Traveling by air with your CPAP by air?

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 1:39 pm

Surely a doctors letter or prescription stating and confirming the two following points;

1. you need Cpap

2.it needs to be in the hold should be sufficient

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 12:27 am

Terrorist can forge letters from doctors. And put the explosives and triggering device in the opaque part of the machine.
O.

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:56 am

oh, you are a step ahead of me.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:13 am

I am in a quandary about what to do about flying with my cpap on August 1st.
I am not bringing the humidifier parts.
Should I just not take a chance, and pack it with other items in a hardside suitcase?
What if I get to the airport,and they tell me I can't bring it on, then I will be in a fix.
My friend and I did not want to check in any baggage, but it looks as if I may have to.
I don't fly often, in fact not at all, but have flown in the past.
I tried to pull up U.S Airways on the internet,and couldn't get it. I am trying to contact a PERSON that could inform me on the subject. But, what if they tell me it's ok, and I arrive at the airport,and policies have changed.
I think I am not going to take a chance, and just pack it in my suitcase.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:38 am

Delta won't reimburse damaged checked electronic equipment
When traveling recently, I found the attitude toward cpap carry on varied widely by airport. No problem in some, lots of resistance in others.
To lighten what I carry on, I pack my accessories (mask, hoses, power cords, humidifier, etc) in my checked luggage....putting only my machine, (1.5 lb 420E) laptop and billfold in my cpap carry bag.
On my last trip to DC Regan, I picked up my checked bag, to find it very badly damaged, side smashed in. I went to baggage office to file a damaged bag claim. When listing what was inside bag, I mentioned cpap "equipment" the clerk immediately replied, we do not reimburse damage to ANY electronic equipment. Because the accessories inside my bag we first packed in a hard plastic container, and well padded, they survived fine, however, if they had sustained damage, ONLY the non-electrical items could have been claimed for reimbursement!!
So, it would not seem fair if they forced us to check electronic equipment, when they refuse to cover damage to such equipment!! Perhaps we all need to make and carry our own forms, making them accept financial responsibility of any equipment we are forced to check against our wishes....I will check my cpap only if you agree in writing to pay for any damages!! Here is what it costs to replace!!

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:59 am

Guy's, they cannot make you check a cpap bag! But you must be strong and voice your rights! I really have not had any problems taking my cpap on board as well as a briefcase and a computer. I only had to argue once and I won. When checking at the gate, tell them yolu need to preboard to make sure you getit all stowed and they will let you. It really is not a problem.

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:12 am

rock and roll can you please explain what you mean by pre board I do not understand this.

I am happy just say it, but if they say what do you mean by that? I will need to day dhhhh Not sure really!

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:41 pm

At the beginning of the flight they will ask first class, club travelers and people needing assistance to pre board. Tell them you need to pre board as you are carrying life support equipment. They will let you and won't question your cpap.

Fifi · Post by **Fifi** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:56 pm

Thank you rock and roll most helpful, despite my typing errors

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:59 pm

I had no trouble about ten months ago flying from minneapolis to los angeles. Cpap went right through screening machine. Maybe things have changed.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:11 pm

I just got back from a short trip flying with my machine.(Seattle to Arcata CA and back)
I always state that I have a "medical device" when dropping my bag on the conveyor. I also mentioned "CPAP" and got a blank look until the guy glanced at it and said "Oh, a breathing machine". After that I heard several references and got good responses to "breathing machine", and was not about to argue technicalities if it gets me through.

I also had some lady not only missing the pre-boarding thing, which I do NOT do, since they would look at me like I am crazy, since I look pretty darn fit, but she wandered in LATE, then started roughly shoving MY machine aside in the overhead saying she needed room and careful handling for her "breathing machine". I did indeed feel it was appropriate to put her in her place and point out she was abusing MY "breathing machine". So far this is the only problem I have had with CPAP. I thought it interesting that it was from another CPAPer.

Jeb · Post by **Jeb** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:12 pm

I flew Southwest last month. I had my carry-on luggage, plus my laptop w/case and my CPAP w/case. I got stopped while waiting on the jetway to board and was told that I would have to check one of my bags because I was over the limit of two. I told him that one of my bags was a medical device and that I thought medical devices were not counted. He said that was not the case and instead of pressing the point with a bunch of tired and impatient passengers waiting behind me, I checked my carry-on luggage.

That was on my return flight. I didn't have any issues on my previous flight.

fnorette · Post by **fnorette** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:00 pm

Just got a new XPAP (ResMed VPAP III) from my THIRD DME in two months, and was issued an "orientation checklist" including: "Never check equipment through baggage claim [...]". This was explained to be part of the warrantee.

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 6:38 pm

I have traveld twice on the airlines - Jetblue - to be exact, and have absolutely no problem (JFK 0 New Orleans, and Fort Lauderdale). In fact, on my first flight to New Orleans, I ha dbooked row 26 - the last one - so I knew I would board first (the back boards first) in order to have room to stow my CPAP. I was called to the podium and asked to change my seat so a family with small children could sit together. When I told them my rationale for picking a rear seat, the agent said no problem and allowed me to pre-board so I would have sufficient space in the fromt of the plane to stow it. They were great.

Only once did the TSA ask about the machine - you could see they were forwarding and reversing the belt on the xray machine a few times, and when I explained what it was, they allowed me to pass, no problem.

I only had one person wuestion the amount of carry ons I had and that was the dude checking ID's at the airport before you hit the TSA people. When I told him it was a CPAP, he said no problem, go ahead in.

So, no problems here.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:54 pm

Well, I'm nervous about flying as it is, I don't know if I want to take a chance and have a "hassle" about the cpap with anyone at the airport.
I think I am just going to pack it with my other items in a hardcase suitcase.
I'll cushion it as best I can,do y'all think that would be ok? I'm not going to bring the humidifier.
I'll be flying out of New Orleans(MSY) on August 1st. Then flying out of Erie,PA coming back home. How do I know what the restrictions are in Erie?

Uncertain Marie

Traveling by air with your CPAP by air?

Not responsible for damage to cpap?