Airport Security

[caffeine overachiever]

I am traveling by plane this week, and don't know what is needed at the airport to take my machine on the plane as carry-on, I don't trust baggage to put it in my suitcase, lost my luggage last time I traveled. Any hints?

[SharkBait]

I just carried it up there and took it out and put it in its own tray like I do my laptop.

DFW just looked at it and let it on through. Lexington said, "I have to scan your breathing machine for explosives".

They're TSA, they've seen 100's (or 1000's) of CPAP's. They'll know what it is...

[mindy]

Hi,

You might want to check out this other topic:

viewtopic/t39608/Flying-with-cpapa.html

Mindy

[freepostg]

Hi,
When flying from Toronto to Florida, I brought my cpap prescription (copy) along with about a litre of distilled water...no problem bringing the water on the plane as a carry on either...it was packed with the machine.

[Fredman]

Hi,
When flying from Toronto to Florida, I brought my cpap prescription (copy) along with about a litre of distilled water...no problem bringing the water on the plane as a carry on either...it was packed with the machine.

Ditto flew from Edmonton, Toronto an onto Miami....leave your CPAP in the case. No need to take it out. It's a medical device and should be treated as such.

I have never been asked to take it out. Laptops being electronic too are not a medical device and essential. My expectation is that Security treat the unit carefully more than they would a laptop. They see enough CPAPs on a daily basis so they know what they are looking for and they can and occasionally do a swab test. Which I have no problem with - they all have been very respectful and careful with the equipment.

[Bearded_One]

TSA at American airports has a policy that requires that CPAP machines be taken from the case and swabbed for explosives. It isn't a big deal and they usually finish swabbing it by the time you get the rest of your stuff through the x-ray machine. I understand that some TSA folks have been known to ignore the policy.

[tmbarber4]

You might want to try this for your pap bag.
viewtopic.php?p=342767

[Nokomis]

Thanks for the info! I found it very helpful as I have not yet travelled with my CPAP yet.

[Mike77]

I will be interested to see how traveling with my CPAP goes. My first trip with it will be from the US to South Africa. I'll be carrying it the whole way.

[mindy]

leave your CPAP in the case. No need to take it out. It's a medical device and should be treated as such.

I have never been asked to take it out. Laptops being electronic too are not a medical device and essential. My expectation is that Security treat the unit carefully more than they would a laptop. They see enough CPAPs on a daily basis so they know what they are looking for and they can and occasionally do a swab test. Which I have no problem with - they all have been very respectful and careful with the equipment.

You're lucky, Fredman ... or else they see me as an especially suspicious character

I was told to take it out the first time (and did it automatically after that) and they have always swabbed mine. One TSA agent didn't put on clean gloves but I decided to let that pass.

I guess it just goes to show that it's generally best to follow the boy scout motto!

Mindy

[garymbsail]

I've flown a half dozen times in the last 6 months. All but one security point expected it to be removed from its case similar to a computer. It is usually swabbed, but there has been no hastle to speak of. I only took the machine out of the case as there were no concerns for the hose and mask. Though I certainly endorse distilled water, I've found it too readily available to bother carrying it aboard a plane. I do carry it on auto trips, however.

Gary in Mass

[Fredman]

leave your CPAP in the case. No need to take it out. It's a medical device and should be treated as such.

I have never been asked to take it out. Laptops being electronic too are not a medical device and essential. My expectation is that Security treat the unit carefully more than they would a laptop. They see enough CPAPs on a daily basis so they know what they are looking for and they can and occasionally do a swab test. Which I have no problem with - they all have been very respectful and careful with the equipment.

You're lucky, Fredman ... or else they see me as an especially suspicious character

I was told to take it out the first time (and did it automatically after that) and they have always swabbed mine. One TSA agent didn't put on clean gloves but I decided to let that pass.

I guess it just goes to show that it's generally best to follow the boy scout motto!

Mindy

So true, I bet for now on, I will have to take it out...I should have said anything! Like Bearded One said, it's not a big deal really after all the scanning etc, the swab test is done. I have had the unit swabbed a few times and they are quick and careful.

Mindy, brings to mind that I brought Lysol swipes on my Cruise vacation, and you can always wipe your unit after when you get to your hotel room.

When we frame the whole process in the fact that the checks are for our safety it is all worth it. For me though, I have to get a portable unit than my classic Respironics Remstar Auto.

[gasparama]

I put tape over the hose inlet and over the filters. I've never had any trouble with TSA, but it bugs me to no end to have to put my medical equipment in those nasty bins. Next time, I'm putting paper towels down before I take my machine out of the case. And my machine has never failed to be scanned for explosives.

[rocketdork]

One TSA agent didn't put on clean gloves but I decided to let that pass.Mindy

If you were worried about the alarm going off because of the dirty gloves...don't. If it goes off, they put on fresh gloves, take out a fresh swab and repeat the process with a supervisor standing there. Even that's not that big of a hassle. They just take down your name, check what you are carrying, ask you to power up electronic devices you are carrying and send you on your way.

If you were worried about dirty gloves touching your machine and transferring germs...I'm sure they'd understand you requesting they put on clean gloves for the process, and as others have said, you could carry Clorox wipes with you.

[Debjax]

TSA is no problem. If you wind up with 2 carryons plus the machine, when the gate agent tells you 'only 2 carry ons", tell them it is medical equipment. All discussion ceases about it at that point, since it does NOT count against your carry on allowance. There is a thread on here that you can use to print a medical equipment tag (I bought mine) to tag the bag with, that helped me on at least 2 boardings.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39072&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... edical+tag