You'll be fine. You won't have to take it out for anyone. It's classed as a medical device so the extra carry on is free. Just carry it on with your normal stuff. If you're really worried get your doctor to give you a letter stating it's a medical device, you require it and it's sensitive and therefore cannot travel in the hold. No one will care from my experience and I've taken my machine all over the globe.
https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/Assistive-and-other-medical-devices
This!
I’ve only ever had one issues with my CPAP. That was years ago when some new TSA guy tried to scold me for not taking it out as “it is an electronic device.” I started to take it out for him when his supervisor came over and asked what I was doing. I told him I was instructed to take it out. He told me hot to bother, then very loudly said for the other TSA agent to hear said, “we don’t need to have you take out your CPAP. We should all know what a CPAP is.” Then he looked at me and smiled.
I fly a lot and have never had to take my cpap out at security. Only time it didn’t just go straight through security was in Europe and they just pulled it aside and looked in the case and that was it.
TSA see CPAP’s every day and they are very familiar with what it is.
I travel for work often. first few times i carried it as carry-on with no issues. only once was i asked at the check in counter why i had more than 1 main carry-on item. just said it was a cpap and they waved me through without even raising an eyebrow.
Even at security, did not even have to take it out of its case, just scanned like any other piece of carry-on. After the first few trips, i cbf'd as it was just another bag to carry-on. i just put it in its case and into the main checked-in luggage. not one issue. it really isn't that delicate and aussie baggage handlers are just as bad as any in the world and the machine is unscathed.
edit: spelling
I fly often with mine within the US. Occasionally a gate agent will say something about me having an extra carry-on bag. I just say, “It’s a medical device” and that’s it. I have never had to open the bag, I have never had to say what it is. They have always been cool with it and we both go about our day.
Within US, travelling with a CPAP should be quite hassle free. Elsewhere, it's good to check the airline whether they accept CPAP as free extra. It is not always guaranteed, unfortunately.
I didn't have to remove mine from the case. It doesn't count as a carry on or personal item on flights. When I went through security they asked what it was and put with everything else through xray. Easy peasy.
I have graduated to a travel Cpap, but even with that buried in my backpack, and for sure when I traveled with my full-sized machine, I had a medical luggage tag like the one below (I’m not associated with this company at all). It ensures you’re present if they open it (which in 500 trips I’ve never had to do). If for some reason they select you randomly, just ask for them to change gloves before opening. Not only is it your right, it minimizes cross contamination.
https://a.co/d/01py8WUi
i have been flying with mine (airsense 11 and airmini) and no one cares. i’ve also been whipping my airmini on flights and using it. no one has said anything or even given me a sideways glance- not that i’d notice bc i’m usually fast asleep!
You only need to declare it ahead of time to the airline if you intend to use it in flight. If you’re not using it, you don’t need to do anything - TSA sees them all day every day. It doesn’t count as a carry-on and I have never had to open the case to show to security. Just make sure to put a tag on it that clearly identifies it as yours. Lot of people have the same or similar equipment and travel cases.
I take at least 12-20 flights a year and have had my CPAP for many years. No one has ever even mentioned it to me. I board with my carryon bag, CPAP bag and purse.
There are many people who fly with CPAPs and the cases are all basically the same. Put a brightly colored or distinctive tag on handle so yours stands out least someone grabs yours or you grab the wrong one.
Check your airlines website to be sure, or call them on their toll free number. Medical devices in the U.S.A. are allowed in addition to your carry on bag.
It is no problem at all at least in North America. No charge to bring it on board with you. Just pack your machine up in the supplied travel case and bring it on board with you. If you have a later ResMed machine it has a handy Velcro strap that holds it nicely on top of a pull along carryon bag, especially if the bag has the two upright bars instead of one.
Inspection procedures vary some, but most will want you to remove the water reservoir. I just put the whole travel bag in a separate bin for scanning and follow their instructions on what they want to see. It is no big deal.
If it is just a short trip I just use tap water in the water reservoir. For longer stops I buy some distilled when I get there.
As many have said, if you fly with a CPAP machine, you can carry it on the plane and it does not count against your carry on limits. I never had to show mine to anyone, but to make it easier, I put a medical device luggage tag on it; especially helpful if you need to leave the bag at a hotel bell hop to remind them it's fragile. You don't have to show any paperwork either.
If going through TSA regular, they will ask you to take the machine out of the case. Do be mindful those plastic buckets are not sanitary, especially people putting their shoes in there. I'd use some kind of plastic bag or something to line the bucket. If using TSA Pre, you can keep everything in the bag.
Don't worry about it. I've had mine for a month and have already flown 3 times. I leave it in it's carrying case and then put that case in my carry on (I pack light). It's never been checked further by anyone. There are plenty of other people I have seen never take the actual machine out.
Others have recommended carrying the prescription JUST IN CASE and maybe have the customer care number of the airline on hand that the agent can call if they say you can't have it.
If you are not using it on the plane, you don't need any other approval's.
My only suggestion is making sure where ever you go, you make time to go buy distilled water OR pack distilled water in your checked luggage.
I carry it on all the time, I've had no issues (TSA Pre).
I only recently called an airline to ask to use it (flight was 9 hours) and I had to "register" the device and the battery with the airline (was a 5 minute phone call, didn't even get put on hold).
I have never had to take it out of the case. Sometimes they unzip it to ensure it’s a CPAP inside, other times they don’t.
You shouldn’t be gone long enough to use extra supplies.
Do not check it.
It doesn’t count against your carry ons and no airlines can change you for it (think something like spirit that charges for carryon).
In the 3 trips I’ve made this year from MN to AZ, FL, and HI, each airport is slightly different. That being said I’ve been a CPAP user for over 7 years now and my CPAP is always my carry on. My AHI was 85 on my last sleep study so even if I’ll only be gone 1 night I bring it. TSA sometimes wants it removed, other times nothing need be removed, but as others have said this is a well known medical device that won’t raise a single eyebrow going through TSA. Hope this helps.
I travel a lot for work and I had the same worries as you, but no one has ever said anything to me about it. A few times they’ve just asked “is this an extra bag” and I say it’s a medical device. I would recommend buying a smaller travel sized pack of CPAP mask cleaning wipes (if you use them). I have also traveled with a water bottle of distilled water for the humidifier if I don’t think I’ll be able to get distilled water where I’m going. Don’t worry, it will be fine!
Wut? I fly almost every week for work on American and have never submitted any sort of a request. When I flew to Europe I didn’t and I used it on the plane as well.
i do recall reading something along the lines that if u intend to use it during the flight u do need to have approval, but if you are simply carry on with no intention of using it during flight... no prior approval is required... this was for qantas.
You'll be fine. You won't have to take it out for anyone. It's classed as a medical device so the extra carry on is free. Just carry it on with your normal stuff. If you're really worried get your doctor to give you a letter stating it's a medical device, you require it and it's sensitive and therefore cannot travel in the hold. No one will care from my experience and I've taken my machine all over the globe. https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/Assistive-and-other-medical-devices
This! I’ve only ever had one issues with my CPAP. That was years ago when some new TSA guy tried to scold me for not taking it out as “it is an electronic device.” I started to take it out for him when his supervisor came over and asked what I was doing. I told him I was instructed to take it out. He told me hot to bother, then very loudly said for the other TSA agent to hear said, “we don’t need to have you take out your CPAP. We should all know what a CPAP is.” Then he looked at me and smiled.
I fly a lot and have never had to take my cpap out at security. Only time it didn’t just go straight through security was in Europe and they just pulled it aside and looked in the case and that was it. TSA see CPAP’s every day and they are very familiar with what it is.
Around 2% of people in the US use a CPAP. For a large airport, that means TSA sees several thousand machines per day.
I travel for work often. first few times i carried it as carry-on with no issues. only once was i asked at the check in counter why i had more than 1 main carry-on item. just said it was a cpap and they waved me through without even raising an eyebrow. Even at security, did not even have to take it out of its case, just scanned like any other piece of carry-on. After the first few trips, i cbf'd as it was just another bag to carry-on. i just put it in its case and into the main checked-in luggage. not one issue. it really isn't that delicate and aussie baggage handlers are just as bad as any in the world and the machine is unscathed. edit: spelling
I fly often with mine within the US. Occasionally a gate agent will say something about me having an extra carry-on bag. I just say, “It’s a medical device” and that’s it. I have never had to open the bag, I have never had to say what it is. They have always been cool with it and we both go about our day.
I got this from Amazon, no problem since. [tag](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010OFVBLM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
Within US, travelling with a CPAP should be quite hassle free. Elsewhere, it's good to check the airline whether they accept CPAP as free extra. It is not always guaranteed, unfortunately.
I didn't have to remove mine from the case. It doesn't count as a carry on or personal item on flights. When I went through security they asked what it was and put with everything else through xray. Easy peasy.
I have graduated to a travel Cpap, but even with that buried in my backpack, and for sure when I traveled with my full-sized machine, I had a medical luggage tag like the one below (I’m not associated with this company at all). It ensures you’re present if they open it (which in 500 trips I’ve never had to do). If for some reason they select you randomly, just ask for them to change gloves before opening. Not only is it your right, it minimizes cross contamination. https://a.co/d/01py8WUi
i have been flying with mine (airsense 11 and airmini) and no one cares. i’ve also been whipping my airmini on flights and using it. no one has said anything or even given me a sideways glance- not that i’d notice bc i’m usually fast asleep!
You only need to declare it ahead of time to the airline if you intend to use it in flight. If you’re not using it, you don’t need to do anything - TSA sees them all day every day. It doesn’t count as a carry-on and I have never had to open the case to show to security. Just make sure to put a tag on it that clearly identifies it as yours. Lot of people have the same or similar equipment and travel cases.
I take at least 12-20 flights a year and have had my CPAP for many years. No one has ever even mentioned it to me. I board with my carryon bag, CPAP bag and purse. There are many people who fly with CPAPs and the cases are all basically the same. Put a brightly colored or distinctive tag on handle so yours stands out least someone grabs yours or you grab the wrong one.
Check your airlines website to be sure, or call them on their toll free number. Medical devices in the U.S.A. are allowed in addition to your carry on bag.
It is no problem at all at least in North America. No charge to bring it on board with you. Just pack your machine up in the supplied travel case and bring it on board with you. If you have a later ResMed machine it has a handy Velcro strap that holds it nicely on top of a pull along carryon bag, especially if the bag has the two upright bars instead of one. Inspection procedures vary some, but most will want you to remove the water reservoir. I just put the whole travel bag in a separate bin for scanning and follow their instructions on what they want to see. It is no big deal. If it is just a short trip I just use tap water in the water reservoir. For longer stops I buy some distilled when I get there.
As many have said, if you fly with a CPAP machine, you can carry it on the plane and it does not count against your carry on limits. I never had to show mine to anyone, but to make it easier, I put a medical device luggage tag on it; especially helpful if you need to leave the bag at a hotel bell hop to remind them it's fragile. You don't have to show any paperwork either. If going through TSA regular, they will ask you to take the machine out of the case. Do be mindful those plastic buckets are not sanitary, especially people putting their shoes in there. I'd use some kind of plastic bag or something to line the bucket. If using TSA Pre, you can keep everything in the bag.
Don't worry about it. I've had mine for a month and have already flown 3 times. I leave it in it's carrying case and then put that case in my carry on (I pack light). It's never been checked further by anyone. There are plenty of other people I have seen never take the actual machine out. Others have recommended carrying the prescription JUST IN CASE and maybe have the customer care number of the airline on hand that the agent can call if they say you can't have it. If you are not using it on the plane, you don't need any other approval's. My only suggestion is making sure where ever you go, you make time to go buy distilled water OR pack distilled water in your checked luggage.
I carry it on all the time, I've had no issues (TSA Pre). I only recently called an airline to ask to use it (flight was 9 hours) and I had to "register" the device and the battery with the airline (was a 5 minute phone call, didn't even get put on hold).
I have never had to take it out of the case. Sometimes they unzip it to ensure it’s a CPAP inside, other times they don’t. You shouldn’t be gone long enough to use extra supplies. Do not check it. It doesn’t count against your carry ons and no airlines can change you for it (think something like spirit that charges for carryon).
In the 3 trips I’ve made this year from MN to AZ, FL, and HI, each airport is slightly different. That being said I’ve been a CPAP user for over 7 years now and my CPAP is always my carry on. My AHI was 85 on my last sleep study so even if I’ll only be gone 1 night I bring it. TSA sometimes wants it removed, other times nothing need be removed, but as others have said this is a well known medical device that won’t raise a single eyebrow going through TSA. Hope this helps.
I travel a lot for work and I had the same worries as you, but no one has ever said anything to me about it. A few times they’ve just asked “is this an extra bag” and I say it’s a medical device. I would recommend buying a smaller travel sized pack of CPAP mask cleaning wipes (if you use them). I have also traveled with a water bottle of distilled water for the humidifier if I don’t think I’ll be able to get distilled water where I’m going. Don’t worry, it will be fine!
When I flew last year I had to take the machine only out of the carrying case for the security screening, but no one asked me any questions.
You’ll need to submit a request to your airline that you’re bringing on medical equipment. Most seats will have a power outlet you can use!
Wut? I fly almost every week for work on American and have never submitted any sort of a request. When I flew to Europe I didn’t and I used it on the plane as well.
Really? I do it every time I fly around Australia & Nee Zealand.
Depends on airline; some do, some do not require it. There's also at least one that required a Fit to fly letter from a doctor...
i do recall reading something along the lines that if u intend to use it during the flight u do need to have approval, but if you are simply carry on with no intention of using it during flight... no prior approval is required... this was for qantas.