Does anyone trust CPAP equipment in checked luggage

[RMinOntario]

Our two major airlines (where I fly) allow only 2 carry-on pieces. I am a photographer and always carry-on my camera equipment and laptop. Now that I am starting CPAP therapy, that makes 3 important pieces. I've checked with both airlines, and they won't budge on the fact that one is a medical necessity. I wouldn't check my camera gear or laptop & I can't imagine checking my CPAP. Anyone else in this predicament?

[BlackSpinner]

No No No
there was just a thread on it
viewtopic/t42763/American-Airlines-took ... t-bag.html

Pack your cpap in its carry case and ask for pre boarding as a person with medical equipment. Theoretically CPAP bag is not counted as carryon but there are lots of issues with it.

There are lots of links to airline websites, dot documents and more in the thread above.

[RMinOntario]

It is written right in the airlines info that CPAP equipment counts as one of the carry-ons.

I'll go check out that thread you referred to. Thanks.

I guess I'm forever limited to driving photography trips.

[BleepingBeauty]

It is written right in the airlines info that CPAP equipment counts as one of the carry-ons.

I'll go check out that thread you referred to. Thanks.

I guess I'm forever limited to driving photography trips.

If I were you, I'd figure out how to pack the laptop with the photography equipment in one carry-on bag. There's no way I'd check my cpap machine - ever.

[Paul56]

Our two major airlines (where I fly) allow only 2 carry-on pieces. I am a photographer and always carry-on my camera equipment and laptop. Now that I am starting CPAP therapy, that makes 3 important pieces. I've checked with both airlines, and they won't budge on the fact that one is a medical necessity. I wouldn't check my camera gear or laptop & I can't imagine checking my CPAP. Anyone else in this predicament?

The solution is simple...

One bag for the laptop and cpap equipment. Very do-able... I have a Teneba Messenger bag that works great for this purpose.

Then another bag for your photography equipment.

That makes 2 bags.

[RMinOntario]

I will check if I can double up the camera equipment & laptop in the larger of the 2 size requirements of the airlines. I will go check out luggage sizes this week.

[twokatmew]

Hi RMinOntario, I've been wondering how you were doing with machine and mask issues. I hope all's well, and that you can pack everything into those two bags. I sure wouldn't check my CPAP equipment.

[Yoda]

I am the one that started the American Airlines thread. But, even tho I only had two, the gate agent took my rolling bag at the gate because "they did not have room." So, I think you should tell the airline you need special assistance, have it marked on your ticket and ask for pre-boarding.

Good luck!

Yoda

[RMinOntario]

Paul56,
That arrangement you mentioned will not work for me. One standard article 9" x 15.5" x 21.5" and one personal 6" x 13" x 17". The laptop OR Resmed case qualifies as the personal one. My camera bag is quite large & it's questionable whether I can get a carry-on to hold camera gear & laptop. I'll try. I seriously have a fair size padded bag for my SLR and lenses.

[sleepyprm]

HELLO - I use a rolling laptop bag that is large enough to hold my CPAP machine too. It also makes things easier when I go through security to get both items out of the same bag..... travel extensively and it works pretty well for me. Good luck with your photography equipment, those pieces can be heavy!!!

[BeanMeScot]

I recently bought a rolling backpack that is supposed to be used for camera equipment. It has changeable dividers. I will be using it for my CPAP and whatever else I can get into it. My camera is a pocket one .

[BeanMeScot]

This is the one I got. http://cgi.ebay.com/Urban-Pro-Rolling-C ... tsupported

It is larger than the picture makes it look. It is the size of a normal carry on suitcase.

[RMinOntario]

Hi thanks for the link. I just googled the bag and the dimensions are
* Exterior Size: 40 X 29 X 61.5 cm (15.7 X 11.4 X 24.2 in)

The largest carry-on I can take is 9 x 15.5 x 21.5

Unfortunately this is a little too large.

[PST]

I just completed my first air journey with my first CPAP machine, a ResMed Elite II, carrying it with a humidifier and mask in the original ResMed bag. I flew American Airlines and carried on a standard roller suitcase and a large briefcase in addition to the CPAP bag. I was not hassled at any stage. On the first leg, O'Hare to LaGuardia, TSA asked me to open my bag and take out the blower. I said something like, "this is a medical device" and the TSA worker replied, "I know, it's a CPAP machine." She gave it the kind of inspection laptop computers sometimes get, including wiping it down with some kind of special tissues. She told me in the future to take it out of the bag and put it through the x-ray machine the way one does with a laptop computer. I did not do that and no one else ever suggested that I should. The rest of the trip -- JFK to Hamilton, Bermuda, back to JFK, and LaGuardia to O'Hare, I just put the CPAP bag through the x-ray machine and no one said boo. More importantly, no one from American told me on any of the four flights that I couldn't take three carry-on items aboard if one was a CPAP machine. I don't recall being challenged or even asked about the extra bag, although I carried it openly and all of the flights were crowded. It's possible I was treated with kid gloves because I have a high mileage status. I have no doubt that other people have had different experiences -- consistency is not a strong suit at TSA or the airlines. However, I thought I would add this to the available data.

[Hose_Head]

It is written right in the airlines info that CPAP equipment counts as one of the carry-ons.

I'll go check out that thread you referred to. Thanks.

I guess I'm forever limited to driving photography trips.

This must be a new policy. I live in Toronto and in all likelihood, fly out of the same airport that you do (Toronto International YYZ). I've flown twice with CPAP equipment in the past year with two different carriers and in neither case was my CPAP counted as a carry-on.

If it is new, then it's dangerous. Some carriers (especially the "sky-bus" service to sun-destinations) have severe restrictions on size and weight of carry-ons. For example, Sky Service allows just one carry-on and it cannot weigh more than 11 pounds (that includes the weight of the case!). How can one book a flight if you cannot take on board the things that you must take on board?

All airlines are screaming these days about low passenger traffic. Imagine what will happen to these Canadian airlines when they find people like us spending all our travel dollars with American based airlines that fly into Canada because they are restricted by US law from discriminating against us.

I recommend that you call the airline(s) and ask them directly. Get it in writing if you can. Please, post back here what you find out.