Airline

[Sani123]

Hi would anyone know how you go on about being fit to fly after an exacerbation of Copd. Is it just a letter or do you have to have tests?Thank You in advance.

[Bevvy]

Welcome to the group. With regards a fit to fly certain you would initially need to speak to your gp who would decide if this was required. If so then I believe that there are tests that may need to be carried out.

Because you are new to the group and this is your first post we know little about you apart from fact you have COPD and recently had a flare up. So we don’t know how severe your COPD is (especially of you use oxygen) so difficult to give you any real advice apart from speak to your gp. I have had many, many flare ups and have been quite unwell as a result. However my oxygen levels rarely change, even when very unwell so haven’t ever considered needing a fit to fly certificate. The only time I was worried, was when Bird flu was an issue and people we’re having temperatures taken. My temperature at the time was always high so my gp wrote me a letter stating this and that it wasn’t due to anything sinister and I was safe to travel.

Hope you are able to sort things out easily and have a good trip.

[Sani123 in reply to Bevvy]

Hi I have Emphysema Copd and had to cancel my holiday as was told by my Consultant I was not fit to fly.I was just wondering how others went on I have been given oxygen concentrator for flying but not been given anything else.

[Karenanne61]

Hi and welcome! As Bevvy said maybe post a bit more info re. your copd. I have very severe copd but managed at the moment by the palliative care team at Harefield. When I last flew (July this year) I just asked my consultant if I was ok to go.

[Sani123 in reply to Karenanne61]

Emphysema Copd do you take an oxygen concentrator with you if you do do you have to have a fit to fly letter.

[Bevvy in reply to Sani123]

If your consultant is not prepared to give you a fit to fly letter then I’m afraid you would be extremely unwise to fly under those circumstances. At the very least it would make it impossible to get insurance for your holiday. Also if you did take insurance out and didn’t inform them, then any possible claim would be refused. This would be true even if it was absolutely nothing to do with COPD. For example a broken leg. They would not cover because you hadn’t been true on your original application.

I think best you can do is go back to consultant and ask for further clarification. Are they saying this is permanent or a temporary issue? If you can’t fly are they happy for you to travel abroad using other forms of transport, such as ferry, train or coaches.

I hope that you are able to obtain further information and support, resulting in happy holidays abroad.

[Sani123 in reply to Bevvy]

Thanks for your reply.No I do not think it is a permanent issue.I just wondered how other people went on.Thanks.

[Karenanne61 in reply to Sani123]

I don't have oxygen yet so I can't help with the flying question, sorry.

[Sani123 in reply to Karenanne61]

Thanks anyway.

[Karenanne61 in reply to Sani123]

🙂 There are lots of very helpful people here on this friendly, funny and informative forum.

[Patk1 in reply to Sani123]

i would contact airlies specia l assistance dept ffor advice on carryig yr equipment

[O2Trees]

I havent flown for years but last time I did (about 10 years ago) I had a fit to fly test organised through my consultant and a letter saying I needed 2 litres per minute. I had to get in touch with the disability department of the Airline (Virgin from memory) and they provided cylinders for the flight. This was before I was a regular ambulatory oxygen user.

I imagine that if you were to have a concentrator to use on the flight you would still have to be in touch with the disabilities/special needs department to get permission to use it.

[Sani123 in reply to O2Trees]

Thank You

[B0xermad]

i paid the doctors gp 25 pounds for