British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Alsa,

Thanks for that, I hope you enjoy Wales. There will be no problem in taking your CPAP machine on board, but what I was really trying to find out was if this would count as your one item of hand baggage or whether it would count as an exception to the rule, as per musical instruments.

I spoke to the DfT first and they referred me onto BAA, who passed me onto BA. After spending 20 minutes on the phone to the girl at BA's customer service centre, who clearly did not have a clue what I was talking about as regards CPAP machines (at least she was honest enough to admit this), she stated that it would not count as an exception.

I have to say that this rather confirmed what my brother who is a pilot had already told me in that I would not get any sort of an answer as they did not really understand the rules and nobody wanted to commit themselves.

I do not blame the girl who was brutally honest in admitting she did not know what I was talking about or what the rules were, but rather the system that she has to currently work under. I understand why the rules are there, but when you are forced to take off your shoes at security so that they can be searched, I do think that things have got a bit out of control.

I do think that many of the measures are there for effect and that this is typical of a government that thinks government is all about knee jerk responses to mass hysteria whipped up by media hype (sorry for the political rant)

Tony

I am a regulalr traveller to Europe and the USA, I'm surprised to find this posting as your CPAP machine is not a hightech piece of equipment at the end of the day.

I always pack my machine into my suitcase alright it takes up some valuable room but so do your clothes. I have never had a problem except the usual delayed luggage but it always shows up with my machine OK, even US TSA and Customs don't bother with it.

I hope this helps any would be travellers dispell any myths being created about no putting youyr CPAP in the hold.

~Toik1961

Hi Toik!

I have had the pleasure of watching baggage handlers at work .. missing the conveyor to the hold, and generally rough handling the baggage that they are working with ... that is why I'd rather not trust them with my CPAP in a case as I think that the equipment is likely to be damaged.

If you can reassure me that a CPAP machine is tougher than I thought, please do so!

Kind regards,

Alsa xxxx

PS And there are SOME individuals at BA who fear that the battery is likely to catch fire en route too .....

Toik,

You've missed the point....which is that by putting the machine with the hold baggage you run the risk of it being delayed or lost...and it's no fun at all to be without it even for one night, and certainly more if you're on holiday or a week's business trip.

Yes, the risks of loss are small, but I for one see no reason to tempt fate.

Secondly, I've benefitted from using my cpap machine on intercontinental flights (Cathay Pacific have no problem with you using it). By way of comparison American Airlines treat them as a fire hazard!

Tony, it definitely does count as an exception. I am typing this message form the BA lounge, airside, at Heathrow with my CPAP machine plus a separate cabin carry-on beside me.

They did stop me at the sceurity check for having a second carry on bag but as soon as I said "medical equipment" they waved me through without even examining it!

Cheers,

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for letting me know this. I think that this rather proves my point that staff are so confused by the rules and don't really understand what is or is not allowed that some find it easier just to say no to everything.

I suppose that it proves that the best thing is to insist on speaking to someone who is in a position to make decisions as to what someone can take on board an aircraft as cabin baggage.

Certainly, from my experience the security staff at Heathrow tend to be pretty clued up on what a CPAP machine is and they tend to let you through without much bother (same can be said for Glasgow).

From what the BA customer support girl said to me it seems as if they are given a manual which has the company's official policies in it and if a question comes up that is not covered by this manual then they really do not know what they should do or how they should respond.

It seems that this is just another in the series of lotteries that we CPAP users are all too familiar with.

I've been given a standard letter from my consultant (got my CPAP at the height of the latest restrictions "excitement") which states that the CPAP must travel as hand luggage and poses no threats to other passengers.

While not explicitly stating that it must be an exception allowing you an additional carry on bag, from the advice of Bill here and on DDA grounds I feel it would be a brave airline staff/manager that makes any decision not to allow it.

I have tried to get an official ruling from the Department for Transport Air Security jobsworths on whether a CPAP bag can be carried as a second piece of hand luggage (as was the position before the recent changes in carry-on rules).

After a first reply asking if the CPAP paraphenalia could be carried in the one piece of carry-on luggage permitted, and my reply of NO, the 'final' advice is as follows:-

"May I suggest that you speak to your airline or departure airport to make any special arrangements needed for the carriage of your equipment."

In other words they are passing the buck to the airline, with the inevitable scope for them to buck-pass back to the DfT and the circle will turn again.

Sir Humphrey from Yes Minister is alive and well!

I am flying Easyjet in April and again in September. I wrote to them direct and have got confirmation that I can take my machine with me as an additi8onal piece of hand luggage. They actually seemed to know what the machine was because they mentioned that as they only have european flights that I would probably not need to use it on the plane!

I've also got the standard letter from the hospital and I definitely would not want to put my machine in the hold. It is far to important to me to risk having it damaged or lost!

I'd always recommend anyone to check with their airline first.

I flew Easyjet in january with the hope of a weekend in the sun on the Costa Del Sol. (A storm hit when we were there! - Typical)

Had no problems at the airport, easyjet before hand would not confirm I could take it as extra carry on.

Security knew what it was when I said CPAP medical equipment. Even coming back there was no problem. Had to say medical equipment at the security check at Malaga and they looked at it closely through xray machine.

I have decided to buy a small trolley case to use as carry on, this way I can pack my cpap, extension lead etc in it and just take one piece (easier to carry) There should also be enough room for me to bring my mother enough brandy back to last her a month or two! (brought her 5 litres this time!)

Stuart

Recently flew Virgin to Dubai. I put the cpap in my 20 year old delsey plastic moulded case into the hold........no problems.

Only problem was that they use a mixture of 3 pin UK plugs and 3 pin round pin..........so had to plug in behind the telly in the room!



I have been using the cpap for a year now and seem to be getting better quality sleep as each month goes by.

Just wish I could shed some weight.

Just to add my recent experience... went to Paris last weekend on Jet2 from Leeds Bradford, my first travel with my CPAP machine.

Carried it in my cabin baggage - the Resmed bag is a handy size for on-board needs, if you store your hose and mask in your hold baggage instead.

Got pulled aside at Leeds on the way out since the guy on the xray machine had no idea what it was. After they searched through my bag they let me though no questions. Didn't need the pro forma letter I was carrying from my consultant. English airport security is all a bit strange these days with everyone having to take their shoes and belts off...

On the French side they were entirely civilised about everything, everyone gets to keep their clothes on and they let me through without a second glance. Which is just as well because my consultant's letter about CPAP and cabin baggage is of course only in English...

Went through Heathrow earlier this year with my ResMed; a young security guy said I had to put the bag inside my already overfull computer bag. As soon as I said what it was an older security person said fine, have a good flight. On the flight I had to change seats to find a socket that worked, the cabin crew were intrigued when I plugged it in and a passenger across the aisle immediately told me how he had had "the operation" and didn't need his CAP machine any more. Got about 4 hours sleep which was enough to see me through the next day.

John

If you look at the website Seat Guru, not only can you see which seats in the aircraft you are using have a power supply but you will also be able to see if the power supply is AC, DC or Empower (a third alternative, favoured amongst others by British Airways).

You will need a special adapter to use an Empower socket, and I got mine over the net. It's called a teleadapt and is an inflight power inverter which handles AC, DC AND has a special plug for empower. This was much cheaper than the model proposed by British Airways at the time in their 'Shopping on Board' publication.

Type in TELEADAPT and INFLIGHT POWER SOLUTIONS - the current price is £76.

Be aware that you usually have to travel in a higher class of ticket than basic economy to have access to a power point ... I found that World Traveller Plus on BA was well worth it for the comfort, and availability of power, but then it all depends on the length of your flight! You may also have to gently educate the cabin crew about your CPAP and reassure them that your wearing a mask does not mean that you are imminently about to expire!!!

Unfortunately you wont be able to tell whether the power to any particular equipped seat will be working until you plug something into it (see below). Seat power is not considered an essential service by airlines, so it not usual to find some seats on any flight in which the power supply is not working.

The BA 'Shopping on Board' device is a Teleadapt inverter!

For any flight on which you intend to use an xPAP device on board, you should advise the "Special handling" depatment at the airline concerned as far as possible in advance of the flight. This will serve to alert both the ground-side and air-side crews of your need for extra carry on, a seat with working power and the fact that you will be xPAP inflight, so everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Cheers,

Bill