British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

If you read the Ryanair terms and conditions very careful you will find that CPAP machines get a mention.

On another holiday forum site that I frequent, questions were being asked about carriage of CPAP machines with Ryanair. This is the information that surfaced ....

You need to phone the Special Assistance line ... and when they answer you will need to provide your flight details, and also the following 'vital statistics' - CPAP make, model number, overall weight and overall case dimensions. They will then generate a letter which will be valid for all flights for 6 months from the date of issue AND they'll require your passport number and date of expiry.

So get everything prepared BEFORE you phone ...

Where have Ryanair hidden the extra charge?
Its free :shock: never, its Ryanair we are talking about here! :?

For information ... from Ryanair's website's terms and conditions

Can I carry and use a Respiratory Personal Device (RPD) on board?

Respiratory Personal Device (RPD)

Carriage of a Respiratory Personal Device:

Assistive or non-oxygen generating support devices such as a respirator, nebulizer, ventilator, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BiPap machine may be carried in the cabin of the aircraft without prior approval provided the item is within the cabin baggage dimensions. Passengers wishing to carry an RPD in addition to their baggage allowance (either checked and cabin) should obtain a Medical Equipment Baggage Waiver letter by calling the Special Assistance line. This waiver letter must be presented at the bag drop desk or at the boarding gate if travelling with no checked baggage.

[b]Use of a Respiratory Personal Device during Flight:[/b]

CPAP machines are not permitted for use on board. If you wish to use an other type of RPD such as a respirator or nebulizer during your flight please contact our Special Assistance line to obtain prior approval, for the use onboard you will be required to complete a “Fit to fly form” which will be sent to the passenger once the requirement has been notified to our Special Assistance Line. This completed “Fit to fly form” must be returned to Ryanair between 14 up to 2 days prior to travel for validation. The validated “Fit to fly form” must be carried by the passenger on all flights and produced to our cabin crew on boarding the aircraft.

Some devices including but not limited to CPAP machines may not be suitable for inflight use and if you are unsure please contact the Special Assistance line

Happy New Year Bill! Great to see you posting.

I had no problem using my CPAP on both my BA flights to Nairobi, and got 4.5 hours useful sleep out of my battery on the return ... before it ran out!

I'm at 14 pressure ... would love to hear of a battery that would give me longer time at this level. Any suggestions folks?

[quote="Alsacienne"]I am flying on Friday 13th January...[/quote]
I hope your flight went well!

I might have something to report on South American air travel later in the year......

Cheers,

Bill

It is absolutely vital to contact your airline well before travel and to see what their rules are about using CPAP on board and whether they'll give you extra baggage to carry it by hand.

OSA treatment by xPAP is becoming far more common and most airlines are sympathetic to xPAP users. Do not count on using your equipment on board using their electrical outlet sockets because if your machine draws too much power, the socket will just shut down and the onboard crew will not be able to reactivate it. A dry cell battery, such as the one offered by BSSAA is the way to go.

Happy landings to all.

I took my machine on a short haul flight and arranged with the airline to carry it as an extra piece of hand luggage. They would not allow me to use it on the flight, but then for three hours it would not have been worth it. Generally speaking it is up to the airline what they allow on, so I understand, particularly when it comes to essential medical equipment.

Don't get bugged unnecessarily! :lol: I am flying on Friday 13th January but that doesn't influence me at all and I'm hoping that there's a row 13 for me to find a window seat in! :lol:

I have absolutely nothing to add to this lol but its been bugging me the last few weeks seeing the title "Air Security" and the last post being on September the 11th!

Hi kbrab,

I live in Spain and have travelled by air internally twice (return journeys so 4 plane trips) since being diagnosed almost two months ago.

I travelled with the Doctor's letter as the airlines requested it (never had to pay for that here!) but was never actually asked for it at security or by the airline - I had advised the airlines in advance that I would be travelling with the machine and mask. At 3 different airports (Malaga, Barcelona and Valencia) I had no problems with security and they were all familiar with Cpap (I carried it as an extra piece of hand luggage as medical equipment at no extra cost on all 4 flights).

For info "C" in Spain is pronounced as a short "thae" with "th" as in thimble, and the "a" as you would pronounce the letter "a" - Machine is "maquina" pronounced as "makina"

So if asked you are carrying a "maquina de Cpap" ("makina de thaepap").

Hope this helps and enjoy Spain!!

Michael

Tony The Busman

Just been to Greece with Thompsons. Rang them up and carried mine as medical except onto the plane no problems.

Did pay £26.40 for a letter from doctors

No one asked for it

Mac

im only off to Spain, but I telephoned Monarch who im flying with and they were very helpful about my travelling with Pablo (he's my cpap machine, older brother of Pepe my original machine - its a coping mechanism go with it!) I was quite surprised that they said I could take him AS WELL AS my and luggage. I have got to phone through to Cosmos so they can record it all and be ready for me to arrive with him, but I did think it would be hassle to be fair given all the security measures etc.

Just a quick question though, should I take a letter from my doctor for when I get into Spain in case I have problems "the other end" or are they familiar enough with the machines that I don't need to worry?

QANTAS QF7/QF8 SYD-DFW-SYD June 2011

I used my Resmed S9 ([u]without[/u] H5i) the QF7 SYD-DFW leg, from the at-seat main power outlet in the main cabin Business Class section on a 747-400RR.

On the return DFW-SYD leg on QF8 the same S9 tripped out the at-seat power in the Upper Deck Business Class cabin on a 747-400RR, so I was unable to use it. My laptop also tripped out the at-seat power, so it seems likely it was a fault with the power supply unit for the particular seat pair.

There was no need to do anything special with my CPAP at the TSA check points in the US. Now it just goes through scanner in the bag.

Cheers,

Bill

You don't say where you're travelling from or to specifically, and with which airlines you are flying, thought 'World Traveller' is a clue for British Airways.

Check with any other carriers well before you travel as some require you to tell them in advance the make and model of your CPAP.

Otherwise bring your docs and prescription with your machine. Note that you won't be able to use your humidifier even with battery power in flight as there's just not enough juice to make it work.

If what I've read and heard is true, you'll find that most personnel at security checkpoints in airports are familiar with CPAP machines. According to CPAP users and according to the TSA it's advisable to carry along your prescription and/or statement of medical necessity from your physician so that you can demonstrate the need for your CPAP machine, and move the screening process along swiftly. From what I've read, though, it's sounds like getting through security screening with a CPAP machine can actually be hit or miss. It's definitely not guaranteed. Many CPAP users report no problems getting through the X-ray machine and passing the subsequent explosives and chemical tests, while others are forced to check their CPAP machines because they don't pass the X-ray check.