Travel - it can be done...

Just wrapping up my first 2 night trip away from home with my CPAP system. All went well, missed my 3 pillows but got great times on mask and AHIs about 1. More allergens in hotel but no problems on mask, just as I woke up. Mobile nasal rinse plan worked well too. This trip was by car, next challenge is a trip by plane.

Glad it went well. I took a plane trip last month; I had a tag that the DME had put on my case identifying the machine as medical equipment. Took machine out of the case for security, no questions asked on either end of the trip.

library lady wrote:Glad it went well. I took a plane trip last month; I had a tag that the DME had put on my case identifying the machine as medical equipment. Took machine out of the case for security, no questions asked on either end of the trip.

I'm by no means a frequent traveler, but I have personally taken my CPAP through several US States, at least 4 countries, and a 7-night cruise. I have never really had any difficulty in any security checkpoint. They see them... FREQUENTLY and know what they are.

I will say that more than half of the time, they decide to swab my CPAP. They always ask first and I simply reply in a very polite voice "Not a problem, but may I request a fresh pair of gloves?" They never have a problem with my request and they change their gloves, swab my machine, and do what they do. It's really doesn't even slow me down. It takes me more time to put my shoes and belt back on and re-fill my pockets than it does for them to do their test.

-craig

I'm in the middle of a trip right now. When I flew from SFO to Chicago, and then on to Shannon, Ireland, they didn't give my cpap a second look. Or when I crossed between Ireland and Wales (where I am now). I did bring an European power strip with me (240V surge protector) that has been quite helpful with the lack of outlets in the B&B's and hotels. Things have been going well, cpap-wise. Been using tap water with the back-up S9 I picked up for the trip. I'll wash it thoroughly when I get back, but the humidifier tank opens up, so I can dry it pretty well in the mornings.

Off to Amsterdam next week.

So, yes, travel is possible *smile*.

Thanks all - Roger - did you use your CPAP on the transatlantic flight?

englandsf wrote:Just wrapping up my first 2 night trip away from home with my CPAP system. All went well, missed my 3 pillows but got great times on mask and AHIs about 1. More allergens in hotel but no problems on mask, just as I woke up. Mobile nasal rinse plan worked well too. This trip was by car, next challenge is a trip by plane.

You just reminded me that next trip we bring extra pillows, because budget hotels cut back on little things,
like extra pillows, and fresh fruit/bacon for breakfast. Not bad for a hundred bucks less a night--we'll do it again.

I recently did a 3- week tour of Scotland. Carried my CPAP in my carry on bag (A Zzz-pap travel machine without humidifier) and it never got a second look. I had hoped to carry it on separately - in its own carry bag - as a 2nd bag, medical equipment you know. But, British Airways said regardless of the bag's content, it would count against my allowed baggage limits, so I simply packed it in my one carry on. I chose not to use it on the flight and slept soundly (business class / life flat seats / with power outlet) for about 5-6 hours with no issues.

The power outliet on the plane was max 75 watt but this machine will work at that level. However, this proved a non-issue as I simply did not use it on the flight.

I carried a travel plug converter kit - no need for a power transformer/regulator - it plugged right in to the outlets and worked wonderfully the entire trip with just the plug converter.

dos coyotes wrote:I chose not to use it on the flight and slept soundly (business class / life flat seats / with power outlet) for about 5-6 hours with no issues.

The power outliet on the plane was max 75 watt but this machine will work at that level. However, this proved a non-issue as I simply did not use it on the flight.

I carried a travel plug converter kit - no need for a power transformer/regulator - it plugged right in to the outlets and worked wonderfully the entire trip with just the plug converter.

A few years back, I used my M-series without the humidifier in flight. Once in first class on a 777 (really nice seat setup there.) The second in business class. Both times I simply plugged the machine into the cigarette lighter plug with a straight through cable I made myself. 12 volts. No conversion needed. I probably only slept 3 or 4 hours, but I'm sure I slept better than if I hadn't had the machine.

As for power in country, every power brick I've seen takes 100-240 v 50 or 60 Hz, so simply adapting the plug is all you need pretty much anywhere in the world.

My seat had a standard electrical outlet available - for computers, etc. and as I had no battery for the machine it would have worked fine. I opted not to use it simply based on inconvenience of getting from my window seat to the aisle and overhead compartment with my bag. I'm sure the 50 lb weight loss helped me sleep and presumably my snoring was not so much as to annoy my neighbors. Although in these new aircraft configurations, 747-400, I was pretty much in my own private cubicle - very nice indeed.

I'm back now *smile*. No, I didn't use the cpap on the planes flights, I can't sleep enough on airplanes for it to matter.

The travel logistics were all a breeze. While I was prepared to be questioned about all the electronics/medical equipment I was carrying, they'd seen it all before and just didn't care. Very routine. The only time things got even a little interesting was in the flight from London to Amsterdam (Easy Jet, badly misnamed *smile*) we were only allowed one carry on. I had my backpack and cpap bag, so I just told them that it was medical equipment, and the extra carry on was no problem. Never had the cpap questioned, or needed to open it. It was just another piece of carry on baggage.

Cpap logistics was really simplified by taking the European power strip (240V, surge protection, universal outlets), and the right outlet adapters. Most places we wouldn't have been able to charge our phones, camera batteries, Kindle, and iPad, plus run the cpap without it. And the extra cord length of the power strip allowed me to have the cpap next to me while sleeping in a couple of places. Don't travel without one *smile*.

So it really was easy, just be prepared *smile*.

chunkyfrog wrote:

englandsf wrote:Just wrapping up my first 2 night trip away from home with my CPAP system. All went well, missed my 3 pillows but got great times on mask and AHIs about 1. More allergens in hotel but no problems on mask, just as I woke up. Mobile nasal rinse plan worked well too. This trip was by car, next challenge is a trip by plane.

You just reminded me that next trip we bring extra pillows, because budget hotels cut back on little things,
like extra pillows, and fresh fruit/bacon for breakfast. Not bad for a hundred bucks less a night--we'll do it again.

We stayed in bed and breakfasts a lot in Ireland and Wales, and they all served full breakfasts. Eggs, bacon, toast, fresh fruit, porridge (oatmeal), and so on. Priced lower than most hotels that I'd want to stay at, and very pleasant and clean. Even the smaller inn that we stayed at once was very comfortable (and not expensive). Had an apartment in Amsterdam where we could cook on our own, and mixed it up. Went out for meals and cooked in. Very nice to have a home to be at for a week *smile*. We didn't stay at any real budget hotels (less than $100/night), but the worst was a Travel Lodge we stayed in the night before we came back that was near London Gatwick. If I hadn't had the 240V power strip with me, I wouldn't have been able to have my cpap next to me when I was sleeping. Plenty of pillows, though, and a king-size bed. That Travel Lodge was really bad, we even paid extra for WiFi, but they had gone to all the trouble of only allowing one wireless device on the WiFi at a time...really stupid, since it was a double room, and everything is wireless these days. Got to say, that's the one place we stayed that I would not be able give a single star to if I had to rate it.

Just bought a used everest 2 off craigslist with battery and adapter etc and looking forward to using it for travel and long backpacks with my 12 volt cpap battery I already have. Between the 2 batteries I think I'll be able to get 6-7 nights before having to recharge.