Sleeping on the plane?

[Dragon Lady]

I may be going to Syndey and wonder how will I sleep on the plane?

Thanks!

[WNJ]

Since being on CPAP, I have on a number of occasions flown from the west coast back to the east on an overnight flight. I have not used my CPAP while sleeping on the plane and have felt no noticeable harm because of it.

I think sleeping in a partially upright position might help diminish the propensity for my airway to become obstructed. Who knows?

But in any event, I sleep fitfully at best in planes anyway. It’s not like a Pullman car where you can lie down properly and get comfortable. Also, others sitting nearby are not always very considerate.

I've been rested enough to drive another 3 hours or so to get back home once we landed.

Wayne

[Arthurs]

That can be a rather long flight. Use a battery operated CPAP. Don't forget to adjust the machine for higher altitude if it doesn't automatically set it for you.

[Guest]

I heard this morning that United is now charging $25 to speak with an actual person when you make reservations. You will more than likely need to let the airlines know ahead of time if you are using your CPAP on the plane.

Not saying you are flying United, but for those who do in the future and require Oxygen or the use of CPAP during flight, it's going to cost you $25 extra.

[Arthurs]

I heard this morning that United is now charging $25 to speak with an actual person when you make reservations. You will more than likely need to let the airlines know ahead of time if you are using your CPAP on the plane.

Not saying you are flying United, but for those who do in the future and require Oxygen or the use of CPAP during flight, it's going to cost you $25 extra.

If you're only using a CPAP, no need to let the airlines know anything ahead of time, they are required by FAA regulations to allow the use of CPAP machines during flight (takeoff and landings obviously excepted). However if you require oxygen, that's another story.

Oh, and if you book online to avoid the $25 booking fee, you can always call in special requests afterwards at no charge.

[Guest]

What FAA regulation requires them to allow you to use it on the plane. I'm simply asking, I haven't seen one, so I would like to actually read the regulation.

Also, some airlines require you to use it off battery power and than some require you to use it via there 12v connections. The later would require you to book a specific seat which would probably require you to talk to an actual booking agent.

[Arthurs]

What FAA regulation requires them to allow you to use it on the plane. I'm simply asking, I haven't seen one, so I would like to actually read the regulation.

To prevent you from bringing CPAP on board is a violation of federal aviation regulations and Air Carrier Access act. 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."

Also, some airlines require you to use it off battery power and than some require you to use it via there 12v connections. The later would require you to book a specific seat which would probably require you to talk to an actual booking agent.

I travel frequently, and I would never trust whatever power is provided on the plane (too unreliable unstable), IF there is even power provided at your particular seat. If it is, it's barely sufficient in wattage/amperage to power some modern laptops (particularly my MacBook Pro 17"), let alone a CPAP machine. You can see what is available at http://www.seatguru.com for your particular airline/airplane/seat (assuming that the airline is not lax in maintenance of these power outlets), but quite frankly for a medical device like a CPAP machine, the ONLY way I'd go is battery power, even if I was flying 1st class. On all the trans pacific flights I've been on, I've learned the hard way that if my seat has power, that's icing on the cake, and not an expectation of mine.

[Dragon Lady]

Thank you for your responses. Since I'm not totally sure yet which airlines I'm going on, I suppose when it gets close to the time to purchase tickets, I'd definetely have to research it.

Unfortunately, I do snore (severely according to the sleep study) but when we went to Bankok, my dear hubby said I did snore, but not much. Course, I stayed awake for most of the trip as I was so afraid that I'd keep people awake that I wasn't rested (not that a person really could be on a long flight anyway) when we arrived.

Maybe a chin strip would do the trick, since I seem to have a habit of sleeping with my mouth open when sitting up.

[Guest]

Also, some airlines require you to use it off battery power and than some require you to use it via there [sic] 12v connections. The later [sic] would require you to book a specific seat which would probably require you to talk to an actual booking agent.

Not at all. See http://www.seatguru.com for the location of power outlets at seats.

I once asked a very experienced flight attendant on a flight between London and Chicago how often, if at all, a passenger uses CPAP in flight.

She said she's seen it exactly once, and it took the pilot's intervention to allow it.

[Arthurs]

Gosh, before I knew I had UARS, I'd purposely plan my overseas business flights so that I arrive a day early so that I could stay up and do work or read on the plane, then crash at the destination hotel for 12-15+ hours of sleep! Wouldn't be my choice to do so for a vacation, why chew up a day recovering from the flight? There were a few times I was worn out from a busy week and had to doze off on the plane, I always asked my neighbor to elbow me if I snored!

Print out the rules, and carry them in your CPAP bag/case, that way if you get some airport/security/airline personnel that doesn't know the rules (some don't), you can show them politely. If they still give you a hard time, don't argue, just insist on talking with the supervisor or pilot. Here's some really useful information in another thread to help in traveling with a CPAP on airlines:

viewtopic/t36345/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=35 ... 02#p310602

[billbolton]

I may be going to Syndey and wonder how will I sleep on the plane?

Something to consider is that when returning from Sydney to the US, if you get on a morning flight, it is quite practical to stay awake throughout the flight. A flight that leaves Sydney at, say 10am Australian EST will arrive about midnight in LA or SF on the same time reference (it will actually be early in the moring in the US WST time zone).

I work that into my travel plans where ever I can, and find hotel roon near the airport and plan on sleeping there during the day. Its so MUCH easier to sleep in a hotel bed than anywhere on an aircraft!

The real issue are the flights to Sydney out of the West Coast of the US, which mostly leave in the late evening US WST (timed to arrive just after the early morning airport curfews cease in Australia).... so its tough to stay awake for 14 or so hours on that flight sector!

Re using CPAP on an aircraft, I can only very strongly echo Arthurs comments on seat power availability and also recommend that your oragnise your own battery power.

Cheers,

Bill

[Dragon Lady]

Thanks again on your reponses.

My trip will be for a convention, so it will be mostly business with a bit of pleasure thrown in. I'm sure I won't and am not the only that's asked this question, so I will continue to watch for more posts from others. I think things will change more or less when the time comes near anyway.

The next time I talk to the RT, I'll ask about battery options, too. Just as well, since there's an occasional power outage (like this past weekend when our fuse box died, for example), so if I had the back up, I wouldn't have ended up sleeping without my cpap.

[kteague]

What has been helpful for me when sleeping upright is using a c-shaped neck pillow, but I use it backwards. I rest my chin on it and it keeps my head from flopping forward (not a good position for apnea) and prevents my mouth from falling open. May not suffice for a long flight, but you could try it out in advance with someone observing you to see how much or little it works for you.
Kathy

[Dragon Lady]

What has been helpful for me when sleeping upright is using a c-shaped neck pillow, but I use it backwards. I rest my chin on it and it keeps my head from flopping forward (not a good position for apnea) and prevents my mouth from falling open. May not suffice for a long flight, but you could try it out in advance with someone observing you to see how much or little it works for you.
Kathy

Intersting idea. I'll give it a try on my next long drive (not me, hubby).

Thanks!

[grandmma]

Welcome to Aussie if you do come!