Anyone travel with their daily machine?

[LinkC]

I haven't needed a medical tag thus far. The TSA has no issue with it, I even saw man ahead of me had a CPAP and they didn't stop him either.

It would have tipped off the airline folks who thought you had too many carry-ons.

[sleeplessinaz]

I probably won't take my humidifier as I am going to Florida over Thanksgiving. I did take it to Europe a few months ago and never ever had a TSA problem. They all know what a CPAP is now thank goodness. I do carry that extra extension cord though that is like gold! I keep one in the carry bag at all times as well as a copy of my RX.

I am considering taking my S9 auto pap to Florida though as it is so much lighter to carry than the S8. And I am not keen on going straight CPAP. Hmmm,m things to ponder! Lol!

[msla]

TSA has always wanted the CPAP in a separate tub. I put my blower into a plastic zip-lock bag and drop it into the tray. It keeps the blower away from the whatevers left by other travelers in the bin. Last month the screener told me I was wise to use the zip-lock.

[sleeplessinaz]

Last time I flew the TSA just asked me to unzip the bag to expose the blower. They did not have me take it out and place In a tub. They waived some sort of brush over it and I was on my way!

[Janknitz]

The other reason to carry your prescription is that if you lose a piece or a piece breaks en route, you can go to any DME and get a replacement part. Without the RX, it's a big hassle.

[RogerSC]

Yes, I take a power strip that has a 15' cord and surge protector with me on trips. Great thing to have to accommodate all those chargers (phone and iPad) plus the cpap, and have it where it's convenient rather than where the available outlet(s) are *smile*. Often there aren't very many available outlets anyway, with lamps, clock radios, microwave, refrigerator, etc. all over the place, so the extra outlets all in one place is really nice.

[JohnBFisher]

Yes, I take a power strip that has a 15' cord and surge protector with me on trips. Great thing to have to accommodate all those chargers (phone and iPad) plus the cpap, and have it where it's convenient rather than where the available outlet(s) are *smile*. Often there aren't very many available outlets anyway, with lamps, clock radios, microwave, refrigerator, etc. all over the place, so the extra outlets all in one place is really nice.

That's especially true when traveling overseas. Not all hotels in all countries have power outlets readily available. Some have only one or two in a room. It's just easier / less hassle if you bring your own strip with a long cord.

[JohnO]

I take my Philips Respironics DS560 with me when I travel. So far, I've had about 16 domestic (US) airline trips in the last year. I take my primary machine, even though I have a spare, as I like to have the consistent statistics on one machine instead of gaps, when looking at the data.

TSA is fine with it. I usually put the the CPAP machine in its case in a tub by itself, and I roll the cover open. I have the hose and mask in a ziplock bag. Only once (just two weeks ago) was I asked to take the bag out of the case.

Twice I've had the airlines (once, gate agent, once flight attendant) suggest I had too many bags. I just said, "it's a medical device," and they responded "oh, OK."

On most trips I have a rental car, and will stop at a pharmacy and grab a gallon of distilled water for about a dollar. It feels a little wasteful, but it is really the cheapest option. Some trips I don't have a car or time to stop, so in those cases I will get a bottle of drinking water at the hotel and use that in my humidifier.

I carry an extension cord with me, but in 16 trips have only had to use it once. I am usually in a chain hotel (Courtyard Marriott, Springhill Suites, etc.) , so if you stay in older hotels or boutique hotels you may be more likely to need the extension cord.

I often end up placing the CPAP machine on an unused wastebasket that I place next to my bed. It keeps the machine lower than the mattress to avoid rainout. Sometimes I can use a chair, but there is often not room for that.

John

[lakejumper]

The TSA agents haven't been a problem but I have flown on several different airlines recently and had issues at the gate with the attendants. Even after I explained that it was medical equipment, one (US airways) asked me what it was and after I responded, she wanted to know if it was battery or 110volt. She was reluctant but let me carry it on the plane. On another trip a Southwest Airlines employee tried to tell me that it still counted as a carryon. After I challenged him, he reluctantly let me take it on the plane with my other carryon luggage. I was quite surprised by both of these situations. I didn't intend on using the machine while I was in flight but wanted it with me to make sure that it arrived safely.

I also agree about carrying your prescription. I mistakenly took an old style spare mask and couldn't purchase one while out of state without a prescription.

[Thewino]

I only have one machine so, yes, it goes where I go. I super clean everything before I go on my trip and again super clean it when I get back home. I take my humidifier with me everywhere I travel.

I haven't had a single issue so far. I did figure out the need for a small extension cord so I bought one that I just keep in the carry case for the machine. Then, when travel time nears, I don't have to go searching for it.

I also bought the different plugs that I keep in the carry case but haven't needed them up to this point.

Sleep well,
TheWino

[SleepyCPAP]

I take my machine with me. Until recently I had just the one machine, no backup. I have one of those CPAP.com medical tags on the carry case. Only once did TSA ask for the CPAP to be removed from the bag at security.

If I'm coming up on the time when a fine white filter change is due, I leave the old filter in the machine for the trip and change it when I get back home and wash the foam one. Even so, my machine smells like a hotel room for the first night back home.

The PRS1 cord seems long enough for most of the hotels/motels where I've stayed. I had to unplug the room's clock radio once, but smartphone or other device does the alarm job in such scenarios.

--SleepyCPAP

[echo]

The TSA agents haven't been a problem but I have flown on several different airlines recently and had issues at the gate with the attendants. Even after I explained that it was medical equipment, one (US airways) asked me what it was and after I responded, she wanted to know if it was battery or 110volt. She was reluctant but let me carry it on the plane. On another trip a Southwest Airlines employee tried to tell me that it still counted as a carryon. After I challenged him, he reluctantly let me take it on the plane with my other carryon luggage. I was quite surprised by both of these situations. I didn't intend on using the machine while I was in flight but wanted it with me to make sure that it arrived safely.

I also agree about carrying your prescription. I mistakenly took an old style spare mask and couldn't purchase one while out of state without a prescription.

I had this twice while flying in Europe recently. It was a puddle hopper, and they refused to put my cpap carry-on on the plane (the overhead bin was way too small, and it didn't fit under the seat either!) So i ended up taking the machine and humidifer out, put them in my backpack, and checked the rest of the carry on at the plane. My carry on has the CPAP tag on, not sure if it helps or not, but at least they can see in big blaring letter "MEDICAL EQUIPMENT"

The rules in Europe about a CPAP not counting as a carry seems to be different - and the airline policies are not clear either (no airline website mentions).

I've been asked for my prescription twice. Once it actually helped me get the cpap bag on as a carry on (the check in agent was being really stubborn).

I second the extension cord! It has saved me in many a hotel where the electricity plug was on the other side of the room from the bed. (Mine also has 3 plugs in the extension cord, which makes it easy to use the humidifer; not all hotels have multiple plugs near the bed).

[BlackSpinner]

The rules in Europe about a CPAP not counting as a carry seems to be different - and the airline policies are not clear either (no airline website mentions).

FDA rules don't apply outside of the USA.

The cabin crew has the last say whether your cpap goes in the cabin or not. They are responsible for safety. That is also in the FDA rule book.

[jaybeem]

I carry on my S9 in its original case...with the humidifier. TSA has never been a problem. I put it under the seat instead of the overhead. The only problem I have had is that it seems pretty heavy on my shoulder by the time I trek from one end of a major metro airport to the other end. I always use a power strip, as my destination is prone to thunder storms and power outages.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

I have taken my primary PAP machine on trips in the past, but now use a newer 560 bought as backup for that purpose. I am currently in San Jose in the airport dealing with a second flight delay, the first mechanical, the second due to visibility conditions at my home destination (foggy). So flight problems abound on this return trip, but no problems today or any other time with TSA agents or airport/ flight personnel traveling with my PAP machine. It has been a real non-problem, even though I was originally very concerned about it.

John