Continental won't let me use CPAP on plane

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Fri May 18, 2007 10:59 am

I just called Continental Airlines and they said I cannot use my CPAP on the plane. I am travelling to Scotland at the end of June and I am a little concerned about this.

Do you think if I dose a little during the flight but am sitting in an upright position that my apneas will not be too bad. I seriourly am afraid of this. The trip will take about 15 hours to get there and 24 hours to get back.

Please someone let me know your thoughts.

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:17 am

Why won't they let you use it? Are you trying to connect to the electrical power of the plane? Will they allow a battery operated unit? Maybe they would respond favorably to a doctor's written Rx. Good luck and keep us posted please.

Julie

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:31 am

If you snore loud enough, they may MAKE you wear it.....

(I have no experience with this "traveling with a PAP machine" at all)

Den

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:36 am

Call them back and ask again, have your reservation confirmation number handy.

Be kind but persistant!

Escalate to Customer Service Supervisor if not satisfied!

There may be a valuable phone number on their website continental.com

15 hours??? I assume you are in the US. New York City (EWR) to Scotland is about 7 hrs. Transatlantic jets should have power outlets at selected seats. Aircraft that only fly domestic US most likely will not have power outlets.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:14 pm

my mom's having the same problem with US air, going to Europe.

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:18 pm

This is all I could find:

http://www1.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety ... rt382.rtf
http://www1.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety ... rt382.rtf

The second one contains this quote:

c. If you are not allowed to carry-on your equipment, or feel you are not being treated fairly ask for a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO). The airlines are required by law to have a CRO available at all times that operations are conducted, either in person or by telephone.

Although it is talking about carry-on, you might have some success if you ask for the CRO when talking about in-flight use.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

All the best,
Cathy

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Fri May 18, 2007 12:22 pm

Well, I thought I posted but apparently it got deleted.

I have now made three phone calls to Continental regarding using my CPAP on the plane. I have also received three nos. I have a power port at my seat so I do not know what the big deal is. They won't even allow it if it is battery operated. The last person I spoke to said that they do not allow CPAP because of the noise it makes. Honestly could it possibly make more noise than the jet engines????????????? Or the snoring that goes on for all of those undiagnosed people on board??????

For the person who ask, I am flying from Houston and have a layover in Amsterdam so total time to get to Scotland will be 15 hours. We are leaving at 7:00 in the evening so I will likely have been awake about 12 hours at that time. So, that will make my day 27 hours and that's just be the time we arrive at 3:00 the next day. I cannot sleep during the day, so for the person who is going to suggest that I sleep before I leave that won't work either.

Don't mean to be negative, just don't know what to do. This to me is a form of discrimination. Just my opinion.

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:29 pm

Well, I decided to call the Transportation Safety Adminstration to find out why CPAP could not be used in flight. They called the FAA for me and the FAA said there is no rule or policy dictated by them as it relates to using CPAP in flight. They said it is up to each individual airline. They suggested I call the Airline Service Complaint line and complain that I could not use a medical device when flying.

I am not getting very far with this. I guess I am just going to hope I do not fall asleep and that if I do that I will be okay.

I am going to ask this question again since no one has addressed it. Do you think that since I will be sitting in an upright position that my apneas will not be as bad?

odawa · Post by **odawa** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:36 pm

I'd definetely call this discrimation!!!! How horrible to withhold medical treatment. I'd send an email to the company, If you send an email explaining why its needed and how it will affect you then you have written proof, you can then call the news. Make it a HOT topic and get the new involved, they will love a human interest story like this, especially wiith the airlines raising flight prices. Have your Drs Prescription also. Gives you more proof.
Serious thats what I would do. Squeaky wheels get the oil, in this case, air. Good Luck!!
Andrea

jjposey · Post by **jjposey** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:37 pm

I'm still a newbie, so I don't know about the sitting up part, but I believe I would call the "CRO" mentioned above by tangents and offer to provide them with materials documenting the dangers of Sleep Apnea ... just in case they needed to refer to if they heard from my lawyer if I didn't wake up at the end of the flight....
sorry
I'm just having that kind of day!

Pad A Cheek · Post by **Pad A Cheek** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:38 pm

When you sit upright and sleep like in a chair, or even slightly upright like in a recliner the apneas tend to be less. Gravity is not pulling your tongue into your airway quite so severely as when you lie on your back.
Many people who have sleep apnea sleep sitting up or in a recliner when situations prevent them from using their CPAP device. It is better than sleeping lying down without your CPAP.

I would bet when you start snoring and if you experience an apnea on board the flight attendants will have you pull out your CPAP and mask. I would definitely have it as a carry on anyway, just in case.

Have a safe flight and do not fret, try to take it as it comes.

Karen

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:00 pm

I am going to ask this question again since no one has addressed it. Do you think that since I will be sitting in an upright position that my apneas will not be as bad?

Isn't it funny when you ask a question and the answers go off in a different direction? That seems to happen to me sometimes... I often wonder if I ask my questions the wrong way

So, I'll answer your original question

I know there have been other posts about people sleeping in recliners when their CPAPs are out of commission for some reason. And, remember, a lot of people can't or don't use CPAP when they have a cold. I was specifically instructed not to use my CPAP if I had a cold.

So, my guess would be you'll be fine. But, why don't you call your sleep doc and talk to him / her? They will probably be able to relieve your anxiety about this much better than we can.

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:37 pm

I guess part of my concern too is that I not only have OSA but I also have some central sleep apnea. The sleep center thinks this was probably brought on by the tranquilizers I was taking at night before I was diagnosed. Keep in mind a doctor put me on those because he did not know why I was so tired!! I guess I will call my sleep doc but I have not seen her in awhile and she is just going to be ugly because I have not lost any weight.

Last time I saw her she told me I was not trying hard enough to lose wait which by the way was a crock of you know what. This was of course right after I watched her eat two doughnuts....my lips have not touched doughnuts in years.

I digress......I am just frustrated today.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:42 pm

I am going to ask this question again since no one has addressed it. Do you think that since I will be sitting in an upright position that my apneas will not be as bad?

One of the reasons I knew that I need a sleep study was that when I took my afternoon nap in my recliner (not very reclined), I kept waking up needing to breathe. Could be that I have more incidents lying down, but I do indeed experience some while sitting.

Shari

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:48 pm

skjansen wrote:I guess I will call my sleep doc but I have not seen her in awhile and she is just going to be ugly because I have not lost any weight.

Last time I saw her she told me I was not trying hard enough to lose wait which by the way was a crock of you know what. This was of course right after I watched her eat two doughnuts....my lips have not touched doughnuts in years.

I digress......I am just frustrated today

I'm sorry you're so frustrated and it's completely understandable. It's almost like CPAP makes it impossible for us to travel unless we have the ability to stay up for unhealthy amounts of time.

The question for your doctor is simple and unrelated to your weight - you probably won't talk to her anyway. It's more likely you'll talk to her nurse who will relay the question and then call you back with the answer.

Regarding your doctor - Her attitude just doesn't sound nice at all. "Just not trying hard enough" is certainly not a compassionate approach. Maybe after this trip you can consider a new one. My sleep doc wants me to lose weight but he didn't just say "go forth and lose weight". He actually recommended a medically supervised program even though I only have about 35 pounds to lose. He did that because he knew I'm not self-motivated enough to do it by myself. There are good and compassionate doctors out there. I hope you can find one.

Mask

Continental won't let me use CPAP on plane

Continental won't let me use CPAP on plane

sitting upright