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Continental provides limited onboard medical oxygen throughout our domestic system, including Alaska and Hawaii. We recommend your travel plans be confirmed as far in advance as possible. All travel must be approved by your personal physician. A minimum of forty-eight hour (48) advance notice request must be made so we can guarantee shipment of the appropriate medical oxygen canisters to your origination point.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires oxygen on airplanes be dispensed only from FAA approved containers available through the airlines. Specific certification must be obtained by Continental that mandates the type of container utilized. All requests and reservations for this service are handled through the Oxygen Desk. Customers in the U.S. can contact the Oxygen Desk directly at 800.228.2744. Customers outside of the U.S. should contact Reservations. There is a charge for this service.
The following will assist you in preparing for your upcoming travel arrangements:
- If you have not already contacted Continental Reservations to request oxygen services, you or your travel agent should do so immediately. Oxygen service must be arranged a minimum of 48 hours in advance by calling 800.228.2744 and requesting to speak with the Oxygen Desk. This is necessary in order to reserve oxygen equipment and to ensure all medical and regulatory regulations have been met. Failure to do so could result in a delay or cancellation of your travel plans.
- Once your reservation has been completed, our medical advisory service, MedLink, will be contacting you by phone. MedLink will then gather all necessary information for coordination with your personal physician.
- The required physician's statement must be signed and completed within 10 days of travel and by your attending physician. While traveling, you must keep the Medical Release form with you at all times. Continental will not allow you to fly without a current signed, approved medical release form.
- MedLink will contact your physician within 10 days of travel to discuss your current medical condition. Within 48 hours for your scheduled departure, a Continental Airlines representative will attempt to contact you to verify travel arrangements. Please call us you if must cancel your flights and/or dates of travel.
- Please report to the ticket counter at least one hour prior to departure, and perhaps even sooner depending on the published processing time at your originating airport.
- If you require oxygen in the terminal, at the connection city or at your final destination, you will need to make separate arrangements. Continental is unable to provide oxygen to customers within the airports. If you plan on bringing your own personal oxygen tank, it must be completely empty prior to checking-in and traveling as checked baggage.
- Some seating restrictions may be necessary to comply with certain FAA safety rules.
Certificate
A statement or legible written prescription from your physician must be obtained within approximately 10 days of your departure. The Oxygen Medical Release form must be completed prior to departure. This statement or prescription requires the following information:
- Liters Per Hour (LPH) specify the maximum quantity of oxygen needed per hour
- Liters Per Minute (LPM) specify the maximum flow rate
- Validity Dates
- Attendant information if needed
Oxygen Medical Release Form
(PDF: 22KB)
 Documents may require the Adobe Acrobat reader, available for free from Adobe for Windows, Macintosh, UNIX and other platforms.
Medlink
Continental's own medical advisory team, Medlink, will contact the customers personal physician approximately ten days prior to your travel. They will confirm your special health needs ensuring each physician is aware of the physical changes high altitude (8,000 feet) present. They will notify the physician of the requirement for written approval. If already written, any changes will be recorded by our advisory team.
 Book a Flight with Continental Provided Onboard Medical Oxygen
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