Traveling with CPAP

[Stom]

Only just started traveling with my APAP. I like the idea of clear plastic bags, and having spares so you don't have to put the same plastic bag that was sitting in an unwashed bin back in the inside of your CPAP travel case.

[djams]

I just put the CPAP travel bag in a bin. Closed. No questions, only 2 trips.

[zonker]

Been to Europe, China, and Russia with a CPAP and airport security has never given my machine more than a cursory glance. It is obvious the personnel are very familiar with the machines.

I can only confirm. Have been to Montenegro, asked by the agent at the airport what it was, said my CPAP machine - she was like "Oh, okay" and waived me through. So even there they do know what it was and it's common.

this reminds me...last year, wife and i went to las vegas to see a cirque du soleil performance.(love) upon leaving, the luggage wrangler noticed my cpap bag and said "cpap?". i admitted it was. he put a big red tag on it that read handle with care.

i thought that was very good of him!

[remstarcpap]

I've traveled a zillion times with my cpap. I have it in it's own carry case, with a Tag that says CPAP Medical Equipment. It goes through x-ray alone, and 90% of the time that's it. Easier than a laptop computer.

A few times they've swabbed down the machine for residue, and it took a moment. But that was a long time ago, at least in the US, TSA seems to be very familiar with CPAP's and it's not a big deal.

[D.H.]

You should carry the CPAP in the manufacturer's bag. It is not counted against your luggage allowance as it is a medical necessity.

Remember to pack all the parts. You should keep dedicated packing list in the CPAP bag. You might need it for an unplanned hospitalization (where somebody else might need to pack it), or a hurricane evacuation.

Also, pack an extension cord in case the electricity is not near the bed. If your destination is outside the US, check the configuration of the electric sockets in your destination country(ies). Your machine (the one shown in your profile) is compatible with all the voltages used throughout the world, but you still might need an adapter.

[palerider]

You should carry the CPAP in the manufacturer's bag.

Not if it's respironics, the bags that come with respironics machines don't provide protection, they don't have adequate padding... Now, if you buy an extra cost respironics travel bag, sure...

Resmeds come with an adequate travel bag.

[jimc2]

Canadian security will ask you to remove the motor/blower portion from the bag and put into a plastic bin. No big deal.

I flew from LGA (LaGuardia) to O'Hare and back about 6 months ago. I honestly don't remember them asking me to take it out of the carrying bag. Just had to be in its own bin.

Flew out of a smaller NY airport a couple weeks ago to O'Hare and they actually had signs up that CPAP machines had to come out of their bag and be put in a bin. Not sure if there were signs on my return flight but I asked and they said it had to come out of the bag.

It was a smaller plane and they wanted to plane side check my bag (duffel). I had already put my CPAP bag inside the duffel bag so I didn't have to carry two bags. Plus the clothes in the duffel gave it more protection. I ended up just taking the CPAP bag out and putting them both in the overhead. Coming back I knew they were going to stop me. So I just plane side checked the duffel plane side and carried on my CPAP in its own bag on the plane. Also had a laptop bag with me on all 4 flights.

I remember when I first flew with my machine (May 2013) the TSA agent was a major putz about it. I had no idea and no trouble leaving it inside the carrying case and leaving the carrying case inside the duffel bag when I flew from NY down. He all but yelled at me for doing that. There was NO ONE at security other then me at the time.

TLDR, carry it in its travel case and don't put the case in another bag till you clear security. They may make you take it out of the carry case and put it in a bin. Do NOT plane side or curbside check it. Take it on the plane with you even if you have no intentions of using it. Anything you plane or curbside check could go missing or get damaged.

I am flying later this year or early next. Getting a new machine tomorrow so my old machine will be my travel machine. Will be very nice not having to worry about my one and only machine getting damaged or potentially lost.