Air Travel FAQ

As I promised, I contacted the US Dept of Transportation about the concerns people with sleep apnea have concerning air travel since Sept. 11, 2001. In all, there were 22 questions emailed to me, and two voicemails with questions posed. The surprising thing is they were all summarized, in detail, with three questions, as posed below. Should you have any additional questions or problems, let me know and I will get in touch with them again.

-----Original Message-----

From: Awake In Philly [mailto:FAAconcerns@scoop0901.net]

Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 3:51 AM

To: US DOT/FAA Security Issues

Subject: Questions regarding CPAP machines and flights since 9/11

Importance: High

One question I have, that hasn't been addressed in any of the comments or

questions, is say someone has followed all guidelines (FAA and US DOT)

regarding air travel with a CPAP/BiPAP machine since Sept. 11 and an airline

or a screener interprets the rules/regulations differently from the

FAA/US DOT. What can the person do at that point? Is there a 24-hour

point-of-contact, or is that something that would take time to resolve?

> From: ****, Mike [mailto:Mike.****@ost.dot.gov]

> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 4:08 PM

> To: 'Awake In Philly'

> Subject: RE: Questions regarding CPAP machines and flights since 9/11

>

> As a preliminary matter, effective on 2/17/02, the federal government

> assumed responsibility for security screening functions at commercial

> airports within the United States.

>

> Briefly, in answer to your numerous questions:

>

> A passenger with a disability who needs a "point of contact" with an

> airline-related disability issue can request a complaint resolution

> official or "CRO" at all times that the airline is doing

> business at a given airport.  Such passengers needing a contact for

> questions involving security screening issues can call DOT's Office

> of Civil Aviation Security at 1-866-289-9673 (staffed 8:30-5:00

> Eastern time, with voice-mail available 24 hours a day otherwise)

> or e-mail at 9-awa-tellfaa@faa.gov, or write to U.S. DOT, Office of

> Civil Aviation Security, 800 Independence Ave., SW, Wash., D.C. 20591.

================= BEGINNING OF QUESTIONS =================

Question 1:

How can I use my CPAP or BiPAP on red-eye transcontinental and transoceanic flights.

There seem to be two problems. 1. No way to plug in the CPAP and BiPAP, and 2. Given

the cramped space in these flights, no place to put the CPAP and BiPAP, particularly

for the obese that have this diagnosis. Buying a second seat to accommodate

a medical condition is discriminatory as well as cost prohibitive.

>

> Question #1: DOT's Air Carrier Access rules do not require airlines to

> permit passengers to plug in CPAP or BiPAP machines or other electrically-powered

> assistive devices during flight. The use of such devices may also

> be subject to FAA safety regulations governing the in-flight use of

> portable electronic devices (14 CFR Part 91.21). DOT's Air Carrier

> Access Act rules do not prohibit airlines from charging passengers who

> require the use of more than one seat in order to accommodate the stowage

> of an assistive device. Such assistive devices are also subject to any

> applicable FAA safety rules governing carry-on items.

Question 2:

Here's my CPAP and BiPAP travel question:

According to DOT rules posted at

http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/Civil%20Rights%20Fact%20Sheet.htm,

"medical equipment" is exempt from the one-bag carryon limit.

Clearly this exemption applies to wheelchairs and crutches. My question

is, Does this exemption apply to my CPAP or BiPAP? In other words, may I take one

appropriately sized rollaboard, a bag with my CPAP or BiPAP (well within airline

dimensions), and a laptop or briefcase as carryon? Or, as a CPAP or BiPAP user,

is it necessary for me to check all luggage except the CPAP or BiPAP and laptop or

briefcase and undergo the accompanying inconvenience? If, as I expect, the

medical equipment exemption is intended to apply to CPAP or BiPAPs, can we get a

clear affirmative statement on this subject to show any overzealous

airport security personnel?

>

> Question #2: Legitimate assistive devices, such as CPAP or BiPAP machines,

> should not be counted against a passenger's allotted carry-on total,

> provided that they are not prohibited as carry-ons by applicable safety

> and/or security rules. Questions about whether a particular device has

> been deemed to pose a potential safety/security risk (and are thus

> prohibited as carry-on items) can be directed to DOT's Office of Civil

> Aviation Security, as described above.

Question 3:

My husband has a CPAP or BiPAP and a humidifier, and we are worried about air

travel. Also, I may be getting a CPAP or BiPAP for myself soon. When traveling, we

would much prefer to take the equipment as carry-on luggage, rather than

risk putting them in checked baggage. Will we run into problem with the

strict "one bag" limit for carry-on luggage? I would like to be able to

take another bag that has my "regular" carry-on stuff, that I don't want

to be without for one night, such as my hypoallergenic toiletries, 1-2

paperbacks, a clean shirt, diabetes supplies, a snack in case of

hypoglycemia, etc. This other stuff takes up a full carry-on bag, in

addition to the CPAP and humidifier. I have heard that medical equipment

is exempt from the one-bag limit; is that true? Are CPAP or BiPAPs included in that

exemption? Are all the security screeners aware of that exemption? Or will

I get hassled? If I do get hassled, what do I do? Will they say that my

"regular" carry-on stuff is not exempt, and force me to check that? I worry

that even if security screeners at most airports allow the exemption, I will

encounter someone who does not allow it, who will force me to check one bag,

or else deny me boarding. If I then checked the CPAP or BiPAP and humidifier, that I

had put in its' own carry-on bag, it would probably get smashed. And I

wouldn't want to check the other bag that has what I need to survive

diabetes, allergies, and boredom. The other alternative, of putting up a

fuss, would probably mean missing the flight. Do the rules differ for

international flights versus US domestic flights? I have been avoiding

all air travel because of these worries.

>

> Question #3: See answer to question #2, above. With regard to

> humidifiers, if a passenger with a disability contended that such a

> device were an essential assistive device needed to accommodate their

> disability, such devices should also not be counted against a passenger's

> carry-on total, subject to the safety/security considerations stated

> above. Having said that, the intent of our Air Carrier Access Act rule

> is to enable passengers w/disabilities to carry on legitimate assistive

> devices. Given the recently-heightened concerns about the need to minimize

> the number of carry-ons on a given flight, coupled with the obvious

> physical storage limitations on commercial aircraft, all passengers should

> use common sense and consideration for other travelers when attempting to

> carry on multiple assistive devices, in addition to their allotted number

> of regular carry-on items.

>

> Questions about the extent to which carry-on rules differ for

> international versus domestic flights can be directed to the airline

> and/or security personnel, as discussed above.

======= END OF EMAIL =======

For additional information, please review the following links:

Plane Talk Sheet: Part 382 (US DOT Fact Sheet)

Steps Taken to Ensure Security Requirements Preserve, Respect Rights of People with Disabilities

US Dept. of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division

Non-Discrimination On The Basis Of Disability In Air Travel

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the U.S. population was 
288,181,442. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers from

obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

14,409,072 apneics in the U.S.

As of October 1, 2002 at 11:27:08 AM EDT (-0500), the world population was 
6,253,616,576. With estimates that about five percent of the population suffers 
from obstructive sleep apnea, that means there are potentially

312,680,829 apneics in the world.

Awake In Philly is a support group for individuals who have been diagnosed with at least one of the recognized sleep disorders, as well as anyone else impacted by those with sleep disorders. The information on the Awake In Philly website is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is any information to be misinterpreted as an attempt to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

If you have questions about any of the medical conditions mentioned on this website, especially if you suspect that you (or someone you know) has sleep apnea, please contact a qualified medical professional immediately. The information is intended to provide support, guidance, and encouragement to others contending with the many challenges of sleep disorders. The goals of Awake In Philly are to support, educate, and inform those who feel the impact of sleep disorders, as well as the general public. Medical advice should only come from qualified, licensed, and trained health-care professionals.