Question about Travel with CPAP

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VABeach
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Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by VABeach » Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:57 pm

I will be going out of the country for a week of vacation and plan to take my CPAP machine with me as a carry-on bag. I have read the TSA website and I know that the CPAP will be checked separately.

I remember reading somewhere, but I don't recall where, that it is recommended that you have your RX for the CPAP. Has anyone recently traveled out of the country, in particular the (Carribbean) with their CPAP as a carry-on? If so, did you need your RX at any point during your trip?

Thank you in advance for any help.

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LinkC
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by LinkC » Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:23 pm

I've not been to the Caribbean recently, but I have flown to Canada a couple of times with CPAP (and plenty of flights within the US). I've never needed a 'script. I think the Security folks are all pretty familiar with CPAPs and recognize the bags in most cases.

I dunno if it ever helped, but I've always had a Medical Equipment tag on my CPAP bag.

That being said, if (God forbid) you had to replace any equipment while down there, your 'script would sure come in handy...

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Davidwnc
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by Davidwnc » Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:58 pm

VABeach wrote:Has anyone recently traveled out of the country, in particular the (Carribbean) with their CPAP as a carry-on? If so, did you need your RX at any point during your trip?
Highly doubtful that you would need it, but it would probably depend on the country involved. The only Carribbean countries I have been to since starting CPAP are Barbados and the Bahamas. I didn't need it at either of those.

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Gerryk
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by Gerryk » Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:30 pm

I keep a copy of my script and the letter from my doc stating that I will need to use this equipment for the rest of my life in my cpap bag. Someone had told me to do it when traveling to prevent the rare problem.
With the recent posts about forgetting something for cpap at home, I would suggest doing a search for a DME or someplace you can get supplies if needed for where you are traveling. Write their number, email and address down and put it in your cpap bag. Also double check your equipment before you go.

Enjoy your trip

Gerry

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yardbird
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by yardbird » Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:12 pm

Canada, Bahamas, St Lucia, never needed a script. My CPAP goes aboard the plane with me as carry-on and it apparently doesn't count as carry on because it's medical equipmebnt. I carry it in the carry bag it came with. It does get examined by hand. Don't be afraid to say, "Excuse me... fresh gloves please?" Never had an issue. I think they see these things all the time.

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Davidwnc
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by Davidwnc » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:11 am

yardbird wrote: My CPAP goes aboard the plane with me as carry-on and it apparently doesn't count as carry on because it's medical equipmebnt.
While it does not count against your arry on limit in the US, that's not necessarily true everywhere else in the world.
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bearded_two
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by bearded_two » Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:41 am

If you are flying on a US flag airline, you won't have any problem with the CPAP not counting toward your carry-on limit. If you are traveling to an American or British Caribbean Islands or to any of the major destinations, you won't have any problem with clearing security/customs/immigrations, and some may not even bother taking the machine out of the bag. If you are traveling by ship, you probably won't be taking your CPAP off of the ship. Airport security at any of the Caribbean destinations will know about CPAP machines, and customs is usually just looking for drugs and possibly tobacco. Bermuda is weird because the International airport is on US soil, it is part of a lease agreement that came about during WWII.

I have flown or traveled by water to several Caribbean countries, and security/customs at none of them had a problem with my CPAP, although a couple have asked if it was a breathing machine. I have traveled to some of the smaller Caribbean islands by water and there was no immigrations or customs.

If you are going to travel on a small commuter airplane between islands, you may not be able to carry anything larger than a purse on board with you. Medical equipment is not exempt from this rule; your CPAP will be checked and claimed plane-side and it will be placed in a carry-on luggage compartment. This is an exception to the "never check your CPAP" rule.

You won't need any documentation for your CPAP, but I always carry a copy of my prescription with my in my pocket when I travel, just in case I should need to buy or rent equipment when I am traveling.

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Patrick A
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by Patrick A » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:40 am

I do not fly on any airline. I don't like the seats. I also can drive to where I go for far less than an airline ticket in my truck. (even @ $4.00 a gallon) I do always travel with two machines complete (2 masks,2 hoses, 2 power cords AC/DC, Etc. etc.) So when you travel think about carrying a back up machine, Oh I also always take my battery pack with me. (just in case of power outages)one reason I do not fly is I don't like paying for luggage fee's.

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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by Davidwnc » Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:07 pm

Patrick A wrote:one reason I do not fly is I don't like paying for luggage fee's.
I don't like paying them either...that's why I always make sure I maintain elite status with the airline I fly the most - that way they get waived for me!
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WULFGANG

Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by WULFGANG » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:49 pm

Carrying 2 machines, spare parts and batteries is fine for travel within the borders of your continent.
Some of us travel to intercontinental destinations.
Pretty hard to drive to Europe from the USA.
Regarding luggage fees; learn to "travel light".
No checked luggage = no luggage fees.
I travel for two weeks every year to Europe and live out of one carry-on bag.
I wash my clothes when they get dirty and hang them up to dry overnight.
CPAP machine parts can be purchased in Europe if necessary.
I carry one CPAP, one mask and one battery.

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bearded_two
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by bearded_two » Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:29 am

I carry a mask in my CPAP bag and a spare in my checked luggage -- it doesn't weigh anything and it could come in handy.

dtsm
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Re: Question about Travel with CPAP

Post by dtsm » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:29 am

1. Luggage tag for your cpap carry-on. You can buy on
cpap.comhttps://www.cpap.com/productpage/medical-identi ... pment.html

2. Print out copy of TSA guidelines as backup proof that it doesn't count as extra luggage
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

3. Bring a copy of your Rx - to show TSA or in case you need to purchase equipment while away

See also
TSA treatment
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43363&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... tsa+letter


4. Gear to take along include extra hose, filters, mask and power gear (see below - including extension cord, adapters)

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Interna ... 78&sr=8-13
http://www.amazon.com/All-One-Travel-Po ... 278&sr=8-1

Belkin makes a nice small travel size surge protector if you decide to bring one: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... elkin+mini
For 220V, try this: http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/surge.htm

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