CPAP on a 10 hour flight . . .

Did you clear it with the airline before departure or just deal with the flight crew the day of the flight. Flying LAN business Miami to Buenos Aries and Santiago to Miami in October.

You'll want to check beforehand. Why leave a detail like that til the last minute?

I think you first need to find out if there is an electrical outlet available at your seat (definitely don't assume that), and then try not to get your seat changed along the way. My other concern might be the S. American airlines/airports protocol, though those are large cities and it may not be any problem. I would clear things with the airlines myself, from the beginning, but others may say differently.

Your rights on flights touching the US (even if foreign carriers) are in most cases governed by the Air Carrier Access Act. Generally speaking the airlines cannot prevent you from carrying your CPAP on board, and cannot charge you a baggage fee, but are not *required* to supply you with at-seat power (although many will let you use it). Some seats have cigarette-lighter-type outlets. To maximize odds of using your machine in-flight, follow the airline's notice procedure and carry a Li Ion battery onboard.

For at-seat power charts see seatguru.com.

Drowsy Dancer wrote:Your rights on flights touching the US (even if foreign carriers) are in most cases governed by the Air Carrier Access Act. Generally speaking the airlines cannot prevent you from carrying your CPAP on board, and cannot charge you a baggage fee, but are not *required* to supply you with at-seat power (although many will let you use it). Some seats have cigarette-lighter-type outlets. To maximize odds of using your machine in-flight, follow the airline's notice procedure and carry a Li Ion battery onboard.

For at-seat power charts see seatguru.com.

Wow, never heard of Seat Guru. FANTASTIC.

I have never check first, fly business to Germany all the time and have always had power. The flight attendants never gave me a second look when I started to setup my equipment after dinner on the flight. Had one ask a few questions in the morning, but typically nothing. Fly American, Delta and lufthansa typically. If you want to be sure, call the airlines and ask. Every business class flight I have been on has had power in US and Europe style connections. But,,, I typically only fly to Germany when I fly international overnight.

On flights to/from Madrid I have had to do some negotiating to get at-seat power. Also, it sometimes flickers. I intend to travel with battery in the future.

Pro tip for first-time users of in-air CPAP. Practice disconnecting your dehumidifier from your unit* BEFORE the trip. Doing it in the dark when you're crowded next to a curious stranger is a real hassle. Learn from my mistake!

*At-seat power/battery will not give you enough juice to power your humidifier, and because of the risk of turbulence you don't want to run the humidifier in passover mode.