Patients with respiratory disease regularly seek the convenience of commercial airline travel. In addition to the stresses that all patients with chronic disease encounter, these patients are exposed to the affects of acute altitudinal hypoxemia. This in turn has the potential to produce significant symptoms and complications in-flight for patients with chronic respiratory disease. This article reviews the current literature, and seeks to help the practicing physician by providing recommendations on which patients should be assessed preflight, the type of assessment that should be carried out and recommendations for providing advice to these travelling patients.