Traveling with oxygen

Sort of off-topic, but I figured people who cruise a lot are likely to be experienced air travelers, too. A co-workers' mother is scheduled to fly from Minneapolis to Utah. She had recently been put on oxygen, and understands that the airline will provide oxygen (for a cost, of course) while she is on the plane.

She is extremely worried, however, about what she does in between the time she arrives at the airport until she boards, and then what happens once the plane lands until she can be met by the luggage area. She is threatening to cancel her trip due to her uncertainty as how to handle the airport time. Any suggestions or links to information would be greatly appreciated!

My mother uses oxygen, but onloy at night. She needs it when she flies because airplane cabins are only pressuruzed to the equivalent of 5000-8000 feet. Her doctor advised her that she can manage without it on flights of 2 hours or less.

I would recommend that this woman ask her oxygen supplier about taking portable tanks with her for use in the airports (if the airlines allows that) and that she ask her doctor if she can do without it while she's in the sirport.

You should look in the forum titled 'travelling with disabilities', this site has a lot of good info on travelling while on oxygen and gives all the information required to get it on the ship , airlines and airports.

Note that some airlines will not allow oxygen on-board, under any circumstances. Be sure to have all arrangements made with the airline in advance -- and you'd be well-served by getting it in writing.