Question about Air Travel

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:15 pm

I have read all the posts about traveling with my machine and visited the links. Thanks everyone!

Question: Should I remove the smart card and leave it home when traveling from Newark Airport in NJ to Seattle? I would hate for them to think it was some kind of explosive devise.

What are your thoughts or experience?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Smart Card

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:27 pm

I don't think they will think your smart card is an explosive device. The security people are very familiar with cpap machines. I've flown about 5 times in the last 10 months, and I've never had any issues.

Be sure to take your cpap out of your bag, and put it in it's own plastic bin. If you have other carry-on, load your cpap last so you can watch it through the whole process. They will take your machine and swab it for explosive chemicals. Then they will give it back to you.

Out of all those times flying, I only got stopped once with someone telling me I had too many carry-ons. I NEVER check luggage, so I always have a small suitcase, a bag, and my cpap bag. I told them it was a cpap, and they didn't bug me again.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:44 am

I've left mine in flying around the US, through New Zealand, to Australia.... Nobody's ever had a problem with the smart card. I'd say just leave it in and enjoy your trip.

ColoradoDreamer · Post by **ColoradoDreamer** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:46 am

Leave the smart card in the machine. I don't know why they would be concerned with the card. I have an ID card I use to get through airport security and it is similar to the smart card with the goldlike data collecting chip on it and they never question it. Besides, I imagine the wipe test will tell them if there is anything suspicious. You probably already read it in other posts, but do put your machine in a plastic bag to prevent it from coming in contact with the bin for scanning. The bins can't be very sanitary if you just think of what's been in them.

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:20 am

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post an answer to my question. I really appreciate it.

I will leave the card in the machine and put the machine in a plastic bag. The bins are disgusting! As you can tell, this is my first experience with travel and my CPAP.

blarg: my sister lives in Toowoomba and will be visiting me in the US next month. Nice to get a response from Oz. Makes me even more anxious for her visit.

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