I'd ask him to check with his doc and abide with that...

Dennis

If only it were that easy!!! he is stubborn. I asked him to ask his doctor and his response was "If I wasn't supposed to fly, he would have told me, wether I ask or not. I have flown with COPD before." and then he gets annoyed with me for worrying. OY!

We can be stubborn. If he doesn't get SOB at altitude (cabin pressure is usually kept around 8000 ft equivalent) then he should be OK. But he is wrong - doctors will only tell you things if you ask.

Im currently looking into a long haul flight philippines to australia via singapore...im not on oxygen even though my fev1 is at 23%

the airlines want a medical done by their doctors....the general rule of thumb is if your normal oxygen sats dont fall below 88% during normal activity they will let you fly.

its still a big chance on your part n something im really not sure about..

I asked my pulmonologiest the last time I was in to see him if it was safe for me to fly (severe COPD) and if a short flight versus a long flight made a difference. This is what he told me. He said that 'people with COPD are prone to having collaped lungs. You never know when it's going to happen. Sometimes it happens when you are on a plane. Could just as easily happened when you were on the ground. Collapsed lungs just happen to some people with COPD. It's the only complication you have to worry about.'

I am by no means an expert but he is and those were his words. So I said, but what about cabin pressure and altitude and he said 'No'. End of our discussion, lol.

I also take a portable oxygen conentrator with me. I didn't for years.

I have flown s far as Australia and was on oxygen all the way there and back. The cabin oxygen level is somewhat low, so if you are already SOB, it could worsen it.
And you do not want to be 35000 feet in the air and have an sob episode. He might could do 4 hours, but I would bet it would make him worse, because his o2 level will drop.
He needs to see the doctor, and get medical clearence before he flys. The doctor can also preform an Altitude test to see if he can be ok on just cabin air.
If not, he has to have oxygen, or run the risk of having a serious problem,
Ask him to get of his hiney and if he is so sure he can fly ok, go to the doctor and prove it to you!!! He will probably be in for a big surprise, but if he values his life he needs to get that medical clearance, and quit doing the doctor's job by saying he is all right!!! lol
Good luck with it, and also, tell him seeing the lung doctor and having that test is just a precaution, I was only on O2 at night when I flew to Australia (20 hours) . The doctor gave me the alitude test and when it reached cabin level, my oxygen level dropped way down to 80, which can be deadly. It is a simple breathing test where he will be breathing room air then cabin type air.
Brenda

He should be fine sabrina Sounds like your letting yourself get worked up over your dad but thats not going to help him get through his illness.Just be there for him.Sounds like he's doing fine.