CPAP Battery Dilemma
Jul 8, 2022, 11:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, AA 2.5 MM, United Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,460
CPAP Battery Dilemma
For those of you who have traveled for some time with CPAPs (I have been doing it for about 8 years now), I assume you have come up on the same inconsistencies re: batteries I have. Does anyone know how to resolve this?
I have had multiple times where, in order to get pre-authorized to use the CPAP on an overnight flight, I call the appropriate department within the airline. Sometimes, they authorize it, but advise me that I must bring a battery to use it. Other times, they just authorize me.
In two instances (once at AA in Madrid, once in London), I was given all kinds of problems about bringing my CPAP on board with a battery to use. They worried about the battery, in which case I offer to use it without the battery,. In the instance in Madrid, they held up my checkin for an hour and a half while they decided whether I could take the CPAP on board. Sometimes, they say it's a problem "because it's an oxygen machine." I explain that it only blows air, not oxygen, but they often don't appreciate the difference.
On my most recent Iberia flight in business class, I was told not to take the battery on board, but to pack it in my shipped baggage. Then, while using the CPAP, a flight attendant came up to me and told me that I could not use it without a battery. I explained to her that I had a battery, but was told not to bring it on board. Ultimately, the purser came up to me and told me that the reason for the battery requirement was that, if the machine was plugged into the plane's power directly, it could overheat while I was asleep. But he told me that he would watch me and make sure that there was no problem, so I was allowed to use the machine.
Have you guys every run into these kinds of problems/inconsistencies? Have they been resolved? If so, how?
I have had multiple times where, in order to get pre-authorized to use the CPAP on an overnight flight, I call the appropriate department within the airline. Sometimes, they authorize it, but advise me that I must bring a battery to use it. Other times, they just authorize me.
In two instances (once at AA in Madrid, once in London), I was given all kinds of problems about bringing my CPAP on board with a battery to use. They worried about the battery, in which case I offer to use it without the battery,. In the instance in Madrid, they held up my checkin for an hour and a half while they decided whether I could take the CPAP on board. Sometimes, they say it's a problem "because it's an oxygen machine." I explain that it only blows air, not oxygen, but they often don't appreciate the difference.
On my most recent Iberia flight in business class, I was told not to take the battery on board, but to pack it in my shipped baggage. Then, while using the CPAP, a flight attendant came up to me and told me that I could not use it without a battery. I explained to her that I had a battery, but was told not to bring it on board. Ultimately, the purser came up to me and told me that the reason for the battery requirement was that, if the machine was plugged into the plane's power directly, it could overheat while I was asleep. But he told me that he would watch me and make sure that there was no problem, so I was allowed to use the machine.
Have you guys every run into these kinds of problems/inconsistencies? Have they been resolved? If so, how?
Jul 26, 2022, 11:48 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Elite, AA, Worldperks, Asiamiles, BA Miles
Posts: 113
I didn't ask and no one questioned. I have a AirMini which is very compact and hooked it to the airplane's AC power. I did bring a battery that was within the maximum allowed for Li batteries as a backup. We were required to mask up during the flight and I only use nasal pillows and I wore Sony 1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones so one probably didn't notice the CPAP headgear on me. I did segments on Emirates, Air Canada and Westjet without being questioned.
Jul 28, 2022, 11:59 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Peoria, IL
Programs: AA,UA,DL,BA,HH,*W,BW
Posts: 175
SO uses a CPAP. We have used them with a battery on ANA, Cathay, KLM, Delta, and Emirates. The only airline that we could plug into aircraft power was on an ANA 777 in first class. All the other times the CPAP machine would error as there wasn't enough wattage. Which is why we always carry the batteries.