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Generally the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits the use of personal oxygen units during flight because they contain compressed gas or liquid oxygen which are defined as hazardous material. However, the FAA has recently issued guidelines permitting the onboard use of certain portable oxygen concentrators.
Effective Sept. 5, 2006, portable oxygen concentrators (POC), approved by the FAA may be carried and used on board Continental flights worldwide, at no charge, in accordance with specific FAA guidelines.
Note: When connecting to or from any other airline, including codeshare flights other than those operated by Continental Express, Continental Connection or Continental Micronesia, the customer is responsible for notifying and making independent arrangements directly with the other airline. The current FAA authorization enables, but does not require, airlines to accept POCs. Some airlines may not accept them or may require a fee. Please note that not all Continental Connection carriers permit use of oxygen concentrators and/or only accept specific types. Contact Continental Reservations at 800.525.0280 for acceptance.
Currently, specific POCs approved by the FAA are:
- The Airsep "Lifestyle," manufactured by the Airsep corporation
- The Inogen One, manufactured by the Inogen corporation
- The Airsep "Freestyle", manufactured by the Airsep corporation
- SeQual Eclipse, or SeQual Eclipse 2, manufactured by SeQual Technologies Inc.
- Respironics Evergo, manufactured by Respironics Inc.
Other POC brands and models may be carried in the cabin with the batteries removed, if they meet Continental's carry-on size and weight requirements, or they may be transported as checked baggage. Continental may accept other models for use on board in the future as they become approved by the FAA.
Please note that aircraft in-seat electrical power is not available for portable oxygen concentrators. Therefore, customers must have an ample supply of fully charged batteries plus 3 hours of extra battery time for the flight.
Some seating restrictions may be necessary to comply with certain FAA safety rules.
Portable oxygen concentrators are considered assistive devices. They do not count toward carry-on limits, whether or not they are used on board. They must be able to fit underneath the seat or in an overhead compartment.
Customers wishing to use a POC on board must satisfy the following requirements prior to boarding the aircraft:
- The customer must notify Continental he or she is planning to use a POC on board the aircraft.
- The customer must have a signed written doctor's statement. Continental suggests printing the Medical Verification Statement (PDF: 32KB) available on this website.
- The doctor's statement must:
- State the user of the POC has the physical and cognitive ability to see, hear and understand the device's aural and visual cautions and warnings and is able, without assistance, to take appropriate action in response to those cautions and warnings
- State whether or not oxygen use is medically necessary for all or a portion of the flight(s) listed on the customer's itinerary
- Specify the maximum oxygen flow rate in liters per minute corresponding to the pressure in the cabin of the aircraft under normal operating conditions
- State the expected total operating time (duration) of the POC in hours and minutes
- Be reviewed at the airport prior to boarding and must be kept by the customer and provided upon request to Continental personnel at any time during travel
- The customer must ensure that he or she has ample batteries to power the POC for the duration of the flight, any ground connection time where the POC is planned to be used, plus 3.0 additional hours to allow for unanticipated delays. Continental does not have electrical power available for customer use on most of its aircraft.
- The customer must ensure that all extra batteries are properly protected from short circuiting by having recessed battery terminals or by packaging the batteries so they do not contact metal objects, including the terminals of other batteries.
Medical Verification Statement
(PDF: 32KB)
Customers needing medical oxygen should advise the airline of their oxygen requirement when making reservations with Continental. Customers needing medical oxygen who make reservations with a travel agent or on the Internet are strongly encouraged to contact Continental Reservations in advance of travel to ensure that Continental has all the necessary information and can assist the customer in meeting travel requirements. Failure to meet the requirements will result in denied use of the POC during travel. Customers in the U.S. can contact the Oxygen Desk directly at 800.228.2744.
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