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Travel with lung issues

Lung Health | Last Active: 10 hours ago | Replies (21)

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@kr61

My Medicare insurance pays for my oxygen concentrator.

Airlines have different policies on traveling with an oxygen concentrator. Check their websites.

I fly Delta and Delta requires you to complete their form and
and email it in at least 1 week prior to the flight. They respond with their approval. Make a copy of the form you submitted and the approval email. Delta does not allow you to check in at a kiosk, only the desk. I request wheelchair service which makes it easier to get through the line to show the agent the form and approval letter to get my boarding pass. Allow extra time at the airport. I have Global Entry to go through the TSA Precheck. It is worth it.

I have attached photos on how to travel easily with the oxygen concentrator.

I purchased a shoe bag with a zipper and a handle. My Inogen G3 fits in the bag along with a clear zippered small bag holding my extra battery, and supplies. I purchased the bags on Amazon.

TSA Security requires for the oxygen concentrator be taken out of the bag so they can swab it after going through screening. I put my shoe bag in a separate bin and unzip it so it is easy for them to remove gently and swab it. I have had issues with the concentrator still alarming and I had to go through the embarrassment of a complete pat down, which was not pleasant. I learned that if there are residual oils or lotion on the concentrator, it can trigger an alarm. TDA advised me to clean the outside case of the concentrator with an alcohol swab before traveling. This worked.

Once on the plane, the shoe bag fits under my seat with room for my feet and my roller bag goes in the overhead bin. I book a window seat because I don't want people trying to pass by me once seated. After take off, I remove the concentrator and supplies from my shoe bag and I am all set for the flight.

Bring your oximeter so you know when you need to put on the oxygen.

Happy travels !
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Update-
You are allowed three carry on bags when traveling with oxygen. I put a tag on the outside of my shoe bag with oxygen so it is not an issue when boarding.

I also use packing cubes inside my luggage to keep everything organized in the event TSA wants to look through my carry on luggage, and I also put my small purse in a package cube so I only board with 2 items.

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Replies to "@kr61 My Medicare insurance pays for my oxygen concentrator. Airlines have different policies on traveling with..."

@janet23 I have a backpack specifically made for the inogen. I believe it’s on Amazon. All airlines have different policies for travel. Lufthansa would not allow a 15 hour battery!. Seating must be a window seat when carrying oxygen. We could not just change seats when traveling with my husband either, it has to have been assigned! The first time we travelled, they changed my husband’s seat and we couldn’t get seating together because we didn’t know this when purchasing our tickets and whe we got to the airport in the short time it took to reassign his seat it was gone. He isn’t happy that he can’t check in online when we travel together as he’s not the one with oxygen.

@janet23
I traveled last week and was told only to bring the form in with me and show it at the check in desk day of travel. Admittedly, the check in folks were unfamiliar with the process, but they successfully cleared me for the round trip-point being, they may have lightened their procedure.

@janet23 @janet23
I traveled Delta last week and was told only to bring the form in with me and show it at the check in desk day of travel. Admittedly, the check in folks were unfamiliar with the process, but they successfully cleared me for the round trip-point being, they may have lightened their procedure.