Traveling to Visit the Grandkids: How I Planned My First Oxygen-Friendly Trip
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This post is based on the conversations we have with customers who travel with home oxygen. Names and specific details have been blended from many customers to protect privacy.
I had been on oxygen for about eight months when the photos started to feel unbearable.
My son sends me pictures of my granddaughter every week- she's four, she's tall for her age, and she'd started asking her dad when Grandma was coming to visit. I hadn't seen her since I started oxygen. I told myself I was fine with video calls. I told myself the two-hour time difference made scheduling hard. I told myself the flight was too long.
The real reason I hadn't been was that I was terrified of traveling with a concentrator. I had watched enough YouTube videos to know it was possible, and I had a portable unit I'd been using around town for months. But an airport, a flight, a rental car in a strange city, and a week away from my regular routine- that felt like a lot.
Then one week the photo was of her wearing a homemade "Miss You Grandma" t-shirt.
I booked the flight the next morning.
Talking to my respirologist
The first thing I did was call my respirologist's office and ask for an appointment specifically about traveling. Not my regular check-in- a real conversation about whether it was safe, what I needed to think about, and what he'd want me to do to prepare.
He was fantastic. He wrote me a letter stating I was cleared for air travel with my portable concentrator. He wrote a fresh prescription (my old one was 10 months old and he wanted the airline to see a current date). He talked me through what to expect at altitude- cabin pressure at 6,000–8,000 feet effectively reduces available oxygen, so I might need to bump my setting up during the flight. He wrote that into the letter too, so I wouldn't have to guess.
He also said something that I've thought about a lot since: "You didn't get on oxygen so you could stop doing the things you love. You got on oxygen so you could keep doing them."
What I wish I'd known: the physician's visit specifically about travel is worth its own appointment. Don't try to squeeze the conversation into your regular check-in. Give it space, ask everything, and get things in writing.
Calling the airline
I flew Air Canada. Their medical desk is a real thing, and once I got through, the person I spoke with knew exactly what to do. They emailed me a Medical Information Form (MEDIF) which my respirologist filled out and signed within 48 hours.
I had to prove my concentrator was FAA-approved (it is- most modern POCs are, but I had to send them a manufacturer statement). And I had to confirm I was bringing enough battery power to cover 150% of the flight time.
My flight was 4 hours. That meant I needed 6 hours of battery on board. Except- and this is the thing that tripped me up- my POC's advertised 8-hour battery life is at the lowest setting. At my prescribed pulse setting, real runtime was closer to 4 hours per battery. So I actually needed at least TWO batteries in my carry-on to comfortably cover the flight plus airport time.
I bought an extra battery. This turned out to be the single most important purchase I made for the trip.
What I wish I'd known: the 150% battery rule sounds simple, but the math depends on your actual pulse setting, not the manufacturer's optimistic maximum. Test your real battery life before you fly.
Packing (I over-packed, obviously)
For a 5-day trip, I brought:
- My POC in its carry-on shoulder bag
- Two fully-charged batteries
- The AC power supply (for hotel and grandkids' house)
- The DC car charger (for the rental car)
- Six spare cannulas (I used three)
- Ear cushions
- Face stickers
- A saline nasal spray for the dry cabin air
- My prescription, physician's letter, and a printout of the airline's POC policy- all in a folder in my carry-on
- The concentrator's user manual (didn't need it, but felt better having it)
What I wish I'd known: the spare batteries have to stay in your carry-on. Lithium-ion batteries are never allowed in checked baggage. I saw someone at the gate having to unpack their checked suitcase to move batteries into a carry-on- not a moment I wanted to have.
The airport
I arrived at the airport 30 minutes earlier than I normally would. This was smart.
At the security checkpoint, I told the officer I had a portable oxygen concentrator. They pulled me aside for a separate screening- not invasive, just a swab of the unit and each battery to check for explosive residue. Took about 8 minutes.
At the gate, I approached the desk before boarding to remind them I was flying with a POC. The agent already had the note from the MEDIF, which was reassuring. They pre-boarded me, which meant I got to my seat before the crowd, plugged the unit into the seat's power outlet (yes, Air Canada's newer aircraft have power at each seat), and settled in.
The flight itself was uneventful. I did bump my setting up one notch during cruise altitude, per my physician's advice. I remembered to drink water. I read a book. I landed in Toronto with my saturation right where it should be.
The visit
My granddaughter didn't notice the cannula for about 20 minutes. Then she asked what it was, in the direct way that small children have. I told her it helped me breathe. She said okay, and asked if I wanted to see her fort.
That was pretty much the extent of the discussion.
For the five days I was there, I used my POC for outings- walks in the park, a visit to a children's museum, a family dinner. I used the AC adapter at their house so I wasn't drawing down the batteries. I plugged into the rental car's DC outlet whenever I was driving.
The only real hiccup was that the museum had a very loud exhibit and I misplaced my POC-adjustment glasses. That was a personal problem, not an oxygen problem.
Coming home
The flight back was easier. Not because anything went differently- because I now knew what to expect. The anxiety I'd had before the first flight was gone. The airport routine felt manageable. The batteries were fine.
I got home Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning, my son sent me a picture of my granddaughter with a note that said "she keeps asking when you're coming back."
I'm going in November.
The list I'd give my pre-trip self
- Book the physician's appointment first. Everything else depends on it.
- Call the airline's medical desk directly. Don't rely on the general customer service line.
- Get a fresh prescription and a physician's letter cleared for travel.
- Buy the second battery. It's the difference between comfortable and cutting-it-close.
- Test your real battery life at your actual prescribed setting before you fly. The manufacturer's advertised maximum is optimistic.
- Put all batteries and equipment in your carry-on. Never in checked baggage.
- Bring a folder with your prescription, physician's letter, and airline policy printout. Digital is fine as a backup, but physical copies survive dead phone batteries.
- Arrive 30 minutes earlier than usual for security screening.
- Talk to the gate agent before boarding to confirm your equipment is expected.
- Bump your setting per your physician's advice at cruise altitude.
- Drink water. Bring saline spray for cabin dryness.
Talk to your physician before you book
The most important part of this whole story is what happened first- the appointment with my respirologist. If you're thinking about traveling and you're not sure whether it's safe or how to prepare, that's the conversation to have first. Everything else is easier once you know your physician has your back.
Ready to plan a trip?
Our Flying with Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator guide has the full breakdown of Canadian airline policies, battery requirements, and pre-trip checklists.
Questions about traveling with your specific setup? Email email — we've helped customers plan trips to every province, and plenty of international destinations too.