Anyone use a CPAP on board?
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
Anyone use a CPAP on board?
I just got home after picking up some friends from YVR. One of them a wreck because she was forbidden by crew from using her CPAP and thus couldn't sleep. I don't know how many watts it draws but I would have thought that it wouldn't be more than the power supply of a laptop. it was in J on the 777-300ER from LHR. She used it without problem on the outbound flight on LH, in fact the FA even brought her an adapter.
i looked on the AC website but can't find specific info other than it's a 110V plug. Does anyone know if this denial was legitimate or yet another example of an overly officious FA, possibly senior.
i looked on the AC website but can't find specific info other than it's a 110V plug. Does anyone know if this denial was legitimate or yet another example of an overly officious FA, possibly senior.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
CPAP is permitted on the plane. The FA made an error.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin.../pop_cpap.html
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin.../pop_cpap.html
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Never home.
Posts: 2,971
AC Policy:
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
#4
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CPAP is permitted on the plane. The FA made an error.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin.../pop_cpap.html
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin.../pop_cpap.html
AC Policy:
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: YQL
Programs: AC S100K / AC-2MM
Posts: 402
Actually, the flight attendant did NOT make an error. Read further down in the link above:
Carry-on baggage restrictions:
Portable battery-powered medical devices are accepted as carry-on baggage only under the following conditions:
The device must not exceed 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9" x 16" x 22") in size and 10 kg (22 lb) in weight. If the device exceeds maximum allowable size or weight, it must be transported as checked baggage.
The in-seat power outlets in our aircraft are not designed for use with medical devices, which require constant current. For this reason, you may not use the in-seat power supply to power your CPAP, BPAP or other medical device during the flight, or to recharge the batteries for these devices.
As far as traveling with them, I have been traveling with my CPAP machine for years and hundreds of flights but I have never even tried to use it in flight for the above reason.
Carry-on baggage restrictions:
Portable battery-powered medical devices are accepted as carry-on baggage only under the following conditions:
The device must not exceed 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9" x 16" x 22") in size and 10 kg (22 lb) in weight. If the device exceeds maximum allowable size or weight, it must be transported as checked baggage.
The in-seat power outlets in our aircraft are not designed for use with medical devices, which require constant current. For this reason, you may not use the in-seat power supply to power your CPAP, BPAP or other medical device during the flight, or to recharge the batteries for these devices.
As far as traveling with them, I have been traveling with my CPAP machine for years and hundreds of flights but I have never even tried to use it in flight for the above reason.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
Air Canada, as with so many other issues, are totally anal about CPAP usage. Just as the OP's acquaintance experienced, I have happily used my CPAP on some J flights, whereas on a couple of other legs the FA decided to be a Nazi. That is one reason why I have stopped flying AC in J.
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
AC Policy:
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
"No medical approval is required for customers travelling with a CPAP or BPAP machine that is required for the treatment of sleep apnea only. However, you must contact Air Canada Reservations if you plan on bringing the machine on board with you, even if you will not be using it."
Did she alert AC in advance she would have it?
There are no batteries in a CPAP.
#8
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Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
Actually, the flight attendant did NOT make an error. Read further down in the link above:
Carry-on baggage restrictions:
Portable battery-powered medical devices are accepted as carry-on baggage only under the following conditions:
The device must not exceed 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9" x 16" x 22") in size and 10 kg (22 lb) in weight. If the device exceeds maximum allowable size or weight, it must be transported as checked baggage.
The in-seat power outlets in our aircraft are not designed for use with medical devices, which require constant current. For this reason, you may not use the in-seat power supply to power your CPAP, BPAP or other medical device during the flight, or to recharge the batteries for these devices.
As far as traveling with them, I have been traveling with my CPAP machine for years and hundreds of flights but I have never even tried to use it in flight for the above reason.
Carry-on baggage restrictions:
Portable battery-powered medical devices are accepted as carry-on baggage only under the following conditions:
The device must not exceed 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9" x 16" x 22") in size and 10 kg (22 lb) in weight. If the device exceeds maximum allowable size or weight, it must be transported as checked baggage.
The in-seat power outlets in our aircraft are not designed for use with medical devices, which require constant current. For this reason, you may not use the in-seat power supply to power your CPAP, BPAP or other medical device during the flight, or to recharge the batteries for these devices.
As far as traveling with them, I have been traveling with my CPAP machine for years and hundreds of flights but I have never even tried to use it in flight for the above reason.
I guess AC planes are special and different from most other airlines. Yet another reason to choose to fly AC.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
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Air Canada, as with so many other issues, are totally anal about CPAP usage. Just as the OP's acquaintance experienced, I have happily used my CPAP on some J flights, whereas on a couple of other legs the FA decided to be a Nazi. That is one reason why I have stopped flying AC in J.
You would do well to read the rules regarding CPAPs. You need Air Canada's PRIOR PERMISSION before even bringing CPAPs in your carry-on.
At no stage is there an indication that they may ever be used on board.
In fact, based upon the published rules, FAs would be quite within their rights to confiscate unauthorised CPAPs for the duration of the flight.
Furthermore, anyone using ANY electronics connected to the aircraft 110v ac power supply does so only with the permission of AC and not as a given right. Some electronics drawing too much current could in theory jeopardise the aircraft safety.
Last edited by tcook052; Sep 19, 2014 at 3:13 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: 100K
Posts: 444
Regardless of what anyone may feel about FAs, good or bad, your statement in calling some AC FA's Nazis because they obey the rules and do not permit you to break them is atrocious and disgusting.
You would do well to read the rules regarding CPAPs. You need Air Canada's PRIOR PERMISSION before even bringing CPAPs in your carry-on.
At no stage is there an indication that they may ever be used on board.
In fact, based upon the published rules, FAs would be quite within their rights to confiscate unauthorised CPAPs for the duration of the flight.
Furthermore, anyone using ANY electronics connected to the aircraft 110v ac power supply does so only with the permission of AC and not as a given right. Some electronics drawing too much current could in theory jeopardise the aircraft safety.
You would do well to read the rules regarding CPAPs. You need Air Canada's PRIOR PERMISSION before even bringing CPAPs in your carry-on.
At no stage is there an indication that they may ever be used on board.
In fact, based upon the published rules, FAs would be quite within their rights to confiscate unauthorised CPAPs for the duration of the flight.
Furthermore, anyone using ANY electronics connected to the aircraft 110v ac power supply does so only with the permission of AC and not as a given right. Some electronics drawing too much current could in theory jeopardise the aircraft safety.
#11
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if i plug a device that requires more current than the circuit can safely provide, a circuit breaker (fuse) would trip before any damage can be done. this might inconvenience people with other devices plugged into the same circuit since they would lose power until the circuit breaker were reset but i doubt it would present a danger.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
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i thought that's what fuses were for.
if i plug a device that requires more current than the circuit can safely provide, a circuit breaker (fuse) would trip before any damage can be done. this might inconvenience people with other devices plugged into the same circuit since they would lose power until the circuit breaker were reset but i doubt it would present a danger.
if i plug a device that requires more current than the circuit can safely provide, a circuit breaker (fuse) would trip before any damage can be done. this might inconvenience people with other devices plugged into the same circuit since they would lose power until the circuit breaker were reset but i doubt it would present a danger.
However, in the interest of safety, let me clarify. The whole point of fuses and breakers is to provide an emergency disconnect in the event of an accidental circuit overload; not to see how much you can connect before the lights go out!
Whether or not CPAPs or other medical devices can draw too much current on an aircraft's limited electrical resources I don't know.
However, the rules are there for a reason and AC's FAs should be commended for upholding the restriction. Ideally FAs should be able to shut off power to non-compliant passengers! Heavy handed maybe, but the option should be available as a last resort.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YSB & YAM, Northern Ontario, Canada
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Posts: 1,100
It's the lack of breakers, or overloaded or weak circuits that can be the problem. Unfortunately human nature being what it is, most people tend to reset a tripped breaker rather than investigate the cause.
Last edited by TemboOne; Sep 21, 2014 at 3:30 pm