Hello, would anybody tell me their experience of traveling by plane with oxygen any tips and downfalls? Thank you

[Tigree]

[elian]

There are several hoops to jump through before you get anywhere near using oxygen on a plane Tigree and I know that as I've just about jumped through all of them in preparation for a visit to my daughter who lives in Switzerland.

The major obstacle is finding travel insurance..... the premiums can be exorbitant !!

I'm flying out to Switzerland mid-April and will be using my own portable oxygen concentrator so will come online while I'm over there and let you know if I've experienced any further difficulties.

Where are you hoping to go ? and when ?

[Hidden in reply to elian]

what travel insurance did you get ? how much ? am going to India in autumn I hope and concerned re cost of insurance.

[Hidden]

Hi, I take my portable oxygen concentrator (as hand luggage) for use abroad and use the airline's supply whilst flying. This is a free service from Thomson/First Choice and BA, whilst others charge.

[Tigree in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply every little helps.

[elian in reply to Hidden]

I wish Swiss.com offered a free service auntymary. They quoted me £211 outbound and £211 return flight !!!

[Hidden in reply to elian]

And I thought Thomas Cook were expensive at £50 each way!

[HuwieHex]

It depends on what oxygen you need, what Airline, what you do when you get to your destination and how to get travel insurance.

If you have your own portable oxygen concentrator then most (but not all) Airlines will be happy for you to use it in-flight. But you must tell them about it in advance.

If you want the Airline to supply oxygen then most, but not all, will do so. British Airways and Virgin longhaul do not charge, but you must arrange in advance and the Airline will want some medical documentation. BLF do have a publication detailing what Airlines provide what.

If you don't have a poc and you need oxygen at your destination then, largely, you are on your own. If you tell us where you plan to go, advice may be available.

And, for travel insurance, you must declare your medical problems. This may inflate the premium to stratospheric levels.

[Carol_ALUK Partner British Lung Foundation]

Hi

we do have a really good travel pack with incudes some contact numbers for travel insurance companies, if you would like one please call 03000 030 555 or email us at [e-mail] with your name and address and we can send one out

Kind regards

Carol

[HuwieHex in reply to Carol_ALUK]

The contact numbers for travel insurance are just that, contact numbers. Various people, including myself, have said continually that none of the Companies offer any favourable deals. BLF really should remove all of that from the otherwise useful travel pack.

[Hidden in reply to Carol_ALUK]

I can only agree with Huwie. At the moment, though with good intentions, you are just giving free advertising to companies which charge exhorbitant prices to insure us for holidays.

[Hidden]

Hi

About 6 years ago we started to produce a list of travel insurance providers to give to people who were looking to take out insurance or looking for cheaper quotes.The list was (and is) based on suggestions provided by people and research we had done.

We don't recommend any of the companies - it is there just to help "kick start" peoples searches. Some people find it useful - and some people have told us they have found cheaper quotes - and of course some people don't find it helplful.

If anyone has found a travel insurance company that they have found to provide good value for money please let us know by email - [e-mail] - and we will add them to the list.

If anyone has any suggestions as to how we can improve the information we give to people who contact us about travel insurance please let me know at the above email address.

Thanks

Mark

[Tigree in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Mark. I am still digging for Info. I wouldadd that anyone like myself hoping to travel with Oxy. for first time I contacted Easy jet customer help line (800free call)They emailed me with in minutes saying theywould accept OXY on

board, measurement and other details. Hope this helps someone.

[seyre]

I was diagnosed as needing oxygen when flying. You need a letter from the doctors, other than that I had no problem at all. Be surfe to let them know when you check in at theairport.

[Lolly2]

I have had only good experiences when I have flown with Ryanair. First you must read all the terms and conditions, learn what you have to do then prepare. Get all the medical certificates etc. that you need. I travelled with a portable oxygen concentrator. The airport assistance at Stansted could have been better, but Ryanair was great. I have never asked to use in flight oxygen, so don't know about that.

It did not cost us one penny to arrange all the help we had.

[Lolly2]

I have had only good experiences when I have flown with Ryanair. First you must read all the terms and conditions, learn what you have to do then prepare. Get all the medical certificates etc. that you need. I travelled with a portable oxygen concentrator. The airport assistance at Stansted could have been better, but Ryanair was great. I have never asked to use in flight oxygen, so don't know about that.

It did not cost us one penny to arrange all the help we had.

[Hidden in reply to Lolly2]

Hello Lolly2

May I trouble you for some information please. I am enquiring for my mum. She has flights booked with my father assisting, they have paid for oxygen on the flight with Ryanair (Stanstead to Shannon return).

My concern is the time between the car park and boarding (when she gets the oxygen from Ryanair) as it's a really long time without it. You mentioned you travel with a portable oxygen concentrator - how please do they take it off you for the flight? I didn't know you could have this. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Toci in reply to Hidden]

I haven't flown with Ryanair but I have taken my portable concentrator abroad. I used it whilst awaiting the flight and until the moment of take off, when I turned it off and placed it on the floor between my feet and the airline oxygen was brought to me immediately after take off. Mine was the Focus though and is very small.

[Lolly2]

So sorry if I misled you. My oxygen supplier gives a portable concentrator to us for holidays, so I have that to use on board and throughout the airport etc. I do not know what Ryanair does if you organise oxygen with them. Ring the special assistance help number and talk to them.