Originally Posted by
timbre
Has anyone traveled with a CPAP device?
Has UA ever refused to allow you to bring the device on board? Will they allow you to use it while sleeping in flight?
Thank you for your help.
I have with a similar device, not a CPAP and have been using it in flight for four years now.
UA cannot refuse to allow you to bring the device on board because of the Air Carrier Access Act. They are required to allow you to bring it on board and it does not count towards your carry on total.
To use it on board you need to have it approved through the medical desk: 1-800-825-6331. It has a dedicated staff and is open 24 hours a day--they are a great group! If UA's engineering department approves the device (you will need to tell them manufacturer and model) they will let you use in while sleeping in flight. Do you have the FAA sticker on the bottom of your device? Some older units do not, but that does not preclude their use.
As for power, that has changed. Before Jeff changed things for the worse this year, UA used to bring power to your seat for you, regardless of the aircraft or class of service. They no longer bring power to your seat.
If your aircraft has in-seat power as most international configurations do, they will need to take a look at the specs for your equipment and will let you know if you can use it on the in-seat power provided on some aircraft. If you can provide them with an online link to the specifications for your equipment that will speed things up. They need 48 hours to approve the use of the equipment on board.
Once on board, most pursers are clueless as they rarely look at the list of medical patients on board. I usually talk to them to let them know that I will be using my equipment on board and it has been cleared by the medical desk.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask here or by PM.
Originally Posted by
FlyingDiver
I've taken mine in my carry-on many times. But I've never tried to use it in-flight. I don't have a battery pack for mine, and there are MANY hoops you need to go through even if you do. United won't let you use aircraft power for it. You must use batteries.
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...ntilators.aspx
The wording on that page is quite misleading regarding CPAPs since it also covers ventilators and respirators.
You do not need to use batteries if the unit is approved by the engineers for use on in-seat power and your plane is equipped with that.
My equipment is approved for use on in-seat power and I used it this past week on international flights. Originally I was scheduled on an new configuration 777, but there was a plane swap 48 hours before the flight to the old configuration which does not have in seat power. I called the medical desk and they switched me, free of charge, to the earlier fight on a 767 which did have in seat power. Like I said, there is a great group of dedicated people there.