Flying with Vest

[idajune]

I am getting married July 8, and we will then leave for our honeymoon - the tough part is deciding where to go. In any case we will be flying and I am curious how it has gone for those of you who have flown with the vest ---- and all the medication. I know some travel without the vest but being the tough year I have had I am not ready to leave that security behind for a week. Do I contact the airlines to tell them I will be carrying on this device (I have the smaller newer vest) and medications? I haven't traveled since 1997, and with all the new restrictions I just wondered what has changed. Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Sarah
27w/cf

 

[anonymous]

Hi Sarah,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! We just traveled to Santa Fe with Samantha and had to bring all her meds and her IV pole and Kangaroo pump for her night feeds. We took a carry on with her nebulizers,compressor, meds (Tobi, Pulmazyme, etc) in an insulated bag, syringes and extensions for the g-tube. I anticipated delays, questions and problems. Leaving Chicago, we did have to open the bag and explain what the compressor was. Leaving Santa Fe, they didn't even ask about the bag.

We did have a doctor's note ready explaining Samantha's diagnosis and need for medical equipment and meds. We also had the prescription labels (with her name) included with Sami's meds. We didn't have to show either the note or the labels, but I think it's a good idea to have both.

We didn't take the vest on the trip, but we were advised to always take it as a carry on if we traveled by plane. Hope this helps, good luck and enjoy your trip!

Maria (mother of Samantha w/cf)

 

[NoDayButToday]

Right. I've flown post 9-11 with everything but the Vest (I prefer flutter) and feeding stuff (I didn't have a tube yet), and had no problems. The biggest problems we have ever had was with my air compressor; a lot of people have thought it was a bomb or something, at the very least they were all VERY perplexed by it.

 

[CFlat]

If you deal with a Medical Company in your area, have them call the airline a few weeks in advance to make prior arrangements. They may be able to set you up with one of thier other locations, so you don't have to bring all of your equipment with you, just your meds. If you don't have a company you deal with call about 3 wks. so they can prepare for you and hopefully no questions ask.

 

[Jenni]

I just got back from Disney World yesterday, and the vest company delivered a vest to our hotel for when we were there. It was fabulous not having to lug it around with us. We just gave it back to the desk upon check out.

 

[anonymous]

When we went to Disney, we put all of Kaits meds and machines in as our carry-ons, i would be afraid of them just throwing or tossing the machine around like they do our luggage.

Kaitsmom<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

Actually, you're supposed to take all med-related things with you on the plane, instead of checking them. They tell you to. I'm taking my Pulmo (in a cooler), my nebulizer, and all my oral meds on the plane with me. Because if they happen to lose your stuff, you're screwed if your meds are in there. (And yes I've had my luggage lost once, we had to go without it for 24 hours, and it sucked).

 

[anonymous]

What emily said is accurate as well as the fact that your medical items do not count as carry on and if you still need to bring a carryon onboard you are entitled to. They can not deny you medically necessary equiptment on the plane and cannot charge you extra to bring it onboard.

I would also see if the vest company can bring one to the hotel you are staying at, I have heard of others doing this as well so depending on where you are honeymooning, it may be a likely possibility.

Julie (wife to mark 24 w/CF)

 

[anonymous]

My step-son flys out to us every summer and every Christmas vacation. We have never had any problems with the airlines (Delta). They actually take the Vest on board and make sure it goes with him when he changes planes, he's only 12 and flys alone. His meds stay in his suitcase wrapped up and inside a small cooler with an ice pack. Been doing this for 8 years without a problem yet.
Jen