Travel Woes

If one were to face this situation (having to check a carry-on bag with your CPAP in it), what options does one have? Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? Or is that just at the goodwill of the airline?

It seems unfair to me (and possibly a breech of your contract with the airline for air-passage) that the airline could separate you from your medical equipment, etc, especially when they clearly will not assume any special liability should there be mis-direct, loss or damage to the checked baggage.

Hose_Head wrote:If one were to face this situation (having to check a carry-on bag with your CPAP in it), what options does one have? Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? Or is that just at the goodwill of the airline?

It seems unfair to me (and possibly a breech of your contract with the airline for air-passage) that the airline could separate you from your medical equipment, etc, especially when they clearly will not assume any special liability should there be mis-direct, loss or damage to the checked baggage.

Hose_Head, it just seems completely inappropriate to look for the airlines to take responsibility for our failure to take appropriate precautions in traveling with our needed equipment. I have not seen a post that I can remember, of anyone who took their cpap in its own carrying case, who was denied taking that case aboard. Just do it, rather than anticipating "unfair" treatment and "breech of contract" for your screwing up with packing it in a carryon bag that just doesn't fit. Small planes just cannot accomodate a carryon that a bigger plane can. And if you travel by air at all, you surely know this. Why challenge that?

plr66 wrote:

Hose_Head wrote:If one were to face this situation (having to check a carry-on bag with your CPAP in it), what options does one have? Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? Or is that just at the goodwill of the airline?

It seems unfair to me (and possibly a breech of your contract with the airline for air-passage) that the airline could separate you from your medical equipment, etc, especially when they clearly will not assume any special liability should there be mis-direct, loss or damage to the checked baggage.

Hose_Head, it just seems completely inappropriate to look for the airlines to take responsibility for our failure to take appropriate precautions in traveling with our needed equipment. I have not seen a post that I can remember, of anyone who took their cpap in its own carrying case, who was denied taking that case aboard. Just do it, rather than anticipating "unfair" treatment and "breech of contract" for your screwing up with packing it in a carryon bag that just doesn't fit. Small planes just cannot accomodate a carryon that a bigger plane can. And if you travel by air at all, you surely know this. Why challenge that?

It has nothing to do with a failure to pack a cpap in a separate case.

My question was: "If one were to face this situation (having to check a carry-on bag with your CPAP in it), what options does one have? Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? " In other words, can one refuse to board with expectation that they will be allowed to take the next available flight?

This question is going to arise more and more frequently. Airlines are increasingly encouraging passengers to "carry-on" by their policy of charging for all checked bags. This means increasing competition for the limited storage places that are on aircraft. If you don't board first, you may not have room for your bag, not even a cpap. You also may not have an option of boarding first!

Remember too that we don't all fly to and from US destinations. I'm Canadian and cpap's are not excluded as carry-on luggage in this country. If the airline allows just one carry-on (as some do), there may be no disadvantage in packing a cpap in the usual roll-on bag in Canada.

As well, if you follow the airline's rules re carry on bags, and they still force you to check the bag (cpap, carry-on, or whatever), then it seems to me that it's only fair that they assume a greater obligation to protect that bag than that provided by their limited policies for loss or damage.

(I'm in Canada.)

The problem is that the "allowed" carryon baggage rule is subject to limits, as has been extensively discussed on this site already.

On the flight I was on earlier this month, everyone boarding the plane at the end of the boarding process was refused a carryon baggage allowance, because the flight was overweight. A container of luggage was also removed from the checked bags (although no one knew that until after we arrived).

That is, people presented at the gate with their single "allowed" carryon, and were not allowed to board the plane without checking their bag.

In that case, I would say I was travelling with lifesaving medical equipment from which I cannot be separated. I always travel with my CPAP stored separately. I was the very first person to board the plane on that trip, because I present myself to the gate attendant as someone travelling with lifesaving medical equipment who must be accomodated.

Hose_Head wrote:Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? "

As far as I can tell from reading of the recently amended regulations, there is nothing related to having such a "right".

Hose_Head wrote:In other words, can one refuse to board with expectation that they will be allowed to take the next available flight?

You might be able to negotiate something with the airline (depending on your ticketing basis), but it seems to me that you are primarily going to have to depend on the goodwill of the airline rather than having a prevaling entitlement arising from regulation.

Cheers,

Bill

MoneyGal wrote:(I'm in Canada.)

The problem is that the "allowed" carryon baggage rule is subject to limits, as has been extensively discussed on this site already.

On the flight I was on earlier this month, everyone boarding the plane at the end of the boarding process was refused a carryon baggage allowance, because the flight was overweight. A container of luggage was also removed from the checked bags (although no one knew that until after we arrived).

That is, people presented at the gate with their single "allowed" carryon, and were not allowed to board the plane without checking their bag.

In that case, I would say I was travelling with lifesaving medical equipment from which I cannot be separated. I always travel with my CPAP stored separately. I was the very first person to board the plane on that trip, because I present myself to the gate attendant as someone travelling with lifesaving medical equipment who must be accomodated.

So what would you have done had you been one of those last few unfortunate souls? Would you have agreed to have been separated from your lifesaving medical equipment or would you have refused to board the flight?

As the OP noted, one cannot always be there to be among the first to board. It is inevitable that some of us will be faced with this dilemna. When it happens, it will be useful to know your rights, if any.

billbolton wrote:

Hose_Head wrote:Do you have any right to be accomodated by the airline on a later flight? "

As far as I can tell from reading of the recently amended regulations, there is nothing related to having such a "right".

Hose_Head wrote:In other words, can one refuse to board with expectation that they will be allowed to take the next available flight?

You might be able to negotiate something with the airline (depending on your ticketing basis), but it seems to me that you are primarily going to have to depend on the goodwill of the airline rather than having a prevaling entitlement arising from regulation.

Cheers,

Bill

Which regulations did you check? I'm certain they vary by country

Negotiating something with the airline may be possible, but it helps to have a strong hand to bargain from.

US rules re carry on of CPAP equipment and how it does not count as carry-on baggage is useful leverage === that is, IF you are in the USA. In Canada, that leverage does not apply.

Because I travel with my CPAP in its own case, not in a "regular" (larger) carryon case, I doubt I would have been asked to check it.

Anyone who travels by plane a lot will notice that people try to bring truly immense amounts of "stuff" on board. The available space fills up quickly. I think it is safest for me to pack my CPAP separately, in its own small case, so I don't run the risk of being asked to check it.

If they absolutely would not have allowed me to bring it on with them, I would have asked to be accommodated on a later flight.

I travel quite often, domestic, and international. I now put my CPAP in the same rolling case as my laptop, and it is always with me, but I am lucky enough to board early these days. When I have kept my CPAP separate in a third carry-on, I have told the gate agent and they have always allowed me to board first. If, for some reason, I had to gate-check my carry-on, I would take the time to stop and pull out the CPAP, they don't need to be throwing it around. I just don't like carrying a third bag. And, it always surprisese me that security and gate agents all around the world are seeing so many more CPAPS that most of them know and understand. I have my medical equipment tag taped to the top of my machine. Just my two cents' worth.

Hose_Head wrote:Which regulations did you check?

US.

Hose_Head wrote:US rules re carry on of CPAP equipment and how it does not count as carry-on baggage is useful leverage....

When there is no capacity for further baggage in-cabin, any leverage is, at best, extremely limited. Air safety considerations will trump any other air navigation regulation everytime.

Cheers,

Bill

I will be flying next month to Edmonton - canadian regulations plus I will be flying standby. So no pre boarding because I won't know if I get on until I am on board. I have been trying to think how I will pack - I need a lap top and my cpap. There is no point in carrying a cpap bag because Air canada doesn't recognize cpap as a medical necessity so I will try to stuff everything into my handbag.

BlackSpinner -- all of my recent flights have been with Air Canada. In all cases I had to speak to an attendant, sometimes the head attendant, sometimes just someone on gatecheck. They ALL knew about CPAP.

Even the totally full-up and ultimately overweight flight. They screened me the hardest, asked me to open the bag -- but I don't know that you could say Air Canada "doesn't recognize CPAP as a medical necessity." Maybe not at the level of published regulation, but at the practical level, where the rubber meets the road (or, uh, leaves it to fly into the air), I've had good results with AC.

Also, see this from Air Canada.

MoneyGal wrote:Also, see this from Air Canada.

Wow, that notice about the fixed internal battery CPAP having to be shipped sorta challenges travel with a battery-powered travel CPAPs unless the battery can be separated.

Nah, they are talking about the huge batteries on battery-operated scooters and wheelchairs. I asked.