Travel with CPAP

My name is Ken and I live in southwest Michigan. I am new to this site, but I have been wearing a CPAP for several years.
I am going to Kenya in three days and I have some questions about air travel with a CPAP machine.

The first is can is it OK to pack it in my checked baggage, as I hate to carry it around separately.
I have done this before, But I don't know if it is possible with all the new rules.

Also, is it OK to put a plastic container full of distilled water in my checked bag.
I don't know about the availability of distilled water in Nairobi.

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Ken

You could pack the pap in your checked baggage, but then there is always the risk of your baggage being misdirected or missing the flight.... I'd rather have one more thing to carry than take a chance.

Having distilled water might be easier than trying to pack a still.
I always laugh to think of Harold & Kumar and the smokeless bong.

My wife went to Kenya on a missions trip last spring, and we packed a older cpap machine along with other supplies for the missionaries living there in her check in luggage. There was no problem with the airlines.. However you have to be careful of the Kenya customs and airline workers, they are very underpaid and like to overcharge, or have items disappear at the airport. I myself would carry on my cpap and use bottled water over there for my humidifier. Just wash it out with mild soap and use a soaking rinse of mild vinegar solution when you get back.
Bob

Ken,

I travel a lot both internationally and domestically. When I first went on the hose, I had a lot of angst about carrying a machine around with me. I have long been a small briefcase and carryon only traveler unless I was going to be away for more than two weeks. With that much travel, one starts to obsess a bit over cubic inches available/used and weight. Now all of a sudden, I was thinking I was going to have to carry this third stupid bag.

To answer your question, yes, there is no problem with putting it in your checked bag as is the case with the distilled water. Make sure that is BLATANTLY marked, however as a bag check in these neurotic times could conceivably have you pulled aside. Personally, I wouldn't put my CPAP in checked baggage as I am pretty sure you're going to have at least one and more likely two plane changes to get to Nairobi, and it's just a place for the bag to go astray. Heck, I've even had carryon bags go astray when forced to relinquish the bag at a gate check on a regional jet. Aside from that, there is (when I did a quick flight check assuming Milwaukee as the departure) at least 22 hours of travel time that you will probably sleep during some of. Might be nice to use the CPAP while flying as well.

I have stuck to my briefcase and now just tuck the CPAP, mask, and hose in easily accessible corners of my carryon. Cuts out some of what I can pack but not badly and is just one less thing to carry and open at the checkpoints.

I haven't been away for long enough to bother taking the humidifier along yet, but WHEN I do, I'll not be bothering with carrying water. I already know the humidifier chamber is a sacrificial one to use with the most reputable bottled non-mineral water in-country.

One other bit... I assume you have checked but make sure your machine can live on Kenya's 240VAC @ 50Hz. Most recent machines are good for 110VAC - 240VAC and most will be happy with both 60Hz and 50Hz supplies.

Safe travels and good luck!

StillTired wrote:My name is Ken and I live in southwest Michigan. I am new to this site, but I have been wearing a CPAP for several years.
I am going to Kenya in three days and I have some questions about air travel with a CPAP machine.

The first is can is it OK to pack it in my checked baggage, as I hate to carry it around separately.
I have done this before, But I don't know if it is possible with all the new rules.

Also, is it OK to put a plastic container full of distilled water in my checked bag.
I don't know about the availability of distilled water in Nairobi.

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Ken

Yes, you can pack your cpap and/or distilled water in your checked bag.

HOWEVER

Why would you want to risk arrival without your cpap, or with a broken cpap?

Best advice that can be provided is to always carry your cpap with you. For all flights within USA, and for some flights elsewhere, a cpap does not count as carry on luggage. Check with your air carrier for specific information (usually, this can be found on their web site).

Rather than worry about distilled water, why not use potable, bottled water (NOT mineral water) or tap water. You might need to demineralize the humidifier tank with vinegar every now and then, but this practice is safe and much easier than carrying distilled water with you.

I travel fairly often, primarily internationally and on long flights. Personally I'd never check anything of value - would carry on. In addition, because my flights are 12++ hrs long, I actually turn on cpap and use in-flight.

As far as water is concerned, you can use regular water for short periods of time without damage to your humidifier. You might want to use bottle rather than tap water, to avoid any potential contamination issues.

Also, search the threads for the travel posts. Lots of suggestions re other items to bring along, including:

1. 15 foot extension cord [outlets are never where you need them!]
2. extra hose, filters
3. extra power cord [yes it happens, you unplug the machine, pack it and forget the darn power cord]
4. extra mask [optional]
5. surge protector [optional]


Safe trip!

I want to thank all of you who replied with great information. I learned more than I thought I would.
I was told by the CPAP technician at my medical supplier to always use distilled water. From your
posts I gather that this is not necessary. Wow! And to think of all the trouble I took on my past
trips to get distilled water to use in my humidifier, like trying to find a market that carried it in Venice, Italy.

So now I will pack it in the CPAP bag that I got with it and carry it on the plane. Like some of you pointed
out, better to be safe then have it turn up missing. And I will just use the bottled water there.

Thanks again to all of you. I should have used this forum a long time ago.

Ken in Michigan

StillTired wrote: Thanks again to all of you. I should have used this forum a long time ago.
Ken in Michigan

So glad you found us! This is an incredible resource for you, so check back regularly....especially if you still consider yourself "StillTired'!
I travel a good bit, and will just reiterate that I would never for a minute consider putting my cpap in my checked baggage! Really. Do not even consider it. At the gate you can ask for pre-boarding due to having medical equipment, and then be assured that you will have space and time to place your extra cpap carry-on in a place where you can see it at all times on the flight. Repeating others that distilled water is not necessary for the short-term. I have always used known bottled water brands in other countries, for 3-4 weeks. No problem whatever. Just as others have said, clean your humidifier well upon return to decrease mineral build-up. Note well the recommendations already given. Extension cord is usually needed in hotel rooms. Have a great trip!

StillTired wrote: Thanks again to all of you. I should have used this forum a long time ago.

Ken in Michigan

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