Last updated on July 7th, 2023 at 02:10 pm
As evident in the various CPAP forums around the globe, travelling with CPAP equipment is a hot topic, causing concern for many users. A little (black) box with wires and tubes does look a bit funny, especially in the wake of air travel related security alerts.
The best way to avoid trouble is to discuss your needs with the airline beforehand and to bring a doctor’s note explaining you are a patient in need of this device. If you fly overnight and need the machine to work, check with the airline that the plane, and your seat, is equipped with a power socket. Also find out what type it is as you may need an adapter. If no power source is available, look into a portable battery pack to power your machine.
If you check in your CPAP machine and mask, make sure it’s packaged very well. You won’t be the first one to find machine or mask broken in transit. Sourcing a replacement in a foreign country can be a nightmare and will cause a bad start to your holiday or business trip. Pack the mask in a solid box, like a hard plastic lunch box and bring some spares of those parts most prone to wear and tear. Some fuses for the machine can be handy too. Preparation is key. Also have the telephone number of your equipment provider and manufacturer handy for prompt assistance. Looking up contact details of a local supplier at your destination can be a savior too.
With a bit of forward thinking, trouble can be avoided.
You can discuss particular airline experiences in the various forums.
In the New York Times this week, journalist Joe Sharkey wrote a lighthearted piece involving air travel and CPAP. According to his experiences, many security personnel are familiar with CPAP already:
One screener was evidently in charge of ensuring that passengers knew they had to remove those portable CPAP devices (for continuous positive airway pressure) that have become popular travel accessories for the growing number of people diagnosed with sleep apnea, a common ailment in which airways tighten, interrupting sleep.
“Take all CPAPs out of your carry-on bags,” the screener kept saying.
Behind me a woman put her backpack on the roller belt. Wearing latex gloves, the screener pressed on a small bulge in the backpack.
“Is that a CPAP, ma’am? It looks like a CPAP,” the screener said.
“It also looks like a chicken sandwich, which is what it is,” the woman replied wearily.
How was your experience when travelling with your CPAP equipment? Which airline did you fly with?