A few travel questions

[blarg]

Save money, and leave nothing behind by using distilled water.

[jackr]

can you carry on distilled water? I know there are liquid restrictions now.

[NightHawkeye]

. . . breaking off the pressure sensor barb on the inside.

A similar thing happened with my BiPAP-auto. A generous application of RTV around the hose at the connection corrected the problem.

I was hand carrying my luggage that trip when the machine broke, but on puddle jumpers there's not room inside the cabins for even small pieces of luggage, and so the luggage handlers have a few minutes available to ply their craft.

Regards,
Bill

[Bookbear]

[quote="Anonymous"]My girlfriend and I flew to Pheonix from Oklahoma City last Thanksgiving holiday. Our CPAP machines DID count as carryon.


This is illegal. Federal law and TSA regulations both specifically exempt cpaps from the carry-on limits. Of course, this only applies to domestic carriers. Foreign flag airlines may set their own policies in their countries, but you were flying in the US.

TSA regulations:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

The Air Carrier Access Act:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html ... -000-.html

Specific TSA regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin ... &TYPE=TEXT


Be polite, but be persistent. EVERY airport MUST have a Dispute Resolution Officer available at all times to deal with complaints pertaining to TSA regs. Ask first to see a supervisor if you are denied the right to carry your cpap with you. If that does not work, ask for the Dispute Resolution Officer. Be polite. Carry a copy of the above cited web pages with you. Politely remind the officials that this comes directly from TSA and the Federal Government, and that all domestic air carriers are required to adhere to TSA regulations.

[OSAGuy]

I fly on at least a dozen trips a year, taking my APAP with me as a carry on and have had no problems with airport security letting me through with it. Sometimes I get a new agent that has not seen many (or any) CPAPs so it takes a little longer with them but after the supervisor shows up there is no problem. They run it through the machine, open the bag to check it and I'm on my way. There is the occasional "Deputy Fife" at a smaller airport that thinks they're on to something when it is xrayed and they see the wires, which does provide for some good entertainment at a boring airport but it still turns out fine while providing some good entertainment.

[RichCMH]

True, Evian is a mineral water and if you want to use bottled water check the label for mineral content. It was I who used Evian on a recent trip. It was more convenient to buy a bottle of water in the hotel then look for a grocery store.

ALSO:
Remember, checked luggage gets x-rayed and if they cannot determine what that thing is in your luggage, they will open the bag to find out. Sometimes you are not even there when this happens. Carry the cpap with you! If you have any concerns contact your airline! In the US I believe DME cannot be counted as carry-on.

-Rich

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, DME

[rock and roll]

As a sales manager (retired) that traveled by air every week, cpaps do not count as baggage, however, if you fly on the smaller palnes likethe Embraer they will see the large bag and will tell you there is no room for it and you must check it. I argued this so many times, many times I got them to put it in the pilots baggage area but several times I had to threaten to file with the ADA. That stops them dead in their tracks as they don't want the government paperwork.

No you cannot carry the distilled water with your carry on unless it is purchased in the safe zone of the airport. I have never seen it there. But you can put it in your checked baggage. I keep the drinking size water bottles, cleaned with white vinegar, filled with distilled water. One 16 oz bottle will last 3-4 nights. I don't want water from foreign countries in my Cpap for me to breath when it's so easy to bring water with me.

[Snoredog]

I've read that Evian bottled water is full of minerals that leave scale in the HH. Aquafina is supposed to be better.

Brenda

I wouldn't hesitate using Aquafina, best bottled water out there in my opinion and is what I use when I travel. They use a 7-stage Reverse Osmosis filtering so there shouldn't be anything in that water but water.

I cannot drink tap water, my daughter is a dentist and she likes it because it contains flouride, but I cannot stand the taste of bleach. She uses a Brita filter pitcher, if there is nothing else to drink I have to run it though that filter 3-4 times before I can drink it.

[rock and roll]

Aquafina is good water I agree but unless water is distilled it is not pure water. It will stille buld up deposits in your humidifier.

[sleepinginseattle]

On the outbound leg of my last flight, TSA asked that I take the CPAP out of my carry on bag and place it in a container by itself just as they ask for laptops. This might save a few minutes getting through the security line.

TSA could do a better job of respecting the privacy of travelers with CPAP machines. On all my trips the TSA agent has pulled the CPAP off the line, held it high in the air, and (almost yelling) asked, "Who's is this?" before informing that it would be swab tested. Frankly, I find that embarrassing and the attention it draws from other travelers, totally unnecessary.

If you must travel with a humidifier, consider calling ahead to ask the people or hotel/motel/guest house you are staying with to secure a small amount of distilled water for your visit. I'll bet they'll be glad to help.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP, Travel

[Sleepy-eyes]

I'm getting ready to fly again this weekend and my girlfriend called, just to make sure, and the airlines does consider the machine as a carry-on. So my camera case and CPAP machine are all I can carry onto the aircraft.

As far as water for humidifiers...................how hard is it to find a store in this country????????? Distilled water is the only thing the manufacturer suggests be put into the humidifiers and their warranties will reflect that. Besides, it's less than a dollar a gallon and will take care of a humidifier for two weeks. I see no big deal here.

[sleepinginseattle]

Your girlfriend was misinformed. The rules regarding CPAPs are very clear. They do NOT count as one of your carryon items.

[Bookbear]

Sleepy-eyes, I repeat again, that it is illegal for a domestic airline to consider most medical equipment, including specifically CPAP machines, as part of the carry on aloowance of two bags.

If you scroll up , you will see my earlier post that lists url's for the relavant documents to print out from the TSA web site.

Specifically:

Code: Select all

[Title 14, Volume 4, Parts 200 to 1199]
[Revised as of January 1, 1999]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR382.41]
[Page 480-481]
                      TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
    CHAPTER II--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
                         (AVIATION PROCEEDINGS)
PART 382--NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN AIR TRAVEL--Table of Contents
                   Subpart C--Requirements for Services
 
Sec. 382.41  Stowage of personal equipment.
[b](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.
[/b]
Note that TSA regulations SPECIFICALLY list CPAP's as assistive devices. 

Your airline is violating Federal law if they count the cpap toward your carry on allowance.

[Sleepy-eyes]

Well, if you'll look at my latest thread, we were not only denied the request to not have the cpap machines count as carryon, I had to pay $50 because one of the bags we had planned on taking inside the aircraft had to be checked through baggage! So much for your rule! It didn't work.

[billbolton]

Note that TSA regulations SPECIFICALLY list CPAP's as assistive devices.

I strongly suspect that if this is ever tested at law, the "assistive device" status would only apply for items which are required for assistive use during the progress of air travel. The air carrier could probably reasonably argue they are just ordinary carry-on baggage items if you don't have a medical need to use them in flight.

To actually use a CPAP in flight requires a degree of pre-engagement with the the "special handling" (or similar) area of the air carrier concerned to determine if they permit it at all, and to make sure that all their staff are aware that there is an assistive medical device that needs to be carried on board.

Cheers,

Bill

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Travel