South West Airlines?

Question

I am on oxygen 24 hours a day,and must fly from Los Angeles to Provo,Utah,can I be hooked up with oxygen on the plane and am I allowed to take oxygen tanks in the cargo hold or do I have to make other arrangements at my destanation?

I only have two days to plan this trip do to a death in the family

Answer 1

Airlines will allow oxygen onboard BUT you cannot bring your own tanks. You must use tanks that you rent from them and you need to make the arrangements in advance. Contact them directly and they will help you make the arrangements. You should have a family member escort you to the airport --- get medical aide status in advance for them to actually stay with you till you are onboard the plane OR in the care of a SW employee-- the tank you arrive at the airport with cannot go on the plane with you and someone needs to be able to take it home or else it gets put in the trash, and they are not cheap. And make similar arrangements at your destination since you will have to have a new tank waiting for you (your doctor can call an Rx in for someone waiting in Utah to pick up locally) or else you will have to pay even more rental fees for the Southwest tanks.

You cannot bring your own tanks in checked baggage or onboard so you definitely need to make arrangements for a supply of oxygen to be waiting for you when you arrive.

This is not a 100% guarantee that Southwest will help make these arrangements-- I never fly with them but I have flown on other carriers this year with someone needing oxygen and this is the procedure they all followed. We flew USAir, United and Virgin.

Answer 2

Several years ago an airplane went down in the Everglades due to oxygen tanks on board. I seriously doubt it, but call the airline to see what kind of restrictions they have...

Sorry for your loss.

Answer 3

Call them directly...They change rules so much can't answer. Good luck hun.