Traveling by air with your CPAP by air?

egrandi · Post by **egrandi** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:12 pm

A CPAP user traveling by air from Duluth, MN to Portland, ME contacted the ASAA to advise us that yesterday (07/14/05) the TAS in Duluth did not allow him to carry on his CPAP machine to the aircraft.

He was advised that a new TAS regulation is in effect that states that if a carry-on item has any opaque parts in it when goes through the x-ray that it cannot be carried on.

Needless to say he checked the item and it was damaged in transit.

We contacted the TAS screening persons with disabilities program today to find when the change in standard operating procedures (SOP) had changed. We were told that a changed had occurred in April of 2005. We were also told the TAS is currently reviewing this change in SOP particularly as it relates to CPAP devices, due to the number of a complaints they had received.

We expect to hear from the TAS next week and we will post what we learn.

If you have any problems traveling by air with your CPAP device, please let me know by writing to egrandi@sleepapnea.org

Edward Grandi
Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pm

Its a hoax guys. Relax.

However.... The cpap must not be larger than whats allowed as carry on. 9x16x20 inches. 13 pounds. Sooooo, dont try packing lots of extras disguised as medical supplies. They are on to you. I think all modern cpaps will fit just fine.

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:55 pm

It wouldn't suprise me with the Homeland Security Bill.....

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:16 pm

[quote="chrisp"]Its a hoax guys. Relax.

However.... The cpap must not be larger than whats allowed as carry on. 9x16x20 inches. 13 pounds. Sooooo, dont try packing lots of extras disguised as medical supplies. They are on to you. I think all modern cpaps will fit just fine.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 5:06 pm

Ever looked at a cpap with X ray ? Unless its an oldie with a old washing machine motor powering it they can see right thru. Modern cpaps need not worry.

:twis ted:

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 5:23 pm

LOL..."washing machine motor" You have no idea..

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:15 pm

I thought it might get your attention.

:twis ted:

bigheadr · Post by **bigheadr** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:43 pm

I am traveling by air from Seattle to Chicago in August. How can I find out if I will have a problem or not? I don't want to go to the airport and find out that I need to check the CPAP in rather than carry on. If I need to check in the CPAP, then I might need to consider not taking it at all since I don't want to damage the equipment.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:02 pm

Its a conspiracy by the DMEs. Now you have 3 choices....

1. Put it in checked baggege and risk damage

2. Leave it at home and possibly die.

3. Rent one when you arrive at your destination airport . Imagine CPAP rental counters alongside the car rental counter. You would reserve your cpap online. But don't wait till the last minute or it will cost a fortune. I hear the best deal is at Priceline. Bad news is you wont know what brand till you enter your credit card # . Of course you could upgrade for a smal fee.
Would you like the damage waiver with that sir ? Will you need a mask or will you uese your own ? Need a humidifier ? Would you like to try a new experimental mask ?

Want to try the latest cpap. Run to your local airport and rent 1 for a test sleep.

IN a year or so you could get a good deal on a used CPAP at their resale lot.

May this actually be a good thing............Er......Nah.

Beware of the EVIL DME

:twis ted:

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, news, CPAP, DME

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, news, CPAP, DME

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:42 pm

I'm flying to PA on August 1st. Now I'm getting worried,thought there was no
problem using the cpap as carry on luggage.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:52 pm

Unless its a classic from the jerassic era ( a real old cpap thats so dense (heavy) that x-rays wont penetrate it ) I wouldn't worry . Just in case , bring a medical tool kit to disassemble it so they can visually look inside .

Take the TSA Survey . http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/29926/pw ... me&index=0

:twis ted:

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:59 pm

The best bet is to tell them that it is a respiratory medical device. If you tell them it is a CPAP, they probably won't have a clue what that means...

http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?conte ... 19800958d9

# Supplemental personal medical oxygen and other respiratory-related equipment and devices (e.g. nebulizer, respirator) are permitted through the screening checkpoint once they have undergone screening.
# Any respiratory equipment that cannot be cleared during the inspection process will not be permitted into the sterile area.

Im2tired · Post by **Im2tired** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 9:39 pm

I just traveled for the 1st time with CPAP from Chicago to Seattle and back July 5 - 8 with no issues. I had called the airline about another issue and asked about the CPAP and they said I would have to plug it in so they knew it worked. I guess like they used to do with laptops. I bought a backpack with wheels that would fit CPAP humidifier, etc. I wasn't crazy about the idea of maybe having to pull it out and plug it in. SOmeone had said you could ask for a clean environment. I asked the 1st time if I need to take the CPAP out and explained it was to help me breath at night and the security guy said no. Luckily no issues - not with my insulin pump either. My old pump used to sometimes set off the alarms and they would wand me or pat me down.

Also I was wondering what people did for distilled water on trips. I used regular bottled water. My boyfriend thought I should dump out a bottle of water and fill it with distilled but I knew that would spill all over the place.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 1:02 am

There are leakproff bottles. You could always experiment with a regular "bottled water bottle", and if it's not good enough try The Container Store. (They have real live shops too). When I visited the States I noticed they sell leakproof bottles -I haven't tried them.

Since CPAP are certainly not the only people who want to carry water and have their other things dry at the same time, you will probably find a solution wherever they sell backpacking or mountain climbing equipment.

O.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 1:15 pm

Just traveled states to the UK and bask and no problems with cpap. They slid it right through, even after the London bombings. No problems using it in UK either.