Flying with cpap for first time

Shutchis1951 · Post by **Shutchis1951** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:06 am

I no that there have been many times this has been talked about but can't find what I am looking for. I will be taking it with me on the plane, but what do I need to have with me? Medical letter of necessity and what should be in it, prescription for machine with what info on it and do I need anything else? I don't want to run into any problems with sercurity at the airport. I will be flying Southwest if that makes a difference. Thanks for your help.

Sharon

CorgiGirl · Post by **CorgiGirl** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:28 am

My hubby has flown with his for five years and has never needed to have a letter of medical necessity or a prescription. Here's what he does and what I'm planning to do when I fly next week now that I have my own:

Put a tag on the bag that says "medical equipment" to visually cue the screeners, gate folks, and flight attendants that this doesn't count as one of your two carryons. You can buy these from some online DME companies, but we just made our own using business card paper and 3M cold-laminate luggage tags. We put a big red cross on one card and the words "Medical Equipment." On another card we put one of our business cards. Then we put them back to back in the cold-laminate, peel off the backing, and roll the adhesive side down to close.

The rules have changed over the years, but last time we flew they required that xPAPs be taken out of their cases, like laptop computers. Sometimes they take it aside for manual screening and do an explosives residue test on it, sometimes they don't. You have to go with the flow....

Good luck with you flight. And remember to breathe. TSA screening can be a bit harrying.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:09 pm

Yup! What she said!

As you work your way toward the head of the line, begin unzipping your bag. Once there, take the machine ONLY out of the bag - leave everything else there, set the bag in the bottom of the tray, and lay the machine on top.

All the gate personnel I've dealt with knew exactly what it was and it was a less than 30 second swab, no questions asked.

You'll be fine.
Babs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:07 pm

make sure you take it with you as a carry on. It will be tossed around otherwise.

Make sure you carry it in a bag that you can get it out of and back into without much trouble. They will make you take it out and test it.

Wear slip on shoes. You have to take them off too.

Have a good trip

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:37 pm

Sharon:

All the advice given is right on the money.

I flew from Newark to Washington state in June.

Besides marking the carry bag medical equipment, I put the CPAP in a large plastic Zip lock bag and then put it in the carry bag.

I packed the hose and mask in my carry on with my cloths (again in a zip lock bag). Then when I got to the front of the line I told them I had medical equipment and removed it from the carry case and put the bagged CPAP into the plastic bin. At Newark they did not even sniff it they knew what it was and just put it through x-ray screen. On the return flight, the small town in Washington that I flew from made a big production of it, with changing gloves and sniffing it (kind of gave me a smile) but, I really had no problem at all.

Enjoy your trip!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:48 pm

Thanks for all the tips.

corgigirl, where do you get the 3M cold laminate luggage tags? Never heard of them but want to put a medical tag on my cpap bag.

dreamchick, thanks for the tip on the large plastic ziplock bags will be sure to get some.

So I don't need a letter of medical necessity or prescription? I thought I read on here somewhere that I did.thanks for your help

Sharon

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:56 pm

Sharon:

I did get one but was never asked for it. You doctor will give it to you no problem. I did not take a copy of my prescription.

CorgiGirl · Post by **CorgiGirl** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:42 pm

It's been a while since we bought the cold-laminate luggage tags, but I'm pretty sure we got them at an office supply type store. My husband is supposed to be picking up some tonight since we need to make one for my machine, now that I have one. If he finds them, I'll post again and let you know where.

Thanks to the person who posted the tip about the ziplock bag. I tried a gallon size, which isn't big enough for mine with the humidifier. Where do you get larger ones.

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:17 pm

Anonymous wrote:Once there, take the machine ONLY out of the bag - leave everything else there, set the bag in the bottom of the tray, and lay the machine on top.

FYI, every time I pass through San Francisco airport, TSA has required me to take all all of my CPAP equipment out for inspection.

Other US airports have been fine with just the flow generator out.

Cheers,

Bill

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:47 pm

CorgiGirl

The bags I got at my local supermarket (stop and shop) they were called Ziploc (brand) Big Bags (Bolsas Grandes) - Heavy Duty. They have Double Zipper and a cut out handle. They worked great. They came five in a box. They were 3 Gallon size bags. 15inchx15inch or (38.1cmx38.1cm) Made by J&J. If you can't get them at you supermarket try your office supply store. Do a search on the name in your area. Happy Vacation!

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:06 pm

The copy of the Rx is to prove that the equipment is medical and for you. The purpose of the letter is to prove that it is 'necessary'. Why? The way the DOT regs and TSA regs are written, to be exempt from the carry on requirements it must be yours, medical, and necessary.

Usually, it sails through with no problem. But I don't want to miss my flight because some officious twit at the gate decides to flex their authority. It has happened to me only once ("Is this yours? How do I know that? If you can't prove it's necessary, it goes in the hold.") The letter and the RX saved the day.

May your flight leave and arrive on time, and may you not be seated in the Screaming Child section!

CorgiGirl · Post by **CorgiGirl** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:53 pm

My hubby was not able to find the 3M cold-laminate luggage tags, but he came up with another solution.

At an office supply store, he bought clear plastic badge holders. They are clear on both sides and have a hole at the top (or end, depending on orientation) for a clip to attach to clothing. We're putting our business cards in them (red cross + the words "medical device" on one side and a regular name card on the other). We have some velcro strips that have the hooks on one side and the soft catchy stuff on the other that we're going to put through the hole and around the handle of the carrying case. You've probably seen the velcro things -- some masks configurations use them, for example. He got those at a discount store.

tashabear · Post by **tashabear** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:39 pm

Make sure you tape the edges of those badge holders so your information doesn't fall out. I always used clear shelf paper or a product called ClearSeal to laminate stuff when I was in college (and I had to laminate a LOT of stuff).

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:24 pm

corigirl, Thanks for all the tips I went to the office supply today and they have luggage tags you can get laminated for $1.00 all I have to do is take the card in that i want put in it.

Bookbear, What does the prescription have on it? the name of my machine anything else? About the letter of medical necessity what should be in it?

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Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 3:26 pm

The above post is from me can't get logged in

shutchis1951

Flying with cpap for first time

Flying with cpap for first time

Re: Flying with cpap for first time

Re: Flying with cpap for first time

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