TSA and "unsanitary" inspections?

[roadwarrior66]

Hi folks,

Happy CPAP traveler (need to order second smaller machine for travel). 50k+ miles air travel a year. I always find it funny when I come home and can "smell the hotel" when I first turn on the machine.

Last few trips (post August 10th, 2006), the screeners seem a bit more aggressive in wiping down my CPAP machine. Anyone else noticed this?

I also get "dirty looks" (pun intended) when I insist they sanitize or change gloves prior to opening the CPAP bag. I've even asked one screener if I could stick my finger in his nose after he opened my bag with no gloves on. You can imagine the look I got.

Also, today, in Atlantic City on Spirit Airlines (flown them a fifty times or more) I was refused carryon of my "roller bag, laptop bag, and cpap bag" as being three items. (anyone who has flown recently also knows the overhead bins are virtually empty because everyone is checking additional baggage). In two years, that's the first time anyone has said "boo" about the CPAP bag. I filed complaints with the airline, and the TSA.

Now of course, the irony is that my CPAP bag is "perfect, clean, and everything looks new and tidy" while my laptop bag is loaded with every wire, gadget, extra this and that, hard candy, coins and they could care less about searching it.

cheers, and irked,
andy (been lurking here a while)
machine: respironics remstar plus w/ heat/humid
mask: comfort curve (love it)

[roadwarrior66]

Resolution:

TSA call center advised placing a very visible sticker on bag that says "CPAP breathing machine, please sanitize hands or change gloves prior to inspection to maintain sterile environment" and be firm and polite and explain as clearly as possible why you do not want your medical equipment exposed to any more "new" germs than absolutely necessary. You also have the right to always be within direct sight of your belongings throughout the screening process.

and to carry a copy of the TSA/DOT rules on the subject.

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publicat ... s.htm#pass

As for airline 'ticket counter issues' or issues at the gate on the medical equipment exception to the bag count, airlines must make available a specially-trained Complaints Resolution Official if a dispute arises.

There must be a copy of the DOT rule at every airport. FAA regulation Part 382 requires all airlines to have a CRO available at each airport they serve during all hours of operation. The CRO may be made available by telephone. The CRO is a resource for resolving difficulties related to disability accommodation.

Spirit (airlines) called back with a free flight voucher and an apology, and a promise to better educate the employees in Atlantic City.

Good luck flyers.

p.s. I have US gov't clearances (Top Secret and higher) with (three) three letter agencies (and agency issued photo ID's), and if I'm getting hassled, I feel bad for anyone uninformed.

[snoregirl]

Thanks for the info. Great to know.

[KimberlyinMN]

Resolution:

TSA call center advised placing a very visible sticker on bag that says "CPAP breathing machine, please sanitize hands or change gloves prior to inspection to maintain sterile environment" and be firm and polite and explain as clearly as possible why you do not want your medical equipment exposed to any more "new" germs than absolutely necessary. You also have the right to always be within direct sight of your belongings throughout the screening process.

I'd like to see a silk-screened patch that can be attached instead of a sticker. That's a really good idea. I wonder who one would contact about having a tag made like that? Although maybe a clear luggage-style tag attached to the bag would work (just printing the statement on paper and inserting into the tag). A sticker probably wouldn't stay on with normal use.

Kimberly

PS. I don't forsee me flying any time soon. DH says that if he can't drive to where he wants to go then he isn't going. (I guess that means I fly alone, eh?)

[MandoJohnny]

I made my own, a few months ago. I created the tag in MS Word. In 72 point type, red letters, it says, "CPAP" and then in 24 point type "Medical Device." I printed two of them out on card stock, cut them out to buisness card size and glued them back to back. Then I found someone with a laminiator (Kinkos will do it if you can't find anyone else), who turned it into a two-sided luggage tag.

I travel almost every week and I have used it for several months. It is hard to tell with everything that has been going on, but I think the tag has helped with TSA' treatement of the machine and with the check-in counter. I also request to be there when they open the CPAP bag. I am polite, but I find when they are being watched closely, they take more care. [/code]

[mtsarpilot]

Also, today, in Atlantic City on Spirit Airlines (flown them a fifty times or more) I was refused carryon of my "roller bag, laptop bag, and cpap bag" as being three items. (anyone who has flown recently also knows the overhead bins are virtually empty because everyone is checking additional baggage). In two years, that's the first time anyone has said "boo" about the CPAP bag. I filed complaints with the airline, and the TSA.

That is blatantly against the law. They can not restrict you from carrying it on as a 3rd item. The Air Carrier Access Act section 382.41(d) specifically states this. The summarized statement on the DOT's website says: "The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices (including service animals and their equipment). Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft. "

They are violating federal law if they assert you can't carry that on as a 3rd item. I keep a copy of the Air Carrier Access Act on my computer to show them if they ever attempt to deny me the right to carry it on. I have a collegue that has been stopped many times. He cites the ACAA and they back off. He is the one that pointed me to this information. I'm new to CPAP and have not had anyone attempt to deny me access yet, but I'm ready for them when they do.

I travel about 75K miles a year, with a lot of travel in many countries in Asia. The USA is the only place that even looks at CPAP machines (I had it in Japan, Singapore, and Thailand a few weeks ago). The rest are not so absurd about it all. Then again, you don't have to take your shoes off or take out your laptop computers either.

Joel

[MandoJohnny]

I carry all the documentation of the laws mentioned above in my CPAP case. I have:
The FAA rules
The airline's own rules
The TSA rules

BTW, despite all the ResMed bashing here, if you are a registered ResMed user, anytime a CPAP travel rule gets updated, ResMed customer service sends you a copy of the new rule.

[Larry]

Now that you mention it, it seems the TSA screeners have started pulling my PB 420E out of my suitcase at every inspection point. It used to go through without additional inspection about 75% of the time. Only once has a TSA employee opened my luggage without me watching and without my permission. I complained to her supervisor and had her reprimanded. I spend about 50% of my life on the road and am priority gold at several airlines and hotel chains.

[Born Tired]

Roadwarrior,
Thanks for the info. I don't fly much but will be at Christmas. I'll be sure to take the tag and the rules.

Of course I wouldn't mind getting the free flight voucher.
Esther
__

[Moogy]

Hi folks,
I always find it funny when I come home and can "smell the hotel" when I first turn on the machine.

I am glad to hear that someone else notices the out-of-place smell of the hotel/friends house/etc after a trip.

I have to change my filters when I get back home from a trip, even if it is WAY too soon, because it drives me NUTS having the "wrong" smell. The smell lingers longer than I can stand it, so normally I just switch out the filters and that fixes the problem. My last trip must have been a very stinky hotel (although I didn't notice it at the time) because the smell lingered in the hose even after I switched out the filters.

Overly sensitive nose, I guess.

Moogy

[mtsarpilot]

Now that you mention it, it seems the TSA screeners have started pulling my PB 420E out of my suitcase at every inspection point. It used to go through without additional inspection about 75% of the time.

I recently asked a TSA employee why it is they look at the CPAP machines. He said he had no idea why the TSA cared about them, but they were given a directive that every CPAP machine was to be swab tested. So it is a TSA directive. We're gonna see it every time.

I watched the X-ray as it went through in Tokyo a few weeks ago (they are not as anal about making sure you are in parallel with your stuff). It stands out very clearly. The fan assembly is very obvious on my machine at least.

[MandoJohnny]

I recently asked a TSA employee why it is they look at the CPAP machines. He said he had no idea why the TSA cared about them, but they were given a directive that every CPAP machine was to be swab tested. So it is a TSA directive. We're gonna see it every time.

I watched the X-ray as it went through in Tokyo a few weeks ago (they are not as anal about making sure you are in parallel with your stuff). It stands out very clearly. The fan assembly is very obvious on my machine at least.

I heard this from two different TSA people, both of whom seemed pretty confident about it. The problem is with any electrical device of CPAP size that has a lot of molded plastic. If a terroist had access to injection molding equipment, it would be theoretically possible to make a case for a CPAP out of plastic explosive and disguise the detonator as the one of the electrical components of the CPAP. In addition, my guess is that Homeland Security had some indication that someone might have planned to do exactly that. The focus on CPAPs seems pretty specific not to draw that conclusion.

I travel every week on business. I don't get upset about it. They have thier job to do, which is keeping us safe. It's hard work and they seem to have succeeded since TSA was formed. I know that's NOT because the bad guys haven't been trying. One thing I learned working in Operational Security in the Navy is that the general public never knows even a fraction of what the security planners know. So us second guessing them, based on what we see standing in line, is kind of ridiculous.