How does your CPAP travel by air

[OMyMyOHellYes]

OK. When you travel by air, how does your CPAP go?

[worn_out_in_lebanon]

I haven't traveled with it yet, but will be in mid-April for a long weekend, and the end of May for a week and a half out of the country.

The plan for now is to have it in it's own travel case, separate from the carry-on. Definitely not taking a chance on putting it in the checked baggage.

[Jim Bronson]

DME said it doesn't count as carry-on luggage because it is a medical device. I haven't tried it yet. Won't be long though.

[Sleepster]

That's true. It's a medical device and doesn't count towards your carry-on allowance.

And if you're traveling to a different continent check to see if you need an adapter to plug it in. All machines that I know of will run on both 115 V and 230 V, but the geometry of the plugs won't always match. So you just need the little adapter, not the big converter.

[Spanky]

I've carried mine on-board, in it's own travel case, for years. Never had any airline even question it. (Air Canada, American, Delta, United, US Air, West-Jet)

Security checks used to be a PIA but now they see so many CPAP machines daily it's no longer a problem. They usually ask "Is that a Sleep Machine?" when it goes through the X-ray. Sometimes they may ask you to open the case but most times they just say "OK"

All airlines (mentioned above) do not count a CPAP against your Carry-On limit.

[AshSF]

My PRS1 60 series travels in a case logic slrc 206 camera bag. I can fit my machine, humidifier, heated tube, mask, power supply and some other stuff in it in separate compartments. It has plenty of padding on all sides to keep everything safe.

[Sleeprider]

I have always packed it in luggage and never had one lost. I realize I could carry it on the plane, but I'm not a big fan of advertising my use of CPAP, and fortunately it has never been an issue.

[OMyMyOHellYes]

My PRS1 60 series travels in a case logic slrc 206 camera bag. I can fit my machine, humidifier, heated tube, mask, power supply and some other stuff in it in separate compartments. It has plenty of padding on all sides to keep everything safe.

Camera bag - good idea, that.

I travel a little bit lighter, so I am looking for a much smaller camera case that will just barely fit the S-8 flow generator (no need for a power brick cord- yay!), tube, and mask for that very purpose. I find the manufacturer supplied bags overkill and way too big for what I want/need.

OMM

[Spanky]

Additional Note... When travelling in an "RJ" (Regional Jet) the overhead bins are too small for a normal carry-on bag. They "Valet" check your carry-on at the aircraft door but your CPAP fits with no problem or is easily stowed under the seat.

[Spanky]

I have always packed it in luggage and never had one lost. I realize I could carry it on the plane, but I'm not a big fan of advertising my use of CPAP, and fortunately it has never been an issue.

Have you seen the way checked bags are treated!!!

Ground handlers toss them like sacks of potatoes. Do you really want to subject your critical (and expensive) CPAP to that treatment?

As for advertising, years ago (late 90's) my old Teledyne was a big square box in a grey carry bag and yes there was no doubt as to what is was but today modern units look no different than any other carry-on. They’re so common now that airline staff don’t even notice anymore and I guarantee you will NOT be the only passenger on board with one.

The only time airline staff even mentioned anything to me was on an Air Canada overnight flight to Frankfurt Germany. The stewardess asked me if I would like to move to a seat that had a power outlet so I could use my machine.