CPAP and Carry On Travel

I will be travelling to Mexico and was curious how that all went with a cpap device.
Mexicans border personal are usually very reasonable but airlines are always looking for somehow to charge you extra.
I use to put my cpap in a suitcase and never had issues but maybe that could be a expensive mistake the way I watch them handle baggage it would make more sense to carry it with me.

I'm resurrecting this to add some info.

I'm finding that some airlines are insisting I give them information about the machine at least 48 hours ahead of time to be allowed to carry it. They want to make sure the specific machine is approved to use on a flight. I don't think they understand it's not oxygen and I'm not planning to use it on board.

Most airlines have said I could take it as a separate item. Only one said it would count towards my carry on limit.

All of these were European airlines and I have to wonder if there was a problem in translation.

Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, China, Tibet (same place?), Egypt, Jordan, Ecuador, Italy, Turkey, Tanzania, Greece; they don't care!

I also find that my travel CPAP (ResMed S9) without the humidifier is a lot noisier. To me, seems like the humidifier chamber acts like a muffler for the airflow. So I always take the humidifier with me. If you think that you might not take it with you, a trial run, as suggested by another poster would be a good idea.

BuzzB wrote:I'm resurrecting this to add some info.

I'm finding that some airlines are insisting I give them information about the machine at least 48 hours ahead of time to be allowed to carry it. They want to make sure the specific machine is approved to use on a flight. I don't think they understand it's not oxygen and I'm not planning to use it on board.

Most airlines have said I could take it as a separate item. Only one said it would count towards my carry on limit.

All of these were European airlines and I have to wonder if there was a problem in translation.

I believe the US FAA rules apply to flights to other countries if they originate or terminate in the US.

I have been to Frace, Italy and Isreal with no problem. If you go on the TSA website you can see that medical devices are allowed on planes. I print out those guidelines and put it in my bag. I don't get a doctors note, but not a bad idea. One thing I will tell you, if the announce that the plane is full and they will have to store some bags, go up to the desk and kindly let them know you have a medical device that you cannot store as you have to have it, and can't beat he with out it. I had to do that one and the crew was kind and said, it's a full plane, and we will let you board with the first group to make sure you can get it into a bin. Never had a problem, just hate putting it though X-ray and opening it up, that is the worst part.

Flying within the U.S., or departing the U.S. is not a problem. It's the flights between other countries or within other countries. (TSA rules don't apply there.)

As an example....British Airways has no problem. Aer Lingus, SAS and Icelandair all want prior notice. Most say I will be able to take it on as an additonal bag as long as they make a note in my reservation. (Icelandair even says the device cannot be checked and must be taken on board.)

From what I read, and this is only a guess, they are concerned with me bringing a large rechargable battery on board.

My other issue is that I am normally a carry-on bag traveler. I never check a bag. But since the CPAP machine and all it's accessories will take up nearly a third of my bag, I may now have to take a second bag to make up for that lost room. And since I already carry a "personal item" with electronics and other items, it means checking. (Trying to juggle three bags getting on and off planes sound too much of a hassle.)

BuzzB wrote:I'm resurrecting this to add some info.

I'm finding that some airlines are insisting I give them information about the machine at least 48 hours ahead of time to be allowed to carry it. They want to make sure the specific machine is approved to use on a flight. I don't think they understand it's not oxygen and I'm not planning to use it on board.

Most airlines have said I could take it as a separate item. Only one said it would count towards my carry on limit.

All of these were European airlines and I have to wonder if there was a problem in translation.

All of which is proof that it's essential to check in advance with the airlines that you will be flying.

I suspect that the advance notice request by airlines is that they are concerned about batteries. With the risk of fire in some types of batteries, they may have reason to be concerned. I have no idea why they aren't similarly concerned about laptop batteries, cell phones, cameras and the like.

If you are planning to use your cpap while in flight then you will need a battery to power it; the battery type needs to be of an approved type. If all you are doing is transporting your non-battery-operated cpap, then they likely won't have issue with it. But from your experience it is clear that some airlines want to know about it and approve it in advance.

BuzzB wrote:Flying within the U.S., or departing the U.S. is not a problem. It's the flights between other countries or within other countries. (TSA rules don't apply there.)

As an example....British Airways has no problem. Aer Lingus, SAS and Icelandair all want prior notice. Most say I will be able to take it on as an additonal bag as long as they make a note in my reservation. (Icelandair even says the device cannot be checked and must be taken on board.)

From what I read, and this is only a guess, they are concerned with me bringing a large rechargable battery on board.

My other issue is that I am normally a carry-on bag traveler. I never check a bag. But since the CPAP machine and all it's accessories will take up nearly a third of my bag, I may now have to take a second bag to make up for that lost room. And since I already carry a "personal item" with electronics and other items, it means checking. (Trying to juggle three bags getting on and off planes sound too much of a hassle.)

Thanks for correcting me on the TSA rules, I don't want to give miss information to anyone. I must have misunderstood it when I read it. Thanks, appreciate it, as now I will make sure i can take it on

Peace,

Mike

I've just travelled between Australia and New Zealand with no problems. As I use a hard shell suitcase I simply packed my machine into this suitcase and secured it to stop it moving around. I'm flying to Perth (Aus) next month and will do the same. I carry the prescription with me to make sure that airline officials know that I should be taking this with me.

I noticed this thread and thought I might post about my upcoming travel plans -- the first time I'll have ever traveled with my APAP machine ...

Early next week I'll be traveling within the U.S. on an American Eagle flight on a fairly small jet (Embraer EMB 175, which has 24 rows). I can't recall offhand if they collect carry-ons at the gate for courtesy stowage, or if we actually take them on.

I was planning to bring my System One REMStar 60 Series machine, including its humidifier, in my roller carry-on case (I'm just going for a few days and don't have a lot else to pack). I see some people mentioning bringing a written prescription, but my HMO never gave me one (in fact I requested one a couple of times, but they wouldn't do it). But I probably have paperwork of some type indicating I'm supposed to be using the machine.

Based on the above, does anyone see any potential red flags I might need to deal with?

I suggest you give up your perfectly sensible plan to put the CPAP into your roll-aboard. Even though plane-side check-in (and retrieval) of luggage is very gentle compared to the manhandling regular checked luggage goes through on big planes, and even though risk of luggage loss is close to zero, why risk banging your CPAP even a little bit? I'd carry it on in its own case.

dvejr wrote:I suggest you give up your perfectly sensible plan to put the CPAP into your roll-aboard. Even though plane-side check-in (and retrieval) of luggage is very gentle compared to the manhandling regular checked luggage goes through on big planes, and even though risk of luggage loss is close to zero, why risk banging your CPAP even a little bit? I'd carry it on in its own case.

the stock respironics bag is just stiff canvas, and offers no protection, the machine would be safer in his carryon.

You're entitled to your opinion. I traveled with a Remstar in that bag for many years, and know it well. I sometimes added some padding with a hand towel or two, or an extra hose. But since I would always carry the bag, and never check it, the machine was unscathed.
I've also put my CPAP in a roll-aboard when there was room - but that was a bag I would roll aboard. OP's roll-aboard is going to be gate-checked or plane-sided, and I stand by my suggestion that he keep the CPAP in his own possession at all times.

Dyssomniac wrote:I noticed this thread and thought I might post about my upcoming travel plans -- the first time I'll have ever traveled with my APAP machine ...

Early next week I'll be traveling within the U.S. on an American Eagle flight on a fairly small jet (Embraer EMB 175, which has 24 rows). I can't recall offhand if they collect carry-ons at the gate for courtesy stowage, or if we actually take them on.

I was planning to bring my System One REMStar 60 Series machine, including its humidifier, in my roller carry-on case (I'm just going for a few days and don't have a lot else to pack). I see some people mentioning bringing a written prescription, but my HMO never gave me one (in fact I requested one a couple of times, but they wouldn't do it). But I probably have paperwork of some type indicating I'm supposed to be using the machine.

Based on the above, does anyone see any potential red flags I might need to deal with?

You didn't mention the size of your roll-aboard luggage. If it's the 21 or 22" size, then it's probably too big for carry on for an Embraer EMB175. Smaller aircraft have smaller overhead storage bins. You may or may not be able to carry-on if if's a 14 or 15" roller case.

Check with the airline to see what they will permit. That's the only way to be sure.

Also, make sure you're not among the last to board the aircraft. If you're late to board, then there's the significant chance that there will not be any more room in the cabin for carry-ons that will not fit under the seat. This problem is the major downside of the airlines' recent policy to charge for all checked bags - more people now try to carry everything on board.