Airport hand baggage allowance and CPAP

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tigers Fan on May 7, 2012 at 12:10

Forgot to point out that airlines permit you to carry CPAP separate from and in addition to your usual baggage allowance. It must be tagged "Medical Equipment" and carried in the hold.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 12:15

Thank you for all your comments which are appreciated. In some areas we do have different views but to me that is good and, hope you agree, think this leads to a good debate.
I may be proved completely wrong regarding sleep apnoea, disability, taking a CPAP onto a plane & rights under the Equality Act for personal hand luggage allowance -but I still wish to pursue.
This topic seems to be very popular also in other discussion forums. I look forward to hearing more from yourself and from others also regarding their views.
I appreciate your joining in and look forward to any further contributions thanks to this excellent Hope2Sleep forum , regards

Tigers Fan said:

Christine, you are clearly exercised about OSA being a disability so I shall leave you to persue your perceived case of discrimination - but not without leaving you a couple of points to ponder.

 

There is no difference between an properly treated OSA sufferer and the next person - both sleep well, neither are disabled.

 

Whilst accepting that there are many, many this OSA sufferers and sufferers due to all sorts of reasons, most sufferers are fat - a self-inflicted condition not a disability.

 

Why would an airline want to carry a disabled person who may, at any moment whilst airborne, suffer an "OSA attack" and cause the plane to be diverted? They would claim the person is un-fit to fly. They would not be discriminating, merely safeguarding a life. Further, they provide power for CPAP in certain seats - expensive 1st Class seats - so the choice is yours.

 

Finally, which part of this planet is so far from any starting point you choose that you cannot fly there without sleep? Or stop off half way and check into a hotel.

 

Some rugby players have OSA. Imagine them claiming Disability Benefit! I have OSA - I'm not disabled.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 13:19

Thanks

My partner has a soft case for his NHS CPAP.
An English Sleep Unit guidance booklets states: 'The CPAP machine should always be carried as hand luggage in an aircraft and must not be stowed in the hold'
If my partner's CPAP was damaged by being in the hold he would be the first to tell you how it would ruin his holiday -he would sleep through most of it!! br/>

Tigers Fan said:

Forgot to point out that airlines permit you to carry CPAP separate from and in addition to your usual baggage allowance. It must be tagged "Medical Equipment" and carried in the hold.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 14:00

My partner's NHS CPAP does not have a battery so an electrical supply is always required. Could I please aks-
If a CPAP has a battery that does not meet airport/airline regulations then what happens? Can the sufferer still take their CPAP on board? What happens with the batteries-do they have to be left behind?
I would br pleased to learn more.

99 said:

CPAP batteries over a certain capacity are not allowed for air  transport 

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Permalink Reply by 99 on May 7, 2012 at 15:14

the maximum capacity allowed for in-flight cabin use (105 Wh) non spill

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 15:53

Thanks
If OK i will add to my slowly growing evidence file.
Perhaps since the European Equality Act is reasonalby new the authories will now sit up and take notice
.
My partner also has two hearing aids and has been involved in hearing loop surveys-it is the same in many places re this as not all shops or other premises have an adequte loop system installed for those who are hard of hearing.
My partner has the extra whammy of having retinitis pigmentosa(tunnell vision). He is very well in himself after using his CPAP but says he needs a head transplant!!




99 said:

the maximum capacity allowed for in-flight cabin use (105 Wh) non spill

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 15:59

I wonder in time if the experts will design a wireless CPAP? It is amazing how the world has moved on since the CPAP was invented in 1981. Perhaps Apple is thinking of this???/>
99 said:

CPAP batteries over a certain capacity are not allowed for air  transport 

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on May 7, 2012 at 17:32

Unfortunately, whilst we're entitled to take our CPAPs as hand luggage, each airline has it's own discretion as to whether it's classed as our only hand luggage we're allowed or not :(  I spoke to the CAA about this myself just a short while ago, and they told me we have to check with the airline we're flying with.  In the USA and, I think, Australia, CPAP is not counted as carry-on baggage, but I daresay a fight was in place before this rule was applied. CAA Link re CPAP

I myself have never had a problem with the CPAP Medical Tag attached, and I carry a letter from my hospital, but have never had to show this.  However, I've been contacted by several people who've had bad experiences at airports.

It wouldn't affect my hubby, as he would just take his CPAP and nothing else.  However, being a woman I like to take the 'kitchen sink' onboard too, as well as my laptop :D

Tigers Fan said:

Forgot to point out that airlines permit you to carry CPAP separate from and in addition to your usual baggage allowance. It must be tagged "Medical Equipment" and carried in the hold.

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on May 7, 2012 at 17:40

Have copied and pasted the info below from the CAA, link here PDF OF WHAT CAN I CARRY?

Portable medical electronic devices (Automated External Defibrillators (AED), Nebulizer, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), etc.) containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries carried by passengers for medical use. No more than two spare batteries may be carried. Spare batteries must be individually protected so as to prevent short circuits (by placement in original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals, e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch). Each installed or spare battery must be of a type which meets the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, section 38.3;
In addition, each installed or spare battery must not exceed the following:
i) for lithium metal batteries, a lithium content of not more than 8 grams; or
ii) for lithium ion batteries, a watt-hour rating of not more than 160 Wh.
NOTE: Spare batteries may be carried in carry-on baggage only.
99 said:

CPAP batteries over a certain capacity are not allowed for air  transport 

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Permalink Reply by Gadabout on May 7, 2012 at 17:46

How frustrating for you and your hubby:-(
We have travelled a lot over the last few years and flown from the UK and in and out of Spain, Ireland, America and Canada.  I have both my CPAP and nebuliser with me as hand luggage and the authorities have always treated them as 'extra' to my main allowance.  It has been my experience that, as soon as the medical letters have been shown, there has never been a question or problem  Of course, security have a wonderful time invesitgating, swabbing etc and that always causes a queue to form behind us . . . but that's ok.  Good luck with your invesetigations and hope you get things resolved soon.

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Permalink Reply by Christine Woods on May 7, 2012 at 17:49

If any forum members are familiar with the Equality Act 2010 i would be very grateful for comments re :

Section 19:81- 'the extension of indirect discrimination to disability is new,
Section19:78-'Indirect discrimination occurs when a policy which applies in the same way for everybodt has an effect which partticulary disadvantages people with a protected characteristic. Where a particular group is disadvantaged in this way, a person in that group is indirectly discriminated against if he or she is put at that disadvantage, unless the person applying the policy can justify it'


Christine Woods said:

Extra to my reply below www.rightsatwork.co.uk re Equality Act 2010 also states:

'It is also unlawful to indirectly discriminate against a person because of theiIr disability by imposing a provision, criterion,or practice which puts them at a disadvantage when compared to others'

My personal view at this time regarding CPAP and travel has been raised earlier in my original discussion item. I think it is correct and reasonable for safety reasons to inform an airport/airline about carrying a CPAP on board a plane. What I think is unfair is for my partner not always being allowed the same personal hand luggage allowance as myself. Whether or not he decides to use this personal allowance would then be up to himself to decide. There seems to be a one bag rule for some UK airports/airlines, a rule which perhaps needs to be challenged??
.
I have sought guidance from a disability advice service and I am awaiting a reply.


':

Christine Woods said:

Www.rightsatwork.co.uk:
"The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their disability, their perceived disability or because they associate with someone who has a disability. This would, for example, include an able bodied person who cares for a disabled family member......examples of disabilities include diabetes, epilepsy, long term depression and sleep apnoea"

As a sleep apnoea partner then it would seem I am correct to pursue the issue of unfairness toward my partner regarding airport/airline varied regulations in UK for CPAP and personal hand luggage allowance. I look forward to receiving any further comments or guidance. Thanks

Christine Woods said:

Re OSA and disabillity could I please draw attention to the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea discussion blog April 2nd 2009 which includes a reply from the Equality Human Rights Commiission Helpline England . Clear guidance given from the helpline was shared in this blog from a sleep apnoea sufferer to raised the issues of OSA and DDA. Regards

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on May 7, 2012 at 17:56

Like someone said earlier, I've never thought of treated OSA as a disability either Christine.  However, I know there are a lot of poor people who have other health conditions as well as OSA, and probably even caused through undiagnosed OSA. 

If it's a disability then shouldn't we all get disability allowance? (I, personally, wouldn't be comfortable with this, as I have more energy than I've ever had since being on CPAP therapy).  There again, if I'm entitled to it I could always give it to the OSA Campaign :D

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