Disability Travel - Using cpap on-board flight

I searched the forum and there are a few threads, primarily concerning carrying on cpap units as carry-on luggage. But the threads are very skimpy re actual usage, so a 'duplicate' post here.

I just started cpap for less than 1 month and will eventually be flying to Asia. Depending on my destinations, I could be in CX's non-stop from JFK to HK, or SQ on the non-stop to Singapore, or less appealing, JFK to Seoul on KAL. Since all are at least 15 hrs or longer, I would like to use cpap in-flight.

CX has a website page re using medical devices and I've spoken with the manufacturer of my cpap unit, Resmed. I am curious how many folks have actually used their cpap machine on board - more and more J and F class has direct AC power. On CX, they carry 115V, 400H AC which is ok for my Resmed machine (accordingly to Resmed).

And what procedure did you follow to get approval to use it on-board - advance notification, paperwork, etc.?

I searched the forum and there are a few threads, primarily concerning carrying on cpap units as carry-on luggage. But the threads are very skimpy re actual usage, so a 'duplicate' post here.

I just started cpap for less than 1 month and will eventually be flying to Asia. Depending on my destinations, I could be in CX's non-stop from JFK to HK, or SQ on the non-stop to Singapore, or less appealing, JFK to Seoul on KAL. Since all are at least 15 hrs or longer, I would like to use cpap in-flight.

CX has a website page re using medical devices and I've spoken with the manufacturer of my cpap unit, Resmed. I am curious how many folks have actually used their cpap machine on board - more and more J and F class has direct AC power. On CX, they carry 115V, 400H AC which is ok for my Resmed machine (accordingly to Resmed).

And what procedure did you follow to get approval to use it on-board - advance notification, paperwork, etc.?

First of all, it's great that you found out you needed it. I had to fight with my doctor here to even order a sleep study. I had had already done in India on a suggestion of a doctor in Delhi, but I couldn't use results of that to get a CPAP.
Some units are certified for use on aircraft. If your unit is certified for use on the aircraft you will be on, the airline should alow you to use it on board. The reality is quite different. The response you get from the airline depends on who answers your phone and how diligent they are in digging up information. Some airlines would allow you to use CPAP only if it runs on a battery (quite expensive at $400 or more). You can also attack the problem from Resmed end. Have them produce documentation to you as to which aircraft teir unit has been certified for. Requiring battery use makes no sense as seats with power points provide enough power from a CPAP (other than empower ones) nor is the EM radiation from a CPAP is not likey to be much more than that from a DVD drive on a laptop. After spending hours with the airline and the manufacturer, the best I could get was "You can use it on the aircraft if you run it on a battery, and NOT use aircraft power).
That said, you will not die if you don;t use CPAP for one night. I had an AHI of 93 with a pressure setting of 16 mm of water. DO you mind sharing what your numbers were. It does make a big difference once you start using it. My BP numbers became normal only after a week's use.

Three years ago I had a sleep study and started CPAP the day before a Virgin Atlantic flight LAX-LHR-CPT in PE. I called VA to ask if I could bring my machine with me in the cabin without it being counted as an extra carry-on. I was nervous putting it in my checked luggage. I DIDN'T ASK TO USE THE MACHINE DURING THE FLIGHT. They said no problem. I got to the check-in counter and the drama started. They said that they weren't sure I could fly because I had "Apneoa Syndrome" (their spelling) and I could stop breathing during the flight. I ended-up talking with some nurse from VA and I had to agree to keep my seat vertical for both flight segments from LAX-LHR-CPT. I also had to get a 'fit to fly" statement faxed by my EENT to VA. I was livid, but I agreed so that I could board my flight. I thought that was the end of it, but no. The same thing happened to me me in London when I was boarding my flight to Capetown, AND Capetown to London AND London to Los Angeles. I fly VA a lot; I just returned from South Africa three weeks ago and you can bet that I never mentioned CPAP. VA hasn't changed their policy as far as I know. They do not allow the use of CPAP with or without battery power. I would sure like to be able to use the machine when I fly UC, if not for me for my fellow passengers with my intense snoring.

I'm planning a trip to Chennai, India in April and I'm considering flying Singapore Air if they would let me use my machine instead of flying LAX-LHR-DEL and then taking a domestic carrier to Chennai (MAA).


First of all, it's great that you found out you needed it. I had to fight with my doctor here to even order a sleep study. I had had already done in India on a suggestion of a doctor in Delhi, but I couldn't use results of that to get a CPAP.
Some units are certified for use on aircraft. If your unit is certified for use on the aircraft you will be on, the airline should alow you to use it on board. The reality is quite different. The response you get from the airline depends on who answers your phone and how diligent they are in digging up information. Some airlines would allow you to use CPAP only if it runs on a battery (quite expensive at $400 or more). You can also attack the problem from Resmed end. Have them produce documentation to you as to which aircraft teir unit has been certified for. Requiring battery use makes no sense as seats with power points provide enough power from a CPAP (other than empower ones) nor is the EM radiation from a CPAP is not likey to be much more than that from a DVD drive on a laptop. After spending hours with the airline and the manufacturer, the best I could get was "You can use it on the aircraft if you run it on a battery, and NOT use aircraft power).
That said, you will not die if you don;t use CPAP for one night. I had an AHI of 93 with a pressure setting of 16 mm of water. DO you mind sharing what your numbers were. It does make a big difference once you start using it. My BP numbers became normal only after a week's use.

Three years ago I had a sleep study and started CPAP the day before a Virgin Atlantic flight LAX-LHR-CPT in PE. I called VA to ask if I could bring my machine with me in the cabin without it being counted as an extra carry-on. I was nervous putting it in my checked luggage. I DIDN'T ASK TO USE THE MACHINE DURING THE FLIGHT. They said no problem.

Never put it in your checked baggage. There are plenty of Youtube videos about what baggage handlers do with the bags for you to put an expensive piece of medical equipment -- but of course I am preaching to the choir.

You can bring a CPAP onboard as a 3rd piece of carry-on. I've never had to argue the point but it is in the airline regulations. I find of course that it is logistically problematic with the overcrowding of flights these days and have a carry-on that will hold the CPAP safely plus my clothes and then bring the laptop bag and I am good to go.

If you haven't already done so, I suggest you check out cpaptalk.com (http://www.cpaptalk.com) as well. Very helpful site for new hoseheads. :)

Good luck with your trip, and please report back afterwards how it went.

.....
That said, you will not die if you don;t use CPAP for one night. .......

True, but your seatmate and anyone else near you might not get much sleep. ;)

If you haven't already done so, I suggest you check out cpaptalk.com (http://www.cpaptalk.com) as well. Very helpful site for new hoseheads. :)

Thanks iff, I actually do read the cpaptalk.com forum. I just finished doing a search there and found lots of great information there. This is what I learned so far:

1. You are permitted to carry-on your cpap unit and it does not count toward the maximum 2 bag allowance (at least on domestic flights). Best to carry a couple of the TSA ruling letter, copy of your doctor's script as backup in case you run into an uneducated airline person.

2. CX (I'm still checking on Singapore Airlines and KAL) runs 115v, 400H AC power and my Resmed S8 autoelite II will operate properly. CX requires advance notice by phone (24 hrs). Others have successfully operated their cpap unit on Eva Air and Qantas.

3. If you can use a battery pack, that's preferred way...according to some but that adds weight.

4. You have less 'problems' if sitting in J or F class but it can be done in economy...


I'm planning a trip to Chennai, India in April and I'm considering flying Singapore Air

Look forward to hearing how your trip went. And I will post my experiences on this thread after my next trip.


Slightly OT but my brother checked his cpap in when flying JFK/HK, then China, etc., even though I told him not to. Fortunately nothing happened

Best to carry a couple of the TSA ruling letter, copy of your doctor's script as backup in case you run into an uneducated airline person.

Print out this page from the TSA site (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/cpap.shtm). ;) Also be sure to insist that the screener clean the table, use fresh sampling media, and put on a pair of new gloves (from the box, not pulled out of their back pocket).

Print out this page from the TSA site (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/cpap.shtm).


I think you mean the pdf file that can be downloaded from this page:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm - dated 2006 but still valid. ;)

Having a medical ID tag for your carry-on also helps. It can be downloaded here:
1. Heroic Red Star version http://www.mindspring.com/~jimw203@mindspring.com/to%20post/PAP-Tag_1.pdf

2. Authentic True-Believer Blue Star version http://www.mindspring.com/~jimw203@mindspring.com/to%20post/PAP-Tag_2.pdf

Print them and bring to Staples to get laminated tags made for $0.99 each!

Or you can purchase them on-line for about $10 each.

True, but your seatmate and anyone else near you might not get much sleep. ;)
Right. But the good news is that they won't die either. :)
If your machine is not certified for use on aircraft, you can't use it anyway.

Never put it in your checked baggage.

Amen, brother. Of all the flights I took in 2009, I did this maybe five times. I just wanted to get through the security check without having to unload countless items into the plastic bins. Then on one flight out of ORD, I got a random call from an unknown number. I was already in my seat and let the call go voicemail. Bad move on my part. It was American baggage claim at O'Hare telling me they had my bag. Ummm...do you think you can send it with me to DFW? When I got to DFW I told them to send that bag forward and it never came until the following morning. What a night. I will NEVER do that again.

Keep in mind that even though the USA allows a third carryon bag for your CPAP machine, other countries may not have such an allowance. I keep a copy of my prescription, and all the DOT and TSA paperwork with me just in case I need it. I also carry a 10 ft AC extension cord, too often I end up in a hotel room where the AC outlet is too far away to be of any good.

I've come to the point where I don't bother taking my CPAP machine out of it's case anymore at the security checkpoint. If they want to swab it down, let the TSA open the case! No complaints so far.

Just curious what machines fellow cpap users have here for travel? I'm looking for something very compact and portable that can fit in my roll aboard for those occasions that a third carryon is not permitted. Been thinking of getting myself this one:
http://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/aeiomed-everest-3-travel-cpap-machine.html
or this one:
http://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/probasics-zzz-pap-silent-traveler-cpap-machine.html

Just curious what machines fellow cpap users have here for travel? I'm looking for something very compact and portable that can fit in my roll aboard for those occasions that a third carryon is not permitted. Been thinking of getting myself this one:
http://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/aeiomed-everest-3-travel-cpap-machine.html
or this one:
http://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/probasics-zzz-pap-silent-traveler-cpap-machine.html
Re the first unit - check this review: http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22030&p=438093&hilit=+Zzz+PAP+#p438093

I'd be curious re which you ultimately get. I use a S8 AutoElite II - not too large to carry but anything smaller is always better.

My partner has used his CPAP machine several times on BA, but always in F or J - there are some good seats in J on the upper deck of 747s that are perfect for resting the machine. He used the inseat power, always asks the crew before using it, and has never had a problem.

BA's website is very clear and in stark contrast to backdoc's shocking Virgin experience states: "Medical clearance is not required for the carriage or use of CPAP machines (used in the treatment of sleep apnoea) as fitness to travel will not be in doubt." Laptop power is rated at 75w and as long as your device needs less than that you are fine, although BA do not guarantee that they will be in service and suggest you use a battery-powered machine if necessary.

I have been flying with a BiPap for a little more than a year now. Last year 7 international r/t flights on UA, mostly in C with two legs Y. UA has an AeroMedical Desk staffed with terrific agents. They require a minimum of 48 hours notice to set up electrical for the flight. They will tell you if you have an approved machine. On planes without in-seat power UA will bring power to your seat, but you must have an original manufacturer cigarette lighter adapter for your equipment. Mine cost about $30 for my $5000 machine.

When UA came out with their new seats in F & C that had the in-seat power (currently the 747 and 767) initially they still brought power to the seat because their engineering department had not yet approved the in-seat power for medical equipment use. They subsequently approved it, however. This has made travelling overseas very easy for me. I just wish I had a humidifier option on my machine.

The best part, however, is when you are stuck in Y on a 14 hour transpac and are the only one with power! I have an adapter for my laptop and iPhone as well and when I wasn't using my machine I was able to charge my other equipment (and that of my friends who were along on the trip). On UA, mechanics board the plane first and plug a long extension cord into the outlet by the door that the cleaners use for their vacuum cleaners, run an extension cord to an inverter box, which they place under the seat in front of you or under your seat. The cord is taped down with FAA approved airplane tape (kind of a duct tape on steriods). For the return portion of your international flight they fly the box over to your departure airport on the plane that you return on and mechanics at that airport install it for the return flight. They always let you board before the engineers leave to test the equipment. There has been one or two occasions where the inverter box didn't work and required some tinkering.

One of the reasons I did not go on the *A Mega DO was the different airline rules for medical equipment use on board. With all the different carriers involved, it would have been a nightmare to deal with. That is one reason I am very happy to stay with UA on overnight international flights. They have made flying with medical issues very easy.

While CPaps and BiPaps are prescribed for similar illnesses, equipment varies. My BiPap is more like a mini-respirator, which explains the cost. While some may not die from not using their CPaps, I can die from not using my BiPap. So I would not necessary heed the medical advice tossed around in this thread and would instead ask my treating physician how harmful it would be to you if you went without the CPap for a night while flying.

If your machine is not certified for use on aircraft, you can't use it anyway.


I don't understand that. I'm quite certain none of my laptop, Zune, DVD player, GameBoy, hairdryer, cellphone charger, or any one of hundreds of other "portable electronic devices" have been "certified for use on aircraft". What's special about a CPAP machine that differentiates it from from any other portable electronic device and requires certification?

That's a very good question. I also don't understand why TSA thinks they need to swab a CPAP machine but not a laptop or other electronic equipment. But I have found they are at least generally pleasant about it.

I haven't tried to use my machine on-board. i can't sleep well on planes anyway, even with a lie-flat seat. I can nap a bit but don't ever really sleep.

Interesting thread.

I've been using CPAP since 2004 and have literally flown around the world with it and generally my only issue is dealing the CO Red Coats whilst standing in line at security. At least a few of those trips were on Virgin, without issue, but that would have been when I was working in London some 3 years or so ago.

I'm tired (in many ways) of paying for a nice seat in Business and still not being able to sleep very well, so I'm in the market for a new CPAP just for in-flight use.

I just got off the phone with CO and was told that no CPAPs had been FAA approved and no CPAP usage is permitted without said approval.

However, now that I see UA has some flexibility, and now that CO and UA have an alliance, I'm going to throw business in UA's direction.

Of note: I second the extension cord recommendation. I've had to move the bed and place the CPAP on the floor to reach the plug in more than one hotel.

I just flew ATL to LHR BE in one of the new 764 planes which I figured would be ideal for trying CPAP use on board. However, after much consultation, the onboard flight leader found a section in their manual which said that CPAP could not be used on board.

However, now that I see UA has some flexibility, and now that CO and UA have an alliance, I'm going to throw business in UA's direction.


From a similar Cathay Pacific Airlines thread on FT as well as cpaptalk.com, it's hit and miss with airlines. Some extremely helpful, other's don't give a darn.

This might help:

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t48598/CPAP-and-Travel.html

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t46934/ever-use-machine-DURING-flight.html

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t47138/flying-in-airplane-with-cpap.html

http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t45678/A-CPAP-that-will-work-on-long-haul-flights.html

I have been using a CPAP for the last 10 years or so and find that it is becoming more and more complicated to use a CPAP on longhaul thanks to the rise in would-be air terrorist technology. The following pointers may help.

1. ALWAYS carry your machine in your handbaggage ...... even if you then need to put other things in the hold. That way you are never separated from your machine - even if your luggage goes on a voyage of its own - and do not risk your machine being thrown by baggage handlers (sorry baggage handlers but it does happen and I've actually seen this myself) or falling off the loading ramp between the plane and the truck (again I've seen this for myself).

2. Read up on the rules for your airline or ask. At the time of writing,

BA didn't allow the use of CPAPs in WT+ using their mains power points because the machines supposedly draw more than computer laptops from the power supply available (so it's no use paying extra for the privilege of a plug!). They have no objection to you using them in any class as long as you are using an independent battery.

AF allow their use, but solely on battery and the make and model of your CPAP has to be declared at the time of ticket purchase and then agreed as being suitable for use inflight (YES even with a battery power source).

AC seem relatively clued up on their website, and it would seem that you can use mains power ............... but, once you get on board, you may need a battery pack anyway because they start to use the argument above, as exemplified by BA.

Note that some BA planes still use EMPOWER sockets which need a special plug. It's worth looking at www.seatguru.com in my experience to see if your plane has a plug at your seat and what type of power is supplied.

I have found that using a laptop battery gives me 5.5 hours charge for using a CPAP at 13 mB pressure - sufficient for a short transatlantic flight plus meals. Recharge time is 3 hours.

Incidentally BA in SFO were the most paranoid ground staff I've ever met (2007) and whose flapping resulted in great personal distress and 19 days of lost baggage, because of their insistence that my CPAP was not allowed as hand baggage as they said it would explode inflight (!!!!), and my insistance (backed by the Homeland Security team THANKS FOLKS!!!) that it was in no way dangerous and that I would not be separated from it. It travelled with me, I used it in flight and I and the other members of the public and crew using that service are still alive to tell the tale.

Please make sure that you check with your airline before you travel.

So in short:

Take enough battery power to last you in case of lack of power (because your seat power point is never guaranteed to be in service ... little catch-all clause in the T&C ...) and the right adapter for your flight and your destination.

Take an extension lead, because invariably the plugs in your hotel room are on the wall opposite the bed, and I can't be bothered every time to change the layout of the room and move the bed to get to the power point ........ plus you get to see what's never been vacuumed from underneath the bed and that isn't a pretty sight.

Take a letter from your doctor (on headed paper) stating that you have been medically prescribed CPAP treatment and for health reasons, you need to have it available at all times.

I often explain to those sharing a row with me about my CPAP before I use it, so that noone panics when they see me using a mask. I also inform the cabin crew member serving my part of the cabin out of courtesy, and found that they appreciate it ... and can wake me if I don't hear landing announcements etc because once I've got the gear on, I usually sleep very well!

Good luck, sleep well and happy landings!

I don't understand that. I'm quite certain none of my laptop, Zune, DVD player, GameBoy, hairdryer, cellphone charger, or any one of hundreds of other "portable electronic devices" have been "certified for use on aircraft". What's special about a CPAP machine that differentiates it from from any other portable electronic device and requires certification?

I too don't understand the reason why CPAP has to be certified for use on aircraft, but that's the line taken by the airlines, possibly due to ignorance. Surely, electromagnetic signature of a laptop, Gameboy, DS or PSP will be different from that of CPAP, ( CPAP might have a peak in a different region of the spectrum), but total energy in the siignature cannot exceed the power drawn by the unit. One difference between a CPAP and other gadgets you mentioned is that some of the energy of those devices goes in display while for a CPAP,. all of the energy goes into driving the motor (pump). Whether peak of the electromagnetic signature of a CPAP lies in an objectionable part of the spectrum or exceeds a set limit, I cannot say.

Yesterday morning (Sunday) I transited through JFK as I had to spend the night in a hotel at JFK due to bad weather at DCA. I arrived at the airport around 10:30 a.m. to find, to my pleasant surprise a deserted security checkpoint. As usual, I took out my laptop and my CPAP and put them in separate bins. For the first time, they did not take a swab off my CPAP to test it for explosives.

2. Read up on the rules for your airline or ask. At the time of writing,

BA didn't allow the use of CPAPs in WT+ using their mains power points because the machines supposedly draw more than computer laptops from the power supply available (so it's no use paying extra for the privilege of a plug!). They have no objection to you using them in any class as long as you are using an independent battery.

I have found that using a laptop battery gives me 5.5 hours charge for using a CPAP at 13 mB pressure - sufficient for a short transatlantic flight plus meals. Recharge time is 3 hours.



Tnanks for your detailed input with lots of good advice.
I don't see how they can say that a CPAP draws more power than a laptop. My CPAP's power adapter has an input of 1.2 Amp max at 100-240 V (A.C.) with an output of 4.16 Amps at 12 V (D.C.), while my netbook's power adapter has the same input as the CPAP and output of 2 Amp at 20V. Bigger laptops with an optical drive will consume more power. My Toshiba power adapter has an input of 100-240 V at 1,8 Amp and an output of 3.42 Amp at 19 V. I have tried to reason this point with NW people without any success. I don't think laptops use any shielding or more shielding than CPAP. I am inclined to think it's just because no one has produced documentation to the airlines about power usage of CPAP, they are skeptical and can get away with disallowing powering CPAP from aircraft power as the number of people wanting to use their laptop far exceeds those wanting to use CPAP on aircraft.

I use similar pressure as yours 14 cm of water (14 mb). How do you draw power from your laptop battery? is there an adapter you use? I have a laptop battery from an expired (dead) laptop. How would I charge it without the laptop?

I don't see how they can say that a CPAP draws more power than a laptop.

Neither can I! It's probably just their 'get-out' clause!

I went to a specialist battery shop and asked for a supplemental lbattery suitable for a laptop. It came with a charger lead to attach it to the mains supply and a separate lead to connect the charged battery to the cpap. It is about the size of a small paperback book and is light. It cost me about 170€ (I live in France) but Maplins in the UK sell one about the size of an A4 sheet of paper for about £80.

Make sure you take your cpap technical manual to the battery shop to check the voltage required. The consumption of your CPAP and the pressure you use it at plus the capacity of the battery can give you some idea of how long the charged battery can run your cpap. Make sure you know how long the battery needs to be recharged.

I hope that this helps. I sit my battery on top of my CPAP on the dropdown table and there are no trailing leads .......... just my hose!!

Happy landings!

Bad news from another forum:


Don't bother trying to fly overseas on Continental Airlines using your CPAP machine on board. Their customer service informed me that my AEIOMed Everest 3 CPAP machine with integrated battery cannot be used on the plane, since the machine "has not undergone RTCA Document (DO)-160 testing. This test would be performed by the manufacturer and would report if a device has
or has not been found to exceed the maximum level of radiated radio frequency interference in all modes of operation." Upon contacting AEIOMed, I was informed that they would not conduct such a test due to the expense. Additionally, you are not allowed to plug any CPAP machine into the on board AC power even in Business/First class...so if you fly Continental on long business flights like me, you are out of luck in the sleep department. It looks like Delta Airlines has the same policy.

Bad news from another forum:


Don't bother trying to fly overseas on Continental Airlines using your CPAP machine on board. Their customer service informed me that my AEIOMed Everest 3 CPAP machine with integrated battery cannot be used on the plane, since the machine "has not undergone RTCA Document (DO)-160 testing. This test would be performed by the manufacturer and would report if a device has
or has not been found to exceed the maximum level of radiated radio frequency interference in all modes of operation." Upon contacting AEIOMed, I was informed that they would not conduct such a test due to the expense. Additionally, you are not allowed to plug any CPAP machine into the on board AC power even in Business/First class...so if you fly Continental on long business flights like me, you are out of luck in the sleep department. It looks like Delta Airlines has the same policy.

This is really stupid. I ran into something similar too, with a different flavour. The manufacturer calimed that their unit met the emission standards while NW claimed they had nothing on file for that unit. Further digging revealed that an earlier version of basically the same unit met the standards, because of which the manufacturer claimed that the new and improved unit would too. It is indeed expensive to perform a laboratory tests and compile results of the tests. Manufacturers are willing to go through the expense of testing if the payback is big, for example equipment that goes on military platforms such as ships submarines and aircraft. I don't know what the emission limits are. But we do know that these units consume power in the range of hundred watts. As I said, I don;t know what the standards are, and how they are specified. Typically radiated power at one meter from the source is used in many applications. Two motors consuming the similar power will have similar total radiated power. But you cannot make them understand. I have tried. If Model A meets the standards and model B is similar, model B should be OK too. But no luck.


I see only three possible solutions: Making the Govt to recognise the need for allowing use of CPAP on board so that

The Government forces the manufacturer to provide some models that have undergone tested and that all models be clearly labelled if they meet emission standards
Govt bearing the cost of testing.
Forcing the airlines to maintain a list of units that meet emission standards. If a manufacturer provides test results, the airline should either accept them or condcut its own tests to confirm or disprove manufacturer's claims.

I have a few thoughts and a question or two about CPAP and aircraft.
Does anyone here use a bipap or a vpap?

I had my annual sleep study a few weeks ago. I had been using CPAP for about 18 months. The good news is that my AHI index was halved from mid 90's per hour to mid 40's per hour. I have lost about 45 lbs during that period.
Despite my AHI index going down, the pressure setting had to be increased. Prior setting of pressure I was using did not eliminate all obstructive events, but the doctor had recommended that pressure since I was new to CPAP and the pressure setting of 16cm was high enough that a new user might not be able to tolerate the pressure. Now my pressure setting is 20 cm of water column. I was unable to tolerate it during exhalation. So within three weeks of the last sleep study, I was sent in for another titration using a bibap.
I was curious about the significance of the pressure. What does a pressure of 20 cm of water column in access of the atmospheric pressure mean?

I have two practical answers.

My brother, who was a chief engineer on oil tankers told me, they used a pressure of 20 cm in piping for air supply, on the ships to keep the pipes clean, i.e. to keep corrosion from building up on the inside walls of the pipes.

For Flyertalk, a better analogy would be in terms of aircraft. I did a simple calculation and the result was quite impressive. I had an inkling the pressure would be within an order of magnitude of that required to lift an aircraft off the ground. If the pressure of 20 cm of water column (2% of the atmospheric pressure) was uniformly applied to the underside of the wings of a Boeing 747-400 ER, i.e., the pressure difference between the upper and the lower surface of the wings was 20 cm of water column, it would be sufficient to lift an aircraft the size of a Boeing 747-400 ER that weighed 26% of the maximum take off weight of the aircraft. Quite a daunting thought.
Even an empty Boeing 747-400 ER weigh more than the weight that could could be lifted by a pressure of 20 cm of water column. The pressure is enough to lift a weight more than twice the number of passengers and their luggage of a fully loaded Boeing 747-400-ER

I was using a Respirnoics CPAP, but now I am using a Resmed Vpap Auto25, that the vendor has loaned me pending results of the second titration.

20 cm of H2O is about 0.28 PSI...pretty light. About 7.75 inches H2O, in the terms that I think in. My Respironics has a ramp feature, and I've played with the settings. Originally it was set to start at 5 in and ramp to 10 over 45 minutes. Over a few years I've gotten really used to it, and now start at 7 and do a 20 min ramp to 10.5 inches (about 26.6 cm). I know people that are a lot higher...

But yeah, a little force applied in a lot of places can move a heck of a lot. My 10.5 inches/0.36 PSI over 1 square foot (144 sq inches) is about 52 pounds of force...

RFTraveler

20 cm of H2O is about 0.28 PSI...pretty light. About 7.75 inches H2O, in the terms that I think in. My Respironics has a ramp feature, and I've played with the settings. Originally it was set to start at 5 in and ramp to 10 over 45 minutes. Over a few years I've gotten really used to it, and now start at 7 and do a 20 min ramp to 10.5 inches (about 26.6 cm). I know people that are a lot higher...

But yeah, a little force applied in a lot of places can move a heck of a lot. My 10.5 inches/0.36 PSI over 1 square foot (144 sq inches) is about 52 pounds of force...

RFTraveler

I am not sure what you meant by "20 cm of water pressure is pretty light". An excess pressure of 20 cm of water column will feel pretty light on the your palm, the force of about 2 pound force. A little pressure applied over a large area, can produce a large force, which is not the same thing as applying a little force in lots of places. Little forces applied in lots of places can produce no net force. Intra-molecular forces, or electrostatic forces between electrons, for example, produces no net force. ;)
My Respironics had a ramp feature also. It ramped up from 4 cm to 16 cm over a course of 45 minutes or so. After a few months of use, I stopped using the ramp feature, since I didn't want to weight for 45 minutes to find out my mask was leaking. I was able to tolerate 16 cm pf pressure without ramping it up from 4 cm.
water pressure of 10 in is pretty high. I have not come across anyone with a pressure that high. When I was at 16cm, I had the highest pressure among those in a support group for people with OSA.
Have you got any problems with your mask? You need a very good mask at a pressure like yours.

What I mean is that, according to my doctor, my sleep issues are fairly moderate, and that the setting of 10 in H2O was fairly conservative. And, I've had friends much higher... However, since you posted I've done a bit of web searching and see that at least one website describes the average pressure for CPAP therapy as 10 cm, or around 4 inches. Guess it's time to chat with my doctor again. Weird thing is, although the CPAP does test as accurate, 10" feels really low to me...not like when I started therapy, when 10 felt like it was popping my ears etc when it came on. As mentioned above, I've actually had it in to confirm the setting.

I use a full face mask, as I tend to have a lot of sinus issues. I might be able to use a nasal mask now, but when I started, I was having a lot of problems with open-mouth...

RFT

Boy, do I feel like an idiot...

I looked really close at the display, and it's 10.5 cm H2O, not inches...

Sorry...

RFT :(

Boy, do I feel like an idiot...

I looked really close at the display, and it's 10.5 cm H2O, not inches...

Sorry...

RFT :(
Don't feel bad. Anyone can make a mistake. NASA lost a $125 million mars orbiter due to the same issue of conversion between metric and English units. Traditionally scientists, especially physicists, use metric units while engineers, structural, mechanical etc. are more at home with feet pounds and seconds, along with BTu's. Lockheed provided data in English units, which NASA assumed was in metric units. ;)

What I mean is that, according to my doctor, my sleep issues are fairly moderate, and that the setting of 10 in H2O was fairly conservative. And, I've had friends much higher... However, since you posted I've done a bit of web searching and see that at least one website describes the average pressure for CPAP therapy as 10 cm, or around 4 inches. Guess it's time to chat with my doctor again. Weird thing is, although the CPAP does test as accurate, 10" feels really low to me...not like when I started therapy, when 10 felt like it was popping my ears etc when it came on. As mentioned above, I've actually had it in to confirm the setting.

I use a full face mask, as I tend to have a lot of sinus issues. I might be able to use a nasal mask now, but when I started, I was having a lot of problems with open-mouth...

RFT
I chose a full face mask also primarily because even if my sinuses had some issue, I would still get appropriate therapy. My respiratory therapist had set my CPAP unit to not sound an alarm if it detected a leak. I found out after a week, that my usage was skewed with 50 hours of CPAP usage, I had received only 4.5 hours of therapy, which meant the mask was leaking 90% of the time. :(
I then set the unit to sound an alarm if it detected a (steady) leak. I was able to find ways to adjust the mask so that there was no leak. After a few months the straps had been tightened so much that the mask left a mark on face that lasted most of the day, my neck started to hurt and the mask would still leak. My beard did not help either. The mask had to be adjusted almost every day as the beard grew. I tried nasal pillow, I guess that's what you call nasal mask. I did not like that at all. I felt that the air was rushing too fast through my nostrils. I then found a mask made by Resmed, called Activa. The air pressure inside the mask creates a seal between the face and the mask. It worked perfectly, until I got the bipap/vpap. The two nights that I have used it so far there have been many leak alerts, on an average of about 3 per hour. Changing the orientation of the face usually eliminates the leak.
I take it we are in agreement that a pressure of 16 cm of water is not light?
So the question becomes, "who is a candidate for a BiPAP machine?". In general anyone with a relatively high CPAP pressure setting is a candidate for bilevel therapy. For example, if a CPAP user is prescribed a CPAP pressure setting of 16 cm H2O, then the maximum pressure support (or pressure relief) you could expect to experience with a technology like C-Flex is a drop of approximately 3 cm H2O, leaving you with the task of exhaling against a pressure of 13 cm H2O. For some CPAP users, an exhalation pressure of 13 cm H2O is uncomfortable. For others, it's simply just not possible.
A closer look at bipaps. (http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=139)
When I was first diagnosed with OSA, my biggest concern was whether I would be able to tolerate the pressure during exhalation. I asked the person who gave me the CPAP if I needed a bipap. She told me that the unit they gave me is what the doctor prescribed. I thought she, as well my doctor, both were a part of the sleep lab. This past week, I found out it wasn't so. The person, who I thought was my respiratory therapist, actually worked for a vendor that the sleep lap works with, and is an approved vendor for many insurance companies. The vendor sells a limited variety CPAP units. By limiting the number of types and manufacturers, the vendor presumptively gets a better deal and is also able to, at least, claim, that they can provided a better service at a lower cost. Having a vendor rep on site in the sleep lap helps patients as they get the therapy unit and service from the same place. I wanted to get a unit that has an integrated battery with the CPAP unit but I couldn't because the vendor did not supply or stock them.
On the other hand, whenever I have an issue with the mask, I go to the sleep lab and see the therapist/vendor rep. I get to try different masks without having to buy one.
I have not found a bipap/vpap that has an integrated battery. There is a cpap with a battery though. AEIOmed makes a CPAP Unit, Integrated Humidifier, Battery Pack and DC Power Adapter (http://www.bestcpapprice.com/Everest-3-Campers-Special--CPAP-Unit-Integrated-Humidifier-Battery-Pack-and-DC-Power-Adapter_p_426.html) for just over $500, which would be ideal for travellers as some airlines allow you to use a CPAP with a battery only.

I have noticed that swallow some air during the night. Most mornings, I announce my arousal a big burp..

What I mean is that, according to my doctor, my sleep issues are fairly moderate, and that the setting of 10 in H2O was fairly conservative. And, I've had friends much higher... However, since you posted I've done a bit of web searching and see that at least one website describes the average pressure for CPAP therapy as 10 cm, or around 4 inches. Guess it's time to chat with my doctor again. Weird thing is, although the CPAP does test as accurate, 10" feels really low to me...not like when I started therapy, when 10 felt like it was popping my ears etc when it came on. As mentioned above, I've actually had it in to confirm the setting.

I use a full face mask, as I tend to have a lot of sinus issues. I might be able to use a nasal mask now, but when I started, I was having a lot of problems with open-mouth...

RFT

You can always try a chin strap with a nasal mask, or some people even use Poligrip tape to tape their lips together. :p Opening your mouth when using a CPAP is the worst type of cotton mouth you can have. LOL!
I love my little Resmed machine. Even though my pressure is pretty high I don't have any problems exhaling against it, it's got the EPR feather that lowers the pressure automatically when you're exhaling so you're not trying to fight a tornado when you're breathing out. I only used the ramp feature for a couple of nights, now I just start out at full throttle and fall asleep within minutes.
I have tried a variety of masks and the one I love the best is the Ultra Mirage II. I have an Activa and really love it, except that it kills the bridge of my nose and I can only stand to wear it a couple of nights before my nose is almost blistered. I want to try one of the gel masks, those look pretty comfy.
There are several sleep forums on line, but the best one I've found so far is on www.cpap.com They sell everything from machines to masks to accessories and have a great forum where you can get answers about anything related to OSA and equipment.

Don't feel bad. Anyone can make a mistake. NASA lost a $125 million mars orbiter due to the same issue of conversion between metric and English units. Traditionally scientists, especially physicists, use metric units while engineers, structural, mechanical etc. are more at home with feet pounds and seconds, along with BTu's. Lockheed provided data in English units, which NASA assumed was in metric units. ;)


I chose a full face mask also primarily because even if my sinuses had some issue, I would still get appropriate therapy. My respiratory therapist had set my CPAP unit to not sound an alarm if it detected a leak. I found out after a week, that my usage was skewed with 50 hours of CPAP usage, I had received only 4.5 hours of therapy, which meant the mask was leaking 90% of the time. :(
I then set the unit to sound an alarm if it detected a (steady) leak. I was able to find ways to adjust the mask so that there was no leak. After a few months the straps had been tightened so much that the mask left a mark on face that lasted most of the day, my neck started to hurt and the mask would still leak. My beard did not help either. The mask had to be adjusted almost every day as the beard grew. I tried nasal pillow, I guess that's what you call nasal mask. I did not like that at all. I felt that the air was rushing too fast through my nostrils. I then found a mask made by Resmed, called Activa. The air pressure inside the mask creates a seal between the face and the mask. It worked perfectly, until I got the bipap/vpap. The two nights that I have used it so far there have been many leak alerts, on an average of about 3 per hour. Changing the orientation of the face usually eliminates the leak.
I take it we are in agreement that a pressure of 16 cm of water is not light?

A closer look at bipaps. (http://www.cpap-supply.com/Articles.asp?ID=139)
When I was first diagnosed with OSA, my biggest concern was whether I would be able to tolerate the pressure during exhalation. I asked the person who gave me the CPAP if I needed a bipap. She told me that the unit they gave me is what the doctor prescribed. I thought she, as well my doctor, both were a part of the sleep lab. This past week, I found out it wasn't so. The person, who I thought was my respiratory therapist, actually worked for a vendor that the sleep lap works with, and is an approved vendor for many insurance companies. The vendor sells a limited variety CPAP units. By limiting the number of types and manufacturers, the vendor presumptively gets a better deal and is also able to, at least, claim, that they can provided a better service at a lower cost. Having a vendor rep on site in the sleep lap helps patients as they get the therapy unit and service from the same place. I wanted to get a unit that has an integrated battery with the CPAP unit but I couldn't because the vendor did not supply or stock them.
On the other hand, whenever I have an issue with the mask, I go to the sleep lab and see the therapist/vendor rep. I get to try different masks without having to buy one.
I have not found a bipap/vpap that has an integrated battery. There is a cpap with a battery though. AEIOmed makes a CPAP Unit, Integrated Humidifier, Battery Pack and DC Power Adapter (http://www.bestcpapprice.com/Everest-3-Campers-Special--CPAP-Unit-Integrated-Humidifier-Battery-Pack-and-DC-Power-Adapter_p_426.html) for just over $500, which would be ideal for travellers as some airlines allow you to use a CPAP with a battery only.

I have noticed that swallow some air during the night. Most mornings, I announce my arousal a big burp..

I can so relate to that! Being that this is mostly a flying forum, you can compare it to a rapid decompression on an airplane! LOL

Tried the chin strap with the nasal mask (the one that uses air pressure to make the seal. Never could get it right, and with my sinus issues, sometimes end up breathing through my mouth anyway... You're right: the pressure-driven open mouth dryness is unbelievable. I felt like if I held my breath with my mouth open, the air ran in my nose, turned around and went right back out my mouth.

Like I described, I kicked up the low pressure on the ramp by a few cm and shortened the ramp time way up. And at that, I often just start on full.

It's also pretty crazy - I had felt for weeks that the pressure was too low, even had it calibrated at the place I got it (was like 0.1 cm low). When I figured out how to kick it up just 1/2 cm, I actually slept better...and that experiment was a whole lot cheaper than another study! I may try a little more experimentation...

I use an Ultra Mirage also and am pretty happy with it. Awkward to travel with the whole mess, but I've got it pretty much down now. The one trip where I forgot the power adapter was kinda uncomfortable, though.

RFTraveler

some people even use Poligrip tape to tape their lips together.

<raising hand> Count me among them! It works well for me, but my pressure isn't all that high. My Ultra Mirage II wasn't working for me anymore, and I was happy to switch to nasal pillows but needed to make sure my mouth stayed closed.

I second the recommendation of cpap.com (http://www.cpap.com) and their forum cpaptalk.com (http://www.cpaptalk.com).

And might I draw your attention to the excellent British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association who have an excellent website and forums http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk

I'm so happy to have found this thread. I've just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and planning a 3 wk trip to europe this summer mostly getting around by train...which means i'm limited as far as luggage etc. the unit i have takes up almost 1/3 of my luggage. So the information about the smaller /lighter unit sounds great..I'm going to run it by my doc. I do have another question..I was thinking about bringing some sort of power strip...which would be equivalent to an extension cord.. i have converter of course..would this overstress a converter..especially if i was charging something (computer whatever) while i was sleeping. (I am from US).

Has anyone had experience with carrying on/ using on AA flight??

And the next biggie: Canada. I'm going to Canada in 2 months...They apparently have some draconian security measures and restrictions in place...anyone have experience with Canada-Us travel?? Thanks in advance.

Pat

[/I][/B]

I can so relate to that! Being that this is mostly a flying forum, you can compare it to a rapid decompression on an airplane! LOL

Similar, but not quite. Difference is that between $10k and a million $. Both sums represent large amount of money.
In an aircraft decompression at 30,000 ft, pressure drops by 400 cm, hundred times the difference in a bipap, Decompression from 20 cm of pressure is 20 times less than that in an aircraft decompression.

You can always try a chin strap with a nasal mask, or some people even use Poligrip tape to tape their lips together. :p Opening your mouth when using a CPAP is the worst type of cotton mouth you can have. LOL!
I love my little Resmed machine. Even though my pressure is pretty high I don't have any problems exhaling against it, it's got the EPR feather that lowers the pressure automatically when you're exhaling so you're not trying to fight a tornado when you're breathing out. I only used the ramp feature for a couple of nights, now I just start out at full throttle and fall asleep within minutes.
I have tried a variety of masks and the one I love the best is the Ultra Mirage II. I have an Activa and really love it, except that it kills the bridge of my nose and I can only stand to wear it a couple of nights before my nose is almost blistered. I want to try one of the gel masks, those look pretty comfy.
There are several sleep forums on line, but the best one I've found so far is on www.cpap.com They sell everything from machines to masks to accessories and have a great forum where you can get answers about anything related to OSA and equipment.
Oh tell me about the cottonmouth. My new bipap, which I have used for only two nights has been beeping a lot due to air leaks. I have also been having really bad cotton mouth. I need to start using the chin strap that I bought a few months ago. I never had a problem of opening mouth until my pressure was raised. Thanks for the link. I used to sleep with the full face Mirage Quatro. I prefer a full face mask as it works even when you have a cold and you have to breath through the mouth. It leaked a lot.
<raising hand> Count me among them! It works well for me, but my pressure isn't all that high. My Ultra Mirage II wasn't working for me anymore, and I was happy to switch to nasal pillows but needed to make sure my mouth stayed closed.

I second the recommendation of cpap.com (http://www.cpap.com) and their forum cpaptalk.com (http://www.cpaptalk.com).
Thanks for the link. I tried nasal pillows, but I couldn't tolerate it as my pressure was quite high and now it's higher.

And might I draw your attention to the excellent British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association who have an excellent website and forums http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk
Thanks Alsaciene. British masks have to have a different design to make accommodations for their accent in snoring. ;)

To Yaatri ...;)^

Technically, there are no "certified" CPAP machines, at least as that term is defined at law.

The Air Carrier Access Act does give you the right to use your CPAP, but only if that CPAP has undergone rigorous testing approved by the FAA.

Carriers, except for on-demand air taxi operators, who conduct passenger services must allow, on all aircraft with a capacity of more than 19 seats, any passenger with a disability to use a ventilator, respirator, CPAP machine, or an FAA-approved POC, unless either the device does not meet FAA requirements for medical portable electronic devices and does not display a manufacturer’s label that indicates the device meets those FAA requirements or the device cannot be stowed and used in the passenger cabin consistent with TSA, FAA, and PHMSA regulations. emphasis mine.

The testing is cost prohibitive, hence none are certified and none bear the required label.

Read more about the ACAA here (http://www.bcm.edu/ilru/dlrp/html/publications/ebulletins/legal/2009/may2009.html).

Some airlines maintain their own list, but that list is not ubiquitous across all carriers.

RE: Delta. I witnessed a man using a Everest 3 on a fairly recent NRT-JFK, so perhaps there is some leeway?

Technically, there are no "certified" CPAP machines, at least as that term is defined at law.

The Air Carrier Access Act does give you the right to use your CPAP, but only if that CPAP has undergone rigorous testing approved by the FAA.

emphasis mine.

The testing is cost prohibitive, hence none are certified and none bear the required label.

Read more about the ACAA here (http://www.bcm.edu/ilru/dlrp/html/publications/ebulletins/legal/2009/may2009.html).

Some airlines maintain their own list, but that list is not ubiquitous across all carriers.

RE: Delta. I witnessed a man using a Everest 3 on a fairly recent NRT-JFK, so perhaps there is some leeway?
I agree with most of your thread except the testing part.
The word "certified" is used loosely. You are right, testing costs money, but Resmed has tested quite a few of its units for EMC (ElectroMagnetic compliance) under DoT rules and are now considered FAA compliant. Think FAA compliant when you read "certified." See the sticky for details. We shouldn;t be arguing about semantics here.

I've had a cpap for 11 or 12 years. I've never used it on a plane, though. I saw one used on a CX flight a couple of weeks ago, as well as a KLM flight the week before.

I usually just stay mostly awake for the 30+ hour trips I seem to take. Needless to say it takes a few days to get back to normal.

Still, better than falling asleep driving which led to my first and only sleep study. My machine alarmed 'red' the last I returned from Asia. It's done this before as well as a few yellow alarms.

RE: Delta. I witnessed a man using a Everest 3 on a fairly recent NRT-JFK, so perhaps there is some leeway?

I was considering that as my travel unit, but I have now been put on a bipap. The battery won't last long with the humidfier. As it is cabin air is so dry that using a cpap without the humidifier will dry yiour throat and sinuses. One might be better off not using a cpap on an aircraft.

I was considering that as my travel unit, but I have now been put on a bipap. The battery won't last long with the humidfier. As it is cabin air is so dry that using a cpap without the humidifier will dry yiour throat and sinuses. One might be better off not using a cpap on an aircraft.

Or, you can use saline gel or saline spray before dozing off. @:-)

My DME provider suggested "Ayr" brand and it has worked fine. I haven't used on a flight yet, but have travelled without the humidifier with no issues.

http://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal-1-69-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B000052X6G

Thanks for pointing me to the sticky (in a separate response) about certified machines - I literally bought my new machine last month and every manufacturer and every DME provider I called told me there were none that carried the label.

Or, you can use saline gel or saline spray before dozing off. @:-)

My DME provider suggested "Ayr" brand and it has worked fine. I haven't used on a flight yet, but have travelled without the humidifier with no issues.

http://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal-1-69-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B000052X6G

Thanks for pointing me to the sticky (in a separate response) about certified machines - I literally bought my new machine last month and every manufacturer and every DME provider I called told me there were none that carried the label.
Thanks for the idea about the saline gel or saline spray. What about the throat. MY throat becomes very dry too and hurts from dryness.
How many different brands/models does your DME provider carry? Are you tied to selecting only those brands/models your DME carries? My provider has been reluctant to supply anth unit other than those that they carry.

I've had a cpap for 11 or 12 years. I've never used it on a plane, though. I saw one used on a CX flight a couple of weeks ago, as well as a KLM flight the week before.

I usually just stay mostly awake for the 30+ hour trips I seem to take. Needless to say it takes a few days to get back to normal.
I too mostly stay awake. I have a great deal of difficulty falling asleep in BIz seats. I doze off for longer periods sitting up in coach as well as biz than I do lying down in biz seats

Still, better than falling asleep driving which led to my first and only sleep study.
I have had 5 sleep studies since July 2007. I paid for the first one in India, but didn't get a CPAP in India as I didn't want to buy a CPAP in India to bring it here because of service issues. Moreover, I had crappy insurance that that time, which would not have paid for a CPAP. Finally when I did have good insurance, I talked to my doctor about a sleep study. He did not sound very enthusiastic about it. I showed him my sleep study from India. He agreed to order one since a year had passed since then. Since that study in Sept 2008, I had one done in April 2009 and another one in March 2009, which indicated that my pressure had gone up. Since I could not tolerate the high pressure, the highest setting on most CPAPs, I had to have another one done for a bipap. Eleven years is way too long to go without a sleep study. Your AHI, AI pr pressure could have changed
My machine alarmed 'red' the last I returned from Asia. It's done this before as well as a few yellow alarms.What does alarm "red" or yellow alarm mean?

Thanks for the idea about the saline gel or saline spray. What about the throat. MY throat becomes very dry too and hurts from dryness.
How many different brands/models does your DME provider carry? Are you tied to selecting only those brands/models your DME carries? My provider has been reluctant to supply anth unit other than those that they carry.

I recently changed jobs and insurance, so I was permitted to shop for a new DME. All only played with the big brands, as that is with whom they had the negotiated deals. ResMed, Respironics, Paykel (sp?) were on all. I looked hard at the S8, but didn't like how it would look on my nightstand and I was told it did not have c-flex. In retrospect, it is how I should have gone.

Do those on the list you found now carry the FAA sticker?

I have no problem with my throat. I snort a blast of saline in each nostril and wipe on a not-too-large amount of gel and am good to go. If your current machine allows you to bypass the humidifier, give a try some afternoon for a nap, and then perhaps for a night.

I'm lucky in that I sleep well in a plane from a seated upright position. When I lean forward (think resting head on window or chest) I don't snore and get restful sleep. Indeed, for years before I got tested my best sleep came in planes and taxis.

BTW: I strongly recommend getting the routine sleep studies. I kept ramping up a .5 for several years until losing weight recently. The metric from my Dr. is once-a-year or every 50 lbs of loss or 25 lbs of gain. YMMV. Besides, Jaimito Cartero is known for providing some of the best deals and insight on this board, we all want him to stay around for a long time.

Safe Travels!

Or, you can use saline gel or saline spray before dozing off. @:-)

My DME provider suggested "Ayr" brand and it has worked fine. I haven't used on a flight yet, but have travelled without the humidifier with no issues.
I can vouch for Ayr. I started using it when I was on O2 24/7 and was especially important when flying with O2. I use it in conjunction with my BiPap when in dry air situations (airplanes, LAS or other desert locations, heated rooms in the winter). I also recommend it to total strangers on airplanes when I see they are on O2.

Thanks for the idea about the saline gel or saline spray. What about the throat. MY throat becomes very dry too and hurts from dryness.
How many different brands/models does your DME provider carry? Are you tied to selecting only those brands/models your DME carries? My provider has been reluctant to supply anth unit other than those that they carry.

My BiPap does not have a humidifier. When I fly, I try to hydrate as much as possible before going to sleep and ask the FAs to make sure there is water in my glass at all times. I have found I can get a solid 4 hours sleep if I do before my nasal passages and throat becomes totally dry. I rehydrate and go back to sleep.

My DME provider didn't carry the machine my pulmonary doc prescribed and there was a bit of a battle with the HMO to get the prescribed machine covered. I had to remain in the hospital 4 extra days until they were able to resolve the issue and get the machine. So they ended up paying an extra 40K+ on that battle they lost in the end.

Do those on the list you found now carry the FAA sticker?

Safe Travels!

Sorry to have truncated your post. I wanted to respond to the legal issue you raised before I forget what I researched. The sickr requirement is proposed but it's not been implemented yet. In my research I have found lots of information about POC's (portable oxygen concentrators). I have actually seen a document that lists e few POC's that have been approved by the FAA. It appears that the situation with other M PED's (medical portable electronic devices) is a in flux. It's also confusing as it states that once the manufacturer conducts a test to determine emission levels, in compliance with the RTCA document I have mentioned earlier, the carrier doesn't have to do any further testing. But., the carrier is still held accountable to ensure that any equipment operating on the aircraft is in compliance with the FAA EMC requirements as defined by RTCA. Kind of a catch 22. I plan to write to Resmed asking them what they plan to do with the compliance letter they published on the internet. It doesn't do us any good, unless the agencies involved, FAA and the air carriers are brought up to date. If the airline is to be held accountable, the airline needs at least a letter from the manufacturer, preferably backed by FAA.
A. Portable Oxygen Concentrators.
(1) Until all FAA-approved POCs have labeling that confirms to air carriers that “This
device does not exceed the maximum level of radiated radio frequency interference as described in
the current edition of Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Document (DO) 160,
section 21, Category M”, air carriers are reminded that if a manufacturer tests its POC and it meets
the RTCA standard, the aircraft operator is not required to perform additional tests. However, the
aircraft operator must be able to show that the device has been tested and meets the applicable
standard, regardless of the test method used. For more information see the current edition of
Advisory Circular (AC) 91.21-1, Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft at
http://rgl.faa.gov/.
Approved by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-220
Approved by: AFS-200 OPR: AFS-220
(2) To facilitate air carriers in obtaining testing results for FAA-approved POCs, the FAA
has made available, via Web-site, the test results provided by manufacturers. This Web-site is
updated as the documents are received and may be viewed at http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/c
abin_safety/portable_oxygen/.
(3) In order for a POC to be approved for use on aircraft by the FAA, it must be determined
that it does not contain hazardous materials (hazmat) and that it meets FAA safety requirements.
Therefore, only FAA-approved POCs, as listed in Special Federal Air Regulation (SFAR)-106, Use
of Certain Portable Oxygen Concentrator Devices on Aircraft, may be used onboard aircraft. In
addition, air carriers must meet the other requirements of SFAR 106 when FAA-approved POCs are
used on their aircraft. For more information, see SFAR-106, at 14 CFR part 121, Appendix and the
current edition of AC 120-95, Portable Oxygen Concentrators at http://rgl.faa.gov.
B. Other Respiratory Devices. All POC manufacturers are knowledgeable regarding aviation
requirements for POCs. POCs are in common use on air carriers. All currently FAA-approved
POCs meet FAA requirements for M-PEDs. However, this is not the case for other respiratory
assistive devices (ventilators, respirators and CPAP machines). For other devices that have not been
tested by the manufacturer to meet the emission levels in the RTCA standard, air carriers can
continue to use the current guidance in AC 91.21-1. In many situations, this requires case-by-case
testing of a particular device and a determination by the air carrier that the device can be operated
safely on their aircraft.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, directors of training and
compliance resolution officials (CRO) for part 121 and 135 operators should be aware that they are
responsible for meeting applicable FAA safety requirements regarding the use of M-PEDs, while
complying with the provisions of DOT’s final rule.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Final Rule “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
Disability in Air Travel” and the Use of Respiratory Assistive Devices on Aircraft (http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2009/info09006.pdf) The first part of this document is what you had reproduced.

Similar, but not quite. Difference is that between $10k and a million $. Both sums represent large amount of money.
In an aircraft decompression at 30,000 ft, pressure drops by 400 cm, hundred times the difference in a bipap, Decompression from 20 cm of pressure is 20 times less than that in an aircraft decompression.

Yaatri,
I was just making a bad attempt at humor, comparing that first burp in the morning to a decompression. :D

I'm so happy to have found this thread. I've just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and planning a 3 wk trip to europe this summer mostly getting around by train...which means i'm limited as far as luggage etc. the unit i have takes up almost 1/3 of my luggage. So the information about the smaller /lighter unit sounds great..I'm going to run it by my doc. I do have another question..I was thinking about bringing some sort of power strip...which would be equivalent to an extension cord.. i have converter of course..would this overstress a converter..especially if i was charging something (computer whatever) while i was sleeping. (I am from US).

Has anyone had experience with carrying on/ using on AA flight??

And the next biggie: Canada. I'm going to Canada in 2 months...They apparently have some draconian security measures and restrictions in place...anyone have experience with Canada-Us travel?? Thanks in advance.

Pat

My Resmed S8 Elite's carrying case is about the size of a laptop case. When carried in that case, that bag doesn't count towards the 1 carry-on 1 personal item limit.
I travelled a lot through Europe with mine and never had a problem getting an extension cord from the hotels. You'll need one, outlets in the hotel rooms over there are very limited!

I too mostly stay awake. I have a great deal of difficulty falling asleep in BIz seats. I doze off for longer periods sitting up in coach as well as biz than I do lying down in biz seats


I have had 5 sleep studies since July 2007. I paid for the first one in India, but didn't get a CPAP in India as I didn't want to buy a CPAP in India to bring it here because of service issues. Moreover, I had crappy insurance that that time, which would not have paid for a CPAP. Finally when I did have good insurance, I talked to my doctor about a sleep study. He did not sound very enthusiastic about it. I showed him my sleep study from India. He agreed to order one since a year had passed since then. Since that study in Sept 2008, I had one done in April 2009 and another one in March 2009, which indicated that my pressure had gone up. Since I could not tolerate the high pressure, the highest setting on most CPAPs, I had to have another one done for a bipap. Eleven years is way too long to go without a sleep study. Your AHI, AI pr pressure could have changed
What does alarm "red" or yellow alarm mean?

Well, I had insurance when the first study was done, but they wouldn't pay for the machine. I ended up buying a new one online, although it was pricey for me at the time.

A few years later my mediocre group insurance was gone, so I'm self insured from there. I guess I've got a bit of disdain for the US medical situation, so try to get anything done in Costa Rica or Thailand. I'm actually in Bangkok now recovering from a minor surgery I had done at Bumrungrad.

I think I was originally set at a 8.5 or 9, and had adjusted another used machine I had to about 10.5 as I got heavier.

If I don't use my humidifier (non-electric), then I am so dry, that I might as well not use the machine. I tried saline spray early on but it never seemed to do much for me.

I'm sure I also have a deviated septum of some sort, so that if I sleep on my right side, I don't do well. Unless I'm 100% exhausted, it's hard to sleep more than 10 minutes in coach. I have slept as much as an hour or two if I'm in a nice biz or fc seat. As I said, I've never used a cpap on a flight.

As for the yellow and red alarms, these are when the TSA swabs your cpap. Yellow is suspicious, red is for bomblike materials.

Sorry to have truncated your post. I wanted to respond to the legal issue you raised before I forget what I researched. The sickr requirement is proposed but it's not been implemented yet. In my research I have found lots of information about POC's (portable oxygen concentrators). I have actually seen a document that lists e few POC's that have been approved by the FAA. It appears that the situation with other M PED's (medical portable electronic devices) is a in flux. It's also confusing as it states that once the manufacturer conducts a test to determine emission levels, in compliance with the RTCA document I have mentioned earlier, the carrier doesn't have to do any further testing. But., the carrier is still held accountable to ensure that any equipment operating on the aircraft is in compliance with the FAA EMC requirements as defined by RTCA. Kind of a catch 22. I plan to write to Resmed asking them what they plan to do with the compliance letter they published on the internet. It doesn't do us any good, unless the agencies involved, FAA and the air carriers are brought up to date. If the airline is to be held accountable, the airline needs at least a letter from the manufacturer, preferably backed by FAA.

Department of Transportation (DOT) Final Rule “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel” and the Use of Respiratory Assistive Devices on Aircraft (http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2009/info09006.pdf) The first part of this document is what you had reproduced.

The sticker rule is a final rule.

As the airlines were advised by the FAA, here (http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2009/inFO09006.pdf), that we have both cited:

DOT final rule, section 382.133 requires that air carriers conducting passenger service (on aircraft originally designed to have a passenger capacity of 19 or more seats) must permit someone with a disability, to use a ... (CPAP) machine, ... unless the device fails to meet applicable FAA requirements for Medical Portable Electronic Devices (M-PED) and does not display a manufacturer’s label that indicates the device meets those FAA requirements.

What this means is that the only time an airline must, upon demand of the passenger, allow the passenger to use CPAP during a flight is when, among other things, it has a manufacturer's label (or sticker) indicating its compliance.

Of course the airlines can allow a passenger to use CPAP, but is not required to under the relevant law and regulations absent the label. This is why getting a device with a label is so important: it changes the passenger from a beggar to a boss.

Good luck with the ResMed letter, please keep us informed.

[/I][/B]

I can so relate to that! Being that this is mostly a flying forum, you can compare it to a rapid decompression on an airplane! LOL

Yaatri,
I was just making a bad attempt at humor, comparing that first burp in the morning to a decompression. :D

Of course, you did. But my brain played games with me. I read "Being" as "Boeing". Since I was talking about the pressure drop in a bipap, I thought you were comparing that pressure drop with decompression.

Isn't it funny how people, without any attempt at distortion, can give a completely different dimension to words they hear or read? It's almost like the game of "telephone".
We used to play that game as a kid, in another world. We called it "whisper".

Any way, I apologise. It wasn't a bad attempt at humour. I did not get it.

The sticker rule is a final rule.

As the airlines were advised by the FAA, here (http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/all_infos/media/2009/inFO09006.pdf), that we have both cited:
Yes, the rule is final. But what I meant is that the iimplimentation is in flux as the airlines have been given guidance until the "sticker" becomes a common practice.
DOT final rule, section 382.133 requires that air carriers conducting passenger service (on aircraft originally designed to have a passenger capacity of 19 or more seats) must permit someone with a disability, to use a ... (CPAP) machine, ... unless the device fails to meet applicable FAA requirements for Medical Portable Electronic Devices (M-PED) and does not display a manufacturer’s label that indicates the device meets those FAA requirements.
What this means is that the only time an airline must, upon demand of the passenger, allow the passenger to use CPAP during a flight is when, among other things, it has a manufacturer's label (or sticker) indicating its compliance.

Of course the airlines can allow a passenger to use CPAP, but is not required to under the relevant law and regulations absent the label. This is why getting a device with a label is so important: it changes the passenger from a beggar to a boss.

Good luck with the ResMed letter, please keep us informed.

I have read this rule again and again. The words , specifically the two condtiions, make no sense at all. I differ with your interpretation of the intent of the rule. What the rule does is place a limit on the airline as to what it may disallow. It does not put a limit on a passenger with a CPAP.
The airline must have adequate reason for denying a passenger who wants to use a CPAP. The device not meeting two conditions, conjuncted with "and" must be met before an airline can deny.
The conjunction "and" means that both conditions must be met before an airline can turn down the use of CPAP on board. the two conditions are

The device fails to meet the FAA requirements.
The device fails to display a manufacturer's label that it meets the requirements.

There are four sets of possible events:

The device meets the FAA requirements but does not have the label.
The device does not meet the FAA requirements but has a label--- an impossibility.
The device meets FAA requirements and has the label.
The device neither meets the FAA requirements, nor has the label

Both rcondtions aree met only in 4. #. is not a problem for the passenger.
2 describes a fraudulent claim by the manufacturer of a malfunctioning unit. What if the device meets only one condition, events 1 or 2?
Event 2 is a fraud and no manufacturer is going to put a label if the device does not meet the requirements. So 2 is unlikley to take place unless the unit is malfunctioning.
According to the rule, if the first event occurs, the airline cannot deny the passenger.

My Resmed S8 Elite's carrying case is about the size of a laptop case. When carried in that case, that bag doesn't count towards the 1 carry-on 1 personal item limit.
I travelled a lot through Europe with mine and never had a problem getting an extension cord from the hotels. You'll need one, outlets in the hotel rooms over there are very limited!
Oh I love the bag for Resmed S8 series bag. You can use it as a laptop bag for a mid size screen. I think, I can put the hose, the mask, the cpap, without the humidifier in the main compartment, and my netbook, the power adapter, the mouse and all its little gadgets in the front pocket.
My DME provider's rep was telling me that some people were complaining about the bag size when Resmed changed the size of the bag. I think, he was talking about the bag for the S9 series. It's much smaller.

I second the need for an extension cord, as many European hotels have their sockets, kettle (what's that do I hear you ask?) and TV on the wall opposite the bed! And take an adapter, or better one with more than one outlet socket so you can charge your mobile phone at the same time.

Well, I had insurance when the first study was done, but they wouldn't pay for the machine. I ended up buying a new one online, although it was pricey for me at the time.
A few years later my mediocre group insurance was gone, so I'm self insured from there. I guess I've got a bit of disdain for the US medical situation, so try to get anything done in Costa Rica or Thailand. I'm actually in Bangkok now recovering from a minor surgery I had done at Bumrungrad.
I am with you 100%. There is great technology here, and we spend so much, but we don;t see the benefit in terms of overall better health care. I have been diabetic, hypertensive, and had started gaining weight. I was suspected of having a heart attack. The cardiologist told me to watch what I put in my mouth. :mad: No one, NOT one doctor in the U.S. suggested that I have a sleep study. The first time I saw a physician in India, he sent me for a sleep study. He was not even my doctor. He was the the M.D. who was consulted by my surgeon. The surgeon told me that the M.D. had recommended not to perform the surgery, unless I have a sleep study done.

All the technology, the premiums I paid, the primary care doctors I had, the dictates of HMOs and MCO's. Not one had the sense to send me for a sleep study.@:-)

Don't get me started on the state of health care in the U.S. It's shameful. for 7 years in a row, I worked away from home. So either, I , or my family had to depend on out of area physicians. One plan, paid very little for out of area medical visits. This when the corporation did offer plans both areas, but I could only choose one.
I think I was originally set at a 8.5 or 9, and had adjusted another used machine I had to about 10.5 as I got heavier.
This is common mis-perception and "common medical knowledge" propagated through internet. There is some corrrelation between weight and the pressure. But it's not 1. It's just like diabetes and weight. There is a correlation between diabetes and weight. Some people, think being fat causes diabetes. If you watch what you put in your mouth, you won;t "get" diabetes. :rolleyes:
Warning: I want to warn every one that please, please do not assume that your pressure has gone up as you gained weight or that it has gone down as you lost weight. I lost 45-50 pounds since last year, about 18-20% of my body weight at my highest. But guess what! My pressure went up by 25%.
Please do not change your pressure without a sleep study. There are risks of too much pressure.

If I don't use my humidifier (non-electric), then I am so dry, that I might as well not use the machine. I tried saline spray early on but it never seemed to do much for me.
People think an electric humidifier is better but non electric humidifier has many advantages.
Consumes less power, which is especially handy when you run it on battery power.
A heated humidifer puts more moisture in the air than the ambient air is capable of carrying. That increases the likelihood of rain out, which creates the need of a sock or a mitten for the hose, or of a heated hose, as Resmed has done for some of its S9 units. I have used my CPAP without a humidifier on two trips. One was to an island off the east coast of Malaysia. I figured that with monsoon around the corner, the air was humid enough. I did not miss my humidifier. On a trip to Moldova in November, I did not take my humidifier. I stayed in an apartment that had hot water radiator heat. The outside air was dry to begin with, the heat was making it even drier. Fortunately, I had plenty of towels. I soaked them all and stacked them on top of the radiator. I had no problem.

I'm sure I also have a deviated septum of some sort, so that if I sleep on my right side, I don't do well. Unless I'm 100% exhausted, it's hard to sleep more than 10 minutes in coach. I have slept as much as an hour or two if I'm in a nice biz or fc seat. As I said, I've never used a cpap on a flight.
I think I too have a deviated septum. As soon as I turn on my right, I feel something shift in my nostrils and my right nostril closes. I don't enjoy the thought of having a surgery. So I will live with it.
As for the yellow and red alarms, these are when the TSA swabs your cpap. Yellow is suspicious, red is for bomblike materials.
Oh. I thought it was some sort of a warning/alarm on your CPAP. What happens when it sets of a red alarm? Test it again? I don't know if any of my stuff has alarmed. Once a screener said he was going to take my CPAP to check it out. I said, "I can tell you it works". LOL

I second the need for an extension cord, as many European hotels have their sockets, kettle (what's that do I hear you ask?) and TV on the wall opposite the bed! And take an adapter, or better one with more than one outlet socket so you can charge your mobile phone at the same time.

I have seen that too. I was able to manage sleeping wioth my feet poiting towards the headboard. Now, if you forget your power chord, nothong can help you. I can't believe a person asking a speaker about it in an OSA support group meeting. :D
"My husband and I went on a cruise and forgot to take the power chord. How should we handle a situation like that?" :D
I thought ti myself, ask the steward, and if does not oblige, go over his head to the Captain, ask for an extension chord and then strangle yourself until you can sleep without a CPAP.

I know, my thoughts were harsh. But how do you help someone like that.

Yes, the rule is final. But what I meant is that the iimplimentation is in flux as the airlines have been given guidance until the "sticker" becomes a common practice.

... So 2 is unlikley to take place unless the unit is malfunctioning.
According to the rule, if the first event occurs, the airline cannot deny the passenger.

I understand your point, here's a clearer statement, from http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/Part%20382-2008.pdf

This rule requires U.S. carriers to permit individuals to use electronic respiratory assistive devices in the passenger cabin so long as (1)the devices have been tested and (2)labeled by their manufacturer(s) as meeting the applicable FAA requirements for medical portable electronic devices as described in FAA Advisory Circular No. 91.21-1B...

Because this final rule shifts the responsibility for testing the electronic respiratory assistive devices from the carriers to the manufacturers of such devices and requires carriers to permit passengers to use these devices aboard aircraft only if appropriately labeled, we do not see a need for carriers or any other entity to produce a central list of approved or disapproved devices. A passenger can simply look to see if the label on his/her electronic respiratory assistive device indicates that the device has been approved for air travel (i.e., no restriction on the device’s use during any phase of travel).
emphasis and enumeration mine.

Yes, there is some flux around how far to take the labeling requirement, as noted in document cited supra:

The FAA is considering whether to issue an NPRM in which the agency would propose to require manufacturers that want to market their ventilators, respirators, CPAP machines, and FAA-approved POCs for passenger use on aircraft to test those devices against FAA-prescribed performance standards and affix a label to each device stating that it meets the applicable standards prescribed in the federal aviation regulations. If the FAA decides to issue such an NPRM, the NPRM would clarify that those manufacturers that do not intend to market their devices for use on aircraft would be under no obligation to conduct any testing and would not be permitted to affix a label indicating FAA approval. The manufacturers that want to market such devices for use on aircraft but whose devices fail to meet the performance standards would also not be permitted to affix a label indicating FAA approval. Moreover, the FAA will consider whether to include other proposals in that NPRM, including specifying how a carrier would "verify" whether the aforementioned electronic respiratory assistive devices meet FAA performance standards.

That debate is about whether to mandate testing, but separate from that debate is the present rule that with a manufacturer label, which by definition means that all other conditions are satisfied, a carrier must permit the use of the CPAP.

The label is the pass-card to empowerment.

I have seen that too. I was able to manage sleeping wioth my feet poiting towards the headboard. Now, if you forget your power chord, nothong can help you. I can't believe a person asking a speaker about it in an OSA support group meeting. :D
"My husband and I went on a cruise and forgot to take the power chord. How should we handle a situation like that?" :D
I thought ti myself, ask the steward, and if does not oblige, go over his head to the Captain, ask for an extension chord and then strangle yourself until you can sleep without a CPAP.

I know, my thoughts were harsh. But how do you help someone like that.

Okay, I'll fess up. I once left my power cord at home and discovered it when I unpacked in the room. Rookie error and I was just crushed. Now I don't know what your power cords look like, but mine looks exactly like the power cord for a desktop computer. I asked the front office if they had a spare laying about as most offices I've been in it seems there is a whole box of them. After several hours of looking they didn't find a single cord. Crushed and devastated that the trip had been ruined by my stupidity I went back to the room to pack. A lightening bolt of inspiration hit me and I checked the power cord on the small digital TV in the room and lo and behold it was a perfect match. Crisis averted. Needless to say I now leave an extra power cord in the bag at all times.

I have also had to sleep with my feet pointing toward the headboard. I am not allowed to use my machine on any kind of power strip or extension cord, so I am always having to make accomodations for that.

Okay, I'll fess up. I once left my power cord at home and discovered it when I unpacked in the room. Rookie error and I was just crushed. Now I don't know what your power cords look like, but mine looks exactly like the power cord for a desktop computer. I asked the front office if they had a spare laying about as most offices I've been in it seems there is a whole box of them. After several hours of looking they didn't find a single cord. Crushed and devastated that the trip had been ruined by my stupidity I went back to the room to pack. A lightening bolt of inspiration hit me and I checked the power cord on the small digital TV in the room and lo and behold it was a perfect match. Crisis averted. Needless to say I now leave an extra power cord in the bag at all times.

I have also had to sleep with my feet pointing toward the headboard. I am not allowed to use my machine on any kind of power strip or extension cord, so I am always having to make accomodations for that.

I was going to post about this. I travel about 6 months of the year, and on 2-3 occasions <head hung in shame> have forgot to bring my power cord. Luckily, as you discovered, most use the same plug as a computer.

I recall one time when in South Africa, they didn't have any kind of adapter or anything, and after flying for a LONG time I really needed sleep. They ended up taking a cord off an old computer and splicing it a plug they had.

One other time in Argentina, I went the rounds to internet cafes offering to buy old computer power cords. It was pretty funny trying to explain it to them.

I've gotten a bit wiser now, and double check the cord.

There seems to be a lot of misdiagnosis mentioned on this thread. I guess I'm lucky that I had another relative who had been diagnosed with needing a cpap, and had a decent idea what needed to get done. He had to sleep sitting up, or he couldn't function.

Since then a number of relatives including one stubborn uncle, have gotten them.

I got very concerned after starting to fall asleep during the day, after getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep. As bad as drunk driving, I think. When I was younger I could stay up all night, and just get a few hours of sleep. Now, that won't work at all! 6 hours minimum if I'm going to be driving or working where I need to think. Obviously I can post on FT with no sleep. ;)

I was diagnosed with SOSA (among other pulmonary problems) when I ended up in the hospital near death. Not only was I falling asleep at my desk, I was also getting carbon dioxyde poisoning nearly every night and I lost about 2 years of memory due to that. I had my sleep study done after I was discharged from the hospital to confirm the diagnosis.

I guess it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise since my father, mother, and brother all had/have SOSA.

I was diagnosed with SOSA (among other pulmonary problems) when I ended up in the hospital near death. Not only was I falling asleep at my desk, I was also getting carbon dioxyde poisoning nearly every night and I lost about 2 years of memory due to that. I had my sleep study done after I was discharged from the hospital to confirm the diagnosis.

I guess it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise since my father, mother, and brother all had/have SOSA.

I assume SOSA is Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Severe is broad range as AHI>30 is rated severe. I fell asleep at my desk a few times, but I attributed it to other causes. I wonder if it was OSA. I was homeless during those days after Katrina. I had a job but no place to live. I slept in my car, my office, or in a bed when some acquaintance was generous enough to invote me into their house from a day to a few days. I was diagnosed with OSA after that. I had become used to living sleep deprived.

I have been flying with a BiPap for a little more than a year now. Last year 7 international r/t flights on UA, mostly in C with two legs Y. UA has an AeroMedical Desk staffed with terrific agents. They require a minimum of 48 hours notice to set up electrical for the flight. They will tell you if you have an approved machine. On planes without in-seat power UA will bring power to your seat, but you must have an original manufacturer cigarette lighter adapter for your equipment. Mine cost about $30 for my $5000 machine.
While CPaps and BiPaps are prescribed for similar illnesses, equipment varies. My BiPap is more like a mini-respirator, which explains the cost. While some may not die from not using their CPaps, I can die from not using my BiPap. So I would not necessary heed the medical advice tossed around in this thread and would instead ask my treating physician how harmful it would be to you if you went without the CPap for a night while flying.

It's great that UA delivers power for CPAP/BiPap. Many airlines that allow use of the device on board say it has to be used on battery power. I don't understand that becuase power draw, of a CPAP/BiPAP is about the same as a laptop. What kind of BiPap do you use? I use ResMed VPAP Auto25.
This maybe the reason for me to switch to Star Alliance from SkyTeam. It would be a big move as I am a million miler with them.

I use the Respironics Synchrony ST BiPap. The ST version is more sophisticated (and $$$) than the standard BiPap as it serves as a mini-respirator.

I feel very fortunate that UA was my preferred carrier at the time I was diagnosed. When I read about other airlines and their rules and restrictions I am so very happy to have the UA AeroMedical Desk to take care of me. Granted the extra steps of having to get on board early, educate the flight crew, and check to make sure the power is operating properly while the mechanics are still there is a pain, but in the end it's all worth it.

Continental seems to be moving towards Yaatri's interpritation of the Carrier Access rules.

Formerly, the website was very clear that the manufacturer's label certifying compliance was required. Now, it shows some flexibility.

(CPAP) machines may be carried and used on board Continental and Continental Micronesia flights if it can be verified by a manufacturers’ label or otherwise that it meets applicable FAA requirements. (emphasis mine)

However, the "Ask Alex" feature still uses the old language.

CPAP machines, respirators, and ventilators approved by the FAA may be carried and used on board our aircraft at no charge. The device is required to display the manufacturer's label indicating it meets FAA requirements. For more information see this page. (emphasis mine)

Flying JAL for first time in almost 25yrs, this weekend on JAL 005 JFK/Narita, then connecting on to Saigon. Talked with their CS and confirmed that for Narita sector,can use on-board power for my cpap machine.

They asked for my specific brand, model number before confirming above. Excellent, considering they didn't have anything listed on their website re disability travel!

I use the Respironics Synchrony ST BiPap. The ST version is more sophisticated (and $$$) than the standard BiPap as it serves as a mini-respirator.

I feel very fortunate that UA was my preferred carrier at the time I was diagnosed. When I read about other airlines and their rules and restrictions I am so very happy to have the UA AeroMedical Desk to take care of me. Granted the extra steps of having to get on board early, educate the flight crew, and check to make sure the power is operating properly while the mechanics are still there is a pain, but in the end it's all worth it.

Some CPAPS/BiPaps raise the pressure incrementally to the level necessary to keep your airway open. If your airway opens at a pressure lower than your prescribed pressure, it stays there until it's necessary to increase it. That ensures that you don't get too much pressure, as there are disadvantages of using respiratory devices. Some also sense if you forget to breathe (central apnoea) and forces you to breath. Does your SOSA have significant CSA also? I don't think my insurance company will approve an expensive machine like yours unless I were being treated for CSA. But I might be wrong. I had seen $5000 machines but I never thought to ask for them.

Okay, I'll fess up. I once left my power cord at home and discovered it when I unpacked in the room. Rookie error and I was just crushed. Now I don't know what your power cords look like, but mine looks exactly like the power cord for a desktop computer. I asked the front office if they had a spare laying about as most offices I've been in it seems there is a whole box of them. After several hours of looking they didn't find a single cord. Crushed and devastated that the trip had been ruined by my stupidity I went back to the room to pack. A lightening bolt of inspiration hit me and I checked the power cord on the small digital TV in the room and lo and behold it was a perfect match. Crisis averted. Needless to say I now leave an extra power cord in the bag at all times.

I have also had to sleep with my feet pointing toward the headboard. I am not allowed to use my machine on any kind of power strip or extension cord, so I am always having to make accomodations for that.

Sorry, I wasn't making any judgment about people who forget to take their CPAP chord with them. This couple raised this issue 4 times over the course if 4 different meetings. It just irritated me.

There seems to be a lot of misdiagnosis mentioned on this thread. I guess I'm lucky that I had another relative who had been diagnosed with needing a cpap, and had a decent idea what needed to get done. He had to sleep sitting up, or he couldn't function.

Since then a number of relatives including one stubborn uncle, have gotten them.

I got very concerned after starting to fall asleep during the day, after getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep. As bad as drunk driving, I think. When I was younger I could stay up all night, and just get a few hours of sleep. Now, that won't work at all! 6 hours minimum if I'm going to be driving or working where I need to think. Obviously I can post on FT with no sleep. ;)
You are right about misdiagnoses. One cause is that insurance companies spend more time and energy on forcing doctors to save the former money rather than allowing them to treat patients. My internist in MS did no more than blood tests, as they were done the lab in-house. He made enough money through lab tests and did not worry about anything else.
This is how I was diagnosed.
I am the only one in my family to have been diagnosed with OSA. I was forced to undergo a sleep study on insistence of an MD who was consulted by my surgeon in India, as I was diabetic, hypertensive, had enlarged heart, was on medication to control my lipids and was obese, with a BMI of 41. That sleep study diagnosed me to be suffering from severe OSA. A couple of years earlier, had had a minor surgery in the U.S. to remove a kidney stone when my medical history circumstances were essentially the same, but I was not recommended to have a sleep study.

Some CPAPS/BiPaps raise the pressure incrementally to the level necessary to keep your airway open. If your airway opens at a pressure lower than your prescribed pressure, it stays there until it's necessary to increase it. That ensures that you don't get too much pressure, as there are disadvantages of using respiratory devices. Some also sense if you forget to breathe (central apnoea) and forces you to breath. Does your SOSA have significant CSA also? I don't think my insurance company will approve an expensive machine like yours unless I were being treated for CSA. But I might be wrong. I had seen $5000 machines but I never thought to ask for them.

I think you're right about your insurance company. My doc explained to me that my brain would stop sending the signal for me to breathe and that is why I had repeated episodes of CO2 poisoning. I would wake up with raging headaches but could breathe it out. I was just forcing in O2 to clear the CO2 out of my blood. These repeated episodes caused me to lose about 2 years of my memory, unfortunately. (Boy is it embarrassing to run into people I met during that period. They are total strangers to me and are somewhat confused when I don't have any memory of them at all. I had one of those re-meetings at an FT DO this weekend).

Yes my machine is also set to start inhaling for me if I fail to inhale within a set time (determined by my doc). When the machine starts inhalation, it controls the time of inhalation and automatically decreases the pressure for exhalation within a set time. As I mentioned previously my doc had to fight for my insurance company to cover the machine and I was stuck in the hospital for several days while they argued and then the DME provider had to find one and get it shipped here.

Sorry, I wasn't making any judgment about people who forget to take their CPAP chord with them. This couple raised this issue 4 times over the course if 4 different meetings. It just irritated me.

Oh I didn't take it that way. I'm just saying that I had it happen to me. I guess it can happen to anyone. But I promise you that I check and recheck my bag before I leave the house with it. I also carry an extra oxygen bleed connector after a hotel maid broke mine and tried to hide it while on vacation in Australia last year and an extra nasal pillow (separate from the BiPap bag) after the TSA yanked out my tubing and mask from the bag and swabbed it all on a "random bag check" (that really ticked me off). I also carry a roll of medical tape in case I get a crack in the hoses or tubing.

Does anybody know what BA's policy is when people in WT require CPAP? Only WT+ and above have in seat power, is your only option to use a battery powered machine?

I have used BA in the past once for CPAP use in WT+ and all went well - 2006, but when I went to look for a journey in 2009 their T&C say that CPAP use is not allowed from the WT+ socket because the power drain is too great ... or words to that effect. I used a laptop supplementary battery in WT, and slept fine and the difference in the cost of the seats more than paid for my battery outlay. I got 5.5 hours use at 13 mB pressure.

I don't think that their power drain argument is actually valid but the fact that they state it in their T&C probably protect them if something happens when you use it for CPAP and can empower the cabin crew to stop you from doing so ....

I have used BA in the past once for CPAP use in WT+ and all went well - 2006, but when I went to look for a journey in 2009 their T&C say that CPAP use is not allowed from the WT+ socket because the power drain is too great ... or words to that effect.

From the BA website:

CPAP machine
•Medical clearance is not required for the carriage or use of CPAP machines (used in the treatment of sleep apnoea) as fitness to travel will not be in doubt.
•CPAP machines can be plugged into a laptop power-point, where available, with a suitable adaptor.
•Maximum power output from the laptop points is 75 Watts and, if your equipment draws more than this, the outlet will be automatically deactivated.
•We cannot guarantee that any of the laptop points will be serviceable. If you intend to use one in flight, we recommend that you use a dry-cell battery-operated device.

So it looks like it might be worth knowing the wattage of your machine (and having documentation to prove it), and a copy of this policy. Sounds also like if the draw is more than 75w the outlet will shut down, so there wouldn't be a lot the cabin crew could do about it.

But to the original question, in WT you'll certainly need a battery.

This is in continuation of the discussion FatManInNYC
have had earlier in the thread.
On my trip to Sydney, I was able to use my CPAP on board. No one at Delta had a clue. Even a supervisor in Delta interpretd the Final FAA letter to mean that if there is no sticker it will not be allowed. I told her that no CPAPs have any stickers although I do have a letter from the manufacturer that it hyas tested the device in compliance with FAA requirements and that it c0omplies with all FAA requirements and by law, Delta must allow me to use it on board. But she kep on singing the same song like a parrot. Finally she said I would have to have it aporoved by the ticket agent at the beginning of my trip as they were the onlt ones with the discretion to allow it on board. I reminded her "Madam, it's not at anyone's discretion to allow me my right. Delta must comply with thew law or face penalties. The suggestion to show it to the agent made no sense as I was going to Sydney from DCA via DTW-JFK-LAX. The ticket agent in DCA had no control over what the gate agent in in LAX would do. Then she made another stupid suggestion. "When you get to Los Angeles, you out of the secure area to see the ticket agent". I can't believe how stupoid she was and she was a supervisor.
I had called 2 days before my flight. She was supposed to call me back the enxt day. But I never got a call back.

At LAX, I asked a lady in the sku club. She called around and then told me that I need to speak to the gate agent, named Miss XXX./ Now, MS XXX was just as bright as the supervisor. She went to another guy at the next gate. He looked through the rules on his computer and acted confused. Due to heihgtened security, he announced, it would not be allowed. I showed him the Final letter from FAA. He homed in on the sticker clause. No sticker, no go. I didn;t give up. The CRO/Station manger was called, and another lady, I don;t know who joined in to sing the chorus of "no sticker, no go. I told the CRO to read the letter very careful, before saying "NO:, because if tyhey said "NO", they would be in violation of FEDERAL LAW, that allows me to use CPAP. It's for the airline to prove that it had a valid reason to deny it to me. Then they walked away from me and huddled together to discuss. I followed them. They told me I could not be with them.
I also told them that BA, Qantas, Continetal and United are the ones I know that allow a CPAP on board. I didn;t see why Delta was so ignorant.
They then talked to the crew and then asked me. "Do you have sleep apnoea?" Duuh. I just like to carry around m,y CPAP. So, I was allowed to use it on board.

This is exactly why I continue to give my business to UA. Overall, their treatment of passengers with medical equipment needs is stellar.

I also flew to Australia last week and despite the fact that I change my outbound and return flights twice, there was no confusion about them allowing me to use my equipment on board.

The Flight Attendants asked if there was anything they needed to know, so I told them the most important thing was that I needed water there for me anytime I woke up. On all flights they handed me a 1 liter bottle to start and every time I woke up it was full again. I swear that I must have drank 2.5 liters of water on the flight down.

(sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I just got back from a week long trip where the following happened)

I use a CPAP machine due to hypopnea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypopnea) and had to travel this past week. I checked, double checked and triple checked with AA both on their site and by calling customer service to make sure this would not be a problem. It states right on their website that it does not count against the baggage limit. I even went as far as tossing my purse and just putting my wallet, cell phone and iPod touch with my laptop so that I would have just the two bags.

I thought it might have been an isolated incident, but apparently no one at AA knows what a CPAP machine is, nor do they care about the documentation you have from your doctor. Every supervisor argued with me that they couldn't let me on with my laptop bag and my CPAP bag because it would take up too much room (funny how both fit under the seat with no issues). Yet, they let people with huge oversized bags on and forced them into the overhead compartments like it was an everyday thing.

Please tell me that this is an isolated incident (though I find it hard to believe). This happened at STL, SJC and DFW.

(sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but I just got back from a week long trip where the following happened)

I use a CPAP machine due to hypopnea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypopnea) and had to travel this past week. I checked, double checked and triple checked with AA both on their site and by calling customer service to make sure this would not be a problem. It states right on their website that it does not count against the baggage limit. I even went as far as tossing my purse and just putting my wallet, cell phone and iPod touch with my laptop so that I would have just the two bags.

I thought it might have been an isolated incident, but apparently no one at AA knows what a CPAP machine is, nor do they care about the documentation you have from your doctor. Every supervisor argued with me that they couldn't let me on with my laptop bag and my CPAP bag because it would take up too much room (funny how both fit under the seat with no issues). Yet, they let people with huge oversized bags on and forced them into the overhead compartments like it was an everyday thing.

Please tell me that this is an isolated incident (though I find it hard to believe). This happened at STL, SJC and DFW.
Not only are you allowed to bring your CPAP on baord, you are also allowed to use it. TSA and airlines cannot count your CPAP as an extr5a piece of luggage. It's in addition to whatever else you are limited to.
AA is not the only airline that's callously ignorant. DL did not know also. After presenting my arguments to a DL supervisor on the phone and to the gate agent in person, I was still denied. I had come prepared armed with an announcement from the manufacturer that my CPAP model had been tested and was found to be in compliance with FAA requirements and FAA issued "Final Letter" regarding use of CPAP and other medical devices. yet, the gate agent and the CRO at the airport treated my request as an attempt to foil their security policies. I told them that their policies must not be followed if they violate the law. Finally, the crew of my flight were consulted and ruled that CPAP's are, indeed allowed.

What kind of CPAP have you got? DON'T give up. Keep fighting.

I have been traveling with a CPap for three years, and we have logged about 150,000 miles in that time period. We generally fly with Delta, except for domestic carriers when we are in international locations.

I have never had a problem with my CPap either moving through security and only one small problem taking it on the plane. Everyone seemed familiar with them. I remove the CPap from the case, and security generally swabs it to check for explosives.

On our last trip a snippy flight attendant made a nasty comment about the CPap being placed under my seat rather than in the overhead compartment. Since the AVOD system was already under my seat there was not even room for my feet and my purse. I just smiled and told her that Delta policy required that she permit the CPap to remain where I had placed it.

That is the one and only time when anyone has said anything about my CPap. I am always prepared to defend my need to carry the CPap, but have almost no opportunity to use that defense.

It's a Respironics M Series Plus C-Flex CPAP Machine with humidifier chamber; the only other items in the bag (which says Respironics on the flap) were the hose, mask and an extra nasal mask, plus the power cord. It passed through the TSA inspection with flying colors. The TSA agent even chatted with me as I put all my items back in their respective bags, as his wife uses the same machine, did I feel better now that I was getting therapy, what kind of apnea did I have, etc.

Now if the TSA agents could recognize and not give me grief over it, why couldn't AA? I had my doctor's note outlining what it was I was carrying and that it could not be checked since it was a sensitive piece of equipment, as well as the letter from the TSA regarding medical equipment and people with disabilities (the one dated 2006).

The bag itself was half the size of my laptop bag, so it fit fine under my seat. In fact I was able to let to let it rest on top of my laptop case because the laptop case itself was flat enough. It's a very small and compact machine. It's also very expensive.

I'm just very frustrated and disgusted that an airline can treat their customers who have disabilities (and yes having any sort of apnea is a disability, albeit a hidden one) like they're no more than second class citizens. This is not the AA I flew five years ago.

ETA - I may have missed it, but if there is an executive customer service number I can contact someone at regarding this, I'd appreciate someone pointing me in that direction. The regular customer service people could care less that I had an issue. The best response so far has been "but you didn't lose anything, so what's the problem?" *sigh*

It's a Respironics M Series Plus C-Flex CPAP Machine with humidifier chamber; the only other items in the bag (which says Respironics on the flap) were the hose, mask and an extra nasal mask, plus the power cord. It passed through the TSA inspection with flying colors. The TSA agent even chatted with me as I put all my items back in their respective bags, as his wife uses the same machine, did I feel better now that I was getting therapy, what kind of apnea did I have, etc.

Now if the TSA agents could recognize and not give me grief over it, why couldn't AA? I had my doctor's note outlining what it was I was carrying and that it could not be checked since it was a sensitive piece of equipment, as well as the letter from the TSA regarding medical equipment and people with disabilities (the one dated 2006).

The bag itself was half the size of my laptop bag, so it fit fine under my seat. In fact I was able to let to let it rest on top of my laptop case because the laptop case itself was flat enough. It's a very small and compact machine. It's also very expensive.

I'm just very frustrated and disgusted that an airline can treat their customers who have disabilities (and yes having any sort of apnea is a disability, albeit a hidden one) like they're no more than second class citizens. This is not the AA I flew five years ago.

ETA - I may have missed it, but if there is an executive customer service number I can contact someone at regarding this, I'd appreciate someone pointing me in that direction. The regular customer service people could care less that I had an issue. The best response so far has been "but you didn't lose anything, so what's the problem?" *sigh*

I know that one. I used it before switching on to my current machine. I know exactly what you are talking about. The type of machine and whether it's small or large is immaterial. The airline must allow you to carry your CPAP on board. I am sorry that I can't help ypu with the phone number as I don't fly AA anymore. MAybe people on AA forum here on FT can.
You should complain to FAA regarding the ariline failing to comply with the law that allows you to take your CPAP on board. Maybe the airline will pay attention when it's fined.
Call the airline's customer relations office and ask to speak to the (office of) director of operations, director of training or compliance resolution officer (CRO). It's possible that the CRO is aware but AA has not trained its employees about CPAP.

No offense to OP but I always check ahead of time with the airlines before assuming cpap can be used on-board. If you go to Delta's website, under services for disabilities, you can download their pdf file (https://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/services_travelers_disabilities/index.jsp).

Unfortunately, on page 6, it clearly says they do not permit on-board use of cpap:Certain battery-operated equipment, such as C-Pap and Bi-Pap machines, may not be used during a flight.

I am not defending them, in fact I think they're terribly unfriendly to us hose-heads. But the agents, supervisors, etc. were well within their right to deny your 'right' to use on-board.

As noted in my earlier post, when I flew JAL, I couldn't find anything on their website so called them. They were great. Asked for my model, it was in their approved list, and they were extremely courteous and helpful.

Some other airlines, e.g. Singapore Airlines permit use on-board if you bring your own battery pack. Others, like Cathay Pacific are much more lenient but do require you technically call ahead and inform them of your plans to use on-board (this comes from website).

At the end of the day, one needs to check ahead and not assume anything ;)

For future reference, here is what I found on the aa.com website:

1.http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp?anchorEvent=false&from=Nav
Additional items that will be allowed above and beyond the restrictions listed above include:Assistive devices for passengers such as wheelchairs, walkers and CPAP machines

2.http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/wheelchairsAndDevices.jsp
Carry-On Assistive Devices
Canes, walkers, CPAP machines and other assistive devices capable of being collapsed small enough to fit into approved overhead and under seat stowage areas are welcome and do not count toward your carry-on item limit.

Assistance stowing carry-on baggage that meets baggage limits is available for customers with disabilities who request extra assistance. Due to storage limitations, some equipment or devices may have to be checked as baggage if it is not required during flight. All assistive devices must be packed separately from normal baggage to avoid baggage charges.

3. http://www.aa.com/pubcontent/jbax/includes/main.jsp?airlineCode=ba&locale=en_GB&category=specialAssistance&file=healthmedinfo.html
CPAP machine
*Medical clearance is not required for the carriage or use of CPAP machines (used in the treatment of sleep apnea) as fitness to travel will not be in doubt.
*CPAP machines can be plugged into a laptop power-point, where available, with a suitable adaptor.
*Maximum power output from the laptop points is 75 Watts and, if your equipment draws more than this, the outlet will be automatically deactivated.
*We cannot guarantee that any of the laptop points will be serviceable. If you intend to use one in flight, we recommend that you use a dry-cell battery-operated device.

Two points:

1. What is interesting for #3 is that it's British Airways content but on the aa.com website. According to AA customer service, this therefore applies only to BA and not AA.

2. Customer service says best thing to do is when booking, notify them ahead of time re cpap to avoid the problems posted here. And of course, print out the two pages cited above to wave in front of those 'smart ticket agents/supervisors, et al' :)

Slightly OT but here is Cathay Pacific's website re same topic (I mention only because they are also partners with AA):

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_US/helpingyoutravel/disabilities?refID=020f065981c56110VgnVCM32000011d 21c39____
# For Ventilator, respirator, CPAP machine and POC (Portable Oxygen Concentrator) we require advance notice up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure time of your intended flight.
# For any device without a manufacturer label stating that it complies with applicable FAA requirements for portable electronic medical devices, up to 2 weeks advance notice may be required. (Note: Only FAA approved devices will be accepted for flights to or from the US)

This is in continuation of the discussion FatManInNYC
have had earlier in the thread.
On my trip to Sydney, I was able to use my CPAP on board. No one at Delta had a clue. Even a supervisor in Delta interpretd the Final FAA letter to mean that if there is no sticker it will not be allowed. ...

They then talked to the crew and then asked me. "Do you have sleep apnoea?" Duuh. I just like to carry around m,y CPAP. So, I was allowed to use it on board.

That advisory letter is so poorly worded that it begs a negative response. Using a CPAP seems, to the FA, to mean extra work for the crew (not the reality) so the odd phrasing is read as a prohibition.

Interesting to note that once you invoked the magic words "sleep apnea," the airline opened like Ali Babba's cave. I had a similar experience with United recently. The website advises that using a CPAP requires advance notice. I called and pretty much got radio silence from the CSR and her supervisor, until I suggested she put me through to the people who deal with oxygen requests.

"Oh, you mean the medical clearance desk?"

Once transferred to 800 825 6331 the process was very simple. The medical desk CSR asked for my itinerary and my CPAP model number. Two hours later she called back with my approval, and an assurance that everything would be ready. ^

Flying out on Eva Air this week, their website appears to require battery pak for cpap, even though biz class has power source to plug computer [and my ResMed]. Anyone with experience on their EWR to Taipei flights?

Apologies for duplicate post...hoping for a good night's sleep during my flight :)

Flying out on Eva Air this week, their website appears to require battery pak for cpap, even though biz class has power source to plug computer [and my ResMed]. Anyone with experience on their EWR to Taipei flights?

Answering my own question: no problems using their power source. Flight attendants didn't bat an eye. Slept well with my S8.

Thanks for the followup.

Flying out on Eva Air this week, their website appears to require battery pak for cpap, even though biz class has power source to plug computer [and my ResMed]. Anyone with experience on their EWR to Taipei flights?

Apologies for duplicate post...hoping for a good night's sleep during my flight :)

Hi, I am flying Eva Elite (CDG-TPE-CGK-TPE-CDG) next january but can't find any information about inflight CPAP-usage on their website! May I ask were on the website you found it?

Hi, I am flying Eva Elite (CDG-TPE-CGK-TPE-CDG) next january but can't find any information about inflight CPAP-usage on their website! May I ask were on the website you found it?
http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/tips/Cabin_comfort/Electronic_Equipment/

But if you're in elite class, they supply power source on all their 777 planes and as I posted below, encountered no problems powering up my S8 and getting sound sleep.

I usually fly Virgin Atlantic from LAX-LHR in UC but they don't let you use CPAP during the flight. So I get a really comfortable lay flat bed but can't sleep because of snoring/apnea.

I leave in two weeks to LHR and I found a great fare in PE on Air New Zealand (still get Virgin Atlantic miles) and I know that they allow the use of CPAP http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/special-assistance-medical-equipment#cpap so I'm excited to try both Air New Zealand AND get some sleep using my CPAP on board.

Has anyone else used CPAP on an Air New Zealand flight?

Thanks,

Steve

I just got this email re: CPAP usage during flights from Special Services:

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your email regarding the use of personal medical equipment on-board.

Virgin Atlantic Airways can only permit the use of battery powered medical equipment on-board, any equipment that you wish to use must be cleared for use in-flight by our engineering team. In order for the team to evaluate the equipment and issue a clearance we will require the following details:

 Make/Manufacturer of the unit
 Model Number
 Serial Number
 For Respiratory Assistance Devices (RAD's) such as Oxygen concentrators and Nebulisers etc we also require the "Watt-Hour" rating of any spare batteries that are being carried. These details can be obtained from the manufacturer.

The following is a list of CPAP machines cleared for previous passengers. If you intend to use one of these we know it will be safe to use on-board. However we will still need to know the make, model and serial number so we can advise the crew it has been pre-cleared.

AEIOMED AURA
AEIOMED EVEREST 2
EVEREST 3
Breas Isleep
BreatheX Journey, EVEREST -integrated
BreatheX Machine,
DeVilbiss Healthcare Intellipap DV54D
Devilbiss/Sunrise Medical 7340 Vacu-Aide 7340a
Kaerys KXS
Odstock
Puritan Bennett Goodnight 420
ResMed Auto Set Spirit S7
ResMed Auto Set Spirit S8
ResMed Escape S8 11
ResMed Sullivan
ResMed VPAP IV
ResMed Elite II
Respironics Remstar Auto M Series
Respironics Remstar Basic M Series
Respironics Remstar C-Flex
Respironics Remstar LX
Respironics Remstar Plus Domestic
Respironics Remstar Plus International
Respironics Remstar Plus LX
Respironics Remstar Plus M Series
Respironics Remstar Pro M Series
Sunrise Medical/Devilbiss Vacu-Aide 7340a
VIASYS BreatheX Journey


I hope the above information has been of use.

If we can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate in contacting us again.

Kind regards

Lynda Morris
Special Assistance
Tel 0844 412 4455 ext 33656



I usually fly Virgin Atlantic from LAX-LHR in UC but they don't let you use CPAP during the flight. So I get a really comfortable lay flat bed but can't sleep because of snoring/apnea.

I leave in two weeks to LHR and I found a great fare in PE on Air New Zealand (still get Virgin Atlantic miles) and I know that they allow the use of CPAP http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/special-assistance-medical-equipment#cpap so I'm excited to try both Air New Zealand AND get some sleep using my CPAP on board.

Has anyone else used CPAP on an Air New Zealand flight?

Thanks,

Steve

It was my first trip on Air New Zealand and the 1st time using my CPAP on an aircraft.

I did LAX-LHR RT in PE and got home last night. The check-in at LAX was great; they asked if I had my machine and batteries and I said yes, and that was it.

I was a bit self-conscious getting ready to sleep but I slept a good 6 hours with the machine. The PE seats are OK but I can't wait to use be able to use my machine in UC in Dec. for LAX-LHR-JNB RT in UC. It makes a huge difference in my body to arrive refreshed AND not worrying if I'm keeping others awake with my snoring.

Steve

I usually fly Virgin Atlantic from LAX-LHR in UC but they don't let you use CPAP during the flight. So I get a really comfortable lay flat bed but can't sleep because of snoring/apnea.

I leave in two weeks to LHR and I found a great fare in PE on Air New Zealand (still get Virgin Atlantic miles) and I know that they allow the use of CPAP http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/special-assistance-medical-equipment#cpap so I'm excited to try both Air New Zealand AND get some sleep using my CPAP on board.

Has anyone else used CPAP on an Air New Zealand flight?

Thanks,

Steve

Any recent experiences with AA? I'm flying DFW-LAX on 777 and using PR S1 Bipap.