Onboard medical oxygen

We don’t provide onboard medical oxygen except on flights between Guam (GUM) and Honolulu (HNL), Manila (MNL), Palau (ROR) and within Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. This service is temporarily suspended on flights between Guam (GUM) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT) and Honolulu (HNL). However, you may carry on board and use your own portable oxygen concentrators for all other flight segments. Learn more about bringing aboard a portable oxygen concentrator.

If there’s any question as to your ability to travel the duration of a flight without the use of medical oxygen, we may request documentation from a licensed medical physician to confirm that you can complete the flight safely and without the use of medical oxygen.

Liquid oxygen isn’t allowed on our aircraft unless it can be verified that the liquid oxygen unit is empty by way of a gauge or color indicator. You may transport an empty unit so long as the valve stays open throughout the flight. Compressed gas cylinders are allowed in checked bags or as a carry-on only if the regulator valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder is no longer sealed (i.e., the cylinder has an open end). The cylinder must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection inside.

A TSA exemption allows for supplemental personal medical oxygen and other respiratory-related equipment and devices (e.g., nebulizer, respirator) to go through the TSA screening checkpoint once they have been screened.

Guidelines for requesting medical oxygen

  • If you’re traveling to or from Micronesia, you need to make your request for inflight therapeutic oxygen a minimum of 48 hours before travel.
  • United provides inflight oxygen only.
  • An oxygen setup is required for each flight segment.
  • The cost of the inflight oxygen setup is $150 USD per flight segment.
  • 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.
  • The fee for stretcher services in Manila (MNL) is $80 USD.
  • For any flight on your itinerary serviced by another carrier, including United codeshare flights, please contact that carrier directly to request information on how to make oxygen arrangements. The United Customer Contact Center or your travel agent will identify these flights for you.

To request oxygen for travel between Guam, Honolulu, Manila, Palau, Micronesia and the Marshalls, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Contact the Guam medical desk at 1-671-645-8215 or email CMICRC@united.com; additionally, you may contact the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (+1-800-864-8331) in the U.S. or Canada, or your local United Customer Contact Center outside of the U.S. and Canada.
  2. Print the oxygen request form.
  3. Complete the Traveler section of the form.
  4. Have your physician complete the Physician section. It is your physician’s responsibility to sign and fax the form to United via the fax number provided on the form.

Information included on the fax is confidential. Your physician’s signature is consent for us to administer oxygen in the prescribed amount. We have the right to not board anyone who appears too ill to travel on their departure date.

Contact us

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (+1-800-864-8331) from the U.S. or Canada. If you’re outside of the U.S. and Canada, please call your local United Customer Contact Center.