Traveling by air with your CPAP by air?

Just take it as a carry on. ...........It Might be easier if you don't push the issue by arriving at the security point with 3 carry ons just because you can. Use some sense... Imagine all that stuff flying about the cabin should something unexpected happen. Imagine all those 30, 40, 50 pound "carry ons" falling out of the overhead onto your head. Imagine trying to wade thru all that stuff in an emergency evacuation. It happens. Do you really need all that stuff ? A cpap and a SMALL bag . That should be no problem.

:twis ted:

[quote="Marie"]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

They are the same hon, you really need not worry at all. And do take your humidifier, you will be glad you did. Trust me, it won't be an issue at all.

Many of the airlines web sites or pamphlets state that medical equipment is not included in bag carry on count. However, when ever I bring that up at the airport I receive many blank stares and denials.
Often if a smaller jet is used , which is often the case out of my home airport, the overheads are smaller and not everyone is allowed to bring on their carry on.
Since when I travel I have my cpap, many medications, and diabetes paraphenalia in addition to may cameras I often am very loaded.
Since I must have diabetes stuff with me on flight, it and the cameras usually go under the seat.
I have had good luck with my cpap when they take it at the gate, it is in a different place then the checked baggage.
I don't put my mask and hose in my checked baggage because if it should go missing my cpap is unusable.
I have left older masks at many relatives houses, so I have one less thing to travel with when I visit.
I have not flown for several months so I have not dealt with the newest regulations yet. However in the past I have had more trouble with metal flashlights or rolls of coins than I have had with my cpap and security.

Thanks for all of the input, I have decided to bring it as a carry on. As for the humidifier, I have gone without it before for 13 days, so I know that I will be ok for 3 days.
A question: is a purse counted as 1 carry on?



Marie, not used to flying

Yes a purse is a carry on, but if your other carryon is large you can put it in it and then they become one.

Marie, every airline has it's own carry-on luggage rules, so you should check with each carrier you're flying on for their carry-on baggage allowance restrictions. I'm not sure who you're flying on from New Orleans to Erie. Can't imagine there are any nonstops in that market, so will just use Delta as an example. Go to their website http://www.delta.com and look up baggage information and baggage allowances on flights. The rules are clearly spelled out because this is a very common question from all passengers.

Flying Continental? Go to http://www.continental.com and look up their carry-on allowance rules. For example, click on:

CONTINENTAL CARRY-ON BAGGAGE

and you will find this:

Continental will permit one bag plus one personal item (see below) per passenger to be carried on the aircraft.
The maximum combined linear measurement (L + W + H) of the carry-on bag is 51 inches (130 cm). The maximum weight of the carry-on bag is 40 pounds (18 kg).

Personal items
In addition to the one carry-on item, you may bring free-of-charge the below items:

-one small personal article such as a briefcase, purse, day planner, small laptop computer, camera case, compact disk player or similar sized personal entertainment item
-personal aid devices such as wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, prosthetic devices and walking sticks, provided passenger is dependent on them.
-one infant article such as a collapsible stroller, a diaper bag or a government approved child seat.[/b]

Laptop computers must be removed from their cases and placed on the baggage belt at the security checkpoint.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Marie, you'll note every airlines then throws in the following caveats:

**Additional carry-on Baggage restrictions may apply on certain flights.
**Note: Baggage allowances for Continental's codeshare partners or ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express may be different. If your itinerary includes any of these carriers, please contact a Continental representative for additional information.

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ABOVE, PER DOT GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS,

The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices (including service animals and their equipment). Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft.

Lastly, you mentioned you are nervous about flying. Please bear in mind, the following statistic: your odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 14,000. The odds of dying in a U.S. commercial jet are 1 in 7 million. So this is truly a case where the only thing you have to fear is fear itself.

Some statistics about flying....

Thanks for all of the great info. I feel a lot better about the trip.

I am flying US Airways from N.O., to Philly,then on to Erie. I suppose it's a puddle jumper from Philly to Erie. On the way back the stop is Pittsburgh.
I'll let y'all know what happens on my trip.

Thanks again to all of you.

Marie

I fly nearly every week, and have hauled my CPAP machine around the world in my carry-on luggage for almost three years.

Let me be clear on this point: I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM TAKING MY CPAP MACHINE IN MY CARRY ON LUGGAGE.

Hundreds of flights, and NEVER a problem.

Here are some tips:

1. Take all of your CPAP gear in your carry-on. If your luggage is lost, and you don't have your hose or mask, that's a bad thing.

2. Go to http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20011029.htm and print up the document and carry it with you. This is an official U.S. Department of transportation document. The important line in this document is: "The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices (including service animals and their equipment). Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft."

Do not expect airline or security personnel to be familiar with CPAP or with DOT regulations. In the extraordinary event that somebody is concerned about your machine, simply explain what it is, and show them the DOT Document and the paragraph I mention above. You need to know when to say "uncle" when you run across an ignorant airline or security person.

3. If you are traveling on a commuter plane, or a regional jet, the overhead bins are very small, and you may be required to gate-check your bag which will be retreived PLANESIDE when you reach your destination. If this is the case, simply take your machine out of your carry-on and bring it on the plane with you. (Regional jets are generally Embraer RJ, or Canadair RJ, and many commuter prop planes are SAAB, Cesna, ATR 72, ATR-42 and Dash-8. Most itineraries will tell you what type of plane you're on).

4. Make a copy of your CPAP prescription and carry it with you. If your machine breaks down while you're traveling, this could come in handy.

5. Generally, you may bring a larger carry-on bag and a smaller bag or purse.

6. It may be the case that all the overhead bins are full by the time your get on your plane, and you will be asked to check your carry-on bag. If that happens, see number 3. above.

Finally, do not give this issue too much thought, for goodness sake. My CPAP machine has accompanied me to six continents and nearly every state in the U.S. and I have NEVER EVER had a problem.

Happy Travels!

egrandi wrote:
We contacted the TAS screening persons with disabilities program today to find when the change in standard operating procedures (SOP) had changed. We were told that a changed had occurred in April of 2005. We were also told the TAS is currently reviewing this change in SOP particularly as it relates to CPAP devices, due to the number of a complaints they had received.

We expect to hear from the TAS next week and we will post what we learn.

Edward Grandi
Executive Director
American Sleep Apnea Association

Edward Grandi or anyone:

Has there been a reply received from TAS re the *current* status of that
change directive of April 2005 ??????????

Andy

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

I'm flying on August 3 from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale. If I have any problems, I'll post them.

I'd like to share my recent experience travelling with my "machine."

On July 25, my wife and I flew on Southwest Airlines from Houston to Oakland. I packed my APAP case and camera case in a small roller bag which I carried on the plane.

On the way back on July 30, things were packed differently so I carried the APAP case separately.

I had absolutely no trouble with the security checkpoint or airline personnel at either airport. Coincidentally, the woman sitting in the row ahead of me out of Houston was also carrying a Respironics bag.

Dear Folks,

I carried my machine in carry on luggage for a while. Then I began checking a bag on every flight and finally chose to send my respironics brick there too. It worked a couple of times. Now the brick is making lots more noise.

Carry it on, however you do it. The brick was heavy, now it's busted. Maybe check the humidifier.

I've ordered a 420G

Bill in California

SPAMMER STRIKES AGAIN IN THE OLD THREADS

You know, if it hadn't been for the spammer, I would have missed this thread. Great links! Although, I flew Continental and the stewardess REFUSED to even look at the copy of their policy I had brought with me You have to be very assertive...