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Can you request oxygen on a flight?

The only oxygen equipment allowed on an airplane is the portable oxygen concentrator (POC). If you need oxygen in flight, you must take a portable oxygen concentrator with you, and , you must let your airline know ahead of time. They may require a doctor's letter to verify the need for the POC on the plane.



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Contact your airline for instructions on arranging oxygen service. Airlines are not required to provide oxygen service and many do not. Passengers may carry portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).

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Oxygen tanks allowed on commercial flights include portable oxygen concentrators (POC) approved by the FAA, such as Inogen One G3 or G4, Philips Respironics SimplyGo Mini, or AirSep Focus. However, compressed or liquid oxygen tanks, as well as liquid nitrogen, are not allowed on commercial flights.

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If you need oxygen in flight, you must take a portable oxygen concentrator with you, and , you must let your airline know ahead of time. They may require a doctor's letter to verify the need for the POC on the plane.

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If oxygen deficiency continues over a long enough period of time, it can cause unconsciousness, permanent brain damage or even death. So, in order to keep everyone maintained with enough oxygen, the masks fall down and provide a personal flow.

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Others who do not require medical oxygen elsewhere may need to use it when travelling by plane. Conditions commonly associated with use of medical oxygen for air travel include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restrictive and interstitial lung diseases, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.

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Oxygen production cannot be shut off once a mask is pulled, and oxygen production typically lasts at least 15 minutes, sufficient for the plane to descend to a safe altitude for breathing without supplemental oxygen.

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Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath. The potential dehydration factor and sitting for long periods of time doesn't help.

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Having a lung condition should not stop you from travelling by air. Whether you are going on holiday, a business trip or a visit to family and friends, it should be possible to make the necessary arrangements - as long as you plan ahead.

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Choose a seat in the middle of the plane. As the air circulates across the rows and not up and down the plane, some experts believe the worst air is in the front or the back of the plane. Stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids (water or fruit juice) and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which will dehydrate you.

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The only oxygen equipment allowed on an airplane is the portable oxygen concentrator (POC). If you need oxygen in flight, you must take a portable oxygen concentrator with you, and , you must let your airline know ahead of time. They may require a doctor's letter to verify the need for the POC on the plane.

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When the altitude of an airplane is less than 12,500 feet, there is no supplemental oxygen required for anyone in a private plane. From 12,500 feet to 14,000 feet, supplemental oxygen must be used by the required flight crew for any portion of the flight that is more than 30 minutes.

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Resting Pulse Oximetry
Values >95% on room air suggest that inflight hypoxemia is unlikely and that further evaluation is likely not necessary. Patients with saturations <92% on room air at rest should receive supplemental oxygen inflight, because they are at high risk of hypoxemia at altitude.

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