Traveling with Home Oxygen

Traveling when receiving oxygen therapy may seem tedious, however it doesn’t have to be! We can provide you with assistance as you plan your trip and help set you up with the right equipment to make traveling with oxygen a breeze. We would love to help you with choosing your options for traveling, and we humbly request that you contact us as early as possible so that we have time to provide you with travel solutions!

Travel by Air

The first step when planning a trip is to discuss your travel plans with your physician and your airline. It’s possible that your airline will require an endorsement from your physician before allowing you to fly. Each airline also has their own policies on portable oxygen therapy aboard aircraft so be sure to check each time you travel.

Take a look at these guidelines for an example:

Travel by Car

If traveling by car, we recommend that you contact your auto insurance provider and inform them that you intend to carry portable oxygen in your vehicle. Ensure that the car is well ventilated by opening a window or setting your ventilation controls to take in outside air. Be sure to only travel with portable-sized oxygen cylinders or a portable oxygen concentrator and secure spare cylinders in the trunk of the vehicle. Always keep in mind to only travel with the minimum amount of portable oxygen needed and keep your in-use cylinder secured.

Home Oxygen Travel Tips

If you do plan on traveling with home oxygen, it's important to know what you should do from a safety and logistics perspective. Below, we've compiled some tips that will make it safer and easier for you to travel with oxygen equipment.

Never Smoke Around Your Equipment

Oxygen is a highly-flammable substance that can combust in any environment. So, whether you're at home or traveling, never smoke around your oxygen equipment or when you're using your oxygen equipment.

Carry Your Oxygen Prescription With You

This is a good tip to remember whether you're traveling by plane, bus or train. Carrying your prescription will allow anyone you interact with to know your exact oxygen requirements should the need arise and will ensure you are able to access medical-grade oxygen that you can trust.

If Traveling by Air, Make Arrangements With The Airline

Each airline must follow established rules for patients who require oxygen to travel. Some things to consider include:

Compressed oxygen and liquid oxygen are not allowed for use on flights
Travelers that require in-flight oxygen must use an approved portable oxygen concentrator
Some airlines will allow you to use their oxygen systems for free
If using a POC, be sure you carry extra batteries with you in-flight as part of your carry-on

We encourage you to contact the airline directly to review all your options before arriving at the airport for your flight.

Things to Consider When Driving With Oxygen

Even if you're not traveling commercially by plane, train or bus, there are important things to plan for when traveling with oxygen. If you will be driving with your oxygen equipment, please consider these tips:

Always place your oxygen upright when traveling in the car and secure it with a seat belt if possible
Do not let anyone smoke in the car
Do not leave the oxygen in a hot car
Leave windows open at least a crack to allow for air circulation