Tell me about traveling with your vest

A

Andi2007

New member
After several years and insurance companies, I have finally gotten a new, travel-sized vest! I'm planning ahead and want to be prepared for air travel with this machine.

Airlines typically allow one bag and one personal item. Is a vest excluded from this because it is medical equipment? I've been looking online for something from tsa that says med equip does not count as a carryon so I can print it and keep it with me but can't find it.

Will I be allowed to take 3 items on the plane? Please tell me about your experiences. Thanks.
 
A

Andi2007

New member
After several years and insurance companies, I have finally gotten a new, travel-sized vest! I'm planning ahead and want to be prepared for air travel with this machine.

Airlines typically allow one bag and one personal item. Is a vest excluded from this because it is medical equipment? I've been looking online for something from tsa that says med equip does not count as a carryon so I can print it and keep it with me but can't find it.

Will I be allowed to take 3 items on the plane? Please tell me about your experiences. Thanks.
 
A

Andi2007

New member
After several years and insurance companies, I have finally gotten a new, travel-sized vest! I'm planning ahead and want to be prepared for air travel with this machine.
<br />
<br />Airlines typically allow one bag and one personal item. Is a vest excluded from this because it is medical equipment? I've been looking online for something from tsa that says med equip does not count as a carryon so I can print it and keep it with me but can't find it.
<br />
<br />Will I be allowed to take 3 items on the plane? Please tell me about your experiences. Thanks.
 
R

robert321

New member
The vest and other medical equipment is exempt from the carry on and luggage limits. You are allowed to carry on the vest because it's medical equipment instead of trusting the airline to not lose it or break it in the checked luggage.
 
R

robert321

New member
The vest and other medical equipment is exempt from the carry on and luggage limits. You are allowed to carry on the vest because it's medical equipment instead of trusting the airline to not lose it or break it in the checked luggage.
 
R

robert321

New member
The vest and other medical equipment is exempt from the carry on and luggage limits. You are allowed to carry on the vest because it's medical equipment instead of trusting the airline to not lose it or break it in the checked luggage.
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
We always have a doctors note just in case...but no one has ever asked to look at it...
They always take the vest out of the bag and do that little cloth test on it...but nothing else...
There have been times, that we have been on a small plane and the bag is too big to bring with us, so we take the machine out and carry that onto the plane (thank God for that handy, dandy handle). We stuff a packed backpack in the vest bag, so that once we get to our destination, we can put the backpack on our back and the machine back in the vest bag.
We have only traveled once with the vest as an extra carry-on and did not get any slack. They may have just felt sorry for me, I was moving from Phoenix to Hawaii with all our belongings and both boys all by myself <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

blessings,
missa
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
We always have a doctors note just in case...but no one has ever asked to look at it...
They always take the vest out of the bag and do that little cloth test on it...but nothing else...
There have been times, that we have been on a small plane and the bag is too big to bring with us, so we take the machine out and carry that onto the plane (thank God for that handy, dandy handle). We stuff a packed backpack in the vest bag, so that once we get to our destination, we can put the backpack on our back and the machine back in the vest bag.
We have only traveled once with the vest as an extra carry-on and did not get any slack. They may have just felt sorry for me, I was moving from Phoenix to Hawaii with all our belongings and both boys all by myself <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

blessings,
missa
 
E

ehtansky21

New member
We always have a doctors note just in case...but no one has ever asked to look at it...
<br />They always take the vest out of the bag and do that little cloth test on it...but nothing else...
<br />There have been times, that we have been on a small plane and the bag is too big to bring with us, so we take the machine out and carry that onto the plane (thank God for that handy, dandy handle). We stuff a packed backpack in the vest bag, so that once we get to our destination, we can put the backpack on our back and the machine back in the vest bag.
<br />We have only traveled once with the vest as an extra carry-on and did not get any slack. They may have just felt sorry for me, I was moving from Phoenix to Hawaii with all our belongings and both boys all by myself <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />blessings,
<br />missa
 
K

kmaried

New member
I usually bring my vest as an extra carry on item, as others have described, in the rolling duffel the vest company provides. Some attendants gave me a little trouble, but I just kept stating that I was allowed to bring medical equipment, and they were finally convinced.

The flight attendants were accomodating... one time I was on a small plane and my vest rode first class! (There was an empty first class seat and no room anywhere else!)

I have actually checked my vest once. I wrapped it in bubble wrap and surrounded it with clothes in my suitcase... then I had the airline put their fragile stickers all over my bag. Yes, it was a risky move, but I was travelling without my husband, and it's a lot easier to have help when you carry on the vest!!

Kris
 
K

kmaried

New member
I usually bring my vest as an extra carry on item, as others have described, in the rolling duffel the vest company provides. Some attendants gave me a little trouble, but I just kept stating that I was allowed to bring medical equipment, and they were finally convinced.

The flight attendants were accomodating... one time I was on a small plane and my vest rode first class! (There was an empty first class seat and no room anywhere else!)

I have actually checked my vest once. I wrapped it in bubble wrap and surrounded it with clothes in my suitcase... then I had the airline put their fragile stickers all over my bag. Yes, it was a risky move, but I was travelling without my husband, and it's a lot easier to have help when you carry on the vest!!

Kris
 
K

kmaried

New member
I usually bring my vest as an extra carry on item, as others have described, in the rolling duffel the vest company provides. Some attendants gave me a little trouble, but I just kept stating that I was allowed to bring medical equipment, and they were finally convinced.
<br />
<br />The flight attendants were accomodating... one time I was on a small plane and my vest rode first class! (There was an empty first class seat and no room anywhere else!)
<br />
<br />I have actually checked my vest once. I wrapped it in bubble wrap and surrounded it with clothes in my suitcase... then I had the airline put their fragile stickers all over my bag. Yes, it was a risky move, but I was travelling without my husband, and it's a lot easier to have help when you carry on the vest!!
<br />
<br />Kris
 
M

mamaScarlett

Active member
The vest and all medical equipment does not count towards your allotted baggage. I always travel with a letter from my doctor and only once in the middle east did I need to pull it out. Every other time (probably around 25 times) I have never had a problem.
 
M

mamaScarlett

Active member
The vest and all medical equipment does not count towards your allotted baggage. I always travel with a letter from my doctor and only once in the middle east did I need to pull it out. Every other time (probably around 25 times) I have never had a problem.
 
M

mamaScarlett

Active member
The vest and all medical equipment does not count towards your allotted baggage. I always travel with a letter from my doctor and only once in the middle east did I need to pull it out. Every other time (probably around 25 times) I have never had a problem.
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Just echoing everyone else - you won't need a note from your doctor (well for US travel anyway). A few weeks before my flight, I just call the airline and have them add a note to my reservation that says I'm traveling with X bags of medical equipment. I haven't had any trouble. I used to have someone put it up in the overhead bin for me (usually my hubby or my dad but once it was a very nice stranger). But lately I've been asking the flight attendants to store it up front for me and they have been very accommodating.

Totally unrelated side note about that nice stranger. When I was boarding the plane, there was a lady in front of me who was by herself with a baby strapped to her. He approached her and asked if the baby was a lap infant - she said yes. He said, "I have a seat in 1st class but I don't need it, will you accept it?". She said yes, totally stunned. Then he continued boarding behind me (in lousy couch - ha!) and carried my luggage down the isle and put it in the overhead bin for me (I was boarding with my 2 kids). So there really are good people out there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And he was very handsome to boot <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Just echoing everyone else - you won't need a note from your doctor (well for US travel anyway). A few weeks before my flight, I just call the airline and have them add a note to my reservation that says I'm traveling with X bags of medical equipment. I haven't had any trouble. I used to have someone put it up in the overhead bin for me (usually my hubby or my dad but once it was a very nice stranger). But lately I've been asking the flight attendants to store it up front for me and they have been very accommodating.

Totally unrelated side note about that nice stranger. When I was boarding the plane, there was a lady in front of me who was by herself with a baby strapped to her. He approached her and asked if the baby was a lap infant - she said yes. He said, "I have a seat in 1st class but I don't need it, will you accept it?". She said yes, totally stunned. Then he continued boarding behind me (in lousy couch - ha!) and carried my luggage down the isle and put it in the overhead bin for me (I was boarding with my 2 kids). So there really are good people out there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And he was very handsome to boot <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
Just echoing everyone else - you won't need a note from your doctor (well for US travel anyway). A few weeks before my flight, I just call the airline and have them add a note to my reservation that says I'm traveling with X bags of medical equipment. I haven't had any trouble. I used to have someone put it up in the overhead bin for me (usually my hubby or my dad but once it was a very nice stranger). But lately I've been asking the flight attendants to store it up front for me and they have been very accommodating.
<br />
<br />Totally unrelated side note about that nice stranger. When I was boarding the plane, there was a lady in front of me who was by herself with a baby strapped to her. He approached her and asked if the baby was a lap infant - she said yes. He said, "I have a seat in 1st class but I don't need it, will you accept it?". She said yes, totally stunned. Then he continued boarding behind me (in lousy couch - ha!) and carried my luggage down the isle and put it in the overhead bin for me (I was boarding with my 2 kids). So there really are good people out there <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And he was very handsome to boot <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
We've traveled a couple times. Vest in the rolling duffel, DH carrying a backpack with the nebulizer and masks and me with a messenger bag with a small lunch bag cooler with icepack with tobi, pulmozyme and at the time a bottle of a suspension of actigall. As well as all his medications -- enzymes, vitamins, abx. The vest in the duffle fits fine in overhead compartments. Even on some of the smaller, puddle jumper type planes.

It's all medical equipment so exempt from the carry-on limitation. When we got to the TSA check, we indicated we had medications. I also had a copy of DS' last clinic notes, just a page that said DS is age #, has cystic fibrosis and the list of medications he uses. I didn't request a special note from the doctor because all the info was included on the sheet

We've been asked to take out the compressor and they've run it thru the scan before. They've also asked us to plug it in and turn it on. With the vest, we haven't had issues, though a friend of mine did get hassled once by a customer service rep when she checked in at the main counter.

I know of one other person who had some issues as well, but she packed 3 or 4 suitcases with all her stuff and her husbands (clothing, toiletries...), with meds and equipment mixed in and tried to bring it all on as carry-on.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
We've traveled a couple times. Vest in the rolling duffel, DH carrying a backpack with the nebulizer and masks and me with a messenger bag with a small lunch bag cooler with icepack with tobi, pulmozyme and at the time a bottle of a suspension of actigall. As well as all his medications -- enzymes, vitamins, abx. The vest in the duffle fits fine in overhead compartments. Even on some of the smaller, puddle jumper type planes.

It's all medical equipment so exempt from the carry-on limitation. When we got to the TSA check, we indicated we had medications. I also had a copy of DS' last clinic notes, just a page that said DS is age #, has cystic fibrosis and the list of medications he uses. I didn't request a special note from the doctor because all the info was included on the sheet

We've been asked to take out the compressor and they've run it thru the scan before. They've also asked us to plug it in and turn it on. With the vest, we haven't had issues, though a friend of mine did get hassled once by a customer service rep when she checked in at the main counter.

I know of one other person who had some issues as well, but she packed 3 or 4 suitcases with all her stuff and her husbands (clothing, toiletries...), with meds and equipment mixed in and tried to bring it all on as carry-on.
 
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