Medications and Medical Oxygen

Medications

Please visit the TSA's web site for instructions and allowable medication in carryon baggage.

Medical Oxygen

Southwest is not equipped to transport or provide medical oxygen or other hazardous materials and/or contained gas, either in the passenger cabin or as cargo or baggage. Any Customer who requires a constant supply of compressed or liquid medical oxygen cannot travel on Southwest Airlines. If there is a question as to a Customer’s ability to travel the duration of a flight without the use of medical oxygen, we may request documentation from a licensed physician to verify that the Customer can complete the flight safely and without the use of medical oxygen.

Liquid oxygen cannot be carried onboard our aircraft. If a liquid oxygen unit is empty (and contains a gauge or color indicator verifying the unit is empty), then the unit can be transported, as long as the valve remains open.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators

While Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) devices may be brought onboard our flights, in accordance with Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 106, 14 CFR Part 121, only the AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, and SeQual Technology Eclipse POC models are approved for use during flight.

AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, and SeQual Technology Eclipse POC Conditions that Must Be Met:

The POC may only be used in its battery-operated mode. Southwest Airlines does not have electrical outlets onboard for commercial product use.
To be used onboard the aircraft, the AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, and SeQual Technology Eclipse POCs must have a label attached indicating that it has been approved for use in aircraft.
The Customer must have a sufficient number of fully charged batteries to cover the duration of the flight and anticipated delays, plus one extra battery for unanticipated delays. Extra batteries must be packaged for carryon in a manner to prevent short circuit. Battery terminals must either be recessed or packaged so as to prevent contact with metal objects, including terminals of other batteries.
The Customer must have a letter from his/her physician on letterhead with an issue-date of no more than one year prior to flight departure date. You may have your physician draft his/her own letter or have your physician select the link and print and fill out our Physician Consent Form. (This document will only be accepted if it is printed on the physician's letterhead.)

Regardless of which option you choose, the physician's letter must state:
1. whether the user is able to operate the device and recognize and respond appropriately to its alarms, and if not, that the user is traveling with a companion who is able to perform these functions
2. the phases of the flight (taxi, takeoff, cruise, landing) during which use of the device is medically necessary, and
3. the maximum flow rate corresponding to the pressure in the cabin under normal operating conditions. (Cabins are pressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet.)

Making Reservations:

At the time the reservation is made, the Customer must inform our Reservations Sales Agent (RSA) of the intended use of the POC and the model of POC to be used.
If booking through a travel agent, the Customer should call (800) I-FLY-SWA after the reservation is made.
Customers also may indicate the intended use of the POC when booking travel via southwest.com.

At the Airport:

The Customer using the AirSep FreeStyle, AirSep LifeStyle, Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, or SeQual Technology Eclipse POC must check in by receiving a boarding pass and arrive at the departure gate no less than 45 minutes prior to departure. The Customer must then see a Customer Service Agent to receive a Preboarding Sleeve and Notice to Preboarding Customers.
Prior to boarding, the Southwest Airlines Operations Agent will verify the POC model, physician’s letter, and number and packaging of batteries.
Although preboarding is not required, we strongly suggest that Customers using POCs in the aircraft board with the Preboarding Group. Note: Customers who do not make themselves available for preboarding in order to secure an aircraft seat that meets FAA safety requirements may be denied boarding or rebooked on an alternate flight to their destination in order to be seated appropriately. While we will make every attempt to accommodate a Customer using a POC who does not preboard, we will not delay the aircraft to reseat Customers.

Onboard the Aircraft:

In accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Regulations, the Customer using an approved POC must be seated in a seat closest to the window than any other Customer in that row. In many situations, the Customer using the approved POC must be seated in a window seat to comply with the Safety Regulations.
Approved POCs that will be used during any phase of flight must be stowed completely underneath the seat in front of the Customer using the POC. As a result, the Customer may not be seated in a bulkhead seat.
Pursuant to FAA Safety Regulations, a Customer using a POC may not occupy an emergency exit seat.

Vendors that Rent Some or All of the Above Approved POCs:

Advanced Aeromedical
3429 Chandler Creek Road, #102
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
24-hour toll-free: (800) 346-3556
International: (757) 481-1590
Fax: (757) 481-2874
http://aeromedic.com/rentals.html

Oxygen To Go
“Oxygen when and where you need it.”
For rentals: toll-free 866-692-0040
For medical information: toll-free 888-362-4321 via Board Certified physicians. (For OxygenToGo customers.)
For fax: toll-free 866-903-9709
Web: http://www.oxygentogo.com
Email: info@oxygentogo.com
Please mention that you were referred by Southwest Airlines in order to receive a discount.
OxygenToGo agents and physicians are available at any time of day, every day of the year.

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