Travel

[datahogg]

In a few days I will be flying by commercial airline, and will be taking my CPAP machine. What can I expect from security??
Thanks H. Hampton.

[BlackSpinner]

In a few days I will be flying by commercial airline, and will be taking my CPAP machine. What can I expect from security??
Thanks H. Hampton.

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[nanwilson]

Carry your cpap in its case on the plane, it is not counted as luggage. Once you go to security, they may just look to see what it is and they may take it out of its bag and swipe if.........every airline is different, but they all know what it is.
Should not be a problem. Unless you get a security person that's having a bad day .

[Alshain]

In the U.S., your CPAP stays with you. If anyone tries to red tag it, just tell them what it is and they will back down. You are allowed one carry on and one personal item except on small commuter planes where you only get the personal item, in either case the CPAP does not count as those two items and can be a third item on the plane with you (it's a medical exemption). NEVER EVER check your CPAP. Electronics dissapear when they go under the plane, and even if they didn't, your CPAP bag is not padded enough for the way they manhandle luggage.

As far as security, depends on the TSA agent. My S9 bag is laid out in such a way that nothing can sit below it or above it (there are no pockets except in the zipper pouch, which folds out of the way) and therefore I just have to open the flap and run it through (see butterfly style laptop bags http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/sim ... dures.shtm) In this case MOST TSA agents are ok with it, but if they tell you to take it out... don't argue.

[apneawho]

I am new to CPAP. Haven't traveled on airline yet, but I googled TSA guidelines for cpap inspection and I have a tag for my bag labeling it as medical equipment. You can buy on cpap.com
A friend told me she had to take her machine out of the bag and place in the bin. They asked her to disassemble and they swabbed it for explosives. You can bring your own clear plastic bags if you want your machine to stay clean and you can ask them to put on new gloves and to clean the table surface if they are examining or swabbing your machine. Others have said they did not get that much inspection. It apparently varies greatly from airport to airport.

[Tip10]

Depends upon airport and agent.

My last flight I just set my bag on the belt, an agent asked "CPAP?" and I conformed and he reached for it and I asked him to change gloves to which he responded : "All I am going to do is unzip the bag and open the top, okay? We'll send it through that way. If there is any indication we need to to have it removed from the bag then we will have you do that, no one here will touch your machine except you, we will discuss further inspections if there are issues which there should not be. Is is okay for me to unzip the bag?"
I said Yes, he very carefully unzipped the bag and laid the top back taking care to touch only the outside of the bag, it went through the machine and I flipped the top back closed, zipped it up and went on my way.
At the airport on my return trip I was again asked "CPAP?" I confirmed and they sent it through the machine, bag closed, and that was that.

[Alshain]

Datahogg, fill out your equipment list in your profile. Newer CPAP's bags are better designed for TSA, but older ones may not conform to their rules (no zippers, snaps, or pockets behind the large electronics). If we know what you have, we can tell you if your bag is suitable or if you will be asked to remove it. Everyone posting their experiences here have S9's which are really well designed-for-travel bags. From the link I posted, their are guidelines listed there for laptops, these are the same for CPAP.

• Your laptop bag has a designated laptop-only section that you can lay flat on the X-ray belt
• There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop-only section
• There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop
• You have completely unfolded your bag so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section, allowing the bag to lie flat on the X-ray belt

[Tip10]

Actually I don't travel with my S9.
I have a Probasics ZZZ-Pap (and humidifier) for travel.

[Mary Z]

I have never had a problem with security. The last time I flew was January. The took part of the CPAp out of the case and swabbed to for explosive residue. I also carry my medicines in the outside pocket along with my hose and that has worked fine.

[xenablue]

I placed each piece of my machine/equipment in separate ziplock bags so they could easily be inspected without being touched too much.

I've had my CPAP bag both ignored and inspected, but nothing was removed from the ziplocks for swabbing on any occasion I've taken flights. Once TSA sees it on the x-ray scanner, they pretty much let it go.

I even include wipes, extension cords, extra pillows, Lansinoh etc. - no questions asked.

Happy travels to you!

xena

[Kathy G]

You might want to call it a sleep machine, especially if going overseas. Let's face it, these are not rocket scientists. I did have to take it out of the case along with my laptop. I added a hand towel for extra padding around the machine, even though I did carry it on the plane and I am glad it did.

[datahogg]

Thanks for the replies and information.

[ArizonaGUy]

For anyone who does not know:

You have the right to have any TSO (Trans. Security Officer) change his or her gloves - and have them take fresh ones from the box, not their pocket. This applies to any hand search they perform, not just of personal medical equipment. You have no idea who or what they've recently touched with the gloves they have on. When they swab for explosives residue, you have the same right to ask that they use a new pad. Again, same issue about what that swab was previously used for. Some care more about these points than others.

Because I have zero respect for the TSA, their intrusion on civil rights and the mob mentality of "anything for security", they will change gloves and/or swab pad each and every time they wish to touch me or my belongings. I would find it comical if it weren't so sad that they will generally hand check CPAP units but don't bother swabbing laptops which be design have a lithium-ion polymer explosive connected/built into them.