Originally Posted by
Rollingthunder
Do tell how you can justify £660 $1200 , while we provide this at no charge.
Your Company may provide it at no charge, but that doesn't mean it provides it at no cost (to itself).
O2 for use on board aircraft is not the same as O2 that patients can purchase at medical supply centres. The bottle itself is designed to for use on board aircraft and is VERY expensive. Use of a passengers own O2 is not permitted. True, they can be (and are) reused but even the transport of 'empty' bottles is strictly regulated. I don't think they can be carried in the hold of passenger aircraft. (Do you remember ValueJet's crash into the everglades?) The bottle must be secured properly for take-off & landing, be of the proper pressure for the patient (everyone, apparently, is different). I'm only touching the basics, there are a lot of significant costs in this process.
In the case of KLM O2 would be required on four flights.
It is 'nice' that this seriously ill passenger could travel to swim with the dolphins I would be more sympathetic if the passenger was required to travel for medical care and had no alternative.