Air Travel with Dreamstation-- Modem

[riley525]

Getting ready to go on first trip with bipap. I have my letter from my doctor and a letter I found online on the Philips website that says the model is safe for air travel. It mentioned testing was done without the modem installed. I called Philips and they said for air travel with in the USA I should just remove the modem and pack separately. For air travel outside the USA, I should remove and leave modem at home. I plan to just remove the modem and leave it at home.

I will not be using my machine during the short flight. A couple question- Has anyone been asked about the modem? Will I have to prove I removed it? Since it is medical equipment, it will not count as a carry-on. If I put the bipap in the soft side travel case and I put that inside another hard shell carry-on, can I put other non-medical items in that carry-on and still have it not count as a carry-on? Any other issues I should be prepared for? Thanks for your help.

[Pugsy]

Has anyone been asked about the modem?

I haven't. Most of the TSA agents won't have a clue if the machine has a modem or not...neither will the check in people...
At check in they recognize the bag and say "CPAP?"...I say yes and that's the end of it as far as the airline goes...sometimes at the gate they might say "cpap?" and I say yep...and that's the end of that.
TSA might or might not ask you to remove the machine from the bag or they might be happy with just unzipping the bag before it goes through xray. On occasion they might swab the machine but that's becoming increasingly less common.

Will I have to prove I removed it?

Unlikely. Again most of the airport personal won't even know about the modem or lack of. I think the main caution about the modem is the fact that it can transmit wirelessly though I don't see how it could without being plugged into electric source. Airlines want any device that can do wireless transmission or receiving turned off so as to not mess with the plane controls.

If I put the bipap in the soft side travel case and I put that inside another hard shell carry-on, can I put other non-medical items in that carry-on and still have it not count as a carry-on

Nope. Needs to be separate.
When you put other non cpap items into the suitcase it no longer is considered a separate medical device.
If you are wanting to carry 2 bags...one for free...it has to be separate.
TSA isn't involved with this restriction...this is the airline.
TSA only cares about safety issues...they could care less how many bags you carry and if any of them are "free" or not.

[Ranuki]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

[Guest]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

I could be wrong but I think the reason Respironics recommends the modem be removed is so it is not mistaken for a timer to an explosive device and nothing to do with disabling the modem.

can I put other non-medical items in that carry-on and still have it not count as a carry-on?

You may include other exempt items such as medicine or items that are needed for you cpap such as a power strip, AC power adapters, or even distilled water.
But the airlines can say it is no longer exempt if you put things like underwear, toothbrush, etc. mixed in with exempt items. Those can easily be tossed in another carryon.

[Cardsfan]

I travel in the USA by airline quite a bit. I have TSA PreCheck status, which they say helps quite a bit in the security line, you go thru a separate check in line, not much hassles. You may want to look into applying for that. But, it is $85 for 5 yrs.
Like Pugsy, I have never been questioned about my cpap. The TSA recognize the carrying case right away. I've never been required to open the case. They just put it thru the scanner, in the case, and that's it. One time, TSA asked me to open it. I said "I'd rather not open it, it is delicate, and has quite a few pieces not put together", so they let me pass without looking into the case.
You CAN put it in your bigger carry on, but then it is not exempt. But I'd keep it separate for TSA rule benefits.


http://www.tsa.gov

[Guest]

You CAN put it in your bigger carry on, but then it is not exempt. But I'd keep it separate for TSA rule benefits.

I have always traveled with my cpap removed from the mfgs carry bag and put it into a carry-on size suitecase. It only becomes non-exempt if/when you put things into it that are not exempt. So I am willing to bet if you wanted to put the whole cpap inside the mfgs carry bag into a carry-on sized suitcase with wheels that is not gonna be a problem.

It was already pointed out that is it the airlines that care if the exempted items are separated. TSA could care less - they only care about items which are restricted from carry-on. Remember the 3-1-1 rule.

[palerider]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

I could be wrong

you should have stopped there... because you are.

[Guest]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

I could be wrong

you should have stopped there... because you are.

Being "THE Internet Know-It-ALL" you have contributed nothing and certainly didn't offer any corrective information. You had your chance and should be ashamed of yourself.

Now get on your alter ego to make rude comments.

[palerider]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

I could be wrong

you should have stopped there... because you are.

Being "THE Internet Know-It-ALL" you have contributed nothing and certainly didn't offer any corrective information. You had your chance and should be ashamed of yourself.

Now get on your alter ego to make rude comments.

another example of "why this forum should stop allowing guest posts".

[Guest]

Of note, if you do not want to remove the modem entirely, you can go into the My Setup menu and turn the modem off at that point. I plan to do the same with mine when I travel here next week.

I could be wrong

you should have stopped there... because you are.

Being "THE Internet Know-It-ALL" you have contributed nothing and certainly didn't offer any corrective information. You had your chance and should be ashamed of yourself.

Now get on your alter ego to make rude comments.

another example of "why this forum should stop allowing guest posts".

Yet another whiner whining about something you have no control over. And we already know the other forums won't put up with your BS.

But do tell us the reason - IF you know why Respironics recommends you remove their modem for travel.

I'm convinced you don't know already and you just want to derail yet another thread.