Hi travels by airline

[Bigz09]

I want to fly my oxegen nurse said she doesn't do fit to fly letters my dr won't do 1 because he doesn't supply the oxegen so if I flew without this and no oxegen would I be at risk on a flight from UK to majorca thankyou

[Caspiana]

I'm sorry to hear your situation Bigz. But I don't believe anyone here can judge if you will have issues or not. Who does your oxygen ? Who prescribed it? They should be able to help you. 🤔

[pasquino in reply to Caspiana]

Hi Caspiana,

I experienced the same nightmare just two weeks ago.

Apparently the GP can refuse to give the FTF certificate.

Here the only option is to contact your consultant and DEMAND the certificate, obviously claiming that you travel to consult an expert for your condition makes things easier, if you tell us you are going on holiday it doesn't seem to work.

The certificate lasts a month but the airlines want it at least a week before departure, so do your calculations because contacting a consultant requires time and patience, my advice is to talk to his secretary and explain the problem, but NEVER talk about holiday.

Speak first to the BA airline( tis was my case) and they will advise you to download a form which you will have to partially fill in and give to the consultant to be signed and completed. As you can see, it is not easy, so think about the times it will take..

Next time I will take the train, even if it will cost me more;a month ago because of a late certificate I lost the money for the flight because it was late in being filled in due to the usual stupid NHS bureaucracy .

Best wishes

Pasquino

[Bigz09 in reply to pasquino]

Thankyou

[Caspiana in reply to pasquino]

Wow. What a palaver! I am glad you saw this post. I am sure it helps Bigz immensely. Thanks for your help. 😀

[Bigz09 in reply to Caspiana]

Thankyou

[Bevvy]

I can’t help you with your question but your gp should advise you (as should oxygen suppliers) where to go for the test.

I would be extremely wary of trying to fly without certification. It is highly likely that any insurance you take out would be invalid without a certificate to say you are actually well enough to fly.

[Bigz09 in reply to Bevvy]

Thankyou

[Haggisgirl]

I had to go to a clinic in London for mine privately as the brompton went doing them ,don't know if they are now .. it cost 250 pounds ,think it was called the wellbeck.

[ladyn in reply to Haggisgirl]

Yes it’s probably the Welbeck clinic.

1 Welbeck Street W1

[Bigz09 in reply to Haggisgirl]

Thankyou

[PaulineHM]

Hi, in my experience it depends on how fit you are, what your oxygen prescription is and therefore how the cabin pressure would be likely to affect you. Short haul is worse than long haul.

We are not permitted to take NHS equipment out of the country.

I have previously got fit to fly letters from my GP and a private doctor when in Spain ( to allow me to fly back )

Good luck.

Pauline

[garshe in reply to PaulineHM]

You have to have a fit to fly certificate with oxygen or will be refused entry on plane. No insurance company will cover you without it. I prefer staying away from pressurised cabins with all the bad air circling. There are beautiful places in UK. safe and you can take your oxygen. Think carefully. XxSheila

[PaulineHM in reply to garshe]

Thanks for the update… I meant flying without oxygen I think 😂😂😂

Anyway, it’s all very tricky isn’t it ?

Go well,

Pauline

[garshe in reply to PaulineHM]

You still have to have fit to fly certificate xx

[Bigz09 in reply to PaulineHM]

Thankyou

[peege]

Sorry, I've no idea. I do have a friend who owns an apartment in Mallorca, they drive down to Barcelona and take the ferry across with the dog.

[Bigz09 in reply to peege]

Thankyou

[PaulineHM in reply to peege]

Hi Pen, how are you ?

Even Brittany Ferries have restricted the amount of oxygen which can be taken on board a ferry now.

Only short crossings seem to be possible now, so I guess Dover Calais ferry is possible or the tunnel ?

Let’s catch up soon.

Xx

[Wibble28]

Check with the airline. I read that you just need to notify the company you fly with when you take oxygen on board.And surely it's your decision to fly, no one elses. If you think you can do it then do it.

[PaulineHM in reply to Wibble28]

The FAA specify which POC’s are acceptable. Some are not and flying with Liquid oxygen is completely out!

It’s all a tricky operation these days.

Pauline

[Wibble28 in reply to PaulineHM]

Thanks for that, I wasn't aware the rules where so strict.I'm not actually at the stage yet where I need oxygen with my CPFE, but I will be in the future.

I'm not allowed to drive anymore due to other health issues, so I guess the train/ferry will become my only option.

[PaulineHM in reply to Wibble28]

Hi Wibble,

I have been on oxygen for 7 years. At first travelling, flying, camping, train etc was easy with a POC in Europe and the USA, now on liquid oxygen is not so easy. Travelling abroad is really out of the question and if it could be set up would cost a fortune. Even overnight away is tricky.

Travel while you can...

Go well.

Pauline

[Wibble28 in reply to PaulineHM]

Pauline Thank you for the message.

I will travel as much as I can and as much as finances allow until I no longer can.

Good luck with your life journey.

Wibble

[blueferret]

I have severe copd, well controlled unless I have a chest infection. I flew to Malaga in Spain last May without considering it. I queued and boarded in a wheelchair pushed by daughter. Everything seemed fine til we got 40 mins out and the plane ascended to 30,000 ft ish. Suddenly I couldn`t breathe and panicked a bit, no air no doctor etc. I asked steward and he was immediately off to get oxygen. By the time he came back very quickly I had used my ventolin and calmed, so didn`t need it thank god. I was petrified for rest of flight, couldn`t really enjoy the holiday wedding worrying about flight home. Airline staff should actually do a fit to fly test by asking me to leave chair and walk at least 20-30 yds, (make sure we can reach emergency exit. I was in the back row and half way through the flight there was a smell of burning, utter horror! It turned out to be cabin crew burning something in the microwave in the galley right behind my back, and breathe slowly clutching ventolin. I dreaded flight home but that was ok, lightheaded etc ventolin out again throughout the flight, utter relief back in the car park.

Sorry if I`ve worried you, but better be prepared. Eurostar to Spain via Paris. I`ll never fly again tho.

I`d talk to airline and book in very early.

After all of that I hope you do get away and have a safe journey and a lovely break.

[Bigz09 in reply to blueferret]

Thankyou do you use oxegen at home I do and was wondering if I would be ok without or do you think it's to much of a risk

[anng18 in reply to Bigz09]

I don't think anyone can really answer this question. You'd need the fitness to fly test to be sure!

I'm really sympathetic with your predicament. Do let us know how you get on.

[blueferret in reply to Bigz09]

I don`t have oxygen at home, My O2 sats are usually good with common sense. Sorry but only you, your Dr and Consultant are the people to ask.

[anng18 in reply to blueferret]

Had more or less exactly the same experience, as yourself - frightening. Mine was made worse, when I got of the aeroplane. I had to walk to passport control, which was not far, but took me over half an hour. I couldn't breathe and kept on having to use Ventolin. I was also dying to go to the loo!

Worse part was going over the Alps - 37,000 altitude. I also sat at the back of the plane - but apparently not the best position. My flight was 3 hours long - London to Malta, My problem is I have to return to Malta and am finding it hard to find a good overland route!

[blueferret in reply to anng18]

Train to Italy and a leisurely ferry would be my option, with a companion preferably 😉

[Nickcv in reply to anng18]

Altitude in a plane is irrelevant. The cabin pressure is constant and set at an altitude of between 6,000 and 8,000 ft.

[anng18 in reply to Nickcv]

Hi Nickcv,

Yes, I have read about cabin pressure, but for some reason my oxygen levels did crash downwards going over the Alps. Quite possibly, due to the aircraft and my seating position - but altitude definitely affected my readings! Husband unaffected - no lung problems. I have puzzled over this issue. However, the major factor was how bad I felt on the aircraft and when I got off! That wasn't imaginary and I wasn't in a panic, prior to boarding - an unsolved mystery!

[hypercat54 in reply to anng18]

Hi I remember flying over the Alps back in '79 and well before copd. I lost my breath too though at the thought of how high up we were and where we were. Lol

[PaulineHM in reply to blueferret]

I too have felt unwell whilst flying, even with my oxygen equipment turned up to the max! Never again.

Pauline

[Ian1967]

Hi Bigz09, are you under a Respiratory Specialist at the hospital? When you say your Doctor won’t do it, is that your GP, if so he won’t be the one who responsible for your oxygen, that is your Respiratory Specialist who then liaises with Oxygen Nurse and she along with your Oxygen Supplier, IE. BOC, Air Liquide or Baywater are the ones who deliver it to your house.

Your Respiratory Specialist, is the one who decides if you are Fit to Fly with or without oxygen, but if you’re already on oxygen throughout the day you will require it for flying, when in flight your oxygen levels drop because of the pressure in the aircraft cabin, so if you require oxygen at rest at home, in flight you will also need it, he alone issues your Fit to Fly letter, which will tell the Airline your oxygen flow rate for the flight, they then will be able to assist in flight for your needs.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Bigz09 in reply to Ian1967]

Thankyou

[Bigz09 in reply to Ian1967]

Hi thankyou for your information iv just rang my oxegen nurses and they told me it the lung function clinic rang them now got the ball rolling thanyou for your advice

[Ian1967 in reply to Bigz09]

Glad to hear you’re are finally getting somewhere, please don’t hesitate to come back, we’re a very helpful community on this forum👍

[Patk1 in reply to Bigz09]

Don't forget to contact special assistance of airline to get their documentation needed + they'll give u free extra baggage allowance for equipment and meds x

[PaulineHM in reply to Bigz09]

Ok, so that will be for a Hypoxic Challenge test then ? This as I am sure you know checks your oxygen levels ie can to fly with or without oxygen ? Unless you have already had that done, which I guess you haven't ?

It is different from a fit to fly- which is a medical assessment of your general health which considers are you fit to fly. ie recent chest infections, pulmonary embolism etc. ( airline requests it ) , which your GP can supply and sometimes at a cost. As I mentioned before I had to obtain an up to date fit to fly from a local GP in Spain to return to UK. Cost 100 Euro.

Even so you if you are ok to fly will need independent 02 equipment to do that. Rental of buy.

Good luck!

Pauline

[peege]

It all seems so complicated and I'm sure very expensive with the cost of insurance and taxis on top. I feel for people who've had their sense of adventure curtailed by health issues, very frustrating indeed. I mentioned ferries but now recall the steps up to the cabins & public areas 🙄 from the car decks

[WheezleSneezle]

It depends on the airline. When I flew from Australia to the USA a few years ago I was told by some airlines that I needed a fit to fly letter from my consultant to use my portable oxygen concentrator on the plane but Delta only required me to certify that I had 24 hours of battery life available for it. I did that because it was much easier than organising with a public hospital to get the fit to fly letter. The plane from Perth to Sydney was Virgin but I was on a Delta ticket because of the long haul. They had a bigger baggage allowance too which was useful.

Having said that, I caught a cold over there and ended up in an American hospital with pneumonia and acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Flying home, my sats were okish on the long haul flight but on the short haul from Sydney to Perth I went down to 81% on 5L/min oxygen which is the highest the machine could go. The flight crew wanted to call a doctor to the plane on landing but I managed to convince them to let me go and use my nebuliser and that I would be ok. I just wanted to get home. It was a trip from hell. 6 week tour of the American medical system 😹

[Keem59]

Most airlines carry oxygen. Would your consultant not give you a letter? What about insurance too?

[Mavary]

why don’t you try to get a cruise ship to Majorca. You won’t get any trouble then. That’s if you can get them to provide the oxygen for you.

[Cloudancer]

I had this conversation a while ago with my consultant who stated he was advising me not to fly.He pointed out if I flew against medical advice it would invalidate any medical insurance and should I become ill and the plane diverted I may be liable for costs.I didn't fly!

I do hope that you can find a resolution.