Flying - using oral appliance in the air 'cuz CPAP verboten

[dvejr]

Long trips coming up. I can fall asleep just LOOKING at an airplane - no way I can stay awake while flying. Airlines won't let pax use CPAPs because COVID. Without my CPAP I snore so bad the other flyers will throw me out a window. Also, falling asleep and then waking myself up every 10 minutes is torture.

My sleep doc suggests I wear an oral device in the air. Does anyone here have any experience with them? Doc pointed me to SnoreRX.com and ApneaRX.com.

[chunkyfrog]

Drive a car, take a bus, or book passage on a freighter.
Some do take passengers; and it is very different from traveling on a cruise ship--
and less expensive, too.
If you can afford it, look for flights on a PRIVATE plane that will allow cpaps.

[dvejr]

Ribbitt !
Would love to drive, but it is USA to Italy.
Doug
ps. Also confusing - one vendor wants a prescription and one doesn't....

[ChicagoGranny]

Ribbitt !
Would love to drive, but it is USA to Italy.
Doug
ps. Also confusing - one vendor wants a prescription and one doesn't....

I don't know how severe your case is, but you need to sleep with the appliance at home for one or more nights before flying. Maybe sitting in a recliner to match the trip position.

[ozij]

Ribbitt !
Would love to drive, but it is USA to Italy.
Doug
ps. Also confusing - one vendor wants a prescription and one doesn't....

I don't know how severe your case is, but you need to sleep with the appliance at home for one or more nights before flying. Maybe sitting in a recliner to match the trip position.

Excellent suggestion by ChicagoGranny.

[dvejr]

Thanks, Granny! Excellent idea.

[chunkyfrog]

Please let us know how it works out.
Your experience could help others.

[dvejr]

Thanks for the reminder - if I do use a snore preventer, I will. But just this morning United Airlines Accessibility Desk told me that I may use my machine in flight!

[SleepGeek]

Thanks for the reminder - if I do use a snore preventer, I will. But just this morning United Airlines Accessibility Desk told me that I may use my machine in flight!

Perfect.
Will you have a port to plug in to?
Or need to provide a battery?
Good deal, none the less.

[zonker]

Thanks for the reminder - if I do use a snore preventer, I will. But just this morning United Airlines Accessibility Desk told me that I may use my machine in flight!

excellent! do you happen to know if that is a united airlines thing or and faa thing?

never mind. just googled and out sponsor site shows this dated june 17th '22-

"Airline Requirements for CPAP Machines
Here are the CPAP policies of various airlines in the United States and a link to each airline’s policy overview. If you can’t find answers online pertaining to your specific airline, equipment, or needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to the airline’s help desk, as they will have the most up-to-date information:

United – You will need to give at least 48-hour notice to the airline’s Accessibility Desk if you’re planning to use your CPAP on the airplane. To expedite this process, have the manufacturer information on hand, so United can verify it meets the FAA approval standards. You’ll also need to have enough portable batteries to power the device for the duration of the flight time plus 3 hours if you plan to use the device in-flight.
Delta – Delta has a list of approved CPAP devices listed on their website that can be used without medical approval. Those planning to use the machine in-flight will need a battery with a capacity that is at least 150% that of the given flight time.
American Airlines – American Airlines doesn’t require any sort of advanced notice if you plan to travel with or use your CPAP machine in flight. They do note, however, that passengers should not rely on the availability of powered outlets and may even need a DC power adaptor to utilize seat power aboard the aircraft.
Jet Blue – You can use CPAP machines on Jet Blue flights, so long as they meet all TSA and FAA regulations (e.g., packing it away during landing, etc.).
Southwest – Southwest encourages you to carry on your CPAP device to keep it protected during transit. You can use it on the flight so long as you meet all TSA and FAA standards. Per Southwest’s website, “Southwest Airlines does not have electrical outlets onboard the aircraft for commercial product use,” so like most others, be prepared to bring your own power supply if you plan to use your device in-flight.
All US airlines will allow you to use your CPAP machine during flight because it is a medical device. You should call the airline at least 48 hours in advance and ask for their official policies if you’re flying internationally. "

any fomating errors are mine. the whole article is useful and can be found here-https://www.cpap.com/blog/flying-with-cpap-machine/

[Pugsy]

Be careful of guidelines that were composed pre-covid.....they might not be applicable in today's environment with covid still being a potential problem and the restrictions still present.

So always, always....check for current guidelines which means directly from horse's mouth...the actual airline.

[zonker]

Be careful of guidelines that were composed pre-covid.....they might not be applicable in today's environment with covid still being a potential problem and the restrictions still present.

So always, always....check for current guidelines which means directly from horse's mouth...the actual airline.

i understand what you're saying, but the article IS dated 6/17/22. mebbe i should check further-

nope my google skills are weak sauce. can't find anything better. but it gave me time to reflect on what you said. it's always best to contact the airline and see what the policy is, rather than just show up because some chump on the internet said it was okay!

[Pugsy]

i understand what you're saying, but the article IS dated 6/17/22. mebbe i should check further-

They very well could have just copied some old stuff...and with a little editing call it "current".
Cpap.com does that on a lot of their "informational" stuff and I have found errors as well. They don't have anyone there checking for accuracy. I wouldn't consider them the gospel.

Just saying...

Always, always verify with the airline itself.....don't want any ugly surprises once a person is in the air.
The flight crew is the ultimate decision maker. We still have to wear masks on planes...the original risk of the cpap machine being used in flight was the potential for contaminated air exiting the vent holes. That risk hasn't gone away.
I wouldn't want to be sitting next to a person using a cpap machine or worse yet...coughing and ill and using a cpap machine.

[SleepyheadKC]

I'm in a similar boat (or similar airplane?). I'm flying to Portugal later this year. We're flying Delta, and their website does confirm that you can wear a CPAP on the flight, and they do have an approved list of CPAPs. But the poster above is correct in that they also want you to bring a battery that can run for 150% of the flight time. They don't want you to plug the device into the electric outlet at your seat. You also need to wear a surgical-type mask over your CPAP mask for flights that require masking, which doesn't sound fun.

I had been looking at travel CPAP options, but when I combine the cost of the new machine plus a battery, it's more than I want to spend. So my current thinking is that I'll just buy the Philips travel battery for my DreamStation and use that during the flight.

[ChicagoGranny]

You also need to wear a surgical-type mask over your CPAP mask for flights that require masking, which doesn't sound fun.

Fun to die? CPAP masks must be vented.