Hi, I'm planning a holiday in June and now I'm getting scared about flying, what is this everyone is saying about the need for oxygen

Thank you all for your replies they have been really helpful

[ronnie53]

Hi, you can get a flight test at your respiratory clinic to see if you need oxygen and they will advise from there. Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to ronnie53]

Hi, thanks for getting back to me so quickly, that's good to know I'll give them a call

[CouncillorB]

I flew to the USA at Easter without oxygen and I was fine, My doctor said as long I could walk about 50 yards without getting too breathless I would be OK. Ask for assistance before you fly and you will receive help getting to and from the gate

[Hidden]

I haven't got COPD but I sold to my consultant and he was happy for me to fly as I can walk 50 yards and my SATs were over 95% at resting. Speak to your doctor of consultant. The Internet terrified me before I flew with terrifying stories of air flight with lung disease. I trusted my consultant.

As for travel insurance - it needn't be that costly - shop around.

Good luck

Marie x

[Hidden]

Hi Cathy, I posted this earlier this month in response to a similar question. I had no problems whatsoever. All I did was check with my GP before booking the flights.

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10 Apr 2013

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.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I used Unique too and thought them v reasonable.

[elian]

Staysure is the company I opted for for my trip to Switzerland (I'm still there ) They charged me £437.77 for a single trip, but then my COPD is somewhat severe and I appreciate the risk they are taking that I may have fallen ill whilst here and how expensive that would have been !

There's lots of preparation involved if you require oxygen on a flight. I had all sorts of medical questions to answer, but I wouldn't let it put you off taking a holiday. I've had a marvellous time with my daughter and grand-daughter who live here in Zurich, but this is my last day today and my case is packed and ready for the journey to the airport in a couple of hour's time.

I'll be sorry to leave