Tips for Air Travel with CPAP

[WannaSleep]

've been a CPAP user for about 3 months and am a frequent traveler. This forum has been a HUGE help so far, and I wanted to share some additional tips from my travels with the machine. So far, I have flown from New York to Hong Kong, San Francisco and Raleigh/Durham with my CPAP. Here are my tips:

1) Carry on - get a messenger bag. When flying domestically, I try not to check bags and take everything as carry-on. That was easier in my pre-CPAP days, when I had just a laptop bag and a roll-aboard suitcase. The first time I traveled with a 3rd bag for the CPAP, the screeners would stop me and say - sorry, sir, only 2 bags per person. I told them it was a medical device and then they let me go. To eliminate the 3rd bag, I bought a large messenger bag, which is still considered a carry on. I am able to fit my 12" IBM laptop (sideways) and my Respironics M-Series side by side in the bag. The Optilife mask I use is pretty small, and I've managed to get everything into the 1 bag. Some companies, such as Crumpler, even make custom bags to your specifications.

2) Treat your CPAP like a laptop - take it out of the bag for X-ray. As others have stated here, you will likely have your bag pulled from the line and swabbed by TSA as a precaution. A TSA agent told me that I could avoid that in the future by taking the machine out of the bag and sending it through in a bin, like you do with a laptop. I tried that today, and it worked. It's just one more thing to put back in your bag, though, but it beats getting pulled off the line and having your bag swabbed.

3) CPAP ID Tag - this is a red and white "medic alert" style tag that you can attach to your CPAP bag. It lists part of the TSA mandate that medical equipment must stay with the passenger and does not count toward carry-on luggage limits. Most CPAP supply sites sell them.

4) Links to TSA and DOT documents - others here have recommended printing out a copy of the TSA and DOT documents which refer to CPAP. I haven't had to use them, but they are good to have in your bag, especially in a foreign country. Here are the links:

TSA Special Needs Memo-
http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/special_needs_memo.pdf

DOT Steps to Preserve and Respect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities - http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm

Let me know if you have any other tips.

Charlie

[momadams]

Try as I might, I can't find CPAP id tags anywhere. May we have a hint?
Shari

[WannaSleep]

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/CPAP-M ... t-Tag.html

[Bellcrest]

1) Carry on - get a messenger bag. When flying domestically, I try not to check bags and take everything as carry-on. That was easier in my pre-CPAP days, when I had just a laptop bag and a roll-aboard suitcase. The first time I traveled with a 3rd bag for the CPAP, the screeners would stop me and say - sorry, sir, only 2 bags per person. I told them it was a medical device and then they let me go. To eliminate the 3rd bag, I bought a large messenger bag, which is still considered a carry on. I am able to fit my 12" IBM laptop (sideways) and my Respironics M-Series side by side in the bag. The Optilife mask I use is pretty small, and I've managed to get everything into the 1 bag. Some companies, such as Crumpler, even make custom bags to your specifications.

This is great info, thanks

Could you explain 'messenger bag' please. I am in Canada and would like to find a carry on for apap and laptop but till now, have been unable to find anything suitable.

[roster]

Thanks WannaSleep.

Someone please submit this to the yellow light bulb (Our Collective Wisdom). I have an appointment and have to log off.

[zzzzzz!!]

4) Links to TSA and DOT documents - others here have recommended printing out a copy of the TSA and DOT documents which refer to CPAP. I haven't had to use them, but they are good to have in your bag, especially in a foreign country.

Thanks for sharing your suggestions. It's true that air travel is a bit of a hassle these days and carrying a CPAP makes it a little more complicated.

Unfortunately the TSA and DOT regulations only apply in the US; foreign countries have their own policies, which may include counting the CPAP in its own bag as a carry-on.

My machine has always been swabbed, even when sending it through separately in its own bin, but I know that the TSA is not always consistent in its practices.

When I got my CPAP I bought an 17" rolling tote (Delsey's Helium Breeze Trolley Tote, to be exact, in part because it was lightweight and I needed something small enough to fit under a CRJ seat but needed wheels as well), which holds my laptop (even my big old HP 17" and its huge power brick), my Respironics M-Series machine, my mask and hose (if using my UMFF, I put mask and hose each in a small & sturdy clear plastic container--if Optilife, it just goes in its bag), plus a change of clothes and my small electronics. So far it's always counted as my laptop bag/personal item without any problems in the US or France.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, breeze, hose, CPAP, Power, Travel

[oceanpearl]

Flying almost bi-weekly I have never had a problem with security. I always carry a "Letter of Medical Neccesity", but have never had to show it except in Paris and that was the airline, not TSA.
TSA is very familiar with CPAP's and as someone said in an earlier post, take it out of the bag when you take your shoes and belt off.
The last time I flew out of Dallas there were three people in line with CPAP's.

[BarbarainCT]

I recently flew JFK to AMS and AMS to BGO (Bergen) and the reverse. My CPAP was in my carry-on. I checked my 21" roll-a-board. Before going through security, I warned the staff that there was a CPAP machine. I did not remove it. There was no swabbing or removal. They were easily able to identify it on the screen.

I could have used a third bag but frankly, it was more than I wanted to haul around.

Barbara

[WannaSleep]

1) Carry on - get a messenger bag. When flying domestically, I try not to check bags and take everything as carry-on. That was easier in my pre-CPAP days, when I had just a laptop bag and a roll-aboard suitcase. The first time I traveled with a 3rd bag for the CPAP, the screeners would stop me and say - sorry, sir, only 2 bags per person. I told them it was a medical device and then they let me go. To eliminate the 3rd bag, I bought a large messenger bag, which is still considered a carry on. I am able to fit my 12" IBM laptop (sideways) and my Respironics M-Series side by side in the bag. The Optilife mask I use is pretty small, and I've managed to get everything into the 1 bag. Some companies, such as Crumpler, even make custom bags to your specifications.

This is great info, thanks

Could you explain 'messenger bag' please. I am in Canada and would like to find a carry on for apap and laptop but till now, have been unable to find anything suitable.

_________________

A messenger bag is a wide bag made famous by urban bicycle messengers - big enough to carry documents, with a big flap and a long strap that goes over your shoulder. Look for a bag that is at least 5-6" deep (measure your CPAP to be sure) and wide enough to fit your laptop and CPAP side by side (I needed 17" for my combination.) I spent a few minutes laying out my gear and then measuring it each way to compare to the bag sizes. Try ebags.com and click on "Urban and Messenger". Also, check out crumpler.com. Even if you don't get a bag from them, they have the funkiest website I've ever seen.

Charlie

[Bookbear]

For overseas travel (where your cpap may have to be checked baggage, or anywhere it may be subjected to hard knocks), you can't beat a Pelican case. Lifetime warranty, and a diced foam insert that can be self-customized to fit your specific machine and supplies. Many sizes available. Not the cheapest case around, but worth it, IMHO.



http://www.pelicanproducts.us/cataspx2. ... hgodhCZ-FA