Book Your Oxygen with Confidence: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are a number of long-term medical conditions which are treated with medical oxygen. People with these conditions often long to travel and explore the world, wanting to make the most of their lives, but can sometimes feel that the issues that come with needing a regular and secure supply of portable oxygen solutions are insurmountable – or, simply too much trouble to be worth it.

And it is true that you cannot decide to travel on a whim when you have complex medical needs: traveling with medical oxygen requires proper planning and coordination with several different groups (customs and immigration, medical professionals both at home and in your destination country, and oxygen suppliers, for example). But it is perfectly possible and it’s not as tricky as you might at first think. And you can make it even easier by making a one-stop call to OxygenWorldwide who have a global network of trusted partners in over a hundred countries and over thirty years experience in medical oxygen delivery worldwide. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to arranging oxygen for travel, you have come to the right place as OxygenWorldwide ensures reliable oxygen delivery wherever you go, tailored to your specific needs. Here’s some information on how to book medical oxygen for travel.

The following tips and details will guide you as to how to book medical oxygen for travel, so that your travel experience is everything that you hoped it could be: filled with long days exploring your destination country and enjoying a hassle-free oxygen supply that is waiting for you when you need so you are never stressed or concerned that your oxygen will run out.

Step 1: Visit the OxygenWorldwide Enquiry Page

Click here to visit the official enquiry page: and carefully read through the questionnaire. Make sure you check the details in the red lettering as this deals with factors you need to be aware of, such as requiring valid prescriptions or being able to provide a local contact for your accommodations.

The form gathers key details about your specific oxygen needs, and you will have to provide your some personal details (name – there is space for two names, one being the person filling out the form, the other being the oxygen user – date of birth (of oxygen user), address, phone number and email address, and nationality of the oxygen user) as well as your planned travel itinerary and information about the oxygen you will need.

Pro-Tip: The earlier you fill in the form and make your travel oxygen request, the smoother your travel arrangements will be.

Step 2: Provide Key Travel and Oxygen Details

When it comes to your travel details, you must provide your destination, or series of destinations, in the order in which you will be traveling to those countries. As soon as your travel is confirmed, the dates of both travel and hotel or apartment accommodations should be locked in, so that supply lines can be arranged with local partners. Also confirm the methods by which you will be traveling: air, rail, sea or road, as there are different regulations about the carriage of various types of portable oxygen, and these must be taken into account in order for you to enjoy seamless access to the medical products that you need.

And speaking of those products, make sure you know what kind of oxygen supply you will a) be permitted to take/ use and b) be requiring to keep yourself in good health while away from home. The various types are:

Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC): these devices do not require you to carry filled oxygen cylinders with you, as they filter oxygen from the air. The air has a concentration of around 20% oxygen to 80% nitrogen, but a POC can filter off the nitrogen, leaving you with very nearly pure oxygen to breathe. POCs can be taken into a plane’s cabin and used while on the flight if needed (and it might be, as airplane air can be as low as 15% oxygen which can cause respiratory issues for some), but do make sure that you particular make and model is one of those permitted by your airline. If not, you can hire an acceptable model before you travel – just make sure that you know how to use it and are able to reset any alerts that might go off
Oxygen Cylinder: these are what most people think of when they think of portable oxygen, cylinders that look a little like gas bottles or scuba tanks, containing oxygen at up to 2,000 psi when full. They have regulators that control the flow of oxygen to the user, usually at around 50 psi. (By contrast, natural air is around 14 or 15 psi)
Liquid Oxygen (LOX): Liquid oxygen is a highly concentrated form of oxygen that has the appearance of a light blueish-green (cyan) fluid. As it is released from the holding tank, it ‘boils off’ into a gas, with one litre of liquid oxygen capable of becoming 860 litres of breathable oxygen

You must also let OxygenWorldwide know how much oxygen you need – your flow rate and for how many hours a day you use oxygen. This will help them to ensure that you receive enough oxygen for your needs while you are travelling. It is worth visiting your medical professionals before you travel to see if any adjustments to your oxygen usage will be necessary while you are away.

And, if applicable, you should have a copy of your repeat prescription for oxygen. Some countries will not supply oxygen without a valid prescription, so ensure that you have an up-to-date prescription with you, both while setting up the oxygen supply, and also when you are abroad.

You may be rolling your eyes at the thought of giving so much detail, but the more detailed you can be at this stage, the faster and more accurate your oxygen supply will be when you need while abroad. And providing all the information, in as much detail as you can, early on in the process means that you can tick it off your pre-travel checklist and get on with planning other aspects of your holiday instead.

Step 3: OxygenWorldwide Reviews and Confirms Your Request

Once you have submitted your form, it will be assessed by the OxygenWorldwide team, and they check their local suppliers list to see who is available in your chosen destination country or countries. Once the team has ascertained that your oxygen needs can be met and has pencilled in your needs with the local team, you will receive a confirmation email detailing the availability of the oxygen you need and letting you know what the next steps are.

This email will come through within a few business days, as we need to allow our local suppliers to check their stocks, order in new supplies if necessary, and then – once everything is ready to go – let OxygenWorldwide know that everything is ready for you. The response time will vary depending on your chosen destination and your specific oxygen needs.

Step 4: Finalising Your Oxygen Supply and Payment

OxygenWorldwide will send you a quotation for your oxygen supply while you’re away, and along with this will be extra pricing details and some payment options for you. Make your payment as soon as possible as this confirms your booking and ensures that the pencilled-in supply becomes firmly booked in your name, ready for your trip.

At this point, if you have not already done it, double-check your travel documents, ensuring that you have applied for (and hopefully received) any medical clearances you need, plus any additional documentation needed for traveling with oxygen. These are absolutely essential for some countries and/ or airlines, so do be sure you know exactly what you need and get your applications in asap – ignorance is never accepted as an excuse for not having the relevant paperwork.

Step 5: Oxygen Delivery and Travel Support

Before your trip, OxygenWorldwide will send you confirmation of the delivery arrangements that have been put in place for you. Check these carefully and if you need to make any changes, send through any last-minute adjustments as soon as you can.

When you are in transit, your previously arranged oxygen will be waiting for you, either at your destination or at previously established transit points, as arranged and confirmed in the run up to your travel.

Should something untoward occur while you are on your journey – one destination falls away, for example, or you decide to reverse the order of your travel for whatever reason – make use of OxygenWorldwide’s emergency number. It is manned around the clock, and a fix can be put into place within a surprisingly short time. However, always let us know of any changes as soon as you possibly can to ensure a smooth transition from one plan to the next.

Using OxygenWorldwide for your medical oxygen needs will soon have you understanding exactly why they are the best oxygen supplier for international travel – you will have complete peace of mind to enjoy your trip and make the most of the new scenery and wonderful cuisines sure in the knowledge that your medical oxygen needs are being taken care of behind the scenes, so to speak.

Why Book Your Oxygen Supply with OxygenWorldwide?

To recap the reasons you should book your oxygen from the best oxygen supplier for international travel: OxygenWorldwide has trusted partners in over 100 countries worldwide; they have many years of experience in providing for a range of oxygen needs – everything from larger tanks for longer-term static use to POCs for daily excursions delivered where and when it is needed; and they are au fait with all the medical oxygen logistics that need to be accounted for. Your oxygen will be supplied to where you need it: be it the plane or cruise that you are traveling on or the hotel or serviced apartment that you will be staying in for the duration of your visit. OxygenWorldwide can also source your oxygen as you tour through multiple destinations, ensuring that you breathe easy, no matter what. And, of course, there is that 24/7 emergency line so you can keep your oxygen flowing even if something goes awry with your travel plans.

While travel is never going to be unencumbered and spontaneous when you require a steady supply of medical oxygen, getting yourself ready to head off on an adventure doesn’t have to be stressful. OxygenWorldwide’s careful planning and detail oriented service makes it easy and reliable. If you’re ready to spread your wings a little, fill out the enquiry form at oxygenworldwide.com/en/contact/enquiries today, giving us as much information as possible.