Buying Guide- Travel

Travelling With Oxygen Across Canada (and Beyond)

Oxygen patients travel constantly- for visits, vacations, snowbird seasons, and everything in between. Here's how to do it without surprises.

Start early! Most travel headaches come from leaving paperwork to the last minute.

The 4-week, 1-week, Day-of Checklist

4 weeks before your trip

  • Confirm your POC is FAA-approved (all three we carry — Inogen Rove 4, Rove 6, CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort — are FAA-approved).
  • Notify your airline. Most Canadian carriers require at least 48 hours' notice; many require completed Medical Information Forms that need a physician's signature.
  • Calculate your battery needs (see "Battery math" below). Order any additional batteries you need now, not the week before — Canadian distribution can take 5–10 business days.
  • Ask your physician for a current prescription and a letter stating "patient requires supplemental oxygen during travel". Pack both with your travel documents.

1 week before your trip

  • Charge all batteries fully and confirm they hold a charge.
  • Verify your concentrator's columns and filters are clean and within service life.
  • Print or screenshot the airline's POC policy page for the carrier you're flying- show it to gate agents if there's any confusion.

Day of travel

  • Arrive 30 minutes earlier than usual. Security screens POCs and batteries separately and it takes a moment.
  • Keep all batteries in your carry-on. Lithium-ion POC batteries are never permitted in checked baggage.
  • Bring spare cannulas, the AC adapter, and the DC car charger- useful at airports and at your destination.

Battery Math

The most important formula for flying.

FAA / Transport Canada rule

You must carry enough batteries for at least 150% of your scheduled flight time, including reasonable layovers and ground delays.

Road Trips

Easier than flying. Most POCs include a DC car charger, so you can power the unit directly from your vehicle's 12V outlet for the duration of the drive.

  • Plug into the DC outlet while
    you drive- the unit runs continuously without draining the battery.
  • Charge any spare batteries on the AC adapter at hotel stops.
  • Bring an external desktop charger if you have a spare battery and want to keep both topped up simultaneously.

Cruises

Cruise lines typically allow POCs but require advance notice (4 weeks is common). Most ships have power outlets in each cabin, so battery use is limited to embarkation, shore excursions, and disembarkation.

  • Notify the cruise line at booking. They'll send a medical clearance form.
  • Confirm cabin outlet voltage- most major lines are North American 110V, but European ships may differ.
  • Ask about ship's medical facilities for oxygen backup in case of equipment failure.

International Travel

POCs travel internationally well, but each country has its own quirks:

  • United States: identical to Canadian rules. FAA approval is the standard everywhere.
  • United Kingdom and EU: most major carriers accept FAA-approved POCs, but lead times are longer (often 5–7 days).
  • Mexico, Caribbean, Central America: rules are looser at point of entry; rules with major airlines are essentially FAA standards.
  • Asia and the Middle East: confirm directly with the carrier- some require notarized translations of medical letters.

For any international trip, carry your prescription, your physician's travel letter, and the manufacturer's declaration of FAA approval (we can supply this).

Power Adapters and Voltage

Most POCs accept 100–240V AC input automatically, so a simple plug-shape adapter is enough for international use. You don't need a voltage transformer. Confirm your specific unit's input range in the manual.

Browse Our Travel Accessories

Backup Planning

  • Travel Insurance

    Confirm your policy covers pre-existing respiratory conditions. Many standard policies exclude them by default.

  • Local Oxygen Rental

    If you're traveling for more than a week, look into local oxygen rental at your destination as a backup.

  • Emergency Contacts

    Program your physician's after-hours line into your phone before leaving home.

Talk To Your Physician

Before any significant trip- especially flights, altitude, or international travel- talk to your physician about whether your current prescription needs adjustment.

Altitude can increase oxygen needs, and some destinations (mountain resorts, high-altitude cities) may require a temporary setting increase or additional oxygen support.