travel question/combining carry ons

Hi I have flown several times with my cpap supplies and I'm comfortable with the airport drill. I've always carried my S9, mask etc in the little bag that in came in (looks like a computer bag) but I am wondering if there is any reason NOT to combine the CPAP stuff in a carry-on with other stuff. I think I may have room to do that and it would be one less bag to keep track of in the airport, security line etc. thanks

Your cpap bag does not count as a carry on as long as it only contains cpap machine & accessories. You can't put anything else non-cpap related in there.

If it is your only carry on then I am not sure it matters, but I would check the TSA website to be sure.

bayourest wrote:Hi I have flown several times with my cpap supplies and I'm comfortable with the airport drill. I've always carried my S9, mask etc in the little bag that in came in (looks like a computer bag) but I am wondering if there is any reason NOT to combine the CPAP stuff in a carry-on with other stuff. I think I may have room to do that and it would be one less bag to keep track of in the airport, security line etc. thanks

I have thought of that also, but rejected it because:

- you will have to open the big bag and pull the CPAP out to put it through security
- TSA is accustomed to seeing them in separate bags and may give you unwanted extra attention
- I like keeping an eye on my CPAP and usually put it at my feet under the seat in front; you never know what might happen to it in the overhead bins.

But do what you are comfortable with.

RandyJ wrote:Your cpap bag does not count as a carry on as long as it only contains cpap machine & accessories. You can't put anything else non-cpap related in there.

If it is your only carry on then I am not sure it matters, but I would check the TSA website to be sure.

TSA has nothing to do with this, it is the airline that determines the number of carryons allowed on any given type of airplane or route. The TSA is only concerned with what you put IN it. For example a large plane flying a standard route will allow more carry on then a small plane flying to some obscure destination. My daughter flew from Montreal to Vancouver with a cat and a carryon bag, however the flight on a small plane to whitehorse meant all carryon, except the cat, went into the luggage.

Sleep2Die4 wrote:
- you will have to open the big bag and pull the CPAP out to put it through security
- TSA is accustomed to seeing them in separate bags and may give you unwanted extra attention
- I like keeping an eye on my CPAP and usually put it at my feet under the seat in front; you never know what might happen to it in the overhead bins.

I put it all into one bag, a back pack because I have trouble with one shoulder things. I have to pull out my laptop anyway so I pull both out. I do put it in the overhead, all the way in the back, after I take out any necessities. As a woman I also have a handbag which has my personal stuff in it, a lunch, and my knitting. My cpap machine is well padded with a change of underwear and clothes since I long ago gave the idea that my luggage will arrive on the same plane as I will. It takes me a few more minutes to repack and sometimes I hold up the line but that is not my problem.

BlackSpinner wrote:
TSA has nothing to do with this, it is the airline that determines the number of carryons allowed on any given type of airplane or route. The TSA is only concerned with what you put IN it. For example a large plane flying a standard route will allow more carry on then a small plane flying to some obscure destination. My daughter flew from Montreal to Vancouver with a cat and a carryon bag, however the flight on a small plane to whitehorse meant all carryon, except the cat, went into the luggage.

I meant check with the TSA for issues with combining medical equipment and personal items in the same carry on (not about number of carry ons allowed).

It is commonly accepted that a bag containing ONLY medical equipment does not count as a carry on. So if an airline allows 1 carry on you can bring the cpap bag + 1 carry on.

As a minor addition to this ...

You can combine medical stuff into one bag. For instance, I carry diabetic supplies and medications in my CPAP bag. That way, even I am forced (for whatever reason) to check my carry on luggage - all of that comes on the plane with me .. as it does not count as carry on luggage. Rather it is something that must stay with me due to medical reasons.

Also, while it is correct that TSA does not govern carry on luggage rules in the US, the FAA and DOT have laws and rules that govern the requirements for airlines that fly in the USA to allow medical equipment to be brought on board the flight and not count as carry on luggage.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently ruled that airline passengers must be allowed to use respiratory assistive devices, such as a CPAP machine (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel – May 13, 2009).

See: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/09/cpa ... eling.html

To the extent consistent with various safety and security regulations, passengers may bring on board and use ventilators and respirators, powered by non-spillable batteries. Assistive devices brought into the cabin by an individual with a disability shall not count toward a limit on carry-on items.

See: http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publications ... 9Final.pdf

Of course, outside of the USA these rules do not apply. When traveling internationally, it is best to contact the airline to determine the rules that will govern whether you can bring medical equipment in addition to carry on luggage.

Hope that helps.

RandyJ wrote:
I meant check with the TSA for issues with combining medical equipment and personal items in the same carry on (not about number of carry ons allowed).

It is commonly accepted that a bag containing ONLY medical equipment does not count as a carry on. So if an airline allows 1 carry on you can bring the cpap bag + 1 carry on.

No the TSA has absolutely nothing to do with this. Also the flight crew have the last say as to what is allowed. If they decide that there is too much baggage as carryon already, it gets put in luggage. It is their safety call that has the last say. That is why if it is a busy flight, board first. Passengers with medical needs can board with the babies and people with mobility issues.

Edited to add: I have gone through security with 2 carryons and 2 full suit cases because of a scheduling scramble so we could use the "skyhook" - meaning I could get my luggage without going through security again because I was switching to a different airline with only 45 minutes between flights.

I just returned from international travel. I had my purse, a carry on ( compliant in square measurement and weight with both United and Lufthansia ). Note that the carry on contained a power strip/extension cord and adapter plug, and last of all my travel CPAP with hose tamer, in its bag .
I was fine on the trip to Estonia. But to my horror, on the return trip, at the Vilnius,Lithuania airport: Lufthansa, I was told that I would either be allowed to check the CPAP and pay the $100.00 for a second checked bag--NO WAY! Or stuff it into my carry on. They considered it an extra carry on in their packed, smaller plane. Luckily I had room to stuff it. The agent would not listen to reason, spoke English well and understood that it was a medical device. She mentioned that it was not a matter of "life or death". I couldn't hold up the line and give her CPAP statistics. Luckily I didn't have my huge bag of medications in their bottles in the carry on, as I had packed the near empty bottles. I had an AM and PM dose in little baggies in my purse.
When I got to the Frankfurt airport, I took a chance and re established my CPAP carry on. Th Duty Free chocolates caught my eye......
I am very glad that I had my CPAP and power strip/ extension cord with me, as after I went through Customs in Chicago, I found that my flight home was cancelled, and the next flight, was in the morning. United comped me a hotel room and meal vouchers. And I had a good night's sleep with my CPAP. Im glad I had the power strip/ extension cord as the outlet was not handy!

Moral of the story: always leave room in your carry on for your CPAP. You never know if you will have a small plane, a crabby airport agent.
I like my Intellipap Auto for travel, as it doesn't have the big box for the cord, is light and takes up little space

Does the CPAP go as carry on because if it is lost it is detrimental to your health? Or because there is a rule that it MUST go carry on for safety? Ie it is mechanical therefore cannot go in luggage hold? Hope that makes sense. I intend to travel domectic in a month or so and plan to take it as carry on.

The CPAP is recognized as a medical device by both United, Lufthansa and the TSA. I checked on all 3 sites before my trip. I encountered a smaller, fully packed airplane and a very strict agent at the airport. She said she knew it was a medical device, but not a life or death medical device ie oxygen or O2 concentrator.
I was very glad that I had room in my carryon (barely!) , especially when my flight was delayed overnight.
I could not fit my purse, CPAP in case and my carry on under my single economy seat.

From now on, even domestically, I will have a section free in my carry on for the CPAP and its supplies.

If you want to use the machine on the flight, you will need an external battery. They can be heavy. The 'lighter' weight ones are expensive, too. You have to clear the battery usage with each airline you fly per their policy.

It's a Bit...h!

bayourest wrote:Hi I have flown several times with my cpap supplies and I'm comfortable with the airport drill. I've always carried my S9, mask etc in the little bag that in came in (looks like a computer bag) but I am wondering if there is any reason NOT to combine the CPAP stuff in a carry-on with other stuff. I think I may have room to do that and it would be one less bag to keep track of in the airport, security line etc. thanks

I think this thread got off point of the original question. Can you mix your CPAP in with your other carry-on stuff rather than juggling multiple bags - sure you can. You'll still have to pull it out for TSA, but you would anyway. Just because you *can* have a separate container because it's medical equipment doesn't mean you *have* to.

Several times before traveling with a CPAP it happened I toke a very small plane where the normal carry-on were too big for the cabin compartments. Even if we were allowed to a free carry on luggage everyone needed to put a sticker on it and let it in a luggage cart beside the plane. After that my carry-on was treated as a checked luggage.

I didn't know the plane was going to be so small but at that time that didn't bother me. But I would have regret if I had put my CPAP inside that luggage and not been able to take it with me in the cabin.

By the way, once I get the fear of my life. My machine is inside a computers wheeled luggage. I toke a small plane and I was allowed to take my small luggage with me in the cabin. What was my surprise when I tried to put it in the luggage compartment and I was not able by any mean to make it go inside I was there making the supreme effort and no way it was not going to fit

A lady trying to pass in the blocked corridor told me ''you can put it under the seat'' I was so thankful it fit I was seeing in my mind the stewardess taking my CPAP to the luggage compartment

Something else that can happen is you put your CPAP in the overhead compartment in the cabin and then it arrives somebody with a huge bad and push it under your machine in the compartment I try to check always where I put the machine inside the overhead compartment and check if a goofy tries to put something over it or move it or even touch it