Travelling with oxygen

If you need medical oxygen during your flight, please note the following before you travel:

• Your medical practitioner will need to complete and sign a travel clearance form (PDF)Opens in a new tab or window, indicating your fitness for travel in accordance with our travel clearance guidelines.
• You must either fax (+61 2 9490 1830) or email the completed form to Qantas Special Handling at least 72 hours before your intended travel.
• If you don't have an approved travel clearance form you may be denied boarding.
• You (and or your carer) must know how to operate the equipment and ensure there is sufficient oxygen and battery life for the duration of your flight (including unscheduled delays).
• Except for medical emergencies, our cabin crew cannot provide inflight treatment.

Passengers may use portable oxygen concentrators onboard our aircraft. These devices may be both battery and electrically powered.

For a list of accepted devices, refer to the list of Qantas authorised medical equipment (PDF)Opens in a new tab or window.

Note: we don't supply oxygen concentrators for passenger use on any flights.

If your device uses lithium batteries:

• there are no restrictions on their carriage if they’re under 101Wh;
• they require a dangerous goods operator (airline) approval which can be obtained at check-in or email dangerous goods if they’re between 101-160Wh; and 
• only two spares are permitted if using lithium batteries between 101-160Wh.

All Qantas accepted devices, with the exception of the InoGen One, use lithium batteries under 101Wh. These therefore don't require dangerous goods operator (airline) approval.

If your device requires aircraft power to operate, you must advise Qantas Special Handling when submitting your completed Qantas travel clearance form (PDF)Opens in a new tab or window.

Not all aircraft have power outlets suitable for these devices, however every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.

Should your day-to-day use of an oxygen concentrator exceed 80%, the device may not be sufficient for international travel and supplementary oxygen may be required.

Only 2 spare lithium batteries may be taken on board.

We can supply oxygen onboard selected international flights. See information below regarding oxygen and international flights.

If you require oxygen, you may either supply your own cylinders (subject to strict criteria) or book a Qantas supplied cylinder/s (subject to a fee being charged).

We recommend using Qantas supplied oxygen on international flights, as it's impractical  to carry and stow the number of cylinders required for long sectors.

If travelling with your own oxygen cylinders, you must comply with the following requirements:

• portable oxygen cylinders must be obtained and regularly maintained by one of the following approved suppliers:
  BOC: 1800 050 999 (within Australia)
  Air Liquide: 1300 360 202 (within Australia)
  Supagas: 13 77 22 (witin Australia)
  Coregas: 1800 807 203 - hospital supplied only (within Australia)

• each cylinder must weigh no more than 5kgs (typically up to size C);
• oxygen cylinders may be carried in carry-on baggage only;
• if more than 1 cylinder is required inflight, each cylinder must have its own regulator fitted;
• the cylinder and regulator must be fully protected by a sturdy container;
• liquid oxygen may not be carried.

Qantas supplied oxygen cylinders must be booked at least five days in advance of the flight (except for flights to or from the USA where oxygen can be requested up to 72 hours before the flight) by contacting Qantas Special Handling:

• phone (within Australia) +61 2 8222 2651; or
  
• email Qantas Special Handling
• fax +61 2 9490 1830; or
• contact us for assistance with your specific needs.

When requesting Qantas supplied oxygen, provide us with the following information:

• the flow rate of oxygen you require, and whether it must be continuous or intermittent;
• whether you are travelling alone or with an assistant or carer.

While we'll make every effort to accommodate requests received less than five days before travel, we can't guarantee you'll be able to travel on your scheduled flight (except for flights to or from the USA).

Qantas supplied oxygen cylinders are not available on:

• QantasLink Australian domestic flights (flight numbers QF1400 - 2899);
• Qantas flights operated by Finnair (flight numbers: QF291-299); and
  
• international flights operated by partner airlines.

If an additional seat is required to accommodate your oxygen (whether your own or Qantas supplied), you'll need to pay for that additional seat. Note: on all flights operated by Boeing 737 aircraft, an additional seat will be required for Qantas supplied oxygen, even for a single cylinder.

If your oxygen cylinders can be accommodated without requiring an additional seat, there is no charge for bringing your own oxygen, but a fee* applies for Qantas supplied oxygen. The fees for Qantas supplied oxygen are:

• A$110 (incl GST) per cylinder on domestic flights.
• A$100 per cylinder on international flights (and A$110 (incl GST) per cylinder for passengers on domestic flights that connect to or from an international service).