What do I do about oxygen?? flying with medical equipment??

[visitingapril09]

This is the first time we have flown or travelled a great distance since Andrew has used oxygen. We use cannisters at home but probably could get away with a portable concentrator for the week in DL.

Has anyone who requires oxygen flown??

I assume you can't take your own tanks? Can you use a portable concentrator?

Also, we will need to travel with an IV pump, bipap, feeding pump and oxygen saturation monitor. Where do you put them on the plane? I am nervous to check them in luggage but they are too big to go in carry on. I am thinking of flying into Long Beach instead of LAX, not only due to the location being closer but also due to it being a smaller airport with, hopefully , less opportunity for bags to go astray.

 

[SueM in MN]

For the oxygen question, check in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There are some links in post #3 that should help and there is also a post in that thread with air travel information.
For the specifics about air travel, you need to check with the individual airline. Some handle things differently than others. Once you get down to WDW, you need to have oxygen supplied; work with your current supplier to get that arranged. Your request is not uncommon and they should be able to find a supplier to work with. That way all the paperwork will be taken care of by them.

For the supplies like the BIPAP, etc, if you are worried about size for carryon because you think you won't be allowed to bring it, medical equipment does not count toward your carryon limits. It would all need to fit in the overhead bins (or closet, if your plane has one). Some of those things may be needed in flight or you would not be able to manage without them if your checked bags are lost, so I would suggest bringing them as carryon.

 

[Mary976]

One quick note about the concentrator...my FIL uses one and has flown with it (and used it in flight) many times. However, United does NOT allow concentrators (at least they didn't as of last spring) so we had to pay an extra fee for them to supply the oxygen tank. Then, they did not turn it to the proper flow level. SO, be sure to plan ahead AND make your needs very clear to the airline. I always try to remember that airline personnel may no nothing about medical needs, so I leave extra time to explain things to them. Another option is to use the concentrator in flight and then rent oxygen from a supplier at your destination. FIL prefers that option, because the concentrator is heavy and he likes being able to carry a small tank, rather than having to wheel the concentrator behind him.

Good luck!
Mary

 

[visitingapril09]

Thank you for your replies. I didn't know that medical equipment doesn't count as carryon! That is very helpful. We are in Canada but I believe Medigas, our oxygen supplier, may have offices in the US.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi. I have a couple of comments.

One is that your supplier may not have offices in the US, but most oxygen suppliers belong to a network and will work with other suppliers to make your trip as seamless as possible. Work with them.

The other is that rather than Long Beach (LGB) you look at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana (SNA) which is much closer to DL than Long Beach.

 

[mechurchlady]

I got lost looking for something else and found this.

http://www.breathineasy.com
they have a list of providers though probably not an entire list.
I tried Fort Mohave, AZ and found one. Small town, lol.

http://www.access-able.com/tips/oxy.html

 

[visitingapril09]

Hi. I have a couple of comments.

One is that your supplier may not have offices in the US, but most oxygen suppliers belong to a network and will work with other suppliers to make your trip as seamless as possible. Work with them.

The other is that rather than Long Beach (LGB) you look at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana (SNA) which is much closer to DL than Long Beach.

Shoot wish I had seen this two hours ago! We just booked 6 tickets into long beach! Oh, well!! The price was great!

 

[visitingapril09]

I got lost looking for something else and found this.

http://www.breathineasy.com
they have a list of providers though probably not an entire list.
I tried Fort Mohave, AZ and found one. Small town, lol.

http://www.access-able.com/tips/oxy.html

Thank you that is great info!

 

[pugdog]

here is some more great news for you.http://www.aarc.org/media_center/press_releases/transportation_ruling_signals_victory_for_oxygen_patients.asp

also check out this linkhttp://www.homeoxygen.org/airtrav.html and http://www.homeoxygen.org/pocinfo.html