Advice on flying for the first time with Cpap machine

[raptor5150]

I flew Southwest in december, had no problems and they didnt count it as a carryon. They did make me take the machine out of the bag and have both in a tub seperate from everything else. I guess all places are different cause this was at Lambert International and they didnt make me do it at Omaha airport. No questions asked, they knew what it was.

[Chuck Connors]

An extension cord is a good reminder to myself. It's something I always forget to travel with and seems to be needed about 50% or more of the time. -Chuck-

[cosmo]

Airline people see these cpap machine everyday. Play spot the cpap machine when you're at the airport. I would also wrap it up in a bag in between uses. Who knows what type of bugs might be lurking around in hotels rooms. You could have hundreds of people through that room a year*.

I have a giant ziplock bag I keep them in. The bag is big enough to fit a turkey and you can buy it at target or walmart.

*Based on double occupancy. I am not a statistician or magician.

[Remo]

I found this to be a particularly good and informative thread - given that I do travel for work a lot and have just started using CPAP.

Thanks, especially about the extenssion cord. That is something I had not thought of, even though I usually have to search high and low for a good place to plug in my cell phone charger in order to keep my phone in easy reach. (Yes, there are times I am required to answer the phone at night... dang-it.)

[Daisy004]

I cant thank you guys enough,I have written everything down...good tip with the zip lock baggies and extention. I will def print out a medical alert badge and laminate it to tie on the bag. Good idea also about keeping it in a giant ziplock bag in the hotel. Its a Disney hotel we are staying in so...yeah....who knows whats flying about the rooms...lol Also the kids need outlets to charge their DS and ipod etc so I will def need an adapter. Im using the swift nasal pillows but Im going to order a spare headgear and pillows ( just in case ). Again thank you all so much. One less thing to worry about. hugs, Daisy.

[xenablue]

I wrap each component in its own ziploc bag. This ensures it stays away from grubby TSA hands if I don't have time to tell them to change gloves, however I've never had one so much as touch my CPAP bag, contents etc. I have had to remove the machine only from the CPAP bag a couple of times, but usually they can see the contents as it goes through the x-ray machine.

On the plane - it's not counted towards your carry-on, but only ever put in your XPAP bag things that pertain to XPAP. I include earplugs, extension cord, spare hose/mask/nasal pillows, etc., wipes, silicone tape. I also have a tiny insulated bag with a mini-cooler pak and all my meds. Never been questioned, although I have had the cooler wiped by TSA a couple of times.

No need to worry - all will be fine. The biggest challenge for you is juggling yours and your kids' stuff lol.

cheers,
xena

[4betterO2]

To deal with getting multiple days of wave data, I change the SD card each day and note the date on the card.
Then, when I get home, I change the system date to correspond with each card and load them in order
Change date - load data - change date - load data until all days are loaded.
This way Encore accepts and stores all of the Wave data.

I've not heard this before;
I guess this is the way you do it at home too?
Which version of Encore do you use?
what is the make/model of our machine?

btw for the OP - seems there is a consensus that putting the machine on the belt thru the TSA scanner is safe, it does not cause any damage or malfunction.

Also, caution for anyone reading this thread and thinking of traveling abroad, the onboard baggage allowance may be quite different than in the US, especially on low-cost airlines using smaller jets, they even use a smaller size already for allowing the carry-on suitcases.

[cosmo]

This might be overkill but for those with extra machines, place the machine staying at home in a box with some gear before you leave. No need to tape it up. If you're traveling and something happens along the way, someone can tape up the box and ship the home machine out.

USPS also has Express Mail Sunday shipments and they can do an Express Mail package hold for you at any post office if you're traveling.

https://www.usps.com/ship/express-mail.htm

I plan on boxing up a third machine I have with some gear. I have an internet capable printer. I can pay online for the shipment, input address, etc and send it to the printer remotely. If I were to keep a half page label in the manual feed, all someone would need to do is peel the label, slap it on the box and drop it off at a designated shipper.

[Denial Dave]

cpap.com sells a nice tag for the outside of your cpap bag.... I added it onto an order for spare parts.

I showed TSA folks at check-in my bag and tag and they sent me through with no issues. we changed airlines a few times and none of them counted it as a carry-on.

pack an extension cord!.... hotels do not make outlets easily accessible for us... They put one or two on desks for laptops, but rarely expose one near the bed.

[abpat2203]

Thank you so much for all the information in this thread. I will be travelling on Friday for the first time with my CPAP machine.

[SMenasco]

In addition to an 8 ft extension cord, I have also added an inexpensive short surge protector to the bag, which allows me to charge my phone as well.

[JO'M]

Before you travel, make sure you have uploaded your prescription to CPAP.com. If something happens and you need to order a replacement part, they already have your script.