Tips for Traveling With CPAP
Have you ever had to run through the airport hanging on to everything, including your britches? This is when you come to the realization that the CPAP machine you are carrying is heavier than you thought.
Most CPAP users know that checking that expensive machine is not a good idea. It's bad enough when you are going one way and you find out your luggage has gone another. I learned this lesson the hard way. After watching the baggage handlers tossing luggage and missing the loading ramp, my priorities definitely changed.
While the Department of Transportation has limited carry-on luggage to one piece plus a personal bag such as a purse or briefcase, it has noted that the new "limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices."
This information is available for reference and printing at the American Sleep Apnea Association website.
CPAP users should also take into consideration lighter machines, lighter masks, and light weight tubing. All make it a lot easier to travel light with CPAP devices.