Airline security search of my cpap machine

mikester wrote:

JeffH wrote:Been drinking their kool-aid I see.

There are people that want to kill us because we won't leave them the #$%^ alone.

Also, until we quit supporting Israel AT ANY COST like we do now, we are going to be targets.

And that's what public discourse has come to these days - anyone who disagrees with the liberals is "drinking the kool aid". I wish I had a dollar for every time a liberal used that exact phrase. Then again, if it was coming from a liberal, it's probably MY dollar to begin with.

Maybe it's spiked ... uh oh! That was just a joke ... but I think this thread is fixing to go off course. Maybe someone can salvage it before it crashes and burns cuz I don't fly

JeffH wrote:And conservatives are hiding behind the coat tails of their chick$#% chickenhawk president saying "protect me, protect me" like the cowards they are.

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL FORUM AND I FOR ONE TAKE OFFENSE AT ANY PERSON WHO TRIES TO MAKE IT ONE!!!!!

JeffH wrote:And conservatives are hiding behind the coat tails of their chick$#% chickenhawk president saying "protect me, protect me" like the cowards they are.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Look, I come on here to read about CPAP-related topics, not to hear your "Bush is a nazi" crap, so take it somewhere else.

And if you HAVE to discuss politics, at least have the decency to engage in legitimate discourse, instead of just saying anyone who disagrees with you has "drank the kool aid".

Someone find a pilot quick .... this thread is losing altitude fast!!

If I can change the topic a bit..
Traveling by air is already problem enough. I have been selected "at random" in each and every air terminal I've been in since 9/11.
Somehow I'm sure it's not "at random".
Now I have a CPAP bag to take along with me. WooHoo!
The boss told me this morning that I'll be flying out on the 25th.

Something to look forward to.

LyleHaze

LyleHaze - well, by your screen name, I'm assuming you are not a hot female, which is weird because that's who I usually see getting pulled aside at airport security.

Back on topic - I recently traveled from Houston to DC for the first time with my CPAP, and they did the powder check thing both times. I just figured that was the norm. Hey, if I have to spend an extra 5 minutes going through security to avoid people blowing up buildings, I'm OK with that.

mikester wrote:

JeffH wrote:And conservatives are hiding behind the coat tails of their chick$#% chickenhawk president saying "protect me, protect me" like the cowards they are.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Look, I come on here to read about CPAP-related topics, not to hear your "Bush is a nazi" crap, so take it somewhere else.

And if you HAVE to discuss politics, at least have the decency to engage in legitimate discourse, instead of just saying anyone who disagrees with you has "drank the kool aid".

I've done a bit of traveling recently and in all of the following airports I have had to take my cpap out of the bag, put it through x-ray (in its own bin), and then it was swabbed.

Seattle
San Francisco
San Jose
Los Angeles
Long Beach
Orange County
Dallas Ft. Worth
Corpus Christi

I think the worst airport was DFW; it took the longest, the machine was taken the furthest away to be tested, and the TSA staff were the most rude & put-out about the situation.

Just my 2 cents worth.

gknee wrote:I've done a bit of traveling recently and in all of the following airports I have had to take my cpap out of the bag, put it through x-ray (in its own bin), and then it was swabbed.

Based on that list of airports, it looks like you've traveled a lot in CA. Have you ever flown out of Ontario, CA? I'm planning to fly down to SoCal next month from SJC to ONT and back. It's my first flight since getting the CPAP. I've got my DOT and TSA letters saying that a CPAP is OK and that it doesn't count toward an extra bag. I also have my letter of justification from the sleep clinic and a copy of my Rx. (The tag from cpap.com is on backorder. Hopefully it'll get here on time!) I'm ready for anything.

Doug.

geoDoug - no, haven't flown out of Ontario, CA yet. In all the airports I've been through, I have not had to show any letter from the doc, Rx, or anything like that. So far, it just takes a little longer to get through security and that's it. Good luck with your travels!

I recently carried my CPAP to Norway.

JFK
AMS
BGO

I carried it in my regular carry-on. When placing it on the belt I told the attendant that it contained a CPAP. It was never removed and never swabbed. I was never hassled. I carried no letter. (Guess I'd better get one!)

Shoes were removed at JFK, and on return trip at AMS.

Having a Stress Attack.

I've done a lot of flying with flute (which I don't allow out of my sight), piccolo and a big 'ol carbon fiber leg brace. No problems, but I must say PDX has the BEST TSA people.

Flying to Oakland in July and adding CPAP to the accoutrements. Feels like way too much to keep an eye on...

Shari

We just cant wait for Clinton part 2 can we!!!!

geoDoug,

I've flown a couple of time in and out of ONT with my APAP and had no problems. Both times on the outbound legs TSA swabbed my APAP, but no big deal, they seemed to know what a CPAP machine was and soon sent me on my way. I didn't need to show any of the paperwork I carried. (I always carry my Rx, TSA Letter, etc, just in case.)


I have found that at ONT that the security line can sometimes be very long, especially for the early morning flights (Terminal 4). I've waited as much as 45 minutes just to get to the screener. Not always this way, I'd say 75% of my trips through there I've had to wait at least 20 minutes or more.

I hope this helps!

---gary[/quote]

coldnose wrote:I've flown a couple of time in and out of ONT with my APAP and had no problems. Both times on the outbound legs TSA swabbed my APAP, but no big deal, they seemed to know what a CPAP machine was and soon sent me on my way. I didn't need to show any of the paperwork I carried. (I always carry my Rx, TSA Letter, etc, just in case.)

coldnose,

Thank you!

That's exactly what I was looking for. I've flown out of that airport countless for decades. (This goes back to the days when there was just one aging terminal, you had to walk out on the tarmac, and it wasn't calling itself an "international" airport. I get a chuckle every time I hear that. Yeah, flights to Mexico TECHNICALLY count as international, but let's get real. But I digress...)

I've had the same experience with their TSA. Nice people, but it's a long line to get through. A lot of business people headed up north for the day. It's the same way in San Jose. Because they often fly out in the early morning to get as much work in out-of-town as possible, early afternoon isn't so bad. That's why I try to plan my flights for that time.

Doug.