I was shaken out of a sound sleep and ordered to stop using my CPAP machine onboard a flight today. I was surprised to say the least as I've been using this same machine on my 15+ annual flights for many years without incident. I was told several years ago that I no longer needed to do pre-registration as CX had noted CPAP use in my profile.

However, I was curtly informed by the flight purser that CX once again requires pre-registration 48 hours before flying to use a CPAP machine onboard.

Back on land, it took me four calls and more than an hour on the phone with clueless people at CX to conclude that the only way around the requirement to pre-register is to see a doctor, complete a MEDA form and then obtain a FREMEC card.

I don't know what's more frustrating: 1. Cathay's ever-changing policies on CPAP use; 2. The universal ignorance of CX staff in regards to the ever changing policies and the resulting haphazard application; 3. The ridiculous level of medical clearance required to get a FREMEC for sleep apnea.

If you use CPAP and fly CX, forewarned is forearmed. Or, you can also move to airlines with less idiotic policies towards CPAP machines (i.e. any other carrier). It will be the latter move for me.