Flying with CPAP

[Sleepy-eyes]

Okay, I'm resurrecting this thread!!!!!

As mentioned earlier, I e-mailed Delta Airlines. They never answered. I wrote them. They didn't answer. Then I sent them a registered letter referring to both the previous e-mail and letter. They had to sign a receipt to receive the letter.

Here's the result:

The letter was very apologetic. I won't quote the entire letter because it was two pages long. But the second paragraph was as follows: Let me assure you that it is Delta's policy and intention to provide prompt, professional, dignified service for our valued customers who have disabilities or special needs, and to comply with Air Carrier Access Act, which is the federal law protecting customers with disabilities from discrimination in air travel. The fifth paragraph says: Your comments have been forwarded to the responsible department head for review. I would like to mention that we do have specially trained agents at all our airports called Complaint Resolution Officials who have the responsibility and authority to resolve issues for anyone with a disability. Please ask to speak with one should you ever encounter a problem while traveling with us. Also, you have the right to pursue enforcement action through the Department of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division in Washington, DC.

Included with the two page letter were two Transportation Credit Vouchers in the amount of $75.00 each to be used toward any flights within the next 12 months.

SO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Breathing assistance devices, such as our machines can be carried on, but cannot be counted against the carry-on allowance!

Next time you fly, take a copy of the Fed Reg #CFR382.41, Carriers shall not, in implementing their carry-on baggage policies, count toward a limit on carry-on items any assistive device brought into the cabin by a qualified individual with a disability. And remember to ask for the Complaint Resolution Official if you get any guff from the ticket counter or the Security check people.

WHEW!!!!! Glad THATs over!!!!!

[bdp522]

Great news! I'm glad it all worked out for you!

Brenda

[oceanpearl]

We are flying into London and out or Paris, American Airlines told that the cpap will not be counted against my luggage allowance.

[Sleepy-eyes]

oceanpearl,

You are correct...............it doesn't count toward your luggage allowance, but for God's sake, don't check it. Carry it into the cabin with you as "carry-on". Just make certain they don't try and count it toward your carry-on alloted allowance. That was where things got messed up for us.

Here's what Delta said in their letter:

"We constantly stress the importance of fulfilling our commitments to anyone needing extra help. Delta complies with the federal regulation which requires us to allow customers with baggage containing assistive devices to check or carry them onboard the aircraft free of charge without being counted towards their allotted allowance. (my underline) We realize that assistive devices like yours provide stability and comfort, which is also our goal for you. We regret that, in this instance, our agents did not follow established procedures."

[JeffH]

I don't fly alot, but in the last seven years I've been on CPAP I have always carried my CPAP on and never been given a hard time about it. I've flown NW, SW, AA, and a couple of others with no trouble.

[Sleepy-eyes]

Glad you've never had a problem, Jeff. I did and I've shared how I fixed it. The reason I resurrected the thread was because I promised to share the written acceptance from Delta of their responsibility to follow the Federal rules so that others wouldn't run into the same problem as we.

[jabberwock]

Thanks for sharing this info Chris. As a relatively new CPAP user (not yet fully compliant ), I have not yet travelled with mine, but will be doing so in the near future.

One question, is it okay for the CPAP to go through the Xray machine at security or not??

Bonnie

[Born Tired]

One question, is it okay for the CPAP to go through the Xray machine at security or not??

Bonnie

It is OK.
You might want to ask the security person to change gloves before examining your PAP machine since they have just handled all manner of things before. They are usually happy to do that for you.
Esther
__

[jabberwock]

Thank you -- glad I asked!

Bonnie

[Sleepy-eyes]

One question, is it okay for the CPAP to go through the Xray machine at security or not??

Bonnie

Yes, it is........but I think they put it through in a tray, if memory serves me. Then they pull it aside and do some other quick tests.

[NomoreCrashcart]

This was a great thread; I enjoyed reading the whole thing. Thanks to everyone who put in their two cents, and thanks to the original poster who provided the follow-up information from Delta.

As adjunt comments, please permit me to add that it is up to each individual airline to set policy regarding the number of carry-on bags, and what is regarded as counted or not counted as a carry-on item. Second, sleep apnea is not technically considered a disability, and therefore people with sleep apnea are NOT technically members of a protected class... so no regulation is going to protect us and our machines from inconveniences when we travel. Fortunately, most airlines--as a courtesy--allow CPAPs and some other durable medical equipment to be taken onboard their aircraft.

Finally, I have found many reports on-line regarding airline regulations pertaining to CPAPs in-flight--all contradictory. Does anyone know of a definitive resource on the subject?

Thanks, everyone, for a great forum!

[heavysnorer]

Just returned from Europe, more specifically from Budapest, Hungary. Neither JFK airport in NY nor Hungarian airport questioned my CPAP, even thought my husband and I had 1 carry-on each plus my pocket book plus my Cpap.

Actually, before the initial search that they perform now, I said, "this is a machine for sleep problem" and at both places (USA and Hungary) they smiled and noded approvingly. It went under the x-ray like pocketbooks and as any carry-on. No one even opened or looked into the cpap bag even as they opened up our other bags. The x-ray did not harm the machine. Also, I used an European electrical plug and the machine works fine.

I would also get pretty ticked off, about the extra $50 that was a rip.

Take care best wishes to all.
You guys on board are ever so helpful.
Susan

[oceanpearl]

[quote="NomoreCrashcart"]This was a great thread; I enjoyed reading the whole thing. Thanks to everyone who put in their two cents, and thanks to the original poster who provided the follow-up information from Delta.

As adjunt comments, please permit me to add that it is up to each individual airline to set policy regarding the number of carry-on bags, and what is regarded as counted or not counted as a carry-on item. Second, sleep apnea is not technically considered a disability, and therefore people with sleep apnea are NOT technically members of a protected class... so no regulation is going to protect us and our machines from inconveniences when we travel. Fortunately, most airlines--as a courtesy--allow CPAPs and some other durable medical equipment to be taken onboard their aircraft.

Finally, I have found many reports on-line regarding airline regulations pertaining to CPAPs in-flight--all contradictory. Does anyone know of a definitive resource on the subject?

Thanks, everyone, for a great forum!

[billbolton]

Finally, I have found many reports on-line regarding airline regulations pertaining to CPAPs in-flight--all contradictory. Does anyone know of a definitive resource on the subject?

There's nothing definitive on this.

Since it involves the use of an electrical device in the cabin of the aircraft, that means that airflight safety regulations take primacy, so each airline is pretty much able to set its own policy. Some airlines are more co-operative than others in terms of on-board use of CPAP.

Basically, you need to approach the "Special Handling" group at the airline(s) involved well in advance of any flight on which you might want to use a xPAP machine while in flight, to see what they are prepared to do for you.

Also keep in mind that while at seat power is becoming more generally common for all classes in long haul aircraft, there are still large numbers of aircraft in service which only provide at-seat power for business and first class passengers.

Cheers,

Bill

[billbolton]

You are absolutely correct about airlines making policy pertaining to carry on, however the federal regulation superceeds the airline regulation when it come to medical equiptment.

Be aware that if any airline considers that there is an air flight safety issue related to any item of carry on, they can and will refuse it to allow the carry on, and worry about sorting out implications of any other regulation later.

This may not happen often but it can and does happen.

Cheers,

Bill