Personal medical equipment as carry on baggage with Jetstar?

[mjt57]

Just wondering what Jetstar's rules are regarding taking medical equipment, in this case, a CPAP machine, on board as carry on luggage. Does Jetstar give you an allowance for it outside of the carry on allowance or do they include it with your total allowance (10kg according to the website)?

I called JS to enquire. After ten minutes of being given the runaround the answer came back as a vague "maybe". The guy suggested to pack it into the carry on bag. So, hopefully it won't exceed the limit.

The guy suggested putting it into the checked baggage. I said, "no way" was I going to risk a $1,800 bit of gear, essential gear, too, going in with my suitcase which could end up anywhere...

 

[Robert K]

you can always buy another seat as backup

 

[Sprucegoose]

They should be ok with this

 

[ColinP]

SWMBO carries a CPAP as 'extra' carry on all the time. She has been questioned a couple of times (by LCCs) but as soon as she explains what it is -- no problem.

 

[cove]

I don't travel Jetstar but I use a CPAP machine on all overnight long haul flights having 2 8 hour lithium batteries in case the seat power is a fail. By the way a Resmed CPAP should be about $1,000 wholesale so negotiate harder if you ever need to get a second one. Just after my last purchase at $1,500 I was offered a much lower price from elsewhere. The mask choice is really improving.

 

[MYT105]

I have traveled with both my Resmed CPAP and now with my Transend CPAP that I bought specifically for traveling, as it is around 500g and small, and cheaper then all the rest. I have had no problem carrying it on as hand luggage on any of the flights, but I generally try to stay with in the size limit, if not the weight limit.

Off Topic, I have bought my last lot of CPAP stuff from the states and they shipped it straight to my door with no need for any scripts, and at less then half the price of it being bought here.

 

[sinophile888]

I always travel with 2 travel APAP machines which adjust to changes in altitude. My husband carries one in his backpack and I carry the other one in my cabin luggage as well as carrying a large handbag. I always make sure that I have only CPAP related gear in my carry-on including an overnight battery and a change of clothes.

I have flown on at least a dozen airlines, including QF, SQ, MH, EK, CX, SA, CZ, MU, JQ, BI, UO, D7, AK and BA and have never been challenged.

I have needed to use the machine during a flight on a few occasions. I find that if the cabin pressure drops much below 800hPa, I start to feel really ill. On one occasion on Royal Brunei on a late flight into Shanghai, I stopped breathing. Another time, flying overnight from JNB to PER, my husband stayed awake all night to monitor my breathing. He had a slight altercation with another passenger who wanted him to turn out the light above my seat.

Now, I NEVER fly at night. Last time I flew to Europe, I took the daytime route and needed 4 days on three flights for both directions.

As with the previous poster, I have used an American website for CPAP stuff as it costs less than half the price of the same items in Australia. This is especially annoying when buying Resmed products as Resmed is an Australian company.

 

[Ric]

I don't travel Jetstar but I use a CPAP machine on all overnight long haul flights having 2 8 hour lithium batteries in case the seat power is a fail. By the way a Resmed CPAP should be about $1,000 wholesale so negotiate harder if you ever need to get a second one. Just after my last purchase at $1,500 I was offered a much lower price from elsewhere. The mask choice is really improving.

Sorry to be OT, but where do you buy your batteries for your CPAP machine? I use a Resmed S9 with a humidifier so really cannot use on board power.

 

[cove]

Cpap.com is where I bought my 2 lithium batteries and I use a Tumi connector to grab power out of a plane seat wherever possible. Typically for a 6 to 8 hour sleep I tend to use one battery without running the humidifier.

 

[medhead]

I've taken my CPAP on jetstar starclass without an issue. Remember the standard carry on allowance is 10kg.

Sorry to be OT, but where do you buy your batteries for your CPAP machine? I use a Resmed S9 with a humidifier so really cannot use on board power.

I have the same machine. You really don't need the humidifier on board for a one off flight. Sure it's a bit of a hassle having to carry 2 tubes. But at least you could use on board power. I also have the smaller power pack to run just the S9 alone. I ha an issue where qantas decided to not provide the required special power setup. No way the standard 90W power pack would work off the laptop power. Stupidly I'd packed my travel adapter in checked luggage expecting them to provide the special power.

Anyway, I have no trouble skipping the humidifier every once in a while and I don't even use it in Sydney during my 3 nights a week over there.

 

[Ric]

Cove/medhead,.

Many thanks for the response. I guess you are right, just one night on the plane, I guess I could skip the humidifier.

I will certainly look into cpap.com and get the batteries. Always good to have back ups.

Cheers.

 

[cove]

The battery runs down a bit too quickly if you run the humidifier so you may get only 6 hours depending on which machine you run.
I use a small amount of Vicks if I am going to run without the humidifier.

 

[medhead]

Hay fever gets me so I use hardcore sprays. The humidifier really helps but I can skip it.

 

[mjt57]

Thanks for your replies, folks. It's appreciated.

However, no-one was able to definitively answer my query as to whether a CPAP, as medical equipment, would be in addition to the carry on allowance or a part of it.

As it turned out, my total carry on weight was just under 10 kg.

I was tempted to carry the bag separate and see if they'd allow it as a "small item" as the bag itself isn't all that big. But in the end I had plenty of room in my carry on.

The bag itself, despite being sold to me as an airline "compliant" bag, wouldn't fit into Jetstar's cradles without a lot of force. Thankfully, when boarding, they didn't ask me to check it for size. But others were when boarding...

 

[ColinP]

Thanks for your replies, folks. It's appreciated.

However, no-one was able to definitively answer my query as to whether a CPAP, as medical equipment, would be in addition to the carry on allowance or a part of it.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, although with these sorts of questions there often is no definitive answer. Sometimes it depends on which side of bed the check in agent got out of.

SWMBO carries a CPAP as 'extra' carry on all the time. She has been questioned a couple of times (by LCCs) but as soon as she explains what it is -- no problem.

 

[serfty]

... Sometimes it depends on which side of bed the check in agent got out of.

And sometimes you need to [-]wave a document in the agents face[/-] present the agent with a document from the organisation the are representing.

This document suggests that a C[SUB]pap[/SUB] would like be in addition. Unfortunately it is not specific (unless a C[SUB]pap[/SUB] is a type of oxygen concentrator):

Disability Access Facilitation Plan for Jetstar Airways pty ltd
​

 

[mjt57]

And sometimes you need to [-]wave a document in the agents face[/-] present the agent with a document from the organisation the are representing.

This document suggests that a C[SUB]pap[/SUB] would like be in addition. Unfortunately it is not specific (unless a C[SUB]pap[/SUB] is a type of oxygen concentrator):

Disability Access Facilitation Plan for Jetstar Airways pty ltd
​

I don't think that a CPAP machine is an oxygen concentrator.

And I couldn't find any reference to CPAP or similar anywhere in that document. But thanks for providing it, all the same.

Our next trip is via Emirates (B777 to DXB, then A380 to LHR). As this will be a long trip I'll need to carry it separately I think.

I won't be using it in flight, so that aspect of it won't be an issue.

 

[The Rok]

Can you take a Ten's machine in hand luggage?

 

[cove]

ric I ran the Cpap machine from LAX to LHR last night on battery power without the humidifier and there was no issue. The BA seat power was in a difficult position (under the bed) so battery was easier.

 

[johnSD]

Another idea is to get a letter from your GP stating that it is essential that the CPAP is packed in your carry on. I have never been questioned but am sure nobody will argue with a doctor's letter. Again OT, but for the benefit of Resmed product users, I just received a headgear replacement from the US., Price $30 plus $24 shipping. Exactly the same thing here is $110. Yet another example of how we are getting ripped off in this country.