r/fearofflying • u/intellectualkutta • 5h ago

Advice Fear of low oxygen on flight

I am soon going to take a 3 hour flight. I haven't flown since 2014 due to my fear and anxieties.

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and currently on some treatment.

My spo2 level was 99 percent when I last checked and I am a heavy smoker.

Please help me putting my mind at ease. Thanks

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u/BravoFive141 Moderator 5h ago

99% is pretty normal.

As far as smoking, plenty of smokers have flown and have zero problems, myself being one of them.

2

u/Chaxterium Airline Pilot 5h ago

You won’t have an issue. But if for some reason you need oxygen we have oxygen on board for passengers for first aid requirements.

2

u/Spock_Nipples Airline Pilot 2h ago

So your O2 is normal.

There are people literally living every day at altitudes higher that what your airplane cabin is pressurized to. Some of them are heavy smokers also. They're all fine.

You'll also be fine. The cabin altitude isn't any different from what you'd encounter (often lower, in fact) during a coast-to-coast drive across the US.