fortunately carry other stuff.
Delta Airline And FAA Approved In-Flight Oxygen
Listed below are oxygen concentrators that are allowed by Delta Airlines and approved by the FAA.
- AirSep Freestyle
- AirSep Freestyle 5
- AirSep Focus
- Caire Freestyle Comfort
- AirSep Lifestyle (modified)
- Delphi RS-00400
- Devilbiss iGO
- Inogen One G4
- Inogen One
- Inogen One G2
- Inogen One G3
- Inova Labs Lifechoice Activox
- Precision Medical Easy Pulse 3
- Invacare SOLO2
- Invacare XPO2
- Precision Medical Easy Pulse
- Resmed AirCurve 10V Auto
- Oxlife Independence
- Oxus RS-00400
- Respironics EverGo
- Respironics SimplyGo
- Respironics SimplyGo Mini
- SeQual Eclipse (3 and 5 models)
- SeQual Eclipse (1 and 2 models)
- SeQual eQuinox
- SeQual SAROS
- VBox Trooper
Flying With Portable Oxygen On Hawaiian Airlines
Like most airlines, Hawaiian Airlines provides you with approval to carry POC if you inform them in a prior notice of about 48 hours before getting on your flight. You have to arrive an hour or two before boarding time so that the officials can check if your doctor’s certificate, and letterhead, and if you can independently use POC or need assistance to use it.
Hawaiian Airline And FAA Approved In-Flight Oxygen
- AirSep Freestyle
- AirSep Freestyle 5
- Delphi RS-00400
- AirSep Focus
- AirSep Lifestyle
- Inova Labs LifeChoice
- Devilbiss iGO
- Inogen One
- Inogen One G2
- Inogen One G3
- International Biophysics LifeChoice
- Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox
- Invacare SOLO2
- Invacare XPO2
- Oxlife Independence
- Oxus RS-00400
- Precision Medical Easy Pulse
- Respironics EverGo
- Respironics SimplyGo
- SeQual Eclipse
- SeQual eQuinox (model 4000)
- VBox Trooper
- SeQual Oxywell (model 4000)
Flying With Portable Oxygen On Southwest Airlines
If you are a passenger with breathing difficulty on Southwest Airlines you need to send an advance notice two days before boarding. At the time of booking your flight, you need to click on the disability option and enter the details along with your documents. And if you have already purchased the ticket you need to click on manage reservations and then add disability.
Southwest Airlines and FAA Approved In-Flight Oxygen
- AirSep Focus
- AirSep Lifestyle
- Inogen One G2
- Delphi RS-00400
- Devilbiss iGO
- Inogen One
- Inogen One G3
- Inova Labs LifeChoice
- Invacare SOLO2
- Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox
- International Biophysics LifeChoice
- Invacare XPO2
- Oxus RS-00400
- Precision Medical Easy Pulse
- Oxlife Independence
- Respironics EverGo
- VBox Trooper
- Respironics SimplyGo
- SeQual Eclipse
- SeQual Oxywell (model 4000)
- SeQual eQuinox (model 4000)
- SeQual SAROS
Wrapping Up
At higher altitudes, oxygen levels can decrease and oxygen saturation can occur in blood which can lead to hypoxia. In this article, we have explained which airlines provide inflight oxygen. Many flights provide oxygen and there are many where you can request to carry one while boarding. You just need to follow proper rules to avoid the hassle and constraints that may occur while boarding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Which Airlines Provide Inflight Oxygen?
Yes, most of the airlines allow you to bring an FAA-approved oxygen cylinder on board if you inform them in advance, at least 24-48 hours before.
Yes, Philippine Airlines provides you with inflight oxygen, you just have to pay a fee for it. You can also use United Airlines inflight oxygen but they provide oxygen concentrators only on select flights.
It may depend on the airlines you choose, different airlines have different rules and regulations, and you must familiarise yourself with the rules before boarding the flight.
You can either contact customer support and provide an advance notice before about 48 to 72 hours. Or while purchasing the ticket online, you can add the disability criteria to inform the flight attendant about your disability.
