Check It?

[Lee Lee]

Hello, Brilliant People,
I am traveling from Washington Dulles to Miami for work this week. This is first time I'll be taking along the ole machine.
I don't think I can take both the machine and my travel tote (with the meds and the mascara, you know) as carry on.
Have you ever checked your machine while traveling?
I toyed with the idea of not taking it, but I just don't think I can do without it anymore.
Whaddaya think? Throw myself to the mercy of the baggage handlers?
Lee Ann

[njy]

You can take both on, just tell them it is medical. I frequently travel with the cpap, a laptop, and a digital projector. I have not had any problems. I will also admit to having put my cpap into a hard sided suitcase for one return trip, the machine had quit while out of town and so didn't feel I had anything to loose.

Last week coming home from Richmond, they did a check of my machine for the first time. Had to swab the thing down, attempted to put it back into the bag wrong, I asked if I could please repack it -- not a problem

Nancy

[nomad]

We just flew in and out of Orlando this past week. On the way there, no problems taking it as a carry on. On the way back, Orlando security stopped it inside the x-ray machine and it got a funny look from the girl doing the visual screening. She then asked another fellow to "take a look at it." He did a quick glance and asked if it was a breathing machine... to which I replied "yep." He then asked if he could swab it for residue... to which I replied "yep." After the case got a quick rub down, I was on my way. He never even asked to do any kind of hands on, visual inspection. I was really expecting him to ask me to turn it on and demonstrate it for him. That would have been a funny sight!

I hope the rest of my experiences taking the CPAP as a carry on are as painless as this. Anyone got any good airport security horror stories dealing with their "breathing machines?"

[sarnadle_vector]

I recently started taking mine along...I always fly out of DFW and have never had any issues checking it. I would carry it on, but in in the information security industry..and travel with a laptop and all sorts of gadgets...and don't have room to carry on the CPAP tote..

So...I started checking in a slightly larger suitcase...I have my respironics CPAP in it's carrying case..along w/ my swift headgear and associated items... The CPAP case is nicely nessled in by other clothing so as to minimize movement and impact shock... I've traveled w/ it 3 times now...no issues.

Actually the most aggravating thing I found about travelling is how to connivently transfer distilled water. I don't always know my way around the cities I arrive in...or I'm sometimes not there long enough to seek out a drug store to buy water..so ... I've taken to filling up a 1 liter drinking water bottle w/ distilled water...and placing that bottle in my carry-on...

-sV

http://www.hearmesnore.com

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

[birdiebaby]

My DH is an operations manager for a major airline. He is in charge of the guys who put your bags on the planes. I hear stories DAILY. Bags fall off of tugs and get run over. Straps and buckles get caught in conveyer belts. Other people check breakable items filled with liquids that leak all over your luggage., etc, etc, etc. Hard-sided suitcases are not immune to problems. Luggage gets lost.

There are all kinds of things that can happen to your luggage. You should never check anything of value, especially any medical items. That includes prescriptions, and it is especially true for your CPAP machines. The TSA rules exempt medical devices from the carry-on bag limits. Don't chance it!
If you do decide to pack it, be sure that you have have a hard copy of your Rx and the funds to purchase one in case something happens. Read your airline's contract of carriage and know what their liability limits are for lost or damaged items.

IMO, Everything is fine for 99% of the people who fly. But it really sucks when you are in the 1% and it's your CPAP (or something else of value) that gets damaged. It's just not worth it.

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

[tom2112]

Don't worry about packing your machine in your regular luggage. I recently travelled from the US to the Middle East and back with my machine in checked luggage. Of course, I padded the machine with my clothes that were also in the checked luggage. I had no problems at all.