What You Need
to Know About Traveling with Oxygen and Mobility Aids
(originally published in "Scleroderma
Voice," 2004 #2)
Airlines, cruise ships, railroads and other public
carriers all have different (and sometimes, nonexistent)
regulations governing traveling with oxygen or mobility
aids. This article will provide general information
to make trip planning easier for those of you who have
special needs while traveling.
Editor's note: This is a long article. You can
skip directly to the subheads that interest you, by
clicking on these links:
Traveling with Oxygen
Air
First, talk to your doctor to make sure that it is
safe for you to travel. Then, begin making your travel
arrangements as far in advance as possible.
If making your own travel arrangements, you will want
to ask for the airline’s medical or special services
department. Be prepared to provide your doctor’s
name and address and a prescription that contains oxygen
flow rate in liters per minute at an altitude of 8,000
feet, and duration of use.
You may be asked to complete specific forms, sign a
liability release, or provide a letter from your physician
that authorizes you to fly and summarizes your condition.
Most U.S. and many overseas carriers can accommodate
passengers who require oxygen. The Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) requires a physician’s statement
of your oxygen needs in order for you to obtain oxygen
on a commercial airline.
You will not be allowed to use your own oxygen while
on board; oxygen must be provided by the airline.
There are no federal oxygen policies for the airline
industry, so you may find different regulations and
restrictions among different carriers. For this reason,
it is important that you get specific guidelines from
your preferred carrier. Some airlines require 48 hours
advance notice, while others may require 7 days’
notice.
All airlines will charge for oxygen, but here too,
you will find differences. Generally, expect to pay
between $50 and $150 for each portion of your trip.
In addition, the airline will provide oxygen only while
you are in the airplane. Therefore, you will have to
make other arrangements for oxygen while waiting in
the airport. For this reason, non-stop or direct flights
would be your best options.
Cruise Ships
The lack of standardized rules within this industry
can make traveling with oxygen on cruise lines quite
challenging. Each cruise line, and sometimes, even ships
within a cruise line, can have slightly different requirements
for passengers who need oxygen.
Here are the most prevalent guidelines involved with
shipboard oxygen.
Before making a reservation, potential passengers need
to get a letter from their physician describing their
fitness for travel, the oxygen dosage required, and
a statement attesting that they require medical oxygen.
Your next step is to contact the cruise line’s
medical department before the cruise so that your medical
issues can be evaluated. If approved for travel by the
cruise line, you may then proceed with your reservations.
You will be required to make arrangements with both
the oxygen supplier and the cruise line for the delivery
and onboard storage of enough oxygen to last the entire
trip. If planning shore excursions, you will have to
make separate arrangements for the delivery of oxygen
to your ports of call. Generally, you will not be allowed
to take oxygen off the ship.
Car, Bus, and Train
When traveling by car, safety is the most important
consideration. The oxygen must be kept upright, away
from heat and flame.
Do not store oxygen in the trunk, because it can get
very hot. Do not allow anyone to smoke in the car. Also,
oxygen containers release small amounts of gas periodically,
so it is important to keep a window open for venting.
Policies for travel with oxygen vary by bus line, but
most will allow you to travel with your own oxygen.
However, contact the company a few weeks before your
departure to ensure that you have time to accommodate
any restrictions.
If traveling by Greyhound, please call their Customers
with Disabilities Travel Assistance Line at 800-752-4841
to obtain detailed information about their oxygen policy.
Amtrak has special restrictions regarding oxygen use
during travel, which you can obtain by calling a Customer
Service Agent at 800-USA-RAIL, or online at www.amtrak.com.
However, here are some general guidelines.
- Amtrak requires only 12
hours notice for those traveling with oxygen, and
does not charge a fee for this accommodation.
- Oxygen equipment
cannot weigh more than 75 pounds per unit and must
be UL or FM listed.
- Two tanks
can be used, if they can be separated and handled
individually.
- You may bring
a concentrator aboard as long as you have a 12-hour
backup supply of oxygen that does not require the
use of on-board electrical power.
- All wheeled
tanks must have the wheels removed while on board
the train.
- Travelers
must have enough oxygen for the estimated travel time,
plus 20% extra as a safety margin.
- For overnight
trips, Amtrak will encourage you to reserve sleeping
accommodations, but please note that this is not mandatory.
- For the duration
of your trip, you must travel in nonsmoking areas
of the train, and avoid all areas where smoking is
allowed.
Managing Oxygen
at Your Destination or at Transfer Points
Often, your means of transportation requires that you
make separate arrangements for oxygen once you’ve
arrived at your destination, or during transfer points
such as changing planes or while participating in shore
excursions.
To make arrangements for oxygen in these circumstances,
start with your local supplier. Many local dealers belong
to a network of oxygen providers and can also help with
arrangements.
Traveling
with a Wheelchair or Electric Scooter
Air
Most airlines will allow you to use your own wheelchair
as far as the boarding point of the aircraft, and then
ask that you transfer to an aisle chair. Your wheelchair
would then be stored in the aircraft so it is available
when you arrive at your destination.
Wheelchairs fall into three general categories:
- Manual
- Electric
wheelchairs and scooters with wet acid batteries
- Electric
wheelchairs and scooters with dry cell or sealed gel
batteries.
Travelers with the second type of wheelchair should
follow the airline’s guidelines regarding safe
transit, as a leaking battery can be dangerous. It will
be necessary for baggage handlers to remove the battery
and place it in a special container. This may require
that travelers with this type of wheelchair arrive at
the airport at least three hours before departure.
Even if your wheelchair or scooter is equipped with
a dry cell or sealed battery, it will be necessary for
baggage handlers to disconnect the leads from the terminal
and cap them to avoid a short. This can also be time-consuming,
so early arrival is recommended. The airline will be
responsible for ensuring that your battery is reconnected
and that your chair is working upon arrival at your
destination.
As a precaution against loss or damage, always remove
all detachable parts before your wheelchair is stored,
and label the chair with your name, address, and destination
airport. Also be sure that you have insurance to cover
any damage or loss to your wheelchair or scooter; the
airline will not be responsible for replacing a lost
chair or repairing damage.
Bus
Under the provisions of the Americans With Disabilities
Act (ADA), private bus companies must provide boarding
assistance to passengers with mobility problems and
must transport wheelchairs. This includes Greyhound
Lines, Inc., the only remaining nationwide intercity
bus company in the United States.
For detailed information about traveling with mobility
aids, please call their Customers with Disabilities
Travel Assistance Line at 800-752-4841. Greyhound asks
that all passengers requiring special assistance call
them at least 48 hours in advance to make the necessary
arrangements. Also notify Greyhound if you need to travel
with a companion. A ticket will be provided to this
companion at no cost.
Train
To get information about Amtrak’s policies regarding
traveling with mobility aids, or to make a reservation,
call them at 800-USA-RAIL and ask to speak to a Customer
Service Agent.
You may also request a copy of Amtrak Vacations 2004,
which has a section on traveling with wheelchairs, but
please allow up to three weeks for receipt of this information.
They will also provide you with information regarding
the accessibility of your arrival and departure stations,
and let you know what kind of assistance you will need.
Cruise Ship
Most cruise ships today have a number of “handicapped
accessible” cabins designed specifically to meet
the needs of people who use wheelchairs or need help
moving about. In many cases these cabins are identified
on the deck charts you will find in the cruise line’s
brochures, but don’t rely on the brochure. If
you find a ship you like and aren’t sure if they
have a cabin that meets your needs, ask your travel
agent to check or call the cruise line directly to find
out.
Another important consideration when selecting a ship
is how well you will be able to get around. If you use
a wheelchair, you need to know what type of obstacles
you might encounter and what you can do to overcome
them. For example, most cruise ships have raised sills
at passenger cabin, public room, and exterior doorways.
Surprisingly, even some of the more modern cruise ships
with wheelchair-accessible cabins may not have accessible
public restrooms.
One of the main reasons people take a cruise is to
visit new destinations, but if you have selected one
of the new mega-ships, you may find out that the ship
is too large to dock. Therefore, many of the stops will
involve tendering the passengers ashore in one of the
ship’s launches. If you use a wheelchair, this
will present additional challenges since there may not
be a ramp available for boarding the launch.
Even with the best planning, traveling on a ship with
a wheelchair or scooter can present many unforeseen
challenges. You may want to work closely with a travel
agent and take time to ask questions about accessing
activities and services so that you can decide whether
this type of travel may be appropriate for you.
Other Considerations
When traveling with special requirements, such as
oxygen or mobility aids, it may be wise to make your
arrangements through a travel agent. This would provide
you with assistance in the event of any problems such
as schedule changes.
When making your reservation, be sure to tell the agent
the type of accommodation you require, and to what extent.
If traveling with a wheelchair or scooter, let the agent
know what type you use (manual, electric, wet cell,
dry cell) and explain how much assistance you will need
with boarding and disembarking.
Regardless of how you choose to travel, it is important
that you take steps to ensure that your trip is a safe
and enjoyable one.
Remember to:
- Discuss
the proposed trip with your doctor.
- Get prescriptions
for adequate amounts of required medications and fill
them before you leave.
- Get extra
prescriptions for oxygen to make it easier to get
oxygen en route.
- Get instructions
from your doctor for what to do if you develop a medical
problem.
- Get a summary
of your medical history from your doctor.
- Carry an
up-to-date, detailed list of your medications.
- Confirm all
reservations 24 to 48 hours in advance.
- Review your
itinerary and confirm that any special services you
may need will be available on each leg of your trip.
- Get confirmation
of all services in writing.
Know your rights
It is also helpful to know your rights as a traveler
with special needs.
In 1986, Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act,
requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
to develop new regulations, which ensure that persons
with disabilities will be treated without discrimination
in a way consistent with the safe carriage of all passengers.
These regulations explain the responsibilities of the
traveler and all domestic carriers, airport operators,
and contractors involved in the airline industry who
meet certain requirements, (such as passenger capacity).
Please note that foreign airlines are not required
to comply with these regulations, although U.S. carriers
on international flights must.
The DOT has established a toll-free hotline to assist
travelers with disabilities. The hotline will provide
general information to consumers about the rights of
air travelers with disabilities, respond to requests
for printed consumer information, and assist air travelers
with time-sensitive disability-related issues that need
to be addressed in “real time.” The line
is staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern time,
seven days a week. If you need assistance, please call
the hotline at 800-778-4838 (voice) or 800-455-9880
(TTY).
In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), which stipulates that public accommodations
and ground transportation (such as bus or rail) must
be made accessible to travelers with disabilities. For
more information about the ADA guidelines, please contact
the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Civil
Rights at the toll-free ADA Assistance Line at 888-446-4511.
If the FTA ADA Officer of the Day cannot address your
questions or concerns, your call will be directed to
the appropriate FTA program office.
Although at this time there are no federal anti-discrimination
laws that the cruise industry must observe, this oversight
is being rectified. In the meantime, the industry has
voluntarily implemented changes to help make travel
more accessible to passengers who are disabled or who
require special accommodations.
Resources
If you would like to obtain a list of resources such
as travel guides, oxygen suppliers, and the names of
travel agents and tour operators that can assist with
accessible travel, please contact the Executive Coordinator
at the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality
(SATH) at 212-447-7284. SATH can also provide you with
printed materials on the ADA and Air Carrier Access
Act. |
