We’re on our way for a vacation and are facing the challenges facing travelers dealing with serious illnesses or disabilities. My wife has trouble breathing from time to time. This means that she needs to have oxygen when we’re flying somewhere. She has trouble walking for long distances and she can’t walk quickly when she does walk. So, we need to arrange for oxygen and a wheelchair when we travel.
It used to be possible to rent oxygen cylinders from the airline. Although it was time consuming to go through their processes, it wasn’t too bad. It meant printing out the right form and having a Doctor fill in what was needed, sign it and fax it to the airline. Now, the airline we usually fly no longer offers oxygen to those who need it.
I guess they decided to lower their costs and bring in a third party to deal with this need. Now, it is necessary to print out a similar form and have the Doctor do his/her thing. We had to fill out a seven page form and call the third party several times to make sure that a machine, an oxygen concentrator would be available for us.
Since my wife can’t walk through the busy airport, we’ve arranged for a wheelchair. It is going to be interesting getting from gate to gate in Altanta’s overly busy airport in time for the next flight with our carry-on luggage, the oxygen concentrator and a wheelchair.
I’ll check back in with you in a few days.
