Airline travel with CPAP

[gingerdos]

Okay I have read the posts about removing my CPAP from it case, placing it in a clear plastic bag, then into a plastic bin for the xray scanner. I'm not thrilled about placing our two CPAP machines on the conveyor belt. But I am really worried about the TSA personnel breaking my new machine.

My husband and I have 2 new Resmed S8 Elite II. I think the HH is fragle and if grabbed wrong by the inspector could break. Does anyone know if it would be okay if I separated the HH from the CPAP and only placed the CPAP machines in the bin. Leaving the humidifiers in the carryon bag?

I have been spending much time trying to find a bag that I could pack 2 CPAP and equipment, my nebulizer and Laptop. Now I'm rethinking my arrangement, I thought I only needed to remove the laptop before the scanner.

I hate worring about where my belongings are while I'm being scanned. My husband is always removed from the area for an addition inspection. He wears suspenders which trip the scanner and the inspectors drag him away leaving me alone.

I have requested a wheel chair. This will also take me away from my belongings.

TSA website does not say anything about the HH.
Ginger

[AuntieNae4]

I have only been asked to put the blower part out. I separate the HH and leave it in the bag.

You are correct, it is very difficult because I have to also take out my laptop, extra batteries for my GPSr, and geocaching travel bugs because all the metal tags usually means they have to look them over more closely. I feel bad for the folks who come after me because I usually have multiple bins.

I do not have a good answer for you other than to send everything else through 1st, then the CPAP last .. so it all gets to the other side .. so when they tell you they are taking the CPAP to swab it, you and your things will all be on the other side of the scanner.

I have had the option to follow them over to stay with the CPAP, or just keep an eye on where they go while you pack your stuff. It has helped I have been traveling with other people that I send just a shopping bag with who toss all my things into it to grab quickly to get it out of the way. I can stay with my CPAP and we do a quick check that everything is gathered into the larger bag .. so we can walk away .. put our shoes back on and repack everything.

I try to pick the scanner line that has less people in it .. perhaps you have the option to use the "need more assistance" line .. meaning there would be less people .. and less of the rushed feeling?

Hope this helps
AuntieNae

[BeanMeScot]

On the question of luggage, I bought a rolling backpack for cameras to use. It comes with multiple section dividers that you can move around to set things up how you want and then they will stay where you put them and have some foam padding all the way around them.

[KengEsq]

Okay I have read the posts about removing my CPAP from it case, placing it in a clear plastic bag, then into a plastic bin for the xray scanner. I'm not thrilled about placing our two CPAP machines on the conveyor belt. But I am really worried about the TSA personnel breaking my new machine.

My husband and I have 2 new Resmed S8 Elite II. I think the HH is fragle and if grabbed wrong by the inspector could break. Does anyone know if it would be okay if I separated the HH from the CPAP and only placed the CPAP machines in the bin. Leaving the humidifiers in the carryon bag?

I have been spending much time trying to find a bag that I could pack 2 CPAP and equipment, my nebulizer and Laptop. Now I'm rethinking my arrangement, I thought I only needed to remove the laptop before the scanner.

I hate worring about where my belongings are while I'm being scanned. My husband is always removed from the area for an addition inspection. He wears suspenders which trip the scanner and the inspectors drag him away leaving me alone.

I have requested a wheel chair. This will also take me away from my belongings.

TSA website does not say anything about the HH.

Ginger

I have flown a number of times with my APAP. I take it in the ResMed case and then remove the machine and put it in a bin (usually TSA is kind enought to give me a small bin for it) leaving the humidifier and all else in the carrying case. I let them know it is a CPAP and ask them to put on new gloves to check it. I have never had a problem and I am always present while it is inspected.

[DBoone]

And they don't always want to check it. Its been 50/50 on my travels. You always have the right to go with them and they should be patient enough to wait for you if need be.

I just leave mine connected with the humidifier and it all works out fine. But I did like the rolling camera bag idea. Especially since I do have camera and lenses. I might look into that.

[billbolton]

I take it in the ResMed case and then remove the machine and put it in a bin (usually TSA is kind enought to give me a small bin for it) leaving the humidifier and all else in the carrying case. I let them know it is a CPAP and ask them to put on new gloves to check it. I have never had a problem and I am always present while it is inspected.

In my very recent experience with TSA carry-on inspections in the US.... with two TSA inspections they were happy enough for me to leave the H3i in my ResMed bag, while with two other TSA inspections they wanted to "swipe" test both the S8 and the H3i.

Cheers,

Bill

[Muse-Inc]

Go to the ResMed website, they have a whole page dedicated to travel with CPAP and a letter for (TSA? airline?) you can download. I just saw it last night while surfing their site.

[sepool]

I hate worring about where my belongings are while I'm being scanned. My husband is always removed from the area for an addition inspection. He wears suspenders which trip the scanner and the inspectors drag him away leaving me alone.


Ginger

Ginger,

I also wear suspenders, and get scanned. I just found some TSA friendly suspenders:

http://www.suspenderstore.com/busu.html

Sam

[Paul56]

No worries... the staff at airport security have seen these machines and know how to deal with them.

When I travel I leave the humidifier portion at home since discovering I can spend several nights without it and no ill effects.

Security will inspect your bags and since essentially the humidifier unit is see through they will likely wave it through without further inspection; however, not all airport security handle things in the same way.

I have been at some airports where they don't want to check the machine... while at other airports they do. However, your expectation should be that they will inspect the machine.

I have a Teneba bag that I picked up at a camera shop that holds the machine, humidifer, hose, mask, etc... and holds my laptop... and will hold a few odds and ends.

Link to the bag I have: http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Large-Bag.aspx

Best bet when shopping... take all of your equipment with you so you will see if it fits comfortably. Best place to shop? Good photo shop that has a good selection of bags.

A little tip... take anything off your person that you know will trip the alarms and put it in the bins provided... that includes the suspenders. You will get through security a lot quicker if you do this and don't trip any alarms on the way through.

[araminta]

I went to my local camera store and bought a Lowepro Fastpack 250 bag that's perfect for cpap + hose + extension cord + laptop + camera + cell phone adapter.

And the price was comparable to the on-line price.

[buzzkill58]

For those of you who take your humidifier, what do you do for distilled water?

Buzz

[DBoone]

For those of you who take your humidifier, what do you do for distilled water?

Buzz

I save a couple of plastic soda/water bottles. Wash them out and fill with distilled water. Pack them in my checked luggage. If I'm going to be gone very long I mix with the local water just enough to get through the trip.

[Silver Pelt]

Go to the ResMed website, they have a whole page dedicated to travel with CPAP and a letter for (TSA? airline?) you can download. I just saw it last night while surfing their site.

The letter can be found at
http://www.resmed.com/us/documents/CPAP ... r_2008.pdf
It is specific for Resmed devices; I can't find anything similar for Respironics devices.

[sleepyprm]

I travel quite often, and I put my entire machine in a large compartment inside my rolling laptop bag, along with my 3-oz liquids bag. Then when I get to security, I only open that bage instead of fumbling through 2 or 3 bags to get everything out. I put the CPAP through in the first bin, my liquids, shoes and sweater in the second bin, laptop in the third. Then I put through my carry-on and handbag. By the time I watch all my belongings go through the machine (I always wait until everything is inside the flaps), my cpap machine is done and I can collect everything and put it all back together. Always a workout. I have never had a problem, and I have taken my machine to Korea, Australia, Dubai and Europe - I have been lucky, they have handled it carefully with no difficulties. I carry my prescription with me just in case, but no one has ever asked for it. I guess it's good that sleep apnea is more recognized now. When I first got the machine and carried it in a third (medical) bag, I used to go tell the gate agent and they actually offered me the option to pre-board. Just a few thoughts. It really is Ok, but it took me a while to get through the nerves and work it all out...

[billbolton]

my liquids, shoes and sweater in the second bin

I was told to put my shoes directly on the belt (i.e. NOT in a tray) on every TSA check recently.

Cheers,

Bill