Travel Advice

[drewherndon]

I am starting a new position that will require frequent travel - by air and car. Can anyone point me to a post that has travel advice/tips for traveling with your CPAP? I really do not know what to expect at the airport and if I should expect problems with the CPAP as a carry on.
Thanks, in advance, for any help. It will be appreciated.

Andy

[scrapper]

There's lots of info on travel within the forum if you look..........Always carry on your cpap if flying. Put the blower in a ziplock bag to avoid contact with grimy bins when you go through security at airports. Pack an extension cord and mulitple plug, or one of those holiday extension cords with several plugin's. Ensure that you have your machine cord---know that you may be able to substitute a computer cord if you forget your power cord. Take extra pillows or other mask parts. I generally use bottled water when I get someplace. Carry your prescription at all times........

[sleepyDB]

Great thread....thanks for posting.

I'm also wondering about travel out of the country. We are going to Mexico soon, and I wonder if I should anticipate anything different than travel within the US.

Anyone taken their CPAP to Mexico lately?? Thanks!

[jromano]

drewherndon,

There's lots of great threads here on traveling with your CPAP. Here are a few:

CPAP and Travel by LXJenkins, Friday, March 4, 2011
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61125&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... ravel+cpap

travel experiences with cpap. by scottb908, Sunday, February 27, 2011
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60897&p=571214&hili ... p+#p571214

Traveling with CPAP by NancyAZ, Wednesday, February 16, 2011
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60477&p=567702&hili ... p+#p567702

Travel tips by sleeping_in_ny, Friday, January 21, 2011
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59484&p=558798&hili ... p+#p558798

Flying with CPAP by gac914, Sunday, January 2, 2011
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58729&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... ravel+cpap

...And many, many more. Use the Search box and go crazy!

Happy travels!
Cheers,
Jess

[andrewherndon]

Thanks for all the input. My checklist is getting filled out!

[gasp]

I have traveled a great deal with my machine. My Respironics bag is nice in that I can unzip it and expose the machine in the bin. There are usually security attendants before the x-ray machine and they are the ones I casually and with an upbeat attitude (versus anxiety or strained voice) mention I have a CPAP (term they're most familiar with - I have an APAP but say CPAP anyway). They then alert the people who test the machine and everything goes smoothly.

Before I leave the last hotel or home, I make certain the humidity chamber is absolutely dry so there aren't water droplets in the chamber when it goes through security. Same for the hose. The hotel hair dryer works good by holding your hand at the end of the tube providing protection from the plastic of the tube and the hair dryer. Another 'trick' I use is swinging the hose over my head like a rodeo cowboy to force water out of the hose. I ALWAYS remove the hose cover so they can see inside the tube.

I also carry a copy of my prescription.

Check the airline's website before flying and see if they have a page regarding their policies on CPAPs. Most airlines allow you to carry them onboard. I have never been on an airline that hasn't allowed me to carry it onboard and it doesn't count toward the number of bags I can carry on which is normally 2.

[cflame1]

the only type of plane that I've had issues with them not really wanting me to carry it on was a turbo prop... aka a puddle jumper. One of the one's that they don't like letting you carry more than 1 carry on.

[mstevens]

Anyone taken their CPAP to Mexico lately??

Many times, most recently 2 weeks ago.

There is no additional problem traveling to Mexico compared to traveling within the US - same power system, including plugs.

[billbolton]

We are going to Mexico soon, and I wonder if I should anticipate anything different than travel within the US.

If you go in through a major entry point/port its quite straightforward, however, if you enter through one of smaller entry points, you may find a xPAP causes some consternation.

I had an "interesting" experience with the inbound customs/security inspection in Chihuaha airport in mid-2010, after arriving on a turbo-prop flight from Dallas. Fortunately one the (highly armed) security guards knew what a CPAP machine was, even if the customs inspector didn't!

Cheers,

Bill

[CruzTerri]

Looks like I'll have first hand experience beginning tonight. Flying to Des Moines, Iowa to spend a few days with 3 of my sisters. Flying AA from LAX - with connect through Dallas. I do not plan on using the CPAP on either plane (connecting flight is a small jet). Please before you flame me for not using it on the plane, the first segment is only 3+ hours. I do plan to catch some zzz's especially since the flight doesn't leave until 12:15 AM tomorrow morning (tonight), but will do so without masking up.

The return trip is the same, but during the day

[sleepingatlast]

I have traveled a great deal with my machine. My Respironics bag is nice in that I can unzip it and expose the machine in the bin. There are usually security attendants before the x-ray machine and they are the ones I casually and with an upbeat attitude (versus anxiety or strained voice) mention I have a CPAP (term they're most familiar with - I have an APAP but say CPAP anyway). They then alert the people who test the machine and everything goes smoothly.

Before I leave the last hotel or home, I make certain the humidity chamber is absolutely dry so there aren't water droplets in the chamber when it goes through security. Same for the hose. The hotel hair dryer works good by holding your hand at the end of the tube providing protection from the plastic of the tube and the hair dryer. Another 'trick' I use is swinging the hose over my head like a rodeo cowboy to force water out of the hose. I ALWAYS remove the hose cover so they can see inside the tube.

I also carry a copy of my prescription.

Check the airline's website before flying and see if they have a page regarding their policies on CPAPs. Most airlines allow you to carry them onboard. I have never been on an airline that hasn't allowed me to carry it onboard and it doesn't count toward the number of bags I can carry on which is normally 2.

How do they handle this dissemination of information? I would think that depending on how this was handled, it could be a HIPAA violation. I understand that if I tell the TSA clerk that is not a violation. I don't want my medical condition being announced to all those going thru the "security" process.

[xenablue]

Please make sure you check with whichever airline/s you are using! Each airline has different rules, regardless of whether it's a medical necessity as far as 'extra' carry-ons. Most of them are great, but one airline in particular gave me a very bad time with my diabetic and other meds which I carry separately in a cooler pack. This was in addition to my purse and a mini laptop bag with my Nook.

Remember - the TSA is NOT the airline - the rules differ.

Cheers,
xena

[bayourest]

I carried my s9 + equipment on Southwest Airlines in Nov. I was totally nervous because I had only had it for 5 days. I called SWA and told them my flight numbers and that I would be carrying cpap equipment. just in case of any problem....but there were none whatsoever.

[plr66]

How do they handle this dissemination of information? I would think that depending on how this was handled, it could be a HIPAA violation. I understand that if I tell the TSA clerk that is not a violation. I don't want my medical condition being announced to all those going thru the "security" process.

sleepingatlast--I initially was quite anxious about anyone "discovering" that I was carrying a cpap on my trips. Took me 1-2 flights to get over that completely, and I recommend that you try to just let go of it, as well. Nobody cares whether you have a cpap. Believe me. Nobody cares. The first time I ever took a small group tour to another country (no chance to "blend into the crowd"), I had to immediately go through the scanner line with my new group members, "exposing" myself with unloading my cpap and handing it to the scanner officials in 3 locations at the get-go. I was embarrassed, but for no reason. It was just a non-incident! Don't get into that letigious deal of whether someone might be violating your privacy. It is what it is, and it just "ain't a big deal."

[sleepingatlast]

How do they handle this dissemination of information? I would think that depending on how this was handled, it could be a HIPAA violation. I understand that if I tell the TSA clerk that is not a violation. I don't want my medical condition being announced to all those going thru the "security" process.

sleepingatlast--I initially was quite anxious about anyone "discovering" that I was carrying a cpap on my trips. Took me 1-2 flights to get over that completely, and I recommend that you try to just let go of it, as well. Nobody cares whether you have a cpap. Believe me. Nobody cares. The first time I ever took a small group tour to another country (no chance to "blend into the crowd"), I had to immediately go through the scanner line with my new group members, "exposing" myself with unloading my cpap and handing it to the scanner officials in 3 locations at the get-go. I was embarrassed, but for no reason. It was just a non-incident! Don't get into that letigious deal of whether someone might be violating your privacy. It is what it is, and it just "ain't a big deal."

I don't care if people recognize the machine as CPAP and I am not embarrassed that I need it. It is a violation of my privacy. If we have TSO clerks announcing "we have a CPAP coming through", what stops them from announcing "we have someone with a colostomy bag coming thru" or "we have HIV meds coming thru"?