My wife and I are planning a trip to China later this year for an adoption. As part of that trip, we will likely be flying in country a couple of times.
I know most of the carriers between the US and China won't have a problem with the CPAP, assuming I take a Doctor's Note. (Bringing it on the plane as a medical carryon that is. I don't know of any airlines that will actually let me use it during the flight)
However, for the in-country flights, I'm not so sure what I will need to do.
Does anyone have experience with taking a CPAP on flights inside China?
Also, Other than the need for a plug adaptor, does anyone have any CPAP related advice about a visit to China?
CPAP in China/on Chinese Airlines?
7 posts
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China is surprisingly modern in its airline facilities. Nowdays, the staff of most are surprisingly helpful too (I'll explain why later).
I have not taken a cpap machine on an internal flight as carryon and I'm not sure I'd try - just in case I came across someone who wouldn't accept it. That gets very difficult in a place like China. When things are going well (mostly) it is great
The main national airline in China is CAAC. There was only the one Chinese airline, that has now changed markedly. Back in the late 1980s & early 1990s I did some travel to & from Beijing. Then in the 2000s to other provinces. The difference in experience between the two periods was chalk & cheese. Here are some 'amusing' stories
-- On a flight from HK to Beijing in 1989 - halfway to Beijing the aircraft (not a CAAC plane) turned around & went back to HK. We were told that this happened because Beijing shutdown its radar system to do maintenance but failed to tell the airlines.
When we finally got to Beijing there was no one to meet us as the locals weren't told when the flights had resumed. In those days there were no taxis there as we know them, your host or family or friends (in my case my employer) would arrange a vehicle to collect you. We ended up being fleeced by a budding capitalist who bundled 8 people into his minivan & who charged $20 US each (he made several months salary in one go). There was chaos at the old Beijing airport that day.
A couple of years later they built a completely new airport & 6 lane highway into the city - stunningly fast construction - never seen anything like how fast the Chinese can build roads & buildings.
-- CAAC had a horrible track record in the 1980s - they used to use Russian aircraft but in late 1980s & into the 1990s began buying large numbers of US & European aircraft. On a trip in 1991 from Beijing to Tokyo in a brand new 767 - 20 mins into the flight I had dozed off as well as my business companion from Texas & my wife. We got woken by a bang & there was a mist in the cabin & for the 1st time in my travels to China I saw the staff get excited, in fact I actually observed yellow people turning white the plane descended to what I estimated to be perhaps 2000 ft (from 30,000). We flew bumpily back to Beijing. From discussions with pilot friends, we believe a hatch had not been secured properly & it opened in flight & depresurized the plane & the pilot had to drop to very low altitude & get back. From inside the terminal bldg, I later saw the pilot on the ground near the aircraft talking heatedly & animately to some ground staff he was waving his arms quite wildly at times.
-- In the early 1900s there was a hijacking incident on a CAAC plane on an internal flight. Unlike western staff trained on how to behave in such situations, the Chinese staff decided to rush the hijacker just after the plane landed and was taxi-ing. The result was the pilot lost control & the plane then skidded into 4 other parked aircraft at speed.
-- In the late 1980s early 1990s, the passengers would come on board with large bags & place them on spare seats or in the aisles. There were often no seat belts & Chinese passengers would often recline their seats during takeoff. The staff appeared to have no interest in what people did. It was downright frightening.
Based on the many reports we had heard of other mishaps with CAAC we began inventing new meanings for the CAAC letters.
China Air Always Crashes
China Air Annoys Customers
etc:
BUT - in the 2000s the whole picture has changed - astonishing transformation - no resemblance to the chaotic years when China was opening up. This is one amazing country & the 2008 olympics will waken the world to just how much China has changed.
Happy flying
DSM
I have not taken a cpap machine on an internal flight as carryon and I'm not sure I'd try - just in case I came across someone who wouldn't accept it. That gets very difficult in a place like China. When things are going well (mostly) it is great
The main national airline in China is CAAC. There was only the one Chinese airline, that has now changed markedly. Back in the late 1980s & early 1990s I did some travel to & from Beijing. Then in the 2000s to other provinces. The difference in experience between the two periods was chalk & cheese. Here are some 'amusing' stories
-- On a flight from HK to Beijing in 1989 - halfway to Beijing the aircraft (not a CAAC plane) turned around & went back to HK. We were told that this happened because Beijing shutdown its radar system to do maintenance but failed to tell the airlines.
When we finally got to Beijing there was no one to meet us as the locals weren't told when the flights had resumed. In those days there were no taxis there as we know them, your host or family or friends (in my case my employer) would arrange a vehicle to collect you. We ended up being fleeced by a budding capitalist who bundled 8 people into his minivan & who charged $20 US each (he made several months salary in one go). There was chaos at the old Beijing airport that day.
A couple of years later they built a completely new airport & 6 lane highway into the city - stunningly fast construction - never seen anything like how fast the Chinese can build roads & buildings.
-- CAAC had a horrible track record in the 1980s - they used to use Russian aircraft but in late 1980s & into the 1990s began buying large numbers of US & European aircraft. On a trip in 1991 from Beijing to Tokyo in a brand new 767 - 20 mins into the flight I had dozed off as well as my business companion from Texas & my wife. We got woken by a bang & there was a mist in the cabin & for the 1st time in my travels to China I saw the staff get excited, in fact I actually observed yellow people turning white the plane descended to what I estimated to be perhaps 2000 ft (from 30,000). We flew bumpily back to Beijing. From discussions with pilot friends, we believe a hatch had not been secured properly & it opened in flight & depresurized the plane & the pilot had to drop to very low altitude & get back. From inside the terminal bldg, I later saw the pilot on the ground near the aircraft talking heatedly & animately to some ground staff he was waving his arms quite wildly at times.
-- In the early 1900s there was a hijacking incident on a CAAC plane on an internal flight. Unlike western staff trained on how to behave in such situations, the Chinese staff decided to rush the hijacker just after the plane landed and was taxi-ing. The result was the pilot lost control & the plane then skidded into 4 other parked aircraft at speed.
-- In the late 1980s early 1990s, the passengers would come on board with large bags & place them on spare seats or in the aisles. There were often no seat belts & Chinese passengers would often recline their seats during takeoff. The staff appeared to have no interest in what people did. It was downright frightening.
Based on the many reports we had heard of other mishaps with CAAC we began inventing new meanings for the CAAC letters.
China Air Always Crashes
China Air Annoys Customers
etc:
BUT - in the 2000s the whole picture has changed - astonishing transformation - no resemblance to the chaotic years when China was opening up. This is one amazing country & the 2008 olympics will waken the world to just how much China has changed.
Happy flying
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
-
Guest
Re: CPAP in China/on Chinese Airlines?
Wahooker,wahooker wrote:Does anyone have experience with taking a CPAP on flights inside China?
Also, Other than the need for a plug adaptor, does anyone have any CPAP related advice about a visit to China?
I'd suggest you send a PM to rock and roll. He has travelled extensively in China with his cpap.
Meant to add to earlier stories,
The mains plugs used in china generally match the British types. Also China has 230-240 Volts AC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_A ... nd_sockets
In this link, look at type C (2 pin) plugs + D & G (3-pin) plugs.
You can buy US to Chinese adapters almost anywhere & dirt cheap in China. You will pay 5 to 10 times as much if you buy the same type of adapter at an airport. 10 Yuan is a fair price for one adapter - you may pay double that in an upmarket store.
DSM
The mains plugs used in china generally match the British types. Also China has 230-240 Volts AC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_A ... nd_sockets
In this link, look at type C (2 pin) plugs + D & G (3-pin) plugs.
You can buy US to Chinese adapters almost anywhere & dirt cheap in China. You will pay 5 to 10 times as much if you buy the same type of adapter at an airport. 10 Yuan is a fair price for one adapter - you may pay double that in an upmarket store.
DSM
xPAP and Quattro std mask (plus a pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap)
-
EarlyStarts
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:24 pm
Have flown to and around in China 3X this year with CPAP.
No problems bringing it on a plane. Didn't use it on a plane.
Tip: Bring an extension cord. Sometimes the only good plug is near the desk in the hotel room.
Also, bring extra of the fine filters. They seemed to get dirty faster.
The flights in China were great. Fantastic service and nice, new planes.
Tip: Bring an extension cord. Sometimes the only good plug is near the desk in the hotel room.
Also, bring extra of the fine filters. They seemed to get dirty faster.
The flights in China were great. Fantastic service and nice, new planes.
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7 posts
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