Marie Whitehead, RN, MS, a Clinical Practice Nurse, shares tips for patients who are planning vacations that may require flying with a portable oxygen concentrator.
Two words sum up the most important thing to consider when anticipating traveling by plane with oxygen: Plan ahead.
Planning ahead is key because oxygen requirements can influence the type of transportation you choose when you travel. Also, there are several steps involved in lining up the correct oxygen concentrators for each part of the journey, which include the traveling portion as well as the on-location considerations for when you arrive at your destination.
Time required to make arrangements
Typically, I suggest a minimum of three to four weeks’ notice before travel begins. Often, it’s a good idea to touch base with your healthcare team before reservations are made because airlines vary in regulations regarding oxygen. It is possible that some regulations may rule out this mode of transportation for some patients. To be on the safe side, and save yourself the headaches (and money) associated with canceling airline reservations, check in with your team before you make reservations.
How you should travel
The first step in the planning process is to determine which mode of transportation will be safest for travel based on your unique health issues. For example, only portable oxygen concentrators are permitted on airlines. Portable oxygen concentrators typically operate up to four liters per minute. If you require a higher liter flow, flying may not be an option.
Thankfully, airline websites offer detailed information about regulations for medical devices, including oxygen and special travel needs. Once you and your care team have decided that flying is a safe option for you, the next step is to learn the airline requirements and protocols. Here are a few links to some of the major airlines and their oxygen policies: American Airlines, United, Delta, Southwest, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Aer Lingus. Most airlines require documentation from a physician that notes your need for oxygen while traveling. These documents can also be found on airline websites.
How to get travel equipment
The next step is to determine the support your insurance company will provide for the equipment needed on the plane and on site. Of course, this will vary based on each patient’s needs and each insurance company’s policies. In general, if patients require oxygen on the ground, insurance companies will cover the portable oxygen concentrators for air travel. However, if patients do not require oxygen on the ground, insurance companies do not typically cover the expenses associated with the portable oxygen concentrators required by airlines. These costs are out-of-pocket for patients and can range from $50.00 to $350.00 a week. Additionally, not all medical equipment suppliers carry portable oxygen concentrators. If they do provide them, they don't always allow patients to take them out of the country.
When insurance companies do cover portable oxygen concentrators, they require an order from a physician. Companies who supply portable oxygen concentrators often need to order them; the ordering process is usually 2 to 3 weeks.
Sometimes, when lung patients hear about the complexities of making these arrangements, they are tempted to rely on the oxygen provided by airlines. This is neither a good nor a safe plan. The oxygen provided on planes is limited and is meant for emergency use only. With proper planning the airline arrangements do come together nicely to safely provide for oxygen needs.
When you arrive
Once the plan is in place for you to get where you are going, the last step is to arrange for a stationary concentrator at your destination. Your team can help you identify oxygen providers local to your destination and insurance typically covers stationary oxygen during travel with few issues. Check with your current oxygen supplier to see if they have a branch in the location where you are traveling. If there is not branch near your travel location, you may have to pay for the oxygen supply while you are there.
Remember, traveling with oxygen is safe and, with advanced planning, can be done fairly easily. When you partner with your care team early in the planning process, traveling can be a rich and rewarding part of your life.
Planning support is available for pre-transplant patients through their community pulmonologists and planning support for post transplant patients is available through the Penn Lung Transplant team. Happy traveling!