United Airlines new carry-on policy goes into effect March 1

[Stevoreno_55]

I haven't flown in several years but do all the airlines have an issue if you bring a CPAP machine on board? Just curious and I agree with most of the others; I would not check my machine into being loaded in the lower part of the plane with everyone else's luggage; I'd want to carry it on the plane too.

[Julie]

A lot of the big ones are fine with it now, but you need to call ahead (by a week to be safe) and find out what they require as some want a doctor's note/prescription, others insist on examining the machine as if it were a bomb and you should make sure they wear a fresh pair of rubber gloves when/if doing it, so nothing will transfer to it from a previous traveller's stuff.

[sleeplessinaz]

Just flew this past November. No one asked any questions and no one touched my machine. It went on the belt in the case thru the X-ray. Took it on board with me in the over head bin - no trouble at all. People are getting all,excited for no reason. It's fine now - all the airlines know what a CPAP is and they don't hassle anyone.

[chunkyfrog]

Only one airline comes to mind; but their service area is in Europe.
Aer Lingus has been known to be unreasonable; but they have been freakishly paranoid for decades,
probably because Irish extremists practically invented modern terrorism.

[sleeplessinaz]

Flew to Europe last year using United airlines and not ever one problem. They all know what a CPAP is now so no one is going to hassle you.

[apw5746]

Backdoc mainly wanted to inform us that United is really getting serious about carry on bags effective 1 March. I think most of us, including myself, wrongfully pounced because of the comment about putting the CPAP in checked baggage. I too feel it's a big mistake. Plus, the airlines will reimburse pennies on the dollar.

I'm sure baggage handlers would manage to damage it even if it was super carefully packed. TSA at my local airport go through all checked baggage. Only saving grace for me, is I show them my retired military ID. They usually give me a break on ripping up the contents.

[backdoc]

Thank you apw5746,

The issue was never about someone not allowing one's CPAP on-board the plane, but the size of the bag in which you bring it with you in .

The second issue was packing my CPAP in checked luggage. On a short-haul flight I'm not concerned about checking it my luggage for the return leg since the CPAP I travel with (RESMED AUTO-M 510M) that is used exclusively for travel; and I'm looking to upgrade it to one of these smaller units. If it gets damaged I get a new one that's lighter and better. It is not my only CPAP, I bought several when CPAPAuction.com was still around.

Another issue brought up was TSA treatment of CPAP which has nothing to do with the airlines. I always take my CPAP out of its case and put it in a bin along with the battery pack and all the cords and tell the X-Ray operator that I have a CPAP. They used to swab them every time for bomb residue but that stopped a few years ago; now its random. I keep the CPAP/Hose/Mask/Batteries in a separate compartmentalized zipper case that fits into my boarding bag so as I approach the screening area I pull out one case with everything in it unzip it and place everything in one bin of just CPAP stuff. When through with screening I zip it up and put the whole thing back in my boarding bag. Quick/easy/no drama.

Most long-haul carriers allow the use of your CPAP on the plane, provided that it is on their list of their approved units, and it must be cleared prior to departure, the further ahead the better. Be aware that some carriers have rules about how much battery power you are required to have (at least on paper) in order to use your CPAP on-board. Its usually 1.5 times the length of the flight worth of battery power. So the last trip from LAX on Singapore Airlines to Australia via Seoul and Singapore I had 2 battery packs. Nobody ever checked at the airport whether or not I actually had the extra battery but you have to be prepared. I know that people have reported being able to use the power outlets at the seats on long-haul flights to power their CPAP's but the carriers I use do not allow it, hence the batteries.

In April I fly to Buenos Aires on United and it will be the first time that I am going to use my CPAP on a long-haul flight with United. I called their medical assistance department and they assured me that as long as the unit is powered by batteries that it will be fine. I plan on calling them a few weeks before the flight and verifying that. They all seem to have specific lists of units that their engineering departments have cleared for use on-board. Yes I know about the FAA stickered ones.

The trip this Saturday is from Los Angeles to San Francisco on Southwest (CPAP in carry-on), a 20 minute prop plane ride on United to Modesto and back to San Francisco, Virgin Atlantic to London (using CPAP on-board), London to Milan on British Airways (CPAP in carry-on) and back to London then back to Los Angeles on Virgin Atlantic (using CPAP on board).

Backdoc mainly wanted to inform us that United is really getting serious about carry on bags effective 1 March. I think most of us, including myself, wrongfully pounced because of the comment about putting the CPAP in checked baggage. I too feel it's a big mistake. Plus, the airlines will reimburse pennies on the dollar.

I'm sure baggage handlers would manage to damage it even if it was super carefully packed. TSA at my local airport go through all checked baggage. Only saving grace for me, is I show them my retired military ID. They usually give me a break on ripping up the contents.

[apw5746]

By the way, I think your avatar is cool. My cat would freak out if I tried something like that.

[PST]

I check the bag containing my CPAP machine on occasion. I know that lots of people caution against it, but sometimes it seems like the lesser of evils. I had some spinal surgery in December and am still supposed to avoid bending, twisting, or lifting. I was carrying some confidential stuff I really couldn't check on a recent flight back from London and so I checked everything else. That way I didn't have to worry about hoisting bags over my head. I suspect that one of the safest bets for luggage arriving is on a direct international flight between major cities in advanced countries. At the very worst, when you are traveling home, a machine can be quickly replaced, so it's an issue of economics rather than life and death. When you see a statistic about about luggage these days lost and delayed are almost always combined (I think the average now is 3 in 1000), but the great majority of this is merely delay. We all take a few risks.

[Dive Apnea]

I just carry my cpap on board in my regular backpack, (not even the designated CPAP bag) its not like I have tons of stuff in there. Easy fit Ipad, cpap, a book, etc. what else do you need on a flight. I have checked CPAP in my baggage, and it did get messed up, started malfunctioning. lesson learned.

[Julie]

Dive - you are so obviously a young man (not?) if you can ask that question - "what else do you need on a flight" - so I hope you don't mind my finding it funny (females of any age I think would agree!).

[zorki1c]

My wife and I have traveled to around the U.S., China, Europe --including Russia -- and have never had anyone say anything about our CPAPs and we always carry them. Occasionally airport security asks us to open the CPAP bags before sending them through scanners but it's obvious they are familiar with them. Haven't ever tried to use one in flight. We fly economy and there simply isn't room to set a machine up even if we wanted to do it. Wouldn't think of checking my CPAP, or camera, or anything else of significant value. We fly Delta most of the time but have flown United. But I sure wouldn't let them handle my Taylor Guitar.

[SleepingUgly]

Published carry-on limit: 9"x14"x22"
Actual sizer dimensions: 10"x15"x23"

Published personal item limit: 9"x10"x17"
Actual sizer dimensions: 9"x11"x18"

What were these carry-on limits before the change? What does "actual sizer dimensions" mean? The box that you shove the suitcase in to see if it fits? I just measured my rolling carry-ons and they are slightly larger than this!! Do I have to buy new carry-on luggage?! What about other airlines?

[okcpa99]

My RT stated that CPAP should never be checked and airlines cannot charge you or count your cpap bag towards your carry on limit. He said the cpap flies for free in the cabin with me and I can still have my other carry-on bags.

[Becky913]

I used to work for the Transportation Security Administration screening airline passengers. I have never seen the TSA or airlines pay that close of attention to the dimensions of a bag unless its outrageously large. I am sure your bag size will be fine.