Need advice for flying and carrying CPAP machine

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Never had much issues with TSA or the carriers (US or European); sometimes they've gone as far as to test it for explosives, but was never given trouble bringing it to the plane. Just make sure that you ask TSA ahead of time (before you enter the line) what they want you to do with the machine (from nothing to take it out and hand it to them for testing).

McSleepy

I've flown all over with mine and never had a problem. I got asked about it once when flying out of Morocco - I think the airline was British Airways. The agent wanted to charge me for the "extra carry on." I told him it was medical equipment and didn't count and he let it go - possibly because he was unsure of where he stood.

I keep the bag beneath my chair and never in the overhead compartment (you just can't be sure it'll be secure).

As other posters have noted, most airport staff seem to see CPAPs all the time.

Julie wrote:Don't ever, ever check it as 'baggage' - it's likely to get lost, but is allowed in the plane with you and not counted as carry-on.

I'm flying with British Airways soon. They don't allow CPAPs to be checked in, it has to be a carry on. Listed as a no no under the batteries section.

Which begs the question if i want to take an additional CPAP machine home for a family member to use am i allowed two free carry on CPAPs?

~UB

I have flown all over the world with my CPAP machine without a problem. I don't carry a prescription, and I don't use a Medical Tag on the machine. I have never had a problem with it. Security precautions vary, and I have had all sorts of different tests performed on it, but I've never had a problem getting it through security and never had a problem getting it on as a "free" carry-on.

I think you would have a real problem trying to bring a big bottle of distilled water through security. I tend to just use Tap Water when I am traveling, and it has not been a problem. The only time I made an exception was in Mexico, where the tap water was untrustworthy. Then I used standard (non-distilled) bottled water.

The one time I got stopped by the screener in a Security Line because I had three carry-ons, I just told him it was a CPAP and he let me right through.

I do agree that carrying an Extension Cord and a Plug converter right in your CPAP bag is an excellent habit. For my machine, you don't need a voltage converter, since it can handle 110 V - 240 V.

I travel all the time. No issues. TSA used to make you take out the machine, but no more....
Never a problem overseas. However if you go to Japan, you legally need to get a "yakkan-shomei" (which is easy via email) in
order to clear customs.
I have done that several times.

Update on my trip (still in Malaysia). US airports and London Heathrow all ignored my cpap bag and didn't question the # of things I was carrying on. Malaysia Air was another story. They refused to count it as free, and I ended up having to check my carryon & pay per kilo on it. I don't think a medical tag would have helped, as I said medical about 20 times and told them what it was. She didn't care at all.