Recent experiences of inflight CPAP use

[diane1030]

Does anyone have good experiences to report of using CPAP inflight? At Heathrow recently I was recently removed from a Virgin Atlantic flight when the cabin staff discovered I had a CPAP machine with me. I was seated in Upper class and was searching for a powerport. It turned out there wasn't one, so it should have been a nonissue. However, the staff then decided that use of a CPAP meant I had a medical condition therefore I couldn't fly without extra oxygen and my family and I were made to leave the plane and delayed for 24 hours. Ridiculous but true. I'm not getting anywhere protesting to Virgin Customer Service and would appreciate hearing others' experiences.

[Beulah]

I don't have any experience yet with flying with my CPAP yet, but just wanted to tell you I'm so sorry this happened to you. How awful! It's rather confusing too - they obviously didn't understand the equipment and your options. Surely there must be some recourse for you since the 24-hour delay was based on their incorrect medical assumption.

Paula

[billbolton]

I'm not getting anywhere protesting to Virgin Customer Service and would appreciate hearing others' experiences.

It is always a good idea to talk to the Special Assistance group (or similar) at the airline concerned if you have any thought of using a CPAP machine in flight.

They will advise you what is and isn't possible for their aircraft, and will advise the flight crew in advance of any specific needs, which in your case would have almost certainly alleviated the problem you experienced.

Cheers,

Bill

[chazz]

Prior to travel abroad, I wrote an airline asking whether the TSA regulations exempting the CPAP machine from the 2-bag limit would be respected on my return flight. They responded with a letter requiring me to get a letter from my physician stating that it was safe for me to fly! I dropped the entire matter.

I think the main issue for the airlines is the concern of liability for the welfare of a passenger with OSA.

I think it is best not to interact too much with the airlines. I choose not to use the machine during a flight.

I became so tired of being hassled at the airport that I bought 3 Resmed S8 Vantage machines and leave one in each of my three homes (Phoenix, New York, and Jerusalem) which covers 95% of all my travels. It's worth the expense to not have to repeatedly hear "Sir, you will have to check one of your three carry- ons" as I am about to board the plane.

Chazz

[Suz-E-Q]

I have been traveling a lot lately and have started global travel now. I didn't have any trouble with the extra bag on my last trip to Paris. I thought about using the machine for sleeping on the way over, but decided not to use it. I think I did fine since I was partially upright when I slept in business class. Someone on another thread indicated that they asked the flight attendant if anyone ever used their CPAP machine when flying and she indicated that she had only seen one person use it. I didn't want to bring attention to myself but I did okay without it.

[frapilu]

I just spent a couple of weeks in the Dominican Republic, flying there and back, of course. I brought my cpap as carry-on and didn't have any problems with it being considered extra. I didn't use it on the plane since it's only a 4 hr flight but when hubby & I go to Europe in a couple of years, I will certainly be speaking with the airline before going. The checkin people at both ends knew what the cpap was and had no problem with it.

On a different but similar topic, they were super overbooked in the DR so I was having problems trying to get a late checkout on our last day. I didn't want to have to leave my cpap, laptop and baggage sitting around in the lobby between the noon checkout and 5 pm when the bus would come pick us up. I mentioned the problem to my Tour Mont Royal representative. It seems her mother has sleep apnea so she knew what a cpap was and she went to bat for me and got a late checkout by explaining that it would be physically dangerous for me if that machine were stolen or damaged.

France

[mike68]

I am using for intercontinental flights a CPAP produced in France (Brandname KAERYS). The weight is 1.5kg only with battery. The battery last 5 hours. I have used it in 2006 on Air France flight to USA (but now their don't allow the use anymore!). I am currently using it on Lufthansa or Swiss Airlines flight for Asia.

[mommaw]

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http://www.sleepzone.com.au

Looks very interesting.
Gilda

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