Travel with the Cpap

[DLMdoc]

Hi! I will be traveling with my cpap for the first time this weekend.

Has anyone had any difficulty taking in your carry-on on the plane?

Thanks!

[TenmaNeko]

I've only done it once so far, but I didn't have any problem.

Just take the machine out of the bag and place it in the bin, like they ask that you do for laptops.

They had a guy do the explosives swab and that was it. I went on my merry way.

But, naturally, it depends on what kind of TSA agents you get.

[Pinhead]

I travel with mine a lot its no big deal. They will make you take it out. Make sure your bag is small enough to fit under a seat or the overhead. Remember some planes have very small overheads and will not fit a rollerbag.

Some airlines count each bag and allow only two others are a little more liberal with their counts. I check my luggage and carry on my computer and cpap. That enough for me to deal with.

Jack

[LinkC]

Travel and CPAP mix very well these days. TSA knows what they are, and their swab procedure is quick and efficient. Your CPAP bag won't count against your carry-on limit AS LONG AS everything in the bag is CPAP-related. Stick your toothbrush in there and they COULD count the bag (dunno that they WOULD...but be aware).

If the flight looks full, go to the gate agent and request pre-boarding because of your medical equipment. Usually they will oblige and you'll have no issues with storage on the flight.

[Davidwnc]

I haven't had to take my CPAP out of the bag when I've gone through screening in years....but even when I was last asked to, it was no problem.

[bailachel]

I took mine on a flight today for the first time. The security process went exactly as I expected it to go after reading about it on this forum. I alerted them that I had it and put it in a separate bin, still in the case, but with the case open. They took it to check it for explosives and were very pleasant about changing their gloves even though two of them had to do it. The first TSA agent changed her gloves and was about to start the process when she was called to another line. She passed it to another agent and told him that I wanted them to use new gloves so he did. It all went very smoothly.

[tillymarigold]

I travel absolutely all the time. Once I had a TSA person tap me on the shoulder and tell me I was only allowed 1 carry on but when I said "this one is medical equipment" he just walked away. The only real problem I've had is in Orlando, where the TSA guy wouldn't believe my machine was the whole machine (it's tiny) and made me take my whole bag apart to prove it. I've flown through a lot of airports though ... Albuquerque, LAX, Ontario California, Raleigh-Durham, Chicago O'Hare, Manchester NH, Pittsburgh ... also several in the UK and one in Spain.

Technically the requirement is that you both remove it from its bag *and* it is swabbed for explosives. Not everywhere does both. I've never been brave enough to ignore the "ALL COMPUTERS, PORTABLE ELECTRONICS AND CPAP MACHINES MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR CASES AND PUT IN A SEPARATE BIN" signs but I know some people here do.

[tlc95066]

I highly recommend purchasing some very large zip lock type bags to place your Xpap etc. in to ensure that it is kept clean and germ free. You don't really want to put your machine in where everyone puts there shoes and other gook! I always ask the TSA agent to put on fresh gloves and they ususally don't mind. Happy Travels!

[Patrick A]

Travel and CPAP mix very well these days. TSA knows what they are, and their swab procedure is quick and efficient. Your CPAP bag won't count against your carry-on limit AS LONG AS everything in the bag is CPAP-related. Stick your toothbrush in there and they COULD count the bag (dunno that they WOULD...but be aware).

If the flight looks full, go to the gate agent and request pre-boarding because of your medical equipment. Usually they will oblige and you'll have no issues with storage on the flight.

You have never flown out of San Diego have you. Most of the TSA clowns there are brain dead and have been since birth!!!

[tillymarigold]

Travel and CPAP mix very well these days. TSA knows what they are, and their swab procedure is quick and efficient. Your CPAP bag won't count against your carry-on limit AS LONG AS everything in the bag is CPAP-related. Stick your toothbrush in there and they COULD count the bag (dunno that they WOULD...but be aware).

Just to add, you can put other *medical* things in your CPAP bag, like prescription drugs, prescription eyeglasses, etc. For example, I sometimes put my saline and contact lens case in it. Those also count as medical equipment.

I always put my carry-on bag in the overhead compartment and my CPAP bag and purse under the seat in front of me, I've never once had a problem with storage space. (And I fly a *lot.*)

[Muse-Inc]

You have never flown out of San Diego have you. Most of the TSA clowns there are brain dead and have been since birth!!!

Ah, more victims of apnea!!!

[sierragail]

Wow, all great tips here, and this wasn't even my post. I getting ready to fly again and this time I'll put my equipment in a large zip-loc bag. And since all the flights I go on are always completely FULL, I'm going to ask to pre-board so I can stow my machine without getting poked in the back and shoved in the front by everyone else racing to get their stuff stowed first, not to mention getting knocked around by all the screaming babies and children and their huge diaper bags.

[travelr]

I travel a lot, both domestically and overseas. I always put the the cpap in a bin where it can be seen. Almost always they immediately recognize it, and do the explosive test. I have never had any problems.

By the way, have any of you used the new PureSom travel cpap machine? I'm debating getting one.

[plr66]

Just another detail-viewpoint: I'm not sure I understand the use of putting your cpap into a ziplock. Just seems to me to add to the hassle of trying to handle things quickly in the xray line. Also seems it would add to the risk of the TSA folks having to wrestle with getting it out of the bag and possibly dropping it, to do their swabbing. Why not just slip the machine into a plastic grocery bag when putting it into its carrycase? This more flexible bag can protect it from the bottom of the bin when you unpack it in the line--TSA can easily lift it out to swab--then you can just leave the bag or throw it away when packing up again at the end of the process. I personally just never bother with this. Too much hassle with the shoes and the other stuff you have to mess with in the line. I just always pack a travel packet of clorox or lysol (non-bleech) antibacterial wipes and wipe down my machine at my hotel. I also use the wipes to clean my mask cushion/pillows. Easy.

[araminta]

I just always pack a travel packet of clorox or lysol (non-bleech) antibacterial wipes and wipe down my machine at my hotel.

Don't they have a residual strong odor? Or do you find it goes away quickly?