Anyone use a CPAP on board?
Aug 2, 2019, 4:09 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
Sorry for bumping up an old thread, but I was wondering if you guys had to call AC to tell them you're using an CPAP onboard or the FA just ignore it? I know the website says we have to......
Aug 2, 2019, 6:51 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC*SEMM
Posts: 602
Yes I used a RESMED Air Mini 3 times for Asia flights in J ... no one said anything ... I use a 6 inch power extension easier to plug anywhere ... also this travel CPAP is designed for planes uses 9W (very low) ... (approx) ... FA ignored it simply ... maybe fearing waking me up would do more harm ?? 
Aug 2, 2019, 7:13 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
Yes I used a RESMED Air Mini 3 times for Asia flights in J ... no one said anything ... I use a 6 inch power extension easier to plug anywhere ... also this travel CPAP is designed for planes uses 9W (very low) ... (approx) ... FA ignored it simply ... maybe fearing waking me up would do more harm ??
Aug 3, 2019, 4:01 pm
#34
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,313
Hey that is my travel CPAC machine.
I also carry the battery pack and its not an issue. I think most people on board appreciate those who need the machine, to use it. Its quieter for everyone else and you also stay alive!
Aug 3, 2019, 9:32 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 296
The battery bit is probably AC not wanting to guarantee that you'll have access to plug-in power. And AC doesn't want something bad to happen, and get blamed if you couldn't plug-in because your socket wasn't working. Quite possibly their purchase agreement for the power system specifically prohibits medical devices, so they'd stand no chance in court.
Possibly AC had an (unpublished) incident in the past. Or their lawyers are dreaming up edge cases to rack up hours.
Possibly AC had an (unpublished) incident in the past. Or their lawyers are dreaming up edge cases to rack up hours.
Aug 4, 2019, 1:39 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: YXU
Programs: aeroplan 1984,SE,MM Dec2012
Posts: 7
Wife checked with Ac medical desk re. CPAP use couple of years ago:
Check type/ size, battery preferred .
Plug in not ideal because of seat location and other passengers not happy where its.positioned :-) Economy
They were willing to help with seat location.
Seemed quite reasonable.
Calling in advance allows both sides to optimise needs.
Have had patients with medical needs in past and had no issues
when checking with med desk. Sometimes Medical needs form needed
for confirmation, they have been more than helpful.
It isn't fun in middle of night in mid Atlantic dealing with pass with medical probs who didn't
make any arrangements and travelling solo.
Check type/ size, battery preferred .
Plug in not ideal because of seat location and other passengers not happy where its.positioned :-) Economy
They were willing to help with seat location.
Seemed quite reasonable.
Calling in advance allows both sides to optimise needs.
Have had patients with medical needs in past and had no issues
when checking with med desk. Sometimes Medical needs form needed
for confirmation, they have been more than helpful.
It isn't fun in middle of night in mid Atlantic dealing with pass with medical probs who didn't
make any arrangements and travelling solo.
Aug 4, 2019, 6:51 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
https://www.sleeprestfully.com/Pilot...-CPAP-Battery/
Aug 5, 2019, 2:15 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Programs: Super Elite 100K
Posts: 830
I've just bought a new CPAP with a battery, specifically after getting into a tiff (for the first time in 5-6 years) on HKG-YYZ because of the plug-in. The SD came to me specifically to let me know it had to be battery powered, even in J. I went with the Philips Dreamstation, with the battery pack. Lots of features, long battery life, and super quiet.
Aug 5, 2019, 3:38 pm
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,352
I've just bought a new CPAP with a battery, specifically after getting into a tiff (for the first time in 5-6 years) on HKG-YYZ because of the plug-in. The SD came to me specifically to let me know it had to be battery powered, even in J. I went with the Philips Dreamstation, with the battery pack. Lots of features, long battery life, and super quiet.
Aug 5, 2019, 7:18 pm
#41
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
I'm old enough to remember when people using wifi on board was causing dozens of airplane crashes every single day.
So a single 9 W CPAP machine (30 times more than a 300 mW wifi transmitter) would like cause the plane to crash several times on a single flight.)
So a single 9 W CPAP machine (30 times more than a 300 mW wifi transmitter) would like cause the plane to crash several times on a single flight.)
Aug 7, 2019, 10:59 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
Unfortunately, until Corporate sends an email to all the FA clearly stating what is safe and what is not, there's not much we can do.
Aug 7, 2019, 11:00 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
I've just bought a new CPAP with a battery, specifically after getting into a tiff (for the first time in 5-6 years) on HKG-YYZ because of the plug-in. The SD came to me specifically to let me know it had to be battery powered, even in J. I went with the Philips Dreamstation, with the battery pack. Lots of features, long battery life, and super quiet.
Aug 7, 2019, 11:29 am
#44
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,777
Wife checked with Ac medical desk re. CPAP use couple of years ago:
Check type/ size, battery preferred .
Plug in not ideal because of seat location and other passengers not happy where its.positioned :-) Economy
They were willing to help with seat location.
Seemed quite reasonable.
Calling in advance allows both sides to optimise needs.
Have had patients with medical needs in past and had no issues
when checking with med desk. Sometimes Medical needs form needed
for confirmation, they have been more than helpful.
Check type/ size, battery preferred .
Plug in not ideal because of seat location and other passengers not happy where its.positioned :-) Economy
They were willing to help with seat location.
Seemed quite reasonable.
Calling in advance allows both sides to optimise needs.
Have had patients with medical needs in past and had no issues
when checking with med desk. Sometimes Medical needs form needed
for confirmation, they have been more than helpful.
A colleague of mine uses a CPAP machine. He used it for a few years without issue and then got told on a YVR-TPE flight last year that it wasn't allowed.
Since then, he has just e-mailed the medical desk beforehand and it has usually been added to the PIL. On the rare occasion it hasn't been on the PIL, he has been able to show the SD his e-mail chain with the medical desk and all has been well.
Aug 7, 2019, 1:40 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Programs: Super Elite 100K
Posts: 830
It is definitely bigger. My issue is that I use the same CPAP at home, and I move around like a demon when I'm sleeping. I took one look at the little Air Mini, and was convinced it would spend a lot of time being batted about. The Dreamstation is pretty stable, but still sleek enough to travel well. It fits into every crevice on each of the planes where I've needed it, and the quiet running is a real plus.