Good News: Flying with Oxygen
Breathing Room Newsletter, American Lung Association of New Mexico, Summer 2006, Vol. 1, No. 2.
For years, flying with supplemental oxygen has been a complicated, worrisome, and expensive undertaking. Passengers could not use their own equipment. Not only did O 2 users have to rent oxygen from the airline at $100 per leg of a trip, they also had the problem of how to get from the curb to the gate with their oxygen, and what to do with it then. It couldn’t be taken on the plane. Now, thanks to the efforts of the American Lung Association, National Home Oxygen Patients Association, COPD Foundation, American Thoracic Society, and others, flying with oxygen is getting easier. There are two new pieces of equipment called Personal Oxygen Concentrators which have been thoroughly tested by the FAA, TSA, and DOT, and are allowed to be used on board. They are the AirSep LifeStyle and the InogenOne. They are not filled beforehand with oxygen, but manufacture their own, powered by AC, DC, or rechargeable batteries. They may be carried from the curb to the gate and onto the plane, and best of all, used in flight. What a breakthrough for oxygen dependent patients! One drawback is that not all of our suppliers of equipment stock the two that are accepted, and they are very expensive if you want to buy one. Prices range from $3500 to over $5000. We encourage you to ask your provider to buy some AirSep LifeStyle and Inogen One units to loan or rent to their patients when they fly. Apply a little pressure!
Following are Albuquerque companies which presently have the units to loan, rent or purchase. They are in short supply, and must be reserved ahead of time.
A & R Medical Supply, 5010 Lomas NE, 87110 (256-1610)
InogenOne—rental and sales
Free loan for their patients, $200 per week for others
Walgreens Health Initiatives, 3809 Hawkins NE, 87109 (1-800-645-3099)
AirSep Life Style—rental and sales
Free loan for their patients, $200 per week for others
Southwest Respiratory, 5109 Menaul NE, 87110 (888-6200)
AirSep Life Style- Rental and sales
Free loan for their patients, $200 per week for others
Apria Healthcare, 4401 McLeod NE, 87109 (881-9111)
No loan or rental, but can arrange sales of both units
Listed below are airlines that will accept the AirSep LifeStyle and InogenOne (as of 5/11/06). Each has its own specific rules and regulations, so always check with them before showing up at the airport with your POC. They all require a certificate from your doctor.
Air France Colgan* Northwest Air
Alaskan Air Delta Piedmont Air*
Allegiant Air Frontier Quantas
America West Hawaiian Airlines Southwest
American Airlines JAL* Sun Country
ANA Airline* Lufthansa USA 3000
ATA Airlines Midwest Airlines US Airways
British Airways* North American Airline*
*Accept AirSep LifeStyle only
