Unusual TSA Checkpoint Experience

I have been traveling with my Resmed S9 complete with humidifier since Feb 2014, and I am a very frequent flyer, domestic and international. Once, and only once, was I asked to take the machine out of the luggage, and that was in Athens, Greece... until the other day, the TSA agent in Missoula, Montana asked me to remove it and put it in a separate tray, claiming it was "policy". Of course, this was on a multi-leg journey that had already passed the machine through in BOS and LAX.

I really detest when agents make up their own rules!

But you smiled and did as directed?

Smile is the wrong word... smirk is probably more accurate. But as we all know, resistance is futile. The odd thing was that the TSA agent knew it was a CPAP machine just from the Xray! "Is that a CPAP machine in there?" he asked. I nodded, and he then told me to take it out and put it in a tray.

I've had the opposite experience; the first time I traveled with the machine I didn't take it out and they asked me to take it out, so I automatically took it out after that. My most recent trip in mid-May, MSP to MFR, they said I don't need to take it out. Yet several weeks earlier on a trip to AZ, I did have to take out. When I got to thinking about that on the flight back to MSP in May, I realized that it was my first flight since getting on the TSA PreCheck system, and maybe that is the reason I didn't have to take it out.

Here is probably why; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... tests.html

I passed through Oakland CA (4) days after this report and EVERY employe had a supervisor standing next to him/her! What a PITA.

Perhaps the express subscription makes enough money that they are encouraged to mess with "mundanes".

Despite not having the pre TSA screening service, I never was asked to take my machine out of the bag. But interestingly, both ways, they wondered if I had metal implants (which I don't) because something was setting things off. First time, I received a mild pat down and the 2nd time, they just let me pass.

49er

It also doesn't help if you chose to wear an artsy shirt covered with "jewels" set in metal findings and with little buckles all over it. I don't think well at 3am....

BlackSpinner wrote:It also doesn't help if you chose to wear an artsy shirt covered with "jewels" set in metal findings and with little buckles all over it. I don't think well at 3am....

I assure you my clothes were extremely vanilla and boring.

49er

It would probably be a poor choice for steampunk cosplayers to fly in full regalia.
We saw a few in KC. Very creative.

I've been flying frequently for the past five years, and sometimes you can hear the Vogons bellowing "CPAPS out" and the requisite, "Resistance is USELESS!" And sometimes not. I've noticed that anytime something unfortunate has happened somewhere in the world, it seems the TSA wants CPAPs out. So perhaps they're familiar enough with them to let them through when things are calm, but as soon as their alert level is raised, CPAPs are one of the first things to come under scrutiny.

From the TSA website:

Passengers are required to remove CPAPs, BiPAPs, and APAPs from its carrying case, though facemasks and tubing can remain in the case.

Then again, I've had the thing X-rayed a dozen times in the last year and only once have I been asked to remove it from the bag. With better than 10:1 odds I won't be asked to remove it, I'll keep the machine zipped up.

- Flappy

Interesting Slarty and Uncle Flapp regarding taking the machine out of the case. On my return flight, unfortunately, I forgot to take out my boarding pass and a five dollar bill in my pocket before going through the metal detector which upset the TSA person. They are more concerned about that than my pap machine which I never was asked to take out. Of course, I apologized profusely for my transgression since obviously, I didn't want to get on their bad side. Then they asked me to get screened in the machine in which you have to put your hands above your head and when they needed to recalibrate it, they were apologetic. about making me wait.

49er

On my first cpap flight a few years back, I put my cpap in its bag through the conveyor belt, and the TSA agent, whispered to me (as if I would be embarrased), "make sure you take that out of the bag.". No biggie, been taking it out pre-emptively ever since, similar to a laptop, or tablet. I just want to get through that line as quickly as possible, and to the bar.

I find that the smaller the airport, the more TSA screening is done. In some small airports, I have had my ID and boarding pass checked by two different agents in the same line and always have to take CPAP out. I also find in small airports there are usually quite a large number of TSA agents relative to a small number of passengers. I wonder if it is a way to justify their jobs?