XPAP as checked Air Luggage

The prospect of checked luggage is becoming a reality.
My questions to the forum are: -
1. If your luggage goes missing how long is it missing for.
2. How do you think the airlines can compensate you.
3. What measures do you think they will take to hire you the correct equipment for you.
I am sure other questions will follow.
As a group I feel we need to make airlines aware of these problems.

Billy

puffing billy wrote:The prospect of checked luggage is becoming a reality.
My questions to the forum are: -
1. If your luggage goes missing how long is it missing for.
2. How do you think the airlines can compensate you.
3. What measures do you think they will take to hire you the correct equipment for you.
I am sure other questions will follow.
As a group I feel we need to make airlines aware of these problems.

Billy

I used to fly quite a lot in my work and I am well acquainted with the issue of lost luggage. If the airlines ever do require that xpap (and any other medical equipment) be checked instead of handcarried, I think there's an excellent chance that the equipment would occasionally be lost. I've had luggage lost for as little as a few hours and as long as four days (in Italy). For those with severe apnea, this could be a life-threatening situation.

I doubt that anyone could count on the airlines compensating passengers for the actual value of the lost items and I can't imagine that they'd be willing to foot the bill for renting other equipment.

I was fortunate in that I always (eventually) got my luggage and didn't have to go through the claims process. I did start carrying photographs of my luggage so that when the luggage people asked me what it looked like, I just whipped out the photos and said, "Like this." That wouldn't be a bad idea for xpap travelers, since many people have never seen one.

Let's just hope that it doesn't come to that.

OCO

First, I think this whole discussion is premature. The only place CPAPs have to go as hold baggage is flights from London to the US. Homeland Security has stated clearly that this is a temporary measure. I really don't think we will see CPAPs having to be hold baggage on a regular basis.

But to play along with the game:

I have had a suitcase missing for 4 days once. It was returned mangled and unuseable. It took 4 months' unpleasaant wrangling with the airline, Delta, to get a replacement. Each airline has its own compensation rules. They may or may not change those rules due to new security policy. But whatever rule they have, it will probably be one rule for everything. I doubt CPAP will be an exception.

This would also apply to "hiring" any equipment until you get yours replaced. The regular airline rules will apply. Also, are there DME's that "hire out" CPAP equipment on a temporary basis? Can you just call a DME and say "I need a CPAP for a few days?" If so, I'd like to hear about that.

If "as a group" we want to make the airlines aware of anything in a meaningful way, we would need to do it more clout than the individuals on this site. Is there a CPAP lobbying group?

There are really two problems to solve. Lost baggage and damaged baggage. As you can tell by my screen name, I am also involved with musical instruments. Musicians have faced this problem for years. The airlines have rules for instrument carry-on, mostly because the musician's unions have lobbied for them, but the rules are not as lenient as they are for CPAP. So a lot of musicians, especially those with larger instruments have to check thier instruments.

For lost baggage, musicians often have people and stores they can call in other cities to get loaners, but not always. CPAPers would have to get a network of DMEs with loaners established. Sometimes high-end musicians have multiple instruments that get ground shipped to destinations ahead of them.

For damage protection, the only 100% solution seems to be "flight cases." There are companies that make flight cases, also known as "ATA cases" for all kinds of fragile gear, including musical instruments. These things are hard-shell, with custom padding for each fragile component. My guess is that if we have to routinely check CPAPs, we will have to start buying ATA cases for them. My guess is it would cost in the $200 - $300 range for something the size of a CPAP.

when filing a damaged luggage claim about a year ago, I was informed that they didn't reimburse for any lost or stolen electronics items, including cpap. So if they require us to check it, I feel they should be held financially accountable for its loss or damage. I have been told I must gatecheck my cpap once, "because the flight was very full, and overhead space limited" by the same airline that says they will not reimburse loss or damage of electronic devices.

You CAN.......and I will REPEAT this ONCE..........CAN ALWAYS place your Cpap UNDER your seat by your feet. Just make sure you always allow for this with what you are carrying on to the plane as carry-on luggage. They cannot and willnot refuse you this opportunity. I'm talking ONLY about domestic flying NOT overseas flights FWIW.

I just returned from a trip to Phoenix Well as fate would have it, I was carrying the BreatheX machine for the week. It does not come with a substantial bag to protect it for checking in. I had carried it on to Phoenix, no problem. I just told them it is a CPAP. They said oh a "breathing machine". I agreed.

This last week, since the Elevated Level of security in place, on the return trip they not only Xrayed my CPAP. They also wanted to inspect the bag and machine. I was carrying it on again. I said that is fine, it is a CPAP. They rubbed it with a wand and some alert went off. The lady running the machine said, "Oh, that's not good." She then told me she had to pat me down. I told her I was fine with that and she had me stand on a couple foot prints and she proceeded to pat me down. She then took the BreatheX back and Xrayed it again. She got a couple agents and they looked it over, and I patiently said. " Its a CPAP machine, you may not have seen one like it before, it is fairly new." Then I proceeded to push the button to turn it on to show them it blows.....
The one guy kinda flinched and said " OH, Don't turn that thing on!!!"
I almost laughed, but tried not to.
I turned it off immediately. Another guy wanted to photograph it, I said "Sure"
Then they got a manager over and asked him what to do. He looked at me and said " Do you have a bag for that ?" I showed him the bag, and he told me " Well then, put it in it !"
At that time, a very nice guy came over and said he was going to wrap it with tape and he would take me personally to the front of the line. I had to get my husband's boarding pass and give him my purse and everything except my boading pass and a form of ID.
It was quite the show.
I told my husband at least they picked someone who does not care what people watching all this thought. I am not self conscious about stuff like that. The gentleman was very nice and did not act odd or goofy at all.
I feel like they were doing their job to keep us safe. When they asked me if I had been handling guns lately I did laugh, I would never handle guns. I don't even want them in my home.
Anyway, this is a long post to let you know, sometimes things get interesting.
As a checked bag, they plastered FRAGILE all over it and it made the trip and got special handling to boot. It made it.

Just my experience. Yours may be different.
I am once again back in my beloved studio. All CPAPs accounted for and working fine.

Karen Moore

I wanted to carry mine on, and it was not padded to be checked, but Southwest took good care of it, My CPAP survived a cross country flight and even changing planes (due to mechanical problems).
They did suggest I get a hard case for it and check it in the future.

Karen

On the one time I flew with my CPAP machine, the machine itself didn't cause a problem. My shoes did.

I weigh about 325, and it's hard to take off my shoes unless I'm sitting down. I didn't see a chair, so I kept my shoes on.

Sure enough, I set off the metal detector. Must have been something in the soles? They're just cheap Wal-Mart "jogging shoes!"

They had me sit on a chair, take off my shoes, lift my feet while they waved the wand around.

I huffed and puffed because it's hard to move that way. I laughed and joked a little.

They were satisfied, and let me board the plane.

It seems shoes are a special problem for me.

I have another pair of "natural" shoes like the old Earth Shoes... plenty of room for the toes.

When I go shopping, those shoes often set off the electronic Theft Detectors as I enter the store.

I just stand there till I'm sure everything's cool, and giggle a bit.

They keep saying this is only a temporary precaution. I really, really hope it is because my sister is coming home from St. Thomas on 8/19 and is supposed to be bringing me some of that wonderful duty free alcohol! Gotta love cheap booze, but if she's not allowed to bring it on the plane I am going to be so p*&@ed!

To make this relatively on topic, I've never flown with my cpap. My husband and I are going on a trip in November where we'll be flying and I'm sure it will be interesting since we BOTH have cpap machines! We're already difficult flyers because we are both quite large. If we have our normal allowance of carryons plus two cpap bags there are going to be some mad people on our plane!

I have decided to try to have NO other carry-ons except the CPAP. The airlines have to allow an extra bag of medical equipment, but that doesn't make it any easier to juggle all the luggage. Now I intend to pack my prescriptions and a change of underwear in the CPAP bag, and check everything else. The CPAP bag is small enough to fit under the seat or in the overhead. Now as long as I don't fly through any of the reallys strict cities, I should be ok.

Moogy

Moogy wrote: The airlines have to allow an extra bag of medical equipment

Are you sure?

Miko wrote:

Moogy wrote: The airlines have to allow an extra bag of medical equipment

Are you sure?

I've heard this several times as well. Assuming the regularion hasn't changed in the last few weeks with the added security, itshould still be valid. Of course, an over eager TSA employee might need to be reminded of the exact rule before they say OK.

I have traveled multiple times with my APAP. I used to use the travel bag that my RemStar auto came in but I found it difficult to carry as I usually have my computer bag also. The handles are just not user friendly.

I looked far and wide to locate a back pack that was padded and big enough for my APAP humidifyer, mask, extension cord and surge protector. I finally settled on one from Tumi. Yes it was expensive, but worth every penny. I can now put everything in the bag and simply put it on my back. Thus keeping my hands free for my coffee...

I only wish I had though of this prior to my trip to Italy last year. It would have made the trip easier!

If the airlines want me to check my APAP, they will have to pry it from my hands.

Good travels to all!
Teri

[quote="MandoJohnny"]F


For damage protection, the only 100% solution seems to be "flight cases." There are companies that make flight cases, also known as "ATA cases" for all kinds of fragile gear, including musical instruments. These things are hard-shell, with custom padding for each fragile component. My guess is that if we have to routinely check CPAPs, we will have to start buying ATA cases for them. My guess is it would cost in the $200 - $300 range for something the size of a CPAP.

Any suggestions on where I could get flight cases made? My nightmare scenario is to have my machine taken away from me at the gate..... I don't think I can assume I"ll always be allowed to take this on, in all airports, at all times, anymore, and I'd like to get maximum protection.

Anonymous wrote:

MandoJohnny wrote:F


For damage protection, the only 100% solution seems to be "flight cases." There are companies that make flight cases, also known as "ATA cases" for all kinds of fragile gear, including musical instruments. These things are hard-shell, with custom padding for each fragile component. My guess is that if we have to routinely check CPAPs, we will have to start buying ATA cases for them. My guess is it would cost in the $200 - $300 range for something the size of a CPAP.

Any suggestions on where I could get flight cases made? My nightmare scenario is to have my machine taken away from me at the gate..... I don't think I can assume I"ll always be allowed to take this on, in all airports, at all times, anymore, and I'd like to get maximum protection.

_________________

I recently got a Dell Laptop Shipping package/box for an RMA. The box was very well padded with an insert for your laptop. Me thinks just get some thick foam from a foam store and cut-it to size, then place that in your carry on (mould it to fit the carry on suitcase). I seen some very light but supposedly rugged carryon baggage from the Shopping Channel.