Air travel

[Hosehead4ever]

Hello, I'm back!

Okay, so I'm having to make a rather sudden trip to Canada for a family issue, and I haven't traveled with my CPAP machine yet. The first leg is with Delta and the second with Alaska Airlines. I'm leaving from Atlanta, Georgia.

I read on another forum (http://www.apneasupport.org/about5542.html) that there was some issue with a bombing attempt or something recently and there had been changes to FAA rules about carry-ons. They are supposed to effect US/UK flights only, but... I can't find any specifics about what changed so I don't know how to plan my trip. So my question is this: Do I risk trying to take my CPAP on board or pack it in my checked luggage?

[JointPain]

That thread seems to date from 2006/2007.

Take your CPAP with you as carry on. You don't want those baggage handlers throwing your medical equipment around. I sometimes watch them throwing bags from their little truck onto the airplane and vice-versa. Minimal muscles involved. Sometimes the bag falls short and just drops to the ground.

[RandyJ]

I just flew to the UK and back and had no problems. I brought my machine in its carrying case as an extra carry-on (it doesn't count since it is medical equipment). The TSA website says that you must remove your machine from it's case and put it in a bin to go through the xray machines; they did not hand-inspect my machine, the xray scan was sufficient. After the scan I returned it to its case and went happily on my way. No issues in either direction.

[Hosehead4ever]

I can't believe I didn't catch the date on that forum!!! *facepalm* I feel much better now! Thanks so much!!!

[dwzkd]

Related Links to CPAP as carry on....

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... index.shtm

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ ... /cpap.shtm

Somewhere I read that the CPAP doesn't count as carry on either. I.e. If they allow one carry on luggage your CPAP bag can be carried on in addition to your carry on bag(s)....

Sorry I couldn't find the link to that info so I couldn't confirm it for sure...


I have travelled a fair amount recently with CPAP and have not had any problems other than the additional screening....

[LinkC]

Both TSA and airline agents are VERY familiar with CPAP machines. You will have no trouble. Just be sure that everything in your CPAP bag is medical or it will count as a carry-on.

Have a good trip!

[máirtín]

I'm at Charlotte Airport right now. I've travelled from San Francisco and I am on my way to Dublin.
I have had no problem so far. They didn't even want me to take it out of the bag for scanning.
This is my second time travelling with CPAP - I think it is even easier this time. Lots more people are familiar with these things now.
Have a safe journey and enjoy the trip without worrying about the machine.

[TalonNYC]

I just went from JFK (which is perpetually on alert, by the look of things) to Indianapolis and back, and to GA and back before that. All four flights the CPAP went on just fine. At LGA (the other NYC airport) they wiped the bag, otherwise they didn't even notice it LOL

I do have a medical equipment tag on my bag, but the TSA folks all seemed to recognize what it was on the xray. The LGA guy even looked at me and said "CPAP?"

Hoseheads are really everywhere! =)

[Hosehead4ever]

I ordered the CPAP.com medical tag for my bag so hopefully between that and the printouts of what TSA and CATSA say about CPAP machines, I shouldn't have a problem. I'm just a nervous ninny having never traveled (outside of a road trip to Vermont) with my machine. And I've never been out of the US before, so I'm even more nervous about that I think.

Thanks for the reassurances!!

[TalonNYC]

nervous isn't a bad thing, sometimes =) I think you'll be fine, though.

[máirtín]

I'm at Dublin Airport on my way to France on Ryanair. I've already passed through security without having to open anything or show anything. I think airports and airlines are becoming very familiar with CPAP.

[TalonNYC]

great to hear, keep us posted!

[WhoDatSleeping]

I traveled to India via Amsterdam and back last week with no problems whatsover. I did have to remove the CPAP from the carry on in some locations but not all.

I was on Delta most of the trip.

[Bright Choice]

I just traveled and had no problem with tsa. I did buy a luggage-type tag from cpap.com to put on xpap bag. It says "Medical Device" and that it should be kept with patient at all times during travel and does not count as carry-on baggage...provides life support, etc. I don't know that it is necessary but if you run into an agent who is not familiar, it may help.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/medica ... pment.html

[LinkC]

Looks like it's time to re-post a link to these make-it-yourself CPAP bag tags. (The link in older posts no longer works, so I upped them to Google Docs for sharing.)

I take no credit (or blame! lol) for designing these...someone else did the hard work. Just d/l the pdf (either all red or red with a blue med emblem), add your Name and contact info, print and laminate. Voila!

Red/Blue:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... y=CJX6_tMM

Red:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... y=CM-QsK0H