travelling with a cpap

[grandma29]

Hubby will be travelling by air and will be taking his cpap. What does he need to do in order to get the machine through airport security?
Thanks!
karen

[tlc95066]

Hi Karen,

I have traveled internationally, as well as in the US, and have not had a problem with the airport security. If asked, he simply needs to state that the machine is a medical device. Since CPAP is considered a medical device, the "bag of supplies" should not count towards a carry on either.

You can also use the search tool in this forum to see other posts regarding travel.

I wish you and your husband safe travels.

Best,
Teri

[djv1255]

I just got back from Scotland a month ago.
It was not a problem. I think most airport personnel are familiar with CPAP machines.

Also, my PB420E had no problem handling 220v just needed an adapter.
However, I was glad I took a regular extension cord with me. Several hotels didn't have a plug close to the bed.

[tlc95066]

That is actually a good point about the extension cord. Sometimes the only outlet is in the bathroom! I also take a surge protector with me, at the advise of my because of my wonderful "geek of a husband".

Best,
Teri

[WAFlowers]

Two business trips in the last month since starting treatment and I carried my equipment with me both times.

I have a copy of my original prescription with me to prove I need it. I also have a printout of the TSA statement on respiratory equipment packed with my xPAP. You can get it from here: http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/edit ... l_1568.xml

So far I haven't needed either.

[rock and roll]

I travel almost every week and last month all over Europe,

not one problem, not one second glance and not one problem getting through security. tell him to take his trip and don't worry about it.

[snork1]

Yup, what they said above.
All covered very well. Can't think of a thing to add.
Extension cord
Mini-surge suppressor
Copy of prescription
Copy of rules concerning CPAP
Tell EVERYONE official that you have a medical device "breathing machine" which for some reason seems to get a light bulb better than "CPAP".

Get there a bit early to get ROOM in the overhead baggage without a fight.

[Margaret]

Has anyone actually used their machine to sleep on the plane?

[zenfulzoe]

I travel frequently and, before today, have never had a problem taking my cpap through security and on a plane as carry-on. The cpap machine is sometimes examined separately with a machine that uses swabs to detect nitrogen (I believe). For an unknown reason, today the machine registered positive and TSA (airport security screening) would not allow the cpap machine on the plane. Despite emphasizing to a supervisor and his supervisor that this was a medical device that needs to be in my possession and is subject to damage through checked baggage, they would not allow me to take it on the plane and insisted that I send it through checked luggage. Fortunately, the airline personnel provided bubble wrap and packaging, but still required that I sign a waiver indemnifying the airline from liability for damage. All in all, I was extremely frustrated. The machine seems to have arrived without damage, but I haven't used it yet tonight. I suppose I'm going to have to invest in a protective hardcase that can survive checked luggage in case this happens again.

[snork1]

More of a likely danger of checking through your CPAP is that is will get lost or stolen. And you will be stuck without a machine, which can be life threatening, AND the airline is only liable for about $200 TOTAL on lost luggage.

How about making THEM sign up for liability of any personal damage TO YOU as a result of not having a machine?

Its crapola that airlines can do what they want without paying any consequences.

By the way there is a very common ingredient in many cosmetics and lotions that shows up in their sniffers the same as an ingredient in explosives....Glycerin. As in nitroglycerin. Glycerin is a natural and very healthy ingredient for cosmetics, but can give you some real grief in security. You might have gotten some lotion or something on your hands, then handled your machine. It takes amazingly little to trigger their machines. They are having real problems with this false alarm, but you will notice it is not talked about much.

[ProfessorSleep]

That's fascinating, Snork, about the glycerin. I will commence reading the labels on all lotions and soaps immediately. As for traveling, I also frequently travel with a bunch of camera equipment. I pack the cpap in my carryon and carry the camera equipment separately. The fragility has been rather obvious, and I don't think anyone is going to suggest I check the camera. It's a lot heavier than the cpap, though, so I'd rather have the PB case over my shoulder than the camera bag. TSA, no problem; some airline personnel, well, that's another matter.

[TerryB]

Another thing which can trip the sniffers is nitrates on your hands from some heart drugs. If you take certain meds. and then handle your carryon pieces, they may be tainted. Of course the nitroglycerin tablets are just that although in minute levels, detectable by the machines.

TerryB

[njl]

I have generally had good travel experience with the CPAP -- although the gel cell battery for my machine always gets pulled at the X-ray and swabbed. (I've even had security ask me "Is that a CPAP?") I have traveled with a doctor's note about the need to carry the CPAP on board for sleeping but have never had to show it except as related below.

I recently traveled from my home in Los Angeles to and from Bangalore, India via Frankfurt, Germany. I had no hassles on the outbound leg at LAX or Frankfurt. On the return in Bangalore, however, I checked in at Lufthansa, passed through Indian customs and reached the security screeners before I was stopped and told point blank I could not board with the battery in question.

I explained that I could not sleep (20 hours of flying!) without the device and battery in the cabin and that I would not be able to board the flight without it. They had me travel back through customs (with security holding my passport, since I had officially left the country according to the stamps) to obtain an airline representative, who got a Lufthansa supervisor to sign my ticket saying the airline was OK with the battery being on board their plane. The rep then kindly accompanied me all the way through customs and security to back up this assertion on the airline's part. The final convincer for Indian security was the doctor's note -- from my doctor who grew up not far from Bangalore, as it turned out -- which seemed to tell enough of a story to reassure him to let me through.

After that incident I am looking for CPAP units with a more "self-contained" battery -- the Puritan-Bennett battery works fine, but other than the blue slipcover with the company logo on it, it doesn't really present the appearance of being "part" of the CPAP device. I am hoping that the BreatheX or perhaps the Invacare/Everest Aura Polaris TR will make it less likely for them to consider separating the CPAP from the battery -- plus, I believe both of those units use dry cells rather than gel cells, which should alleviate the gel/liquid concerns that seem to be new to the travel game.

Will post more when I get one of these newfangled devices and try running it through the security gauntlet again.

[billbolton]

Another thing which can trip the sniffers is nitrates on your hands from some heart drugs.

Shoe polish can also set off many of the sniffer machines, which is why they generally don't wave the sniffer wand over leather shoes (and often insist on X-raying them instead).

The operators generally know this and have a protocol for handling it, but it does involve a number of ressniffs, which takes sveral minutes, to ensure make sure it was indeed a false indication.

Its probably not likely to a huge problem in respect of CPAP machine and their carry bags etc, but it is something to be aware of!

Cheers,

Bill

[billbolton]

Has anyone actually used their machine to sleep on the plane?

Yes.

There are numerous threads on this. If you want to use the machine on an aircraft you pragmatically must discuss it with the "special assistance" people for the airline concerned. You need to do it for each and every individual flight you want to use it on, even if you have successfully used it with the same carrier previously.

There are a whole bunch of reason for this, but basically supporting CPAP operation in flight is not guaranteed by any carrier, and if the airline is not forewarned of your intentions and needs, they can refuse on the spot for a variety of operational reasons which are simply very hard to argue with at the airport! Also check in/boarding is definitely not the time to start raising a fuss in today's security alert air-travel environment!

If you have discussed your needs with them beforehand, the ground-side and air-side staff will be forewarned and unless there is a genuinely unexpected and last monute technical issue (see below) things will go smoothly.

BTW, its a good idea to have a "Plan B" if it turns out you can't use your CPAP on board for a technical reason related to the aircraft concerned. This does happen occasionally in my experience, for reasons beyond anyone's control, and it's impossible to predict when it will happen. Even if the outcome is sub-optimal in terms of normal sleeping, having a strategy previously worked out is better than adding the stress of trying to decide what to do right now, to the stress of not being able to use your CPAP!

There are other technical issues in terms of how you can use your CPAP in flight which are covered in previous threads, and I think in the FAQ.

Cheers,

Bill