can we talk about airline travel again?

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:48 pm

very infrequent flyer here , but will be leaving the country in feb.....SOoo i'm gathering it is not a good idea to just check it ? also,if you do carry on it's ok to go through x-Ray without the card inserted ? thanks, tim

annie123 · Post by **annie123** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:29 pm

Can anyone be more specific about what they do when traveling to get distilled water fro the humidifier???
Thanks, Annie

RAINSUX · Post by **RAINSUX** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:42 pm

I don't. I just use tap water. Then I do a good cleaning when I get home. If I were going to be gone for more than a few days I'd probably get a gallon from a grocery store after I get there.

And for the other question, DON'T CHECK IT. Sooner or later it is going to get delayed, lost, or broken, and the airline is not going to buy you a new one. It is just not worth the risk, and carrying it on is not a big deal at all.

Sam

jabberwock · Post by **jabberwock** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:51 pm

annie, I was on a ship in the Caribbean surrounded by water, so I didn't even take the humidifier, and I was fine without it.

I have occasionally run out of distilled water at home and made do with tap water. As Rainsux said, I just give it a good cleaning anytime I have had to use tap water.

I guess it depends on where you are going and how available distilled water will be. If I really thought I needed it, I would likely just buy a gallon and use what I needed. A couple of bucks is worth the peace of mind.

Bonnie

goose · Post by **goose** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:46 pm

For distilled water you can ask your doc to write you a script for a 16oz bottle. The pharmacist will fill it and you can refill it, but it will have a prescription label on the bottle which will waive the "put it in a 1oz bottle in a small baggie" issue. Generally when I travel I don't take the humidifier, but I only use it set at a 1 or 2 when at home......

NEVER....I'll say it again, NEVER check your CPAP machine. Always carry it as carry-on. It doesn't count as a carry-on, so why not. Unless of course you don't care about gorillas tossing it around the baggage hold..... or you feel like doing without until the airlines find it.
I'd traveled for 30+ years without a lost bag or a delayed bag, but a year ago, on the way back from an Alaskan Cruise all of our baggage decided to take a day off and see the sights in Seattle -- thankfully it was on the return trip and really didn't matter -- as long as they found their way home eventually!!!!
On the same cruise, there were 4 couples that had to "rent" clothes on board the ship for a few days because their bags didn't make it to the ship.....until Skagway!!!!

I did get a label, but only for "show"......it really doesn't provide any special treatment -- only identification that it is medical equipment. Certainly not a requirement.....

Enjoy your trip!!!!
cheers
goose

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onecoknower · Post by **onecoknower** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:03 am

Usually I do not check my cpap, but I did one time. I packed it in it's padded carrying case and it took up half of my large suitcase. It did arrive in fine shape and on time, but my large suitcase got inspected by the TSA both ways, so I wonder if it set off security somehow. I only checked it because I knew the planes for this trip were very small and it was either check it or my laptop. Hard decision.

Craig-Tx · Post by **Craig-Tx** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:44 am

deerslayer wrote:very infrequent flyer here , but will be leaving the country in feb.....SOoo i'm gathering it is not a good idea to just check it ? also,if you do carry on it's ok to go through x-Ray without the card inserted ? thanks, tim

I've never removed the card. The X-Ray has not effected the machine or the card in any way.

Craig-Tx · Post by **Craig-Tx** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:47 am

annie123 wrote:Can anyone be more specific about what they do when traveling to get distilled water fro the humidifier???
Thanks, Annie

Like others have said, I generally use tap or bottled water. (I know bottled spring water will probably have even more minerals than tap, but it generally has less of a chlorine smell.) I then give it a good washing when I get home.

I have heard others will notify the hotel that they will need distilled water and the hotel can often provide some. I have yet to try this, but I plan to on my next trip.

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:30 am

RAINSUX wrote:And for the other question, DON'T CHECK IT. Sooner or later it is going to get delayed, lost, or broken, and the airline is not going to buy you a new one.

I heard a great suggestion. It was made in the context of packing photography equipment into checked baggage.

Go to a sporting goods store and pick up a cheap starter pistol. The idea is that it does not require any licensing or permits in any US state, BUT TSA classifies it as a firearm. Pack it in the same bag along with your valuables. When you go to check your bag at the airport state that you have a firearm to declare. They'll have you fill out a form, and the bag will get inspected AND LOCKED in front of you. The bag then receives special attention all the way through the system until it's back in your hands. Neither the airlines nor TSA want to be involved in the loss of a firearm!

WARNING WARNING WARNING : This suggestion was made by someone writing in to Penn Jillette's radio show about a year and a half ago. Those of you who may have listened to his show know what that means. DO NOT actually try this without first verifying all the laws involved for yourself!!!

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:41 am

Personally I think that you should not go directly to the terminal. They should check you in and take your clothes at an off terminal site then bus you to the terminal naked and with no carry on's. The luggage would fly on a seperate plane. Tha way they could do away with TSA and the government could use the TSA money to fly the l plane that carries the luggage.

clanrat · Post by **clanrat** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:13 am

Respironics gear has "MEDICAL EQUIPMENT" stamped in the plastic right on the bottom of the unit.

I too use a hard pelicase, but have found that it doesn't fit in all overhead storage bins. Saving my pennies for an M-series. I think that will make life a lot easier.

I travel very frequently, maybe twice a month. Sometimes it gets swabbed, sometimes it doesn't. I"ve never had to remove it from its case.

As to the water, I don't worry about it. I either use tap water, or buy some bottled water from a local store.

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:44 am

Something no one else has mentioned.....always, always, ALWAYS keep your eyes on your XPAP. It's way too darned easy for someone to snag it after TSA has swabbed it and walk off with it if you ain't got your eyes on it! I'm not trying to be alarmist, but I seem to remember a thread here a while back where this happened.

Kajun (who's always a little paranoid!)

ColoradoDreamer · Post by **ColoradoDreamer** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:52 pm

You don’t need any special tag for your equipment. The TSA folk see these things everyday and are use to them. The bottom of my Respironics unit clearly states that it is medical equipment. I also have my prescription in the carrying case should I need it while traveling. I have yet to have someone question that it is medical equipment.

Not all airports will swab the equipment or ask you to take it out like a lap top…at least not yet.

Regarding distilled water; I always put a couple drinking size bottles of distilled water (in a plastic bag) in my check-in luggage. That gives me a few days of distilled water and then I will use bottled water.

I agree that it is best to carry your equipment with you. It could get damaged if placed in check-in luggage and what would you do if your luggage is lost or is flying to places you are not. It would make for a rough night without it.

Ms Piggy · Post by **Ms Piggy** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 pm

when I flew back from u.k. this fall I was not allowed to take a small bottle of drinking water through to security, no liquids allowed they said. They also wanted everything in ONE bag, no chance of that working, so I went in through the invitation only entry and the guy let me in with 3 bags!

What size Pelican case good for a small machine, PB420E, without humidifier would someone with experience suggest please.

cabhoney · Post by **cabhoney** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:47 pm

I have flown several times in the last 5 months. Thru Chicago O'Hare, Salt Lake City, and Nashville. New regulations are that you must take it out of the carrier to be inspected/swabbed. I also have my prescription in my carrier and it never leaves my sight. They have been very good about the inspections.
Cindy

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79

Mask	Humidifier

can we talk about airline travel again?

Can we talk about airline travel again?