Plane trip with CPAP machine

[Maxie]

I've had my CPAP machine for a little over a month and I will be taking a plane trip soon. I'm trying to decide if I should put my equipment in my checked luggage or carry it on the plane. I've never had my baggage lost but there is always a first time and I don't want my equipment to be lost! How do you handle this? Is it a problem with TSA?

[NCHawk]

Carry your CPAP with you on the plane. As medical equipment it doesn't count toward your carry on allowance. You will have to take it out of its case and put it in a tray just like a laptop to run it through the X-Ray machine, but TSA agents are used to seeing CPAPs and it shouldn't get any special attention. I haven't had mine inspected in years now.

[LSAT]

Your CPAP is a sensitive machine. The way baggage is handled, I would never even THINK of packing it.

[soundersfootballclub]

I've taken a few trips with it now and checked the power cord in my luggage since its so dang heavy and I am prone to back issues. I know many here feel very strongly about never checking anything related to your machine in your luggage and for obvious reasons.

I want to find a different bag than one my S9 came with, it's too small for anything but my machine and the outside pocket needs a zipper to prevent things from falling out. Mebbe I should start a topic about better travel bag options for CPAP machines.

[archangle]

I've taken a few trips with it now and checked the power cord in my luggage since its so dang heavy and I am prone to back issues. I know many here feel very strongly about never checking anything related to your machine in your luggage and for obvious reasons.

I want to find a different bag than one my S9 came with, it's too small for anything but my machine and the outside pocket needs a zipper to prevent things from falling out. Mebbe I should start a topic about better travel bag options for CPAP machines.

They may try to rip you off for a baggage fee if you have anything other than CPAP stuff in the CPAP bag.

[CruzTerri]

I carry my cpap with me on the plane. I've got an upcoming flight in May. I'm doing a red eye, even though I'm supposed to have an outlet at my seat (according to seatguru.com) I won't use it on the plane. Too tight quarters to hook it up and I'm sure that there won't be any room (and I can't use it without the humidifier). But the last couple of times I've flown, I didn't even need to take it out of it's case. They just x-ray'd it like my purse. Glad it's not counted towards carry-on. I purchased (though I'm sure you could make one) a luggage tag which states that it's medical equipment.

Terri

[JohnBFisher]

I've flown a lot for many, many years with CPAP. At one time the security screeners had no clue about CPAP devices. Now, it should not be a big deal.

Now, just tell them it's a CPAP device. They might want to run a explosives test on it (they will just run a cloth patch along the outside of the case and put the patch into a machine that hunts for explosive chemicals). It takes a couple extra minutes, but is no big deal.

As others have noted, do NOT put anything other than health related issues into the CPAP bag. For example, I put my pills and syringes into my ASV bag.

Oh, even if you have a BiPAP unit or an ASV unit, just tell them that it's a CPAP device. They just want to know that it's a medical device that helps you sleep. They don't know or care about the differences between the units.

On smaller planes the stewardess might try to have your check your CPAP device. Don't. We periodically here from someone who lost their CPAP device, had it arrive damaged, etc. It is safer if you retain control of it.

Have a safe trip! And enjoy! Don't worry about your CPAP device, but do keep it with you.

[soundersfootballclub]

I've taken a few trips with it now and checked the power cord in my luggage since its so dang heavy and I am prone to back issues. I know many here feel very strongly about never checking anything related to your machine in your luggage and for obvious reasons.

I want to find a different bag than one my S9 came with, it's too small for anything but my machine and the outside pocket needs a zipper to prevent things from falling out. Mebbe I should start a topic about better travel bag options for CPAP machines.

They may try to rip you off for a baggage fee if you have anything other than CPAP stuff in the CPAP bag.

The Resmed bag is tiny though. I usually bring a backpack on board which is larger. I have tried to avoid bringing both bags on so far but at some point I will need to figure out a new bag option I think. I wish there was a backpack type option that was padded specifically for cpap gear.

[LoneStar]

Sounder,

When I first joined the board, I remember reading a post about bags for CPAP. Several people agreed that camera bags worked very well as they are heavily padded.

Lisa

[xenablue]

Never check your CPAP, it's medical equipment and can't count towards your carry on luggage. I don't trust the way they handle baggage.

Don't put anything in your CPAP bag except CPAP stuff - which can include an extension cord, double adaptor, wipes, extra hose/mask/pillows, Lansinoh etc.

It's a good idea to put each item in a separate ziplock bag just in case TSA wants to look at it closer (it's never happened to me) and if so, request they put on new gloves to inspect.

Don't worry - travelling with CPAP is easy - just remember an extension cord - you never know how far an outlet is from your bed.

Something else I learned recently, is hose management away from home. Now I take a couple of 3M cable organisers which use that removable tape/adhesive so when I leave, the hose hanger comes with me, and does no damage to walls or headboards.

Have a great trip.

Cheers,
xena

[chunkyfrog]

It would be refreshing to have a thread about bags that is not spam.

[nedi]

Hey there. Just flew with mine and didn't even have to take it out of its case at 3 different airports. Just put the case on the belt. I didn't want to pack it because I quickly grew fond of it.

[hobbs]

Baggage handlers have been known to break anvils!

[Ticman]

Like most have said. Keep it with you at all times. I told the TSA agents it a breathing device, put it in the tray and went thru X-ray, done.

Put it under the seat in front of you on the plane that way some moron won't pull it out of the overhead and let it drop on the floor.

[wildman 2]

NEVER! EVER! PUT YOUR MACHINE IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE!!!!!

WILDMAN 2