Tips for flying with CPAP?

[akcpapguy]

Sorry you had some dificulty with your CPAP and travel Sleepy, if I were you I would just call the main customer service or complaint line for American.

One other note just in general, whenever one of these threads come up there are alot of people posting the TSA regs and rules. One thing to keep in mind, the TSA regs only refer to security and do not dictate what airlines MUST allow you to take onboard. The airlines are however bound by the DOT and FAA regs.

[billbolton]

The second gate agent made a fuss because the flight was full and the overhead bins would be full. Uh, yeah, if you allow everyone with those oversized bags that should be checked on with those bags, then of course there's no room! I refused to let them tell me otherwise and was prepared to ask for a supervisor. Again, I was waved off.

If the aircraft cabin storage is already basically full, the agent acted appropriately and you were just plain out of luck. Air Safety regulations will outweigh everything else, for any airline.

With any airline you need to tell the gate agents that you have a CPAP with you before boarding commences and get pre-boarding to ensure there is space available for your CPAP kit.

Cheers,

Bill

[dtsm]

With any airline you need to tell the gate agents that you have a CPAP with you before boarding commences and get pre-boarding to ensure there is space available for your CPAP kit.

Good suggestion - will try that trick next time I fly domestic!

[sleepyinstlouis]

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[billbolton]

bill, if you've been following along......

I HAVE been following along, but the story morphs as people comment on it.....

[TheDreamer]

I think I'm going to have to invest in an extra powersupply for my CPAP. This is the second time I've almost left without my powersupply. If it weren't for the am I sure I didn't leave something on that I shouldn't run through before I can really leave....I might have missed that in the morning rush to pack my CPAP for my flight, I once again forgot to get the power brick at that time.

I suppose that since I have an extra power cord in my CPAP bag is part of the reason...but I did that because the power outlet it behind my headboard, so I didn't want the hassle of getting the cord out from there, etc. Of course, an extra powersupply wasn't cheap enough to have an extra at the time...but I guess it is starting to look like I should....

The Dreamer.

[happysleeper]

Hi all,

I just flew to Hawaii from Oakland on Alaska Airlines, and had good treatment by TSA and the airline. Tips which worked for me:

* At the TSA checkpoint, I chose the medical fluids/family lane,

http://www.tsa.gov/approach/black_diamond.shtm

which allows for more time. Getting the cpap bag out and organized took a few seconds, which in the fast lines can irritate fellow passengers.

* when I put my cpap machine in the grey bin to be xrayed, I put my machine, in a plastic bag, loosely inside my unzipped, closed cpap case. Everthing else (only cpap related stuff) was secured in the case, but the machine in the plastic bag were loose, ready to be checked.

* as my machine, luggage and I approached the TSA worker behind the xray machine, I smiled and called out to the worker that I had a cpap machine. He caught my eye and nodded. As it went through, I asked if it could be checked with fresh gloves. He pulled aside another worker and told her to be sure to check it with fresh gloves.

* the second TSA worker had me take all of my things (cpap machine with case, luggage, fanny pack, jacket, shoes) over to a side table. She did not even take my cpap machine out of the case, but rather just opened it, saw the machine it the pastic bag, and put on new gloves, and swabbed it with a fresh swab right there inside the bag, which remained inside my case. Pretty slick.
* at the gate I asked for, and got permission for, early boarding, because I told them that I wanted to be sure that there would be room for my machine in the overhead. When I put it in the overhead, I put the medical tag outward. I was glad that I did, because I got moved to a better seat (more leg room for the 5 hour flight) after the plane was in the air, but couldn't access the overheads at that point to bring my machine along. When we deplaned I was able to quickly move up to get my bag out of the overhead, but I felt pretty sure that no one would have taken it by mistake with the medical tag prominent. Glad I had my ID inside the bag. I may rethink this overhead strategy next time, as I had a few nervous moments there, but I really like having my book to read, snacks, etc during the flight.

Aloha,

Happy Sleeper

[billbolton]

I just flew to Hawaii from Oakland on Alaska Airlines, and had good treatment by TSA and the airline.

I flew an Alaska Airlines sector from Los Angeles to Vancouver last week, and also had no problem with carrying on my S9 bag.

Cheers,

Bill

[TheDreamer]

Seems each time I fly...I have a new experience.....

Finally, getting to use the power bar with 15' cord that I've been traveling with.

Sadly, this hotel only has mineral enhanced bottled water....but it is only $1 a bottle. Definitely not going to use tap water...I'm in San Diego...

What was more interesting, was that there's no wireless in the hotel...only wired Internet, and I didn't pack an Ethernet cable with me. Fortunately I found a broken one laying on the ground....

I don't remember the 6' hose being so short....guess its because at home it is coming from the humidifier which is on top of my nightstand...and the machine is on the lower shelf. Here in the hotel...I have the machine with integrated humidifier on the lower shelf of the night stand here.

Or maybe its because I'm trying to use with hose management....

I meant to have a white noise machine for travel by now...but I still haven't. Not sure when my machine because noisier....remember when I first started I found discovered an arrangement in a hotel where the machine was quieter and I've been trying to reproduce that at home. But that was before last summer...where I now have a couple fans going at night.

The Dreamer.

[sleepyinstlouis]

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[TheDreamer]

I should start packing a hose cover in my travel bag now....this is the first time on the road that I've experienced rainout....though its probably due to the fact that I've been using hose management on the road, and that I been using humidifier this summer...

The Dreamer.

[dtsm]

Where else did you post your complaint: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14072225-post1.html

After the first incident, i would have made sure to get the names of the FA that were being an Axxxxx and reported them.

[q149]

I have been flying a fair bit since starting to use my S9 (2 months)

To date I have flown 6 times domestically in Canada and twice internationally from Canada (Japan & Bermuda)

I have been actually shocked! Not a single person anywhere has said anything at all about my CPAP at the XRAY or about my third carry-bag in general. I travel with a standard sized roller bag, full size soft business briefcase and my S9 laptop looking CPAP bag.

I have an upcoming trip to the US and I'm guessing I may have to take the unit out at the XRAY (like a laptop) as specified in the TSA rules. But frankly, it has been so easy so far having a third carry-on I'm left wondering why more people don't take an extra carry-on!

As for overhead storage space, I'm fortunate enough that I'm 95% flying in business class and therefore have not had an issue. Since my travel as short trips I have been using bottled water while traveling. I do notice a little film at the bottom of the humidifier but it cleans out easly.

[Bibs]

Hi guys. Thanks for all the tips.
My question is: Is there anybody here that can share a story of using their CPAP on the actual flight?
I have an 8hr flight in the night, and also a 13 hour flight, so I'd really, really like to sleep during most of them.
Im flying Air Asia. Today I rang them to see if the company had any form of CPAP policy (their website didnt).
It seriously was like herding cats. They had no idea of what a CPAP was. To their credit, they did a little research and must have spoken with someone who did. Eventually the person I was speaking to said: "It should be alright, they'll work something out" (when asked if the machine could be able to run on the plane power supply).
So it looks a little shaky.

Should I just buy a battery pack, avoid any confusion, and sleep forth to victory?

[LinkC]

I've always thought it's more trouble than it's worth. You'd be toting around a battery for the entire trip (or risking your machine to an uncertain power supply). You'll be sitting upright, so even WITH CPAP you wouldn't sleep that well.

Leave the machine in the overhead and sleep away...or bring lots of magazines.