Arranging for medical oxygen involves a partnership between our customers, their physicians and United representatives.
Advance planning is required to make oxygen arrangements when traveling. United accepts requests for in-flight therapeutic oxygen anytime after the reservation is made, provided the request is made a minimum of 48 hours prior to travel.
If you wish to bring a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) onboard, please see our Portable oxygen concentrator page.
Oxygen request information
- An oxygen setup is required for each flight. United provides in-flight oxygen at a reasonable service charge per oxygen setup. Setup fees are listed below.
- United provides in-flight oxygen only. If you require oxygen during ground connections, please contact an oxygen vendor. We suggest you work with your physician to determine the most appropriate arrangements.
- Oxygen is not available on United Express® flights.
- For any flight on your itinerary serviced by another carrier, including United code-share flights, please contact that carrier directly to request information on how to make oxygen arrangements. United Reservations or your travel agent will identify these flights for you.
Oxygen setup fees
For travel within the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Puerto Rico, the fee is as follows:
Tickets purchased
on or after August 21, 2008 |
| $125 USD per flight segment |
For oxygen setup fees relating to international travel, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) from the U.S. or Canada. If you are outside of the U.S. and Canada, please visit United worldwide contacts.
View oxygen setup fees for tickets purchased before August 21, 2008.
Requesting oxygen
To request oxygen, you must complete the following steps:
- Download and print the Oxygen request form (97 KB). Please note: You will need Adobe Reader (free download) to view and print the form.
- Complete the Passenger section on the Oxygen request form.
- Have your physician complete the Physician section on the Oxygen request form. It is your physician’s responsibility to sign and fax the form to United via the fax number listed on the form.
Information included on the fax is confidential. Your physician’s signature is United’s authorization to administer oxygen in the prescribed amount. United retains the right to decline boarding to anyone that appears too ill to travel on his or her departure date.
Personal oxygen container guidelines
There are two different regulations regarding personal oxygen, depending upon how it is housed or formulated:
- Compressed oxygen (O2) can be carried on or checked, provided the cylinder is empty and packed in a carton, but its use is forbidden onboard.
- Liquid oxygen is forbidden under all circumstances; it cannot be carried on or checked, even if the container is empty. Please contact United Cargo for transportation options.
Contact us
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) from the U.S. or Canada. If you are outside of the U.S. and Canada, please visit United worldwide contacts.
