CPAP machine and airport security

[Novinha]

My boyfriend has sleep apnea and has to use a CPAP machine when he sleeps. The sleep disorder clinic made it very clear that he can never check in his CPAP machine, he must carry it on board the plane with him. I was just wondering what or if we might run into problems. There is no liquid, but it looks kind of odd to anyone who does not know what it is. I was hoping anyone here can share an experience of bringing a CPAP machine through airport security (especially recently). I am just nervous about running into any kind of problems.

 

[bavaria]

no problems. I have a colleague who travels as much as I do a year (125,000+ miles) and he brings his on every trip.

So does my father - usually internationally.

 

[clkelley]

Hubby travels with his every time. Once many years ago, they made him plug it in and turn it on, but mostly they just open it up, glance at it, and that's it. I'm sure they are probably pretty prevelant nowadays.

 

[GDUL]

My boyfriend has sleep apnea and has to use a CPAP machine when he sleeps. The sleep disorder clinic made it very clear that he can never check in his CPAP machine, he must carry it on board the plane with him. I was just wondering what or if we might run into problems. There is no liquid, but it looks kind of odd to anyone who does not know what it is. I was hoping anyone here can share an experience of bringing a CPAP machine through airport security (especially recently). I am just nervous about running into any kind of problems.

I always carry on my CPAP - with the way that luggage gets treated, I would never put it under the plane - LOL! BTW, medical equipment does not count as a carry on piece of luggage. TSA has been checking CPAP machines a lot closer lately but it doesn't take too long. It wouldn't surprise me if that, sometime in the future, we'll have to take our CPAPs out of their bags and place them in their own separate bin ............ much like computers and video cameras today. If you are still concerned, just have your bf put his instruction manual in the carry bag with his machine. With so many people being treated for OSA with CPAP, it would have to be a pretty new TSA agent to have not seen one before. Really, it shouldn't be a problem, at most a couple of extra minutes to get through security.

 

[newholidayx2]

DH always flies with his - no problem

 

[PSL]

My boyfriend has sleep apnea and has to use a CPAP machine when he sleeps. The sleep disorder clinic made it very clear that he can never check in his CPAP machine, he must carry it on board the plane with him. I was just wondering what or if we might run into problems. There is no liquid, but it looks kind of odd to anyone who does not know what it is. I was hoping anyone here can share an experience of bringing a CPAP machine through airport security (especially recently). I am just nervous about running into any kind of problems.

My husband travels with his and they take it aside to screen it at our local airport (BDL) but it doesn't take too long to do this, couple of minutes at most. On the trip home through MCO they don't even take a second look at it after going through the scanner?

 

[EllenJ]

Does the CPAP count toward your carryon quota? I've heard that since it is a medical device, it does not count towards your carryon limit. Does anyone know for sure. I will be flying in a few weeks for a quick trip with only carryon luggage and I would hope that this will not be held against me.

 

[clkelley]

No, it does not count as your carryon quota.

 

[Vivsmom]

My DH has taken his the last two trips we have been on. He has only had this for 7 months. They often take it aside to scan it further by rubbing some sort of material on the machine and then they place the material into another machine and it tells them if it is ok. Usually this takes about the same amount of time it takes us to get ourselves together and shoes on after going through security. Really no big deal at all.

 

[Cara]

Boy, do I have a story for you.

My DH had let his driver's license expire (by a week!) when we flew to Disney in October 2005. (Stupid, stupid, STUPID! But that's another thread!!!) Because of this, he was flagged for the special security search. They did a detailed search and swabbed his luggage. Get this: His CPAP tested positive for nitroglycerin! As in the explosive!

This is the one and only time I have ever become stressed at an airport. They really examined the thing and called two supervisors over. DD10 was crying!

They finally decided he was clear, and let him go. The only thing anyone could figure was that someone had used nitroglycerin in our room at POR before we stayed there and it somehow got into the air and into the tubing of his hose.

So the moral of the story is NEVER let your license expire when you are traveling. DH is probably flagged as a security risk from now until eternity!

But to answer your question, we have flown with it many, many times, and never before has it caused a problem.

 

[ducklite]

My boyfriend has sleep apnea and has to use a CPAP machine when he sleeps. The sleep disorder clinic made it very clear that he can never check in his CPAP machine, he must carry it on board the plane with him. I was just wondering what or if we might run into problems. There is no liquid, but it looks kind of odd to anyone who does not know what it is. I was hoping anyone here can share an experience of bringing a CPAP machine through airport security (especially recently). I am just nervous about running into any kind of problems.

Trust me, they see THOUSANDS of these machines every week and don't give them a second glance. Same thing with nebulizers, insulin pumps, and a host of other medical devices.

Anne