Traveling with your cpap?

The Don · Post by **The Don** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:53 am

Hello...I am going on vacation soon and wanted to know if anyone has taken their machine thru airport security.

Clownshow · Post by **Clownshow** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:04 am

yup take it through as carry on and let them know that it is a medical device

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:23 pm

not a problem, they know what it is and don't sweat it. They will however try to get you to check it but stand your ground and they will conceed.

upgrumpy · Post by **upgrumpy** » Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:55 pm

I just traveled from Kansas City to Las Vegas & returned. Had NO problem with airport security at all. Also I found out that the bipap or cpap bag DOES NOT count in your 2 peice carry on limit since it is medical equipment. But you might verify that 1st.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:48 am

I just took mine from San Francisco to Palm Springs and San Francisco to Sydney, Australia without any question at airport security.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:01 am

Hopefully, airport security in Europe is no less efficient and I recently travelled from UK to Portugal and back with no problem. Didn't get questioned about it at all. If you want to be really sure, my doc happily gave me a letter confirming I was a patient and needed to carry the medical equipment.

jean19540_0 · Post by **jean19540_0** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:36 am

my friend a cpap user of 12yrs, has traveled all over the world with very few problems, but not in greece. no not in greece, he was very nearly arrested by airport security because he wouldnt let his cpap go into the hold. he kept stating, "its medical equipment", they werent interested in his, so called excuses, they just wanted him to check it in, or he was going to be arrested. this was made worse by the language barrier. eventualy another security guard came along, who could thankfully speak english, & thourally understand what was being said, & let him through, cpap intact, they'd had it all out of its bag, & starting to try to unscrew the dam thing, to which he was shouting his protests. there was obviously more to this than not wanting him to carry it on, but he couldnt understand what they were shouting about, & they couldnt understand totaly his protests. he said, this all took one and a half hours, the plane was bording when they finaly let him go. if this other security guard, (english speaker) had'nt have been passing & come to see what was going on, then they could have been locked up, easily jean

The Don · Post by **The Don** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:27 am

After reading your replies I think I will play it safe and have my doctor send a letter along....Glad I am not traveling to Greece this time. I really appreciate everyones time.

CPAPNEA · Post by **CPAPNEA** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:39 am

Hey Don,

Go to http://www.sleepapnea.org/travel.html

It has all the information you will need. This website is the AMERICAN SLEEP APNEA ASSOCIATION. Great stuff there. Check it out.

CPAPNEA

sleepynomore · Post by **sleepynomore** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:02 pm

We went to Italy in October and, to make things easier, I was able to put my CPAP machine in the suitcase, so no problems with carrying it on. However, before I left, I did get a letter about CPCP, which I got off the link mentioned above. My doctor signed it and and liked it so much, he made a copy for himself to keep on file!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:22 pm

hey guys I can't seem to find the letter on the link listed above. Is it in some obscure location?

sharonokc · Post by **sharonokc** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:33 pm

Flying in the continental US I have had more trouble with security screening with flashlights, coins, and small metal containers than I have had with my cpap.

The only trouble I have had is in smaller jets, like american eagle when carry ons are cut to 1, and they want to curb check my cpap bag. I have done this, and only had problems once. My pressure setting was messed up. If you have to check your cpap, when you return home get it checked out .

I get frustrated because so many airline sites say medical devices do not count toward carry on numbers, but try telling this to the on site airline personnell. They look at you very strangely and say "yes it does". By the time I get my cpap, meds, glucosemeter, and cameras packed, there goes all my carryon space.

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:38 pm

Airline security is taken very seriously overseas. We travel to Eastern Europe yearly and believe me they go thru makeup jars, pens, the whole bit. Price we all pay for the world today, just chill and get a dr. or RT's ltr and all will be well. I travel with syringes and lancets for diabetes control, and I put the dr's letter around the traveling case with syringes/etc. right on the top and hand caryy it thru, let them open it. I cannot live without the medicine over there, so I'm extra cautious. I say let them look and ask, we've nothing to hide, and nothing to be ashamed of.

littlebaddow wrote:Hopefully, airport security in Europe is no less efficient and I recently travelled from UK to Portugal and back with no problem. Didn't get questioned about it at all. If you want to be really sure, my doc happily gave me a letter confirming I was a patient and needed to carry the medical equipment.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:37 am

I traveled with a cpap during a recent flight. It was not a problem however I did obtained a note from my doctor saying it was necessary. No one asked to see the note and many people travel with c pap machines so I think security is used to seeing them.

sleepynomore · Post by **sleepynomore** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:37 pm

To Whom It May Concern:
Patient Name:
The person bearing this letter uses a respiratory assist device because they suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This device is commonly called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Other forms of this device are called BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure or Auto-adjusting Positive Airway Pressure Devices.
Under current U.S. Law and FAA policy, on all domestic and international flights, over which the FAA has authority, this person shall be allowed to carry on their CPAP system. Furthermore, the air carrier shall not count this device toward any carry on baggage limit.
This is pursuant to 14CFR382.41(b): Carriers shall permit qualified individuals with a disability using personal ventilators/respirators to bring their equipment, including non-spillable batteries that meet the requirements of 49CFR173.159(d) and any applicable FAA safety regulations, on board the aircraft and use it.
14CFR482.41(d): Carriers shall not, in implementing their carry-on baggage policies, count toward a limit on carry-on items any assistive device brought into the cabin by a qualified individual with a disability.
Refusing to allow this person to carry on their CPAP, or counting this device towards their carry-on limit may constitute a breach of Federal Regulations, and may be punishable by both criminal and civil penalties.

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Traveling with your cpap?

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