Why flying with your CPAP-machine is no big deal

a travel CPAP on a tray table onboard an airplane


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a travel CPAP on a tray table onboard an airplane

Why flying with your CPAP-machine is no big deal

Rudy De Kort / 23 June 2022

1. CPAP-machines are considered a medical device

It won’t count as your personal carry-on or a personal item. You won’t be expected to give it away at the door of the aircraft if all the overhead bins are full, and you can often use it onboard, if you meet all the conditions of the airline. If you are on a full flight, you will likely be asked to keep it with you underneath a seat, rather than stowing it away in an overhead bin.

2. Be prepared if you plan to use a CPAP-device onboard

I don’t recommend going on a long-haul flight without the CPAP-machine, especially if you are flying at night, on a so called “Red eye flight”. Most airlines will allow you to use it onboard, as long as you carry a battery pack. They don’t want you to plug your CPAP in, as the power supply of the aircraft is meant to charge cell phones and small devices, and the voltage can be too unstable for the larger medical device to work properly in-flight. The airline might ask you for a negative COVID19-test, taken within 24 hours before boarding the flight, if the airline still has a masking policy onboard their aircraft. Make sure you call their customer service in advance to find out what their rules are. That way you won’t be disappointed.

3. Check your CPAP power supply

Instead of reaching your international destination, only to find out that your CPAP-machine can’t be plugged in, do a quick Google search. Most CPAP-machines come with a universal power supply that works with different voltages, but you’ll still need an adapter.  Don’t find out in your hotel-room, at bedtime, when everything is closed.

4. Be smart about your limited space

What looks small on your night table, can be too bulky in your carry-on or in the cramped space around your seat when you are flying. You can certainly carry the machine separately in its case, but if you also have a laptop or a child with you, that might not be very practical. Detach the humidifier if you can. It will save half the space, and lots of power too, especially if you are using a battery pack. And, you’ll also avoid any water damage when your machine is moved around. Use your tray table as your night table if you plan on sleeping with your CPAP-device.

5. Consider a travel CPAP

If you travel frequently, the investment will pay off. Travel models like the ResMed AirMini, Trascend3 or the Z2 Auto CPAP are about the size of a smartphone, and exceptionally lightweight. The tubing is also less bulky. Check which battery pack is compatible with your choice of travel CPAP, and how much battery life you can get based on the air pressures that you need. Portable battery packs like the Medstrom Pilot 24Lite, Freedom V2 and the ResMed RPS II are designed to support travel, with a CPAP machine. Order yours long before you travel, as the distribution of the batteries can be affected by  worldwide production delays. Once you try a travel CPAP out, you’ll never want to carry anything bigger on a flight.

6. Don’t ever pack your CPAP in your checked luggage

Baggage handlers generally don’t throw suitcases around, as airlines will start asking questions if they start receiving too many claims of damaged luggage at specific airports. It’s no guarantee though. Bags can accidentally fall from height, and baggage handlers are generally under tremendous time pressure when they get to your plane.  A highly refined CPAP- machine is easily damaged if your bag accidentally falls off a loader. If it happens, the first argument you’ll hear is that it should have never been packed in your suitcase in the first place.

7. Get the CPAP machine registered in your booking record

If you plan on using your CPAP onboard the airplane, the specific brand and model needs to be pre-approved by the airline. If you often travel with the same airline, you can have their customer service leave a note in your customer profile that you are flying with a pre-approved CPAP device. Airlines want to make sure that your specific model is on their list. Whenever they approve your machine, it will show in their booking system. Wait times are long, and you won’t necessarily save time by calling, but you don’t want to risk showing up at the airport with a machine that will not be allowed onboard. If you can’t get your device pre-approved, try to show up early at the check-in desk, so that the device can be cleared for travel.

8. Carry a letter

It’s not a guarantee that all airport staff will recognize a CPAP-machine. Like anywhere else, you could encounter inexperienced staff. Be prepared by asking your doctor to write a short statement that your CPAP-machine is essential for the treatment of your obstructive sleep apnea. You can also download a standard letter from the manufacturer’s website, in your language of choice. That letter will classify the machine as a medical device. If for whatever reason your machine gets damaged during your trip, that letter will prove useful as supporting documentation for your insurance claim as well.

9. Label your carrying case

There is a decent chance that your CPAP-machine is not the only one onboard your flight. They all look the same and so do the carrying cases. Can you imagine accidentally grabbing the wrong machine out of the overhead bin? It happens! But it’s not even the plane where it happens most. The spot where you should definitely follow your machine with your eyes without interruption is the security checkpoint. That’s where multiple identical CPAP-machines can end up side tracked on the same conveyer belt for additional inspection. Unless yours is marked somehow, it will be difficult to tell them apart.

10. Protect your breathing machine from germs

Security checkpoints are high frequency public places, and a hotspot for all kinds of micro-organisms.

Putting your CPAP-machine in a bin where everyone’s shoes go, is pretty nasty. I have seen many airports where those bins are just stacked up without being wiped down. To solve this problem, you can have your CPAP-device ready in a clear transparent plastic bag. The tubing or the mask will not be inspected separate from other items, so you can keep those in your bag. If you are asked to take the machine out of the transparent bag, you can politely refuse that, for reasons og hygiene and personal protection. The machines are often side-tracked anyway for swabbing for residues of concealed explosives.  Oh, and please don’t drop the word bomb at an airport security checkpoint. Ever.

11. In-flight power issues

The power outlets at your seat are meant for your phone charger, not a CPAP-machine. The power can be unstable. Some airlines will only allow you to use your own battery pack, which you can buy at any sleep clinic. Plugging in the battery pack should not be a problem. But in any case, if a flight attendant asks you to unplug it, please do so.

12. Don’t be embarrassed

If you feel uncomfortable using your CPAP-machine in your seat with 100+ random strangers around you, wear a hoodie or cover yourself with a blanket. But honestly, ask yourself these three questions:

What are the chances that you’ll ever see these passengers again somewhere else? If you do see them again, will they remember? If they remember…will they care?


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