Travel Question

My parents and I will be going to Europe in a few months. My dad was just diagnosed with sleep apnea and has the cpap machine. I know US based carriers will allow him to travel with no problem. However, once we get to London, we'll be travelling on European carriers. Does anyone know where I can find information on travelling within Europe with the cpap machine? I've tried looking on the airlines websites but didn't find anything and don't particularly want to pay an overseas charge to call them.

Thanks.

Its not a problem really. You are just leaving the US not going into outer space. They have cpaps everywhere now.One of the most popular models is made in France. Many posters are from UK . I've never had a problen traveling overseas. Since most airlines codeshare now. just call their US partner. I really wouldn't give it a worry. Relax and enjoy your trip.

Waverly

From what I've gathered on this forum, you should have no problems, just take it carry-on and tell them it's medical equipment.

However just in case, you should have an official letter from his doctor saying that it is medical equipment, what it is, what it's for.
And if you are travelling in non-English-speaking country/countries, get the letter translated into the relevant language(s), so you can hand it to the customs people who might not speak English.

That's sensible advice from RubyKat, especially if you're travelling to more easterly parts of Europe.

There's another thread that mentioned a particular problem with a traveller to Greece, see:

http://cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=101 ... ght=greece

I've only travelled once with my machine, to Portugal, and had no problems.

I asked the same travel questions. My family travels yearly to eastern Hungary, and I take a letter and several copies of same with all my diabetes equipment, meter, needles, lancets, all things you'd think they'd look at at best open the carry on bag and ask what's this? I put ea. dr's letter around with a heavy rubber band all my supplies, RIGHT ON TOP, this way if they hassle you to step aside, open it up, show it. Also, I was thinking, bring a copy of the instruction guide that came w/your machine, if you can find it. A picture is worth a thousand words for places where they do not speak your language. NO ONE SPEAKINGS HUNGARIAN, so we point, gesture, and once it gets too involved my husband and I speak. But we've never been singled out, in fact, as I put the carry on thru, I tell the dweebs behind the desks, that's diabetes equipment and now CPAP equipment. What the worse they can do, open it and ask you what it is? So that's nothing new. Since 9/11 now we have to take shoes and socks, and our feet get ''felt" so just roll with it.
But best thing is an original signature copy of dr. letter or order, or Rx.
Keep copies separate, if you're traveling with others........case you get sent to differrent lines, happened to us. ok?

mouser1974 wrote:My parents and I will be going to Europe in a few months. My dad was just diagnosed with sleep apnea and has the cpap machine. I know US based carriers will allow him to travel with no problem. However, once we get to London, we'll be travelling on European carriers. Does anyone know where I can find information on travelling within Europe with the cpap machine? I've tried looking on the airlines websites but didn't find anything and don't particularly want to pay an overseas charge to call them.

Thanks.

I've traveled numerous times to England and Spain and carried on my CPAP gear with no problem. They've never asked anything, but if they did all you need to do is show them that it's medical equipment and they will let you carry it on.