am flying to spain in may am worried about the air conditioning in plane & finding a reasonable travel insurance any advise?

[magsman]

[elian]

hello magsman

I'm flying to Switzerland on Tuesday next week and would advise you to have a word with your GP as quickly as possible, to find out whether you will need a flight assessment. The cabin pressure in an aircraft can drop quite low and this affects the oxygen saturations of people with COPD.

I had my flight assessment on the 20th March and it's been recommended that I have 1 litre oxygen per minute during the flight. A lot of airlines charge for supplying oxygen on board, but fortunately I have my own portable oxygen concentrator, which is airline approved. Not all concentrators are though.

As for travel insurance.......... it's a minefield the minute you mention that you have COPD. Quotes I've had have been as high as £1,900 !!! It is vitally important that you declare your COPD (if that is what your condition is) to the insurers, otherwise - as I'm sure you are already aware - your condition will not be covered by them should you fall ill whilst abroad. I finally got insurance cover from Staysure for £437.77 which is the most reasonable quote I had.

Swiss.com (who I'm flying with) also required me to complete a medical form and have this signed by my respiratory consultant/gp and today I'm faxing the form over to their medical services department.

It's a very frustrating procedure when those of us with a pre-existing condition wish to take a holiday abroad. There are so many hoops to jump through. Have you already booked your flight ?

Don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

Good luck ! and happy holiday

[magsman in reply to elian]

thanks for your reply your probably still enjoying your holiday at present. I'm not on oxygen (at present) but my doctor solved the problem by advising against air travel at present

[elian in reply to magsman]

I'm still here magsman as I don't fly until Tuesday. I'm sorry your GP has seen fit to offer the advice for you not to fly though (can't imagine why, if you're not on oxygen), but don't despair as there's bound to be a "next time"

[Photon in reply to elian]

Hi Elian,

Commercial aircraft flights are bountiful infection sources, especially as the proportion of cabin air being recirculated continues to increase.

My GP advised against flying and I take the train when travelling any distance. Much more pleasant than flying.

[Hidden]

Hi. My husband and I have just come back from a 3 week holiday in Singapore and Thailand. The flight to Singapore was 13 hours and I had no problems whatsoever. Our flight from Singapore to Thailand was with a local airline on a much smaller plane and again I had no problems. Having said that, I don't use oxygen for my COPD. We used Unique via the BLF for our insurance and with the list of medical conditions for both of us, plus the journey being long haul, the price was a very reasonable £220ish for the trip. Unique specialise in travel insurance for people with medical conditions.

[magsman in reply to Hidden]

thanks for your reply

As I've already said my doctor solved the problem and advised against air travel.

Will bear Unique in mind though your premium sounds very reasonable for such a long haul

thanks again

[carmcd]

Hi, i always end up paying a fortune for travel insurance however, last year i went through the money saving expert website. They have a specific pre medical condition part. You type in your medical info and medication, then various insurance companies will offer you their price. I saved a lot of cash.

[magsman in reply to carmcd]

thanks carmcd

as Ive already said my doctor solved the problem, and most insurers would not touch you if you fly against doctors orders

[carmcd]

See my above reply

[JayKew]

I flew to Barcelona with my son last night.

I really shouldn't do that sort of thing none the least that it helps Ian Duncan Smith classify as scroungers.

I flew from bristol with my trusty oximeter in my pocket.

My son carried my suitcase and I walked along, if that's the word, with my hand luggage.

The walk from the car park to car park reception was a nightmare. About 300 yards which I made in 20 mins with 5 stops.

It really should have been more stops but we were running a little late.

My pulse, normally 90 to 110 was at a record high of 156.

A word of warning when you go through that bleeper thing. Three times I had to go through that because the things that you naturally feel part of your body was setting the bloody thing off, pedometer, oximeter and even my salbutamol inhaler.

My pulse was sticking at 140 and this was causing my body to overheat and my temperature shot up.

Then from check in to the boarding gate was a half mile walk.

Numerous, numerous stops, sweating like a pig and pulse up to 156 again.

The saving grace for me has always been my blood sats which are always a steady 97 /98.

Gradually as the plane flew, my temperature went down but I reckon the air conditioning factor kicked in and my sats went down to 84 for the flight.

It was a little uncomfortable but not too troubling or worrying.

Plane touched down in Barca at 9.55 pm and we were in our beach hotel 6 miles out of the city 35 mins later drinking lager and eating tapas outside in the bar beach in a balmy temperature of 17c.

My pulse was a steady 115/120 and blood sats were 95.

Lying in bed now, just gone 8am my pulse is 96 and my sats are 97 so I've reacclimatised I think.

I guess I need to realise that I maybe pushed my body a little too far yesterday and that this could be my last overseas holiday unless I succumb to using wheelchairs and that's not for me.

As for insurance, I was quoted 100s and 100s so I've told my son if I conk out just carry me 30 steps into the Mediterranean and drop my body on.

Right, time to get up, shower, breakfast and the 6km metro into barca to see how many pickpockets I attract.

It's a chilly 22 degrees right now so I need to wrap up well.

I hope I've managed to answer your main questions, if not do a follow up.

John

[moneal in reply to JayKew]

Just a note, Bristol have a brilliant system to help us, they will provide a wheelchair and a man to push you round, they take you to the head of any queue and help you into the aircraft. The airline know you are coming so everything is made so easy. We get the same service when we land in Spain. People knock Ryanair, but they are just so helpful to people who have medical problems. You just have to tell them when you book

[magsman in reply to JayKew]

Jaykew

Hope you enjoying your holiday, as I've said the doctor solved the problem advising against flying. Your quite brave I wouldn't chance flying without insurance. the problem could be if you do "conk out" then you're son will be landed with a big cost of repatriation or funeral it spain.?

[phillips1]

Just a note Magsman. My wife went abroad without me for several years (I am stage 4) and then found out that if I was taken ill just before, then her standard insurance didn't cover for that. Being a computer junkie she swanned around for several days and the best she could find to cover any eventuality was from Good-to-go. Bob

[magsman in reply to phillips1]

thanks Phillips 1

as I've said the doctor solved the problem, I've had a bad winter (like all copd sufferers)

I'd love to have gone with my wife, but after a lot of persuading she's agreed to fly alone, its only for a week, and its very good friends she'll be staying with. I'll bear in mind Good-to-go when I get the all clear.

[JayKew]

Thanks for the info moneal. The trouble with me is that I stupidly refuse to accept that I'm limited to how far I can walk with this COPD. It's a fine line I suppose to be pushing your self to a fitness level and having a heart attack.

I really don't want to concede defeat and give in to a wheelchair bound existence. But I may have to!

Ours is an invisible condition isn't it. That's why we are probably called scroungers on the welfare state by the government.

John

[CouncillorB]

I have just returned from the USA which involved 3 flights. I went with my son and daughter and had assistance at every stage. I was met with a wheelchair off every flight and taken through to passport control and customs with no problems. I have moderate copd but i coped on the flights no bother. I travelled with British Airways in the premium economy seats which were a big improvement on economy class. One bonus is the access to the BA lounge while waiting between flights with comfortable seats and free food. All you need to do when booking is to request assistance . I got insurance from Saga for £234.

[magsman in reply to CouncillorB]

sounds like you had a good time and was well looked after. I suppose "you get what you pay for" Saga did you proud a premium of £234 is very reasonable.