ever use machine DURING flight?

[fishhead]

has anyone out there ever used their machine during on overnight plane flight? i have a long (presumably overnight) international flight later this week and have found some very useful comments posted about check-in, security, etc, but i didn;t notice if anyone actually used it.

i guess by even having to ask, i'm revealing how self-conscious i can be.

[sleepyprm]

I have not yet used it in flight, but I sat next to a man on an overseas flight who did, and he was the one who ultimately convinced me to get serious and use my machine regularly. He plugged it in to the DC plug provided in business class, and slept like a baby while I tossed and turned in the seat, getting no rest at all. I still have not used it myself, and I fly internationally several times per year. I'm self-conscious too, but I need to get over it. I hope you go for it, and come back to us upon your return with a great, positive experience. Good luck to you and let us know!!!!

[Muse-Inc]

You must have prior written persmission from the airline to use it in-flight. Too, check their power sources unless you got the battery we urged you to get.

[fishhead]

You must have prior written persmission from the airline to use it in-flight. Too, check their power sources unless you got the battery we urged you to get.

ooohhh... good to know. as soon as we have our itinerary, i will have to call them. and yes, i did get the battery back-up. the more i got thinking about it, this is NOT a trip that i want marred by a bad night's sleep that could result in a migraine, fatigue, or just a plain bad attitude. it's our 20th wedding anniversary and i really want us to enjoy it!

[Muse-Inc]

Congrats! I'm glad ya got the battery, should make the trip even better. Take pics and post afterwards, doubt I'll ever get there so pics would be fun.

[billbolton]

has anyone out there ever used their machine during on overnight plane flight?

Yes.

Both QANTAS and British Airways have no problems with you using a xPAP machine in flight as long as you run off your own (not too large) battery packs. For other airlines, its a bit hit and miss about whether the flight crew will react or not to use of an xPAP in flight. There were some relatively recent FAA regulation changes which should make it easier to use xPAP in flight, however, my advice is to NEVER EVER argue with inflight air crew if they are insistant that you don't do something.

For a wide variety of reasons sleeping on an aircraft can be problematic in any case, so my advice is to not rely on being able to actually use your xPAP in flight even if the airline doen't have any problems with you trying to use it. If possible, it's best to plan your travel itinerary with recovery time in it, in case sleeping on the aircraft just doesn't work out.

Cheers,

Bill

[fishhead]

Congrats! I'm glad ya got the battery, should make the trip even better. Take pics and post afterwards, doubt I'll ever get there so pics would be fun.

thank you! we're gone for over 3 weeks, but when we get back i'll be sure to post a few pictures.

and who knows, you might get there yourself one day. a wise person once said: "never, never, never, never say never"!

[Muse-Inc]

...who knows, you might get there yourself one day. a wise person once said: "never, never, never, never say never"!

[tillymarigold]

I've used it on a BMI (British Midland) Flight.

Unfortunately somehow the signals got crossed and even though I had called ahead, the flight attendants woke me up to ask what it was! But they were perfectly okay with my using it. The noise isn't really audible over the noise of the airplane. I put it between my feet and ran the hose up between my legs and up my chest.

[fishhead]

There were some relatively recent FAA regulation changes which should make it easier to use xPAP in flight, however, my advice is to NEVER EVER argue with inflight air crew if they are insistant that you don't do something.

For a wide variety of reasons sleeping on an aircraft can be problematic in any case, so my advice is to not rely on being able to actually use your xPAP in flight even if the airline doen't have any problems with you trying to use it. If possible, it's best to plan your travel itinerary with recovery time in it, in case sleeping on the aircraft just doesn't work out.

Cheers,

Bill

thanks, bill. very good advice. as soon as we have finalized our travel plans i will contact the airline to find out what their policy on xPAP use is. i would like to travel during the day thursday (when typically the airports are empty). hopefully, we'll arrive at our hotel a decent hour.

[Davidwnc]

You must have prior written persmission from the airline to use it in-flight. Too, check their power sources unless you got the battery we urged you to get.

That varies by airline. Some require it, some don't. Check with the airline you are flying (and make sure you are checking with the correct airline if your flight is a codeshare) to see what their individual policy is.

Each year I transatlantic several times and have often used it. I have learned that once I board the airplane I let one of the FA's who will be working in my area know that I will be using it and I also let them know it is just normal air it uses, not bottled oxigen (as that is what they seem most concerned about.)

I don't use a battey, I use a DC adaptor (I don't want to lug around a battery during my whole trip.) Unless you are flying Business/First Class you will need to check to see if your seat offers DC outlet - again check with your airline, they should have seatmaps of the aircraft online. I fly American most often and know which seats to assign myself so that I have power available (I will always put myself in a seat with power, that way if I am not running my cpap I can power my laptop....)

I've never had a problem (so far) using it inflight, but in as all things, YMMV.

[billbolton]

I've never had a problem (so far) using it inflight, but in as all things, YMMV.

At seat power is something of a pot-luck matter.

The under seat power units in most aircraft supply two or three adjacent seats, so if you are the only one of the seats on the common power unit that is actually drawing energy from the power unit, then you might be OK...... but if the passengers in the other seats on the same power unit want to draw power at the same time, you could well fine there is not enough power available to run an xPAP at any pressure level.

Also am at-seat power unit fault is a minor issue for an airline, and it not uncommon to find dead outlets on several seats that should have at-seat power, on any filght.

My own experience of unreliable access to at-seat power across several airlines is what drove me to use my own battery power packs, which I knew I could rely on.

Cheers,

Bill

[Jay K]

I've used an APAP three times on overnight flights, twice on American Airlines while flying first class and once on either Iberia or JAL (can't remember which) in business class. I didn't ask the airline for advance permission but did tell the flight attendant responsible for my area what I was doing. I used the power provided next to the seat in each instance.

The main problem with using a machine during flight is both finding room for it and not disturbing neighbors. Generally, I only use the machine on international first-class flights where there is no seat next to mine, or international business class when the adjacent seat is unoccupied. Whether I will get up the nerve to use it when I have a neighbor immediately next to me remains to be seen, although I am hesitant to do this for a variety of reasons, among them protecting the equipment from getting stepped on or otherwise damaged, and concerns about bothering my neighbor.

I would be interested in whether anyone who failed to inform the airline in advance of their intention to use a CPAP machine was then prohibited from doing so during the flight. As indicated above, I did not have that problem during my three recent flights, although three flights is not enough to generalize from.

[Davidwnc]

At seat power is something of a pot-luck matter.

I guess it can be, but I have never had a problem. I always put myself in a bank of 2 seats that one of the seats have the power (you can find this out either by checking the seat maps of your airline – or codeshare airline, or by going to seatguru.com or seatexpert.com) and as of yet have never had a problem with someone wanting to share it. But part of that is that unlike most frequent flyers who come equipped ready to use the power source for their gadgets, I prefer to be about as far back in the aircraft as possible, and it’s never been a problem. If it ever becomes a problem I might at that point consider carrying the battery, but I would probably have to be out of luck several times before I considered lugging a battery around. Again, YMMV.

The main problem with using a machine during flight is both finding room for it and not disturbing neighbors. Generally, I only use the machine on international first-class flights where there is no seat next to mine, or international business class when the adjacent seat is unoccupied. Whether I will get up the nerve to use it when I have a neighbor immediately next to me remains to be seen, although I am hesitant to do this for a variety of reasons, among them protecting the equipment from getting stepped on or otherwise damaged, and concerns about bothering my neighbor.

As a general rule most of my flights are international, but sadly, normally I fly peasant class. I usually sit by the window (then I have a place to lean my head) and either put the machine on the floor between my feet and the wall (my feet, the wall, and my carryon prevent it from moving) or I put it on the tray table (with my arms sort of around it to prevent it from moving.) As a general rule I give my seatmate what it is (a 5 second explanation like – ‘I have sleep apnea, which means I stop breathing when I sleep, and this just blows air in my nose so that I continue to breathe’) and the usual reaction is that they are just glad that I am not going to die on them!

[Uncle_Bob]

I fly Phoenix to London overnight in cattle class once a year. I give my CPAP the night off.