CPAP and sirport security

gregnga · Post by **gregnga** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:23 am

what usually happens when you try to take a cpap on board a comercial aircraft (domestic flight). I am referring mostly to when you have to walk through security checkpoints and have your carry on stuff scanned. Do they try to make you turn on the machine, open it up, etc. Does it count as a carry on item?
_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:27 am

It is medical equipment and does not count as a carry on item. They will scan the item and open the bag it is in. They have a cloth of some sort that they wipe it with. When I flew last month, I told the checker it was a CPAP machine and the reply was "I know. It's the third one today". No problems at all.

cpapqueen · Post by **cpapqueen** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:06 pm

Shouldn't be an issue, I would suggest that you keep a copy of the prescription in your carry case. This way if you do have an issue there is your proof!

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:10 pm

Probably it will be a non event, however, standard procedure is to do a visual AND a check for nitrates / bomb material residue. They may take it to the sniffer when you have your shoes back on and are able to keep them in sight. Shouldn't be any big deal though. They get a lot of practice these days.

TerryB

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:11 pm

The one thing I was told-make sure just your CPAP equipment is in the bag. That way it is a medical bag and not counted. If you have toiletries in the bag and other things they can say it's not strictly a medical bag and count it as one of your carry-ons.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:39 pm

I always just tell them when I get to the security checkpoint and am putting my things on the conveyer belt for the xray machine, "This is a CPAP." They usually let it go through xray, then pick it up and ask me to walk back with them to the area where they inspect it. They just look at it and wipe it down, test it, and give it back. It's not difficult at all.

That being said, the last time I went through airport security, they got a false positive when they tested it! I was holding my breath for a second. LOL They said it was the most excitement they'd had all day! (relatively small airport) Of course, the second and third tests came back clear, and when I passed the patdown they let me go on my merry way.

When they were first testing it, I had wanted to joke about my CPAP being my equivalent of an illegally-drug-induced high - but had decided that analogy was better used elsewhere, thank goodness. LOL

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:09 pm

gregnga wrote:what usually happens when you try to take a cpap on board a comercial aircraft (domestic flight). I am referring mostly to when you have to walk through security checkpoints and have your carry on stuff scanned. Do they try to make you turn on the machine, open it up, etc. Does it count as a carry on item?

I've flown several times with my xPAP. I never have had explain what it was and no one ever asked or asked to have me open it. It was scanned and I went on my merry way. I was surprised actually. Apparently they are pretty common.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:32 pm

jskinner - they didn't wipe yours down and perform the extra test on it? They have to now. If they didn't - there could have been serious liability issues for them if you had been, shall we say, a person with intentions other than making it safely to their destination.

I always identify it to them. There's no harm in doing that, and it expedites the process, IMHO.

I can't believe they didn't ID it as a CPAP and do the extra testing on it. That actually really scares me, because, from what I heard, the whole reason for the implementation of this process was that terrorists were heard conspiring to bring explosives on board an aircraft that way (stored in a CPAP machine).

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:47 pm

CollegeGirl wrote:jskinner - they didn't wipe yours down and perform the extra test on it?

Nope. Was just home for Christmas and they never opened it in either direction.

CollegeGirl wrote:I can't believe they didn't ID it as a CPAP and do the extra testing on it.

I'm pretty sure they knew what it was they just didn't swab it down.

Maybe us Canadians have less reason to worry about being attacked...

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:12 pm

Ah, I assumed by asking about "domestic flights" that OP was referring to US domestic flights.

And I wasn't thinking about the fact you were from Canada. Yes, I'm quite sure security is different there. But since OP was asking about here in the US, I'm going to stick with my original answer.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:19 pm

jskinner wrote:I've flown several times with my xPAP. I never have had explain what it was and no one ever asked or asked to have me open it. It was scanned and I went on my merry way.

Same here is Australia, my Resmed S8+H3i just goes through the scanners in its carry bag without attracting any undue attention at all.

Cheers,

Bill

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:31 pm

There it's undue. Here, not so much. And there's good reason for that - but I'm being good and staying away from politics.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:09 pm

My cpap is usually (not always) "swiped" in the US. By contrast, I don't think it was swiped in either France, Japan, or Canada. In either case, the security personnel know what they are and the swipe is very routine.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:47 pm

I have traveled several times now with my cpap. I have a Pelican hard case I put it in. I always alert the security staff that it is a cpap.

In the past (I fly a fair amount, and only have carry on... I hate checking luggage), my carry on bag has never been opened, though my lap top has been. Sometimes I have been asked to turn on the laptop, just to prove its real, I guess .

Since traveling with cpap, my carry on bag has ALWAYS been opened, completely emptied and searched. (I am NOT carrying anything different there than before.) The cpap case has ALWAYS been opened, the cpap removed and swabbed, and the case sent back through the x-ray machine.

Security staff have always been polite and somewhat apologetic, and at least made an attempt to repack the carry on luggage neatly. Twice, security people have taken me aside to discuss cpap therapy (Does it really work? Do you sleep better? How did you get it? How do *I* get my doc to prescribe it for me? etc.)

Actually, the only problems/comments came from other passengers standing behind me in line.

I carry with me a copy of my prescription, a letter of medical necessity from my doc, and a copy of the TSA regulations that specifically exempt cpaps from counting as part of the carry on limit in my luggage. I have never needed to use them, but better prepared than having to fuss with officials.

Here is a link to the TAS site so you can print the regs to carry with you:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

Good luck!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:07 pm

sirport?

is that airport in London?

CPAP and sirport security

CPAP and sirport security

Re: CPAP and sirport security

Re: CPAP and sirport security

Mask

Additional Comments: Machine:Resmed S7 Elite; Oracle Mask(YES! My DREAM mask!!)

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Airmini, Medistrom Pilot 24, CMS 60C Pulse Oximeter, ResScan 6