CPAP use on overnight flights

I have a REMstar Auto A-Flex and would like to use it on an upcoming overnight flight. My machine is not battery operated. According to the British Airways site: "Maximum power output from the laptop points is 75 Watts and, if your equipment draws more than this, the outlet will be automatically deactivated".

I am having a problem determining the wattage for my machine. Presumably, it depends on the use of the heater. I would be happy to turn the heat off or down very low for the duration of the flight. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Stan

Stan in Seattle wrote:I have a REMstar Auto A-Flex and would like to use it on an upcoming overnight flight. My machine is not battery operated. According to the British Airways site: "Maximum power output from the laptop points is 75 Watts and, if your equipment draws more than this, the outlet will be automatically deactivated".

I am having a problem determining the wattage for my machine. Presumably, it depends on the use of the heater. I would be happy to turn the heat off or down very low for the duration of the flight. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Stan

I don't have any experience with this at all, but I'm curious where you would put your APAP. You may want to research BA's web site for specific information about CPAP inflight use.

Looking at the Specifications section in http://respironicsremstars.respironics. ... Manual.pdf it says 12 VDC * 5.0 A which would be 60 watts maximum if I'm not mistaken (someone more knowledgeable about electricity please correct me). I can't imagine using your APAP with humidifier set to 0 or not connected would be greater than 75 watts.

Thanks for the quick reply, dave. Fortunately, I am flying in business class, so there will be room for the machine. I think your calculation is correct. I called my local dealer and they came up with a much larger number.

BA does allow the use of a CPAP as long as it does not exceed 75W (which would trip the power outlet). They do not require prior approval, which other airlines do.

From the BA website:

CPAP machine

Medical clearance is not required for the carriage or use of CPAP machines (used in the treatment of sleep apnoea) as fitness to travel will not be in doubt.
CPAP machines can be plugged into a laptop power-point, where available, with a suitable adaptor.
Maximum power output from the laptop points is 75 Watts and, if your equipment draws more than this, the outlet will be automatically deactivated.
We cannot guarantee that any of the laptop points will be serviceable. If you intend to use one in flight, we recommend that you use a dry-cell battery-operated device.

Stan

Stan in Seattle wrote:Presumably, it depends on the use of the heater. I would be happy to turn the heat off or down very low for the duration of the flight.

You definitely do need to turn the humidifier off but you may also exceeed the 75W power limit if you are running your CPAP at higher pressures. I know from my own experience with BA, using a Resmed S8 this was anything much above about 12cms H20 with the altitude setting adjusted to cabin pressure (~2400 metres altitude).

Cheers,

Bill

Many of us who travel a lot find it's more hassle to use CPAP, and not worth it. Sleeping in a semi upright position usually reduces apneas.

Guest wrote:

CPAP machine

CPAP machines can be plugged into a laptop power-point, where available, with a suitable adaptor.

Stan

From what I have seen in the past when buying a power adapter for my laptop the power point in an airplane is not the same as in automobiles. Do you have, or can you get, a power adapter for your CPAP that will plug into an airline power point?

Linc is right on the money, CPAP is just too much a PITA to use in flight. Hose getting trampled, finding a place to set it up where it won't get kicked, knocked off, knocked over, plus the power cord getting all tangled and hung up on everything anndbecoming a trip hazard, then your really up a creek if you need to get up to go to the lavatory. You have to unhook, try to put it all away enough that you don't drag the unit down the isle with you. It's just a real PITA on a plane. Not worth doing anything but sliding it under the seat in front of you in it's case. Don't try putting it up in the overhead either, people don't respect others belongings and will cram/smash the shit out of it to get their crazy big wheelie bag in with it. I've even had one lady pull it out and let it drop and fall on the isle floor to make room for her crap. That's when I learned to just put the darn thing under the seat in front of me to keep an eye on it and keep it protected. It's too valuable to do anything else in my opinion.

I'm planning a trip to Italy over the holidays, and am reading this thread with interest. I hadn't planned to try to use my CPAP it in flight, and am reassured to know that sleeping upright may help mitigate apneas.

What I am wondering about is getting to carry it onboard uncounted as my allowed carry-on if I have it in a bag with my netbook. I really consider the netbook part of my medical equipment in the sense that it will allow me to continue monitoring my AHI while I am away, but the airline might not see it that way. I plan to have my roll-on bag, my CPAP bag and my purse. Any thoughts about this?

1st. I would say that your DC cable comes w/5A fuse so it's not likely the machine w/HH will draw more than that. Always keep (n carry) spare fuses to fit your DC cable. I bought mine at an auto parts store.

2. Do not even attempt to use water in the humidifier in flight as that can ruin your equipment at a very bad time for you.

3. IF you ever do spill water into your machine simply do NOT apply power to it until absolutely, totally dry inside, even if that is 3 days or more. IF you do you will likely burn it up and it may take weeks to get it replaced, so 3 days will seem like nothing.

4. Always try your DC cable and hook up BEFORE you need your machine to make sure you have everything and know how the pieces go together and that they work. Even if that means going out to the car to see if the machine powers up correctly for at least 3-5 minutes.

5. Travel with a spare or backup machine if you can. Should this machine get stolen or damaged at least you will have another machine. I read a post on here where a cpap was stolen from a rental car. Presumably someone thought it was a laptop or something. Who'da thunk it?

6. Always, Always travel with a copy of your prescription. IF you have ignored any of the above and need to buy a mask or machine while away from home you WILL need a prescription. Even dealing with a national company the person you encounter probably won't be able to access any of your info because of company security.

As a backup you can always upload your prescription to cpap.com and buy from them if/when needed, also they can ship overnite. Just be sure you aren't traveling to a country they can't ship to.

HTH

cnew wrote:I'm planning a trip to Italy over the holidays, and am reading this thread with interest. I hadn't planned to try to use my CPAP it in flight, and am reassured to know that sleeping upright may help mitigate apneas.

What I am wondering about is getting to carry it onboard uncounted as my allowed carry-on if I have it in a bag with my netbook. I really consider the netbook part of my medical equipment in the sense that it will allow me to continue monitoring my AHI while I am away, but the airline might not see it that way. I plan to have my roll-on bag, my CPAP bag and my purse. Any thoughts about this?

Do a search on CPAP and airlines. This has been discussed quite a bit during the past year. The CPAP will not be counted as a carry on, but it must not have anything in the bag except the direct CPAP equipment.

idamtnboy wrote:Do a search on CPAP and airlines. This has been discussed quite a bit during the past year. The CPAP will not be counted as a carry on, but it must not have anything in the bag except the direct CPAP equipment.

Combine with medicines which are also exempt. Computers are not exempt. But then ALL of this varies with who you encounter and how well they slept lastnite.

I shall be flying back from Tornoto or Montrreal to UK next year on BA so a Boeing 777.

The use of my Remstar is allowed but I am unsure whether it can be connected to the 15v DC supply.

Has anyone else done this successfully or can a voltage reducer be bought anywhere.

Thanks,

mark

i just did a long haul flight and found that the angle of the seat allowed me to sleep adequately and not have apneas. Fortunately i was able to get a flight that arrived in the evening so I could just get a bite to eat and crawl into bed.

idamtnboy wrote:

cnew wrote:I'm planning a trip to Italy over the holidays, and am reading this thread with interest. I hadn't planned to try to use my CPAP it in flight, and am reassured to know that sleeping upright may help mitigate apneas.

What I am wondering about is getting to carry it onboard uncounted as my allowed carry-on if I have it in a bag with my netbook. I really consider the netbook part of my medical equipment in the sense that it will allow me to continue monitoring my AHI while I am away, but the airline might not see it that way. I plan to have my roll-on bag, my CPAP bag and my purse. Any thoughts about this?

Do a search on CPAP and airlines. This has been discussed quite a bit during the past year. The CPAP will not be counted as a carry on, but it must not have anything in the bag except the direct CPAP equipment.

These are the rules for within the USA and for to/from the USA. Within Europe these rules don't apply. A CPAP bag is just a bag. When I changed planes in Frankfurt last year, we were supposed to have only one carry on. I managed to carry on my CPAP plus one other small bag.