Valerie, I would ask for the six minute walk test. If you have your own oximetger, use it when you get so breathless and see what's going on. If your O2 sats are down at 88 or below, you need O2. To increase it, you need to have that six minute walk test, and you need to walk as quickly as you can so you get good and breathless and demonstrate that your sats go down.

Oxygen in airplane is set to 8000 feet which gives us about 20% less oxygen. I would carry a small portable oxygen concentrator with plenty of battery backup. Maintain %Oxy at 90+ with the concentrator.
Buy an oxygen finger monitor from Walmart at 35$ and check your %SpO2 next time you fly.
I know if I go to the mountains above Charlotte I start to have a problem at 3500 feet elevation.
Tell you doctor he needs to be with you on flight if he is going to make a statement about oxygen level.
And Jean is right, the quick walk test is the best indicator.

PS: I am on my fifth pulmonologist before I found a pretty good one.

Ask your doc to give you the High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST). That will help both of you determine whether you need O2 for flying. My guess is that if you desaturate that badly when up and moving, you probably do need O2 for flying, but that's just my guess. I fly with O2 all the time, and while my POC can keep me oxygenated nicely while I'm seated, I have to turn it up to the max in order to go to the restroom.

Ask your pulmonologist to do a six minute walk with you and see how your O2 sats are during the test. You are quite likely normal after you've been sitting in the room waiting for him. That's NOT a good test for O2 sats for someone with COPD.

Get your own oximeter and carry it with you the next time you fly. You can see exactly what your O2 levels are doing. Then talk with your doc about what you found.

Thanks for your input, Dragon40. All good ideas!

I've read that the Boeing 787 and Airbus 350 have the best cabin pressure, around 6,000 ft., but haven't tested either plane. They're mostly available on international flights, though.

Hi Andreajoan, have you had a full pulmonary function test with a 6 min walk test? Also, next time you fly, take a pulse oxymeter with you to check your levels.