Traveling with CPAP

I've been looking for a small travel machine that humidifies. I use a Respironics C450 P at home with a Quadra mask and it works. When I changed to the Quadra about 6 weeks ago the RT at the provider told me he thought the small travel machines just didn't work very well and I would be better off medically and monetarily just taking the Respironics machine with me. I've called around and no one is willing to rent a travel machine to me for a test period, and I'm not willing to go $600 (+/-) to see if something works, or not.

Any advise?

The Respironics is relatively small and comes with a travel bag. If you are flying this does not count against any carry-on lmitations so the space savings will be not very significant.

I travel with my machine in its bag without problems.

DO NOT EVER let them check your machine. You can never be sure how it will be treated nor can you afford to have it get misrouted. It would be convenient to pack a smaller machine in your luggage but the risks are too high.

Take as carryon! I learned the hard way, packed it in my big luggage got crushed, started malfunctioning, luckily got it replaced. I just got back from a trip, I just put it in my backpack with stuff I need for plane ride, ie ipad, book, that's about it. I use my backpack because, I don't take much, and I can carry it on my back, so I do not need the CPAP bag. It fits right in the space provided under the seat in front of me, that way I don't have to worry about someone throwing their big carry on and smashing it in the overhead bins.

However, like JDS posted you can take an extra CPAP bag as it is a medical device. I do pack my hose, mask in my main checked luggage, I realize I will be screwed if my bag is lost, but I'd be screwed anyways.

Btw, TSA wants you to take CPAP out of bag for xray machine.

For my last three trips. TSA has not even taken my equipment off the normal line for any advance inspection. My items are put into a 1 gallon freezer bag for each unit. The bag is left open. Never touched anything.

Yeah, they made an announcement that they wanted all ipads, phones out of backpack last trip, and the first time travelling with my CPAP, the TSA agent told me I need to "pull these out," he was trying to be descreet when telling me in case I was embarrased of having a CPAP. I just pull everything electronic out of my backpack to avoid any hassles.

It really is better to use the CPAP travel bag when flying. I think the TSA folks recognize it for what it is and then just take a quick look on the scanner. Mixing your other stuff with your medical things is just attracting extra attention. It could end up being checked luggage because of the non-medical stuff - just a thought.

Two weeks ago I somehow got a Pre-Cleared status through security on my flight home. For the first time in years, I did not have to remove my shoes, jacket or laptop in a US airport. The only thing that TSA was interested in from anyone was "breathing machines". I had it packed in my carry-on and they asked me to remove it so that it could go through the x-ray separately.

JDS74 wrote:It really is better to use the CPAP travel bag when flying. I think the TSA folks recognize it for what it is and then just take a quick look on the scanner. Mixing your other stuff with your medical things is just attracting extra attention. It could end up being checked luggage because of the non-medical stuff - just a thought.

You are right, I do recognize the black n grey cpap bag, but my new Cpap came with a newer descreet bag that looks like a hip laptop bag. I notice that grey n black bag everytime I go to the airport. I don't think they would check anything without informing you first, which I have seen when someone tries to pass through bigger bag than is allowed. I find the backpack just easier, since I personally only want 1 bag to carryon with me. (deal with)