Accessible Travel with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator: What You Need to Know

With the recent changes in the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), US airlines must now accept portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) on their flights. Does that mean you can take any unit aboard any flight without advance notice? Not exactly. As with most regulations, some restrictions apply. Here's an update on the law, the airline requirements and other things you need to know if you're thinking about flying with portable oxygen.

The Air Carrier Access Act & Portable Oxygen
As of May 13, 2009, the Air Carrier Access Act requires all US airlines operating flights on aircraft with 19 or more seats to allow passengers to bring aboard and operate their FAA approved POCs. The law also applies to foreign carriers operating flights to or from the US, on aircraft with 19 or more seats.

It's important to note that the law only applies to FAA approved models. The manufacturer is responsible for obtaining this approval, and once a model is approved it must bear a "FAA approved" label. Make sure your POC is appropriately labeled, because you won't be allowed to fly with it if it isn't.

Currently, these models make the cut:
AirSep FreeStyle
AirSep LifeStyle
Delphi RS-00400
Inogen One
Invacare XPO2
Respironics EverGo
SeQual Technology Eclipse

If your Portable Oxygen Concentrator isn’t on the list, check with the manufacturer to see if it has been submitted for approval, or if it will be in the near future. And if you are thinking of purchasing a POC, make sure the model you intend to buy is on the list. You never know when you may need to fly, and owning a FAA approved model simplifies the whole process.

Accessible Travel and Flying the Friendly Skies
As with all types of accessible travel, advance planning is a must when flying with a POC. Passengers are required to give the airlines 48 hours advance notice and check-in one hour prior to the general boarding requirements.

It’s the passenger’s responsibility to make sure the POC is in good working order and free of grease and oil. Additionally, passengers must travel with enough batteries in their carry-on luggage to ensure uninterrupted operation of the Portable Oxygen Concentrator for at least 150 percent of the expected maximum flight duration. The batteries must either have recessed terminals or be packaged so that the terminals do not come in contact with metal objects.

The law also requires that any passenger traveling with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator must be able to see and hear the alarms on the POC and have the physical and cognitive ability to respond appropriately to them. Most airlines require some sort of documentation or physicians statement to verify that. Check with the airline for their exact procedures and documentation requirements.

Although the whole procedure seems a bit complicated, once you've done it a few times it will become old hat. In the end, POCs present a viable option for many travelers, so check with you doctor to see if one will work for you. In the long run, it will give you much more freedom.