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Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:30 pm
by iclyne
Hi all;
I've seen your posts and heard that I can carry my CPAP as a separate bag from my other 2 carry-ons. Is this true? Does anyone know where this is written? I am a frequent business traveler and have taken my CPAP with me for over a year now. But recently I have been harassed twice by US Airways. Once it was the flight attendant and once it was the gate agent. They were verbally abusive to me in front of other passengers for carrying a third bag. All my bags put together are smaller than most others carry-ons, but I have a laptop roller bag, large purse and my M-Series CPAP and they can't seem to understand. TSA and other airlines are very accepting.

I want to claim discrimination against the handicapped for their rude confrontations, but I need something official. I've gone to the TSA website and searched on the web, but I can't find anything that states that a CPAP machine doesn't count towards your carry-on (which is what I read here in the forum).

Please help!
Thanks,
Iris

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:55 pm
by dsm
Last Sept (2007) was on Alaskan Airlines who have a policy of excluding cpaps from other carryon baggage. I am guessing this policy can vary by airline.

Cheers

DSM

All items brought onboard count toward your carry-on limit except the following:

* Coats, hats, umbrellas
* Reasonable amount of reading material
* FAA approved child/infant restraint seats to be occupied by a child
* Stroller
* Mobility assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, canes and crutches)
* Medical supplies and small medical equipment (e.g. CPAP machine for sleep apnea). Visit Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions on the TSA website for more information on allowed medical items and screening procedures.
* Small musical instruments (e.g. violin, flute, clarinet, or a small guitar) provided they are of a size or shape that can be safely stowed in an overhead bin or closet. Any musical instrument (e.g. oversized or odd-shaped) that cannot be properly stowed, must be checked or travel as cabin seat baggage.
* Ashes in an Urn. Ashes must be in a sealed, leak-proof container that fits in an overhead compartment. For information about TSA screening requirements, visit the Transporting the Deceased section of the TSA website.

This Alaskan Airlines link points to the TSA site
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/Help/F ... aggage.asp

Here is the TSA link where Cpap Machines get mentioned ...
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:05 pm
by DreamDiver
This was posted on flyertalk.com on September 26, 2008, so this is very recent and relevant.
mirage1228 wrote:
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publi...ngMobilityAids

Handling of Mobility Aids and Assistive Devices

To the extent consistent with various FAA safety regulations, passengers may bring on board and use ventilators and respirators, powered by non-spillable batteries. Assistive devices brought into the cabin by an individual with a disability shall not count toward a limit on carry-on items.
CPAP is a method of respiratory ventilation so I wouldn't see how it's an issue.
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publi...anceProcedures

EACH CARRIER MUST HAVE AT LEAST one Complaints Resolution Official (CRO) available at each airport during times of scheduled carrier operations. The CRO can be made available by telephone.

Any passenger having a complaint of alleged violations of the Air Carrier Access rules is entitled to communicate with a CRO, who has authority to resolve complaints on behalf of the carrier.

If a CRO receives a complaint before the action of carrier personnel has resulted in violation of the Air Carrier Access rules, the CRO must take or direct other carrier personnel to take action to ensure compliance with the rule. The CRO, however, does not have authority to countermand a safety-based decision made by the pilot-in-command of an aircraft.

If the CRO agrees with the passenger that a violation of the rule occurred, he must provide the passenger a written statement summarizing the facts and what steps if any, the carrier proposes to take in response to the violation.

If the CRO determines that no violation has occurred, he must provide the passenger a written statement summarizing the facts and reasons for the decision or conclusion.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE file a complaint HERE: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/escomplaint/es.cfm
In the future... this needs to be handled by simply stating "This is a violation of the Air Carrier Access rules and I need to speak with a Complaint Resolution Officer." BELIEVE ME, you will be on the plane, drink in hand, before you know it!
From the same thread:
21USC333 wrote:Completely agree. To prevent you from bringing CPAP on board is a violation of federal aviation regulations. See 14 CFR Section 382.41:

(b) Carriers shall permit qualified individuals
with a disability using personal
ventilators/respirators to bring
their equipment, including non-spillable
batteries that meet the requirements
of 49 CFR 173.159(d) and any applicable
FAA safety regulations, on
board the aircraft and use it.

(d) Carriers shall not, in implementing
their carry-on baggage policies,
count toward a limit on carry-on
items any assistive device brought into
the cabin by a qualified individual with
a disability.

See also http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm

"The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices (including service animals and their equipment). Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft."

I occasionally get looks from my fellow passengers about the third bag, but I have never ever had a problem from TSA or the airlines. (Although I once had a rent-a-cop ID checker at BOS give me a hard time, but as soon as I pushed back, she let me go).

I agree you need to file a complaint.
mirage1228 also says "Print it out and highlight the applicable parts and throw it in your CPAP bag."
Apparently TSA has no problems any longer. It's more about some airlines at some airports not being up to speed yet.

Here's a link to the entire thread.

I hope this helps.

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:49 am
by Rusty!
Hi Iris,

You can see my earlier posts on the same topic concerning USAirways. There is a copy of the email I sent them and their promt response. One suggestion they made was to proactively alert the gate agent that you are flying with a medical device. I've done that a couple times and it hasn't been a problem. Asking to speak to the CRO should resolve it if there is a problem. Every airport has one and they don't have to physically come to the gate (can be reached by radio or cell phone by the gate or flight attendants).

Rusty

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:26 am
by ractar28
iclyne wrote:I want to claim discrimination against the handicapped for their rude confrontations
How about just helping them understand what the limits are, rather than "claiming discrimination"? That phrase brings out my anti-lawyer mode. Not knowing the facts does NOT equal discrimination.

With airlines charging for bags now, I'm sure the agents are getting all sorts of folks trying to bring more stuff as "carry-on" to avoid the fees.

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:42 am
by goose
Great post Dreamdiver -- I'm one that will make sure to get a printed copy of the appropriate regulations and put it in the bag!!!!! Super info!!!!

Thanks!!!
cheers
goose

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:51 am
by irishpeacock
I do 4 transatlantic flights a year and I've never been hassled. I always carry with me a letter from my doctor explaining that I need it to live, and I've recently got a medical ID tag off cpap.com https://www.cpap.com/productpage/CPAP-M ... t-Tag.html which has TSA laws regarding cpap on the back. plastic carries authority. it's all...permanent and official looking.

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:24 pm
by DreamDiver
The bag for M-Series Pro is big enough for the cpap machine, its plug, a hose and hose cover. There's really not room for a mask. On top of that, the mask usually comes with it's own bag. I usually bring two masks in one mask bag when I travel, but I haven't done air travel with this machine yet. Masks can be pretty fragile, so I don't like packing them in my computer bag if I can help it. Then there's the battery, if you bring one. That's another bag. Do you just buy a bigger bag to stuff all your cpap gear in?

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:04 pm
by goose
I have had the same question as Dreamdiver regarding a bigger bag.
I just decided to get a larger bag that will hold all my medical stuff and be done with it -- I have one of those official looking "Medical Equipment" tags as well, so it'll be on any bag that contains my machine, masks etc. I generally don't pack my humidifier (depending on where I'm going), so that leaves a little space, nor do I carry a battery back-up system. But a larger bag is on the list......

cheers
goose

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:58 pm
by jnk
So, is a so-called letter of medical necessity still needed, or no?

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:58 pm
by goose
I usually carry a copy of my prescription with me.....that's proof of medical necessity......
A letter couldn't hurt......

cheers
goose

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:06 pm
by echo
jnk wrote:So, is a so-called letter of medical necessity still needed, or no?
I haven't needed a letter on any flights in the US or between the US and Europe, but they did ask for it when I flew out of Turkey on KLM airlines. They even took a photocopy for their records.
goose wrote:I have had the same question as Dreamdiver regarding a bigger bag.
I just decided to get a larger bag that will hold all my medical stuff and be done with it -- I have one of those official looking "Medical Equipment" tags as well, so it'll be on any bag that contains my machine, masks etc. I generally don't pack my humidifier (depending on where I'm going), so that leaves a little space, nor do I carry a battery back-up system. But a larger bag is on the list......
I recently got a small duffle-bag type bag with wheels and it works great. It's just large enough to fit the the CPAP (wrapped in a towel) + HH + 2 masks + couple of books, inflatable pillow, muesli bars..... And it even fits into the overhead bin of the puddle-hopper variety of commercial airplanes (because it is long but flat). And with the wheels, well, no more sore back...

I have a generic brand I got at TJMaxx.. couldn't find it on the samsonite website. After ages of searching, I think I found something similar: http://www.trolley-bags.co.uk/antler/05 ... y_bag.html or http://www.suitcase.com/detail/Designer ... l+1083.htm.
Mine is just the really small version but it's still big enough for all the CPAP stuff.

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:17 pm
by mellabella
Another data point: I just flew Continental domestically through two major hubs with 2 carry-ons plus CPAP (in its dedicated, labeled bag) and no one said boo, either at check in, security, or boarding. (I didn't need a letter.)

My other two bags were quite large, too (a camera backpack, and an overstuffed, extra large messenger bag--neither of which could be confused for a purse).

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:15 pm
by MMCGOWAN
I have a printed copy of this in my cpap bag and glefully throw it in the face of any idiot harassing me and threaten to sue the daylights out of them

thus far no problems.

the militant TSA and airlines need to wise up we do have rights

print this and put it in the carry on bag. No policy and procedure overrules federal law end of story...

14 CFR Section 382.41:

(b) Carriers shall permit qualified individuals
with a disability using personal
ventilators/respirators to bring
their equipment, including non-spillable
batteries that meet the requirements
of 49 CFR 173.159(d) and any applicable
FAA safety regulations, on
board the aircraft and use it.

(d) Carriers shall not, in implementing
their carry-on baggage policies,
count toward a limit on carry-on
items any assistive device brought into
the cabin by a qualified individual with
a disability.

See also http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm

Re: Carry on luggage - CPAP as third bag?

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:02 am
by ractar28
MMCGOWAN wrote: the militant TSA and airlines need to wise up we do have rights

print this and put it in the carry on bag. No policy and procedure overrules federal law end of story...

14 CFR Section 382.41:

(b) Carriers shall permit qualified individuals
with a disability using personal
ventilators/respirators to bring
their equipment, including non-spillable
batteries that meet the requirements
of 49 CFR 173.159(d) and any applicable
FAA safety regulations, on
board the aircraft and use it.

(d) Carriers shall not, in implementing
their carry-on baggage policies,
count toward a limit on carry-on
items any assistive device brought into
the cabin by a qualified individual with
a disability.

See also http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm
Wow... just wow. We're suddenly "disabled" because we have a prescription for a CPAP? An "assistive device" could reasonably be interpreted to mean a device assisting with mobility such as a walker, wheelchair, walking cane, etc. If it were a flight where sleep was reasonably expected (long flight, not a 2 hour one), then I can see it too. But when push comes to shove, if we're going to sit around and whine "poor me, I'm disabled", then I can see why folks would make fun of us. And to even consider a CPAP as a "respirator" or ventilator, well, I'm just calling BS. FURTHERMORE, I believe it's a very fair argument that unless you have a method of powering the device (such as a battery), then calling it an "assistive device" when you can't even USE it on-board the plane is disingenuous.