Long Haul Travel

[USKiwi]

Has anyone traveled Long Haul with a CPAP? I'm talking a 13+ hour flight from LA to Auckland, New Zealand (plus a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to LA). I probably won't use it on my flight from Florida to LA but I plan to use it on the flight to New Zealand. It is a overnight flight.
I contacted Air New Zealand and they were really good and informative. I have to sit in a special seat for the special power outlet available on the plane.
I would like to know any experiences, tips and/or advice for traveling.
Thanks in advance.

[PaulaO2]

Here's some linkages for you:

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/...conditions
or more specifically: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/...-and-apaps

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/travel-ai...15623.html

http://www.resmed.com/epn/assets/html/tr...c=patients

Several of them advise having a letter from your doctor. I don't agree to that. Not everyone has such a letter, can afford to go to the doc just to get one (who will probably charge extra for it), etc. TSA does not say a letter is necessary. It may help cut down on problems but only for you. The next person who does not have a letter will get hassled more. My advice with security is to just act normally, take the CPAP out of its bag, put it in a tray, and go on through. They know what they are now and usually there's not a problem.

As for the power plug, contact them again about a month prior to the trip to confirm you can use the machine. When you get to the gate, confirm it again.

I've never been on a flight long enough to need to sleep, thank goodness. I usually get strung out on caffeine to prevent me from nodding off. I've done it before and the stewardess had to wake me as I was so dang loud snoring. I have so much other medical stuff with me that using the CPAP is far down my list so I try to not sleep.

[zonk]

pack some spares
NZ just like OZ .. prices skyrocket
don,t forget to bring with you power plug adapter (US to NZ)

bon voyage