First time traveling with CPAP (S9)

[NGrace11]

Hi, everyone! This is my first time posting, so please excuse any repeat questions.

I'm traveling to Europe for the first time, ever. I am a nervous wreck about the flight. I use an S9 with humidifier and without it, I don't sleep and I snore loud enough to wake the dead. I only learned about battery packs a week or so ago, and before that I thought I would have to suck it up and just get through the flight somehow and hope I'm not exhausted in Paris. But, now I'm reading that people use their CPAP's on flights all the time. However, I do have a few questions.

Evidently no one uses the humidifier on a plane. I know it just pops off the S9, so do you just hook your hose onto the part that usually connects to the humidifier?

I'm a teacher. This is important for two reasons - one, I'm being sent over by a company for training, and they are definitely sending me economy class, and I certainly can't afford to pay an upgrade, so has anyone flown economy and used their CPAP? I'm flying United Airlines, if that helps.

Second, as much as I am delighted to learn about the battery packs, there is NO WAY I can afford one! I am not at all a frequent traveler, so it's hard to justify such an expensive piece of equipment for my possibly yearly trips overseas. Does anyone rent them? I did find one company, but they wanted almost $500 for a deposit and I couldn't find any reviews, so I felt a bit nervous about handing over such a large amount of money.

Any advice you can give would be very appreciated. Thank you so much for reading!

[chunkyfrog]

Having flown United, I wouldn't bet money on the availability of an outlet.
A rental would be ideal, as most batteries cost more than an upgrade.
Sadly, I know of no rentals available.

[Kitatonic]

If you are sitting up and had a soft cervical collar on, would you still snore so loudly and/or not be able to sleep? I'm counting on be able to sit up and use my collar during my upcoming flight. Also, I have scheduled in sleep time once I get into the hotel, because I might want to just remain awake on the plane, then sleep upon arrival. Since you're doing this for work, maybe you should discuss with your doctor to justify a more flexible schedule upon arrival.

[NGrace11]

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I will more than likely get one of those collars, and maybe one of those mouth guards that stop/curb snoring.

I hope no one minds. I wanted to bump my post up to see if anyone else had any suggestions or tips, especially those with experience on United, economy class.

Thanks!!!!

[chunkyfrog]

---Not cpap related, but since I am quite short and can't stand dangling my feet for long periods of time,
I book a seat next to the window and use the heater as a foot rest.

[Kitatonic]

This is my collar:
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-Cervical-Coll ... llar+small

[skram]

Evidently no one uses the humidifier on a plane. I know it just pops off the S9, so do you just hook your hose onto the part that usually connects to the humidifier?

If you are using the ClimateLine hose (the heated one that has orange on the end), I don't think it will fit. I think you need the non-heated hose to do that. I remember the sleep tech trying to not use the humidifier when I was trying on different masks, but it would not attach and he needed to attach the humidifier.