TSA and CPAP

Last time I had my stuff swabbed for explosives they swabbed my camera... I wanted to put the lens cap on but noooo. They actually swabbed the damn lens element. Eye rolls. Had to clean it as they left a weird smudge on it.
If you were looking for something bad why would you swab the only part of the camera that most people [even if they didn't care about anything else] would obsessively clean? Makes me wonder if sometimes they do stuff just cause they can and they're bored.

I see people sometimes working in security who just want to punk other people then again I know lots of them just want to do a good job and get on with their day.

I have had mostly good outcomes with traveling with my CPAP gear. Most of the time no one says anything and it just rolls on under the scanner in it's own little plastic bin. My camera back pack always gets hand inspected because I have so much stuff in it and I pack it so tight.

Uncle_Bob wrote:Back in the day I could carefully pack my machine in the center of my hard plastic Samsonite suitcase. No TSA hassles and no one dropping it from the overhead bins.
Nowadays I have to take it as carry on as per my airline requirements (British Airways). CPAP machines are listed as a concern because of the internal battery never mind the latest Samsung galaxy note though, or other battery powered smart devices

In the last few years of flying from the USA to the UK I've never had my machine inspected by any security. Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

Considering the number of times my bags arrived several days later then I did, I learned never to put anything important in them.

The main thing that worries me about flying is being separated from my "Stuff"

Mostly my PAP Machine and my photography gear. I've spent way way too much money in my passion that I presently can't hope to get back to see my gear be man handled on the tarmac by a bunch of moving men who may not all care if it gets broken.

Any thing "life supporting" or really expensive goes with me on the plane. So far knock on wood I've been able to maintain that system.

I've been in many airport security lines since I got my Cpap, about 8 since I got it end of May. I have only had to open it and take it out in Istanbul in June. The rest of the time it just goes through X-ray in it's case and no one has raised an eyebrow. Wish TSA and foreign security could get a uniform policy that they follow. I was not happy when security in Istanbul took it all out, handled all of it and swabbed each piece.

lathnos46 wrote:I've been in many airport security lines since I got my Cpap, about 8 since I got it end of May. I have only had to open it and take it out in Istanbul in June. The rest of the time it just goes through X-ray in it's case and no one has raised an eyebrow. Wish TSA and foreign security could get a uniform policy that they follow. I was not happy when security in Istanbul took it all out, handled all of it and swabbed each piece.

If there were a truly uniform protocol, it would be easier for the bad guys to defeat!

Gryphon wrote:Last time I had my stuff swabbed for explosives they swabbed my camera... I wanted to put the lens cap on but noooo. They actually swabbed the damn lens element. Eye rolls. Had to clean it as they left a weird smudge on it.

UV filters are your friend!

I do a lot of low light and or night photography and lots of times even my best UV filters will create odd aberrations with reflected light and or little flares so I avoid using them most of the time. But Ya they are nice for some times like everyday photography and or places were you want to protect your lens from over zealous security people looking for trace elements on glass I clean all the time.

Uncle_Bob wrote:Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

any frequent flyer knows this is for your protection to prevent the transfer of germs and bacteria on to your equipment. keep in mind the plastic bag is optional and for your protection. so if it bothers you dont use one.

said another way

Gryphon wrote:But Ya they are nice for some times like everyday photography and or places were you want to protect your lens from over zealous security people looking for trace elements

there ya go

Guest wrote:

Uncle_Bob wrote:Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

any frequent flyer knows this is for your protection to prevent the transfer of germs and bacteria on to your equipment. keep in mind the plastic bag is optional and for your protection. so if it bothers you dont use one.

My point was that is its just a piece of plastic/silicon, probably like most other items in baggage. So why have to separate it out in the first place?
I understand the purpose of the bag as regards to germs etc.
I've never had to open my CPAP bag containing my mask when I travel but then again I'm not a frequent flyer.

I keep all my clean spare masks and parts in airtight plastic bags, preferably in a dark box.
Clean stuff stays clean, and everything is safe from UV light.
I always travel with a clean mask, so it's already in its own bag, ready to go.

Uncle_Bob wrote:

Guest wrote:

Uncle_Bob wrote:Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

any frequent flyer knows this is for your protection to prevent the transfer of germs and bacteria on to your equipment. keep in mind the plastic bag is optional and for your protection. so if it bothers you dont use one.

My point was that is its just a piece of plastic/silicon, probably like most other items in baggage. So why have to separate it out in the first place?
I understand the purpose of the bag as regards to germs etc.
I've never had to open my CPAP bag containing my mask when I travel but then again I'm not a frequent flyer.

It is called "Disaster Preparedness" - No matter what happens you have what you need to survive close at hand and protected from germs. The airport could be evacuated, the plane land in the strange place, you could miss your connections - everything you need to survive needs to be safe and clean in your carry on.

When I was a teenager my father worked for an airline and I flew all over on stand bye and you never knew where your luggage would end up or where you were sleeping that night. Between that and camping I learned to pack light and well.

I visited USA couple of months back. arrived/departed from Dulles airport.

The TSA just requested for me to leave the bags flap opened when I sent through the X-Ray. Nothing eventful from there.

Uncle_Bob wrote:. . .Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

The reason you might want to do this is for fear of germs. The sanitary conditions of the X-ray machine and feeder belt are questionable. People empty their pockets, which frequently contain used facial tissue.

D.H. wrote:

Uncle_Bob wrote:. . .Having to put a mask in a plastic bag does sound ridiculous.

The reason you might want to do this is for fear of germs. The sanitary conditions of the X-ray machine and feeder belt are questionable. People empty their pockets, which frequently contain used facial tissue.

---and maybe YOUR "happy sock".