Airline Special Services
With increased attention to passengers with disabilities, many special
services are offered on major air carriers. For example, special meals are
generally available. In addition, wheel chairs and trolley service within the airport
can be requested. Finally, early boarding is usually available to passengers with
ambulatory difficulties.
As more passengers use air travel for business or leisure purposes, a
growing demand for inflight medical oxygen can be expected. Some airlines will
provide oxygen (for a fee), while others will not. The availability and costs will
vary from airline to airline worldwide, each subject to its own national and
company policies. Hence, passengers who require medical oxygen should
contact the airline as far in advance of their journey as possible in order to make
proper arrangements. Passengers should be cautioned that those airlines that do
provide oxygen usually only do so inflight. If oxygen is also required in the airport
preflight or while waiting for connections, arrangements can sometimes be made
with oxygen vendors. Therefore, a traveler cannot always count on having
oxygen continuously available from point of origin to destination.