Flying with Medical Equipment
CPAP machines and oxygen concentrators, carrying medication and supplies, and what to arrange with the airline beforehand.
Text updated
FlyingWith editorial team
How we check our sourcesQuick answer
Call the airline's medical or special-assistance desk rather than the general line, well before you fly. Which oxygen concentrator models are accepted, how much notice is needed and what a doctor's certification must say are all set by the airline. Get the answer in writing.
Compare flights when you’re ready.
Find the answer you need
General advice: applies wherever you fly
The basics
CPAP machines and other approved devices
CPAP machines are generally allowed as an extra item beyond your regular carry-on allowance and don't count toward your bag limit. Bring a letter from your doctor, and check your airline's policy if the device is battery-powered.
Read the guide: Do Airlines Charge for CPAP Machines?Oxygen concentrators
Portable oxygen concentrators are permitted on most airlines, but usually only specific approved models, with advance notice and a doctor's certification of medical need. Which models are accepted, how much notice is required and what the certification must say are all set by the airline. Ask them directly, well before you fly, and get the answer in writing. Ask about battery requirements for your flight time in the same call.
Read the guide: Flying with a Portable Oxygen ConcentratorCarrying medication and supplies
Keep medication in its original, labeled packaging in your carry-on rather than checked luggage. Liquid medications and related supplies, like insulin, are generally exempt from standard liquid limits, but declare them at security and carry a doctor's note for syringes or unusual equipment.
Read the guide: Flying with Medication and Medical DevicesPlanning ahead with the airline
Most airlines have a dedicated medical or special-assistance desk. Call them directly rather than the general line, especially if you're traveling with oxygen or powered equipment or need extra boarding time.
Plan beyond the flight
Plan how essential equipment and supplies reach your accommodation. Ask about any room facilities you need and arrange transport that can carry the equipment. Keep the details of your device and your travel arrangements accessible. Discuss health-related travel decisions with your treating professional.
Take it with you
What to confirm with your airline
Everything here is drawn from the advice above. Airlines and airports set their own rules, so these are the things to ask about for your own flights.
Tick a point once you have confirmed it. Download a PDF with your current checks to take with you.
0 of 5 checked
Your checks stay in this tab and recover on reload. Clear them before leaving a shared device. Browser session restore may keep them.
This is general travel guidance, not medical advice. Always confirm equipment and medication policies with your airline and doctor before you fly.
Helpful guides
How to Choose the Right Seat for Your Travel Situation
Choose by situation: an aisle near the front for quick access, a window to sleep, and for mobility needs an aisle seat with a movable armrest. U.S. rules require those on at least half of the aisle seats in eligible rows of aircraft with 30 or more seats.
Flying with Medication and Medical Devices
Keep all medication in your carry-on with extra for delays. In Canada and the U.S., medically necessary liquids over 100 ml are allowed, but you must present or declare them at screening.
Flying with a Severe Food Allergy
No airline can promise an allergen-free cabin. Tell the airline when you book, keep epinephrine on you, and on flights covered by Canadian rules, request a buffer zone at least 48 hours before departure.
Flying to Cusco and Machu Picchu with Altitude Concerns
Cusco sits at 3,400 m, an hour's flight from Lima. The CDC advises only mild exercise for the first 48 hours at altitude; talk to your doctor before you go about the altitude and whether any medication is right for you.
Flying with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator
Do not arrive at the airport with a portable oxygen concentrator and assume a prescription is enough. The airline needs the make and model, may require medical approval, and sets its own battery requirement. Confirm all of that before paying for a non-refundable ticket.
See all 9 helpful guides
Do Airlines Charge for CPAP Machines?
Air Canada carries a CPAP you need in flight or on arrival without charge, over and above the normal baggage allowance. On flights covered by U.S. disability rules, the DOT says assistive devices do not count toward baggage limits, but a bag that also holds personal items can. Other airlines set their own policy, so ask the one operating each flight.
Flying with Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
Keep prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors in your carry-on and within reach. Do not put the only devices in a checked bag, or in an overhead bin you cannot get to quickly.
Carry-On Checked at the Gate? What to Take Out First
Take out spare lithium batteries and power banks first. FAA rules require them to stay in the cabin when a carry-on is checked at the gate. Then remove what you need before baggage claim, such as medication, documents, phone and valuables, and ask where you will collect the bag.
United Airlines CPAP: Carry-On Rules & Flying Checklist
Yes, United says you can travel with a CPAP. Its medical-equipment policy allows an extra medical carry-on without charge if it fits under the seat or in an overhead bin. Carrying the machine and using it during the flight require separate checks.
Questions before you book
Can I rely on the aircraft having power for my device?
Ask the airline about your exact device and flight. Carrying equipment and using it during the flight are separate questions. The linked device guides explain which details to gather; do not make a power plan from a seat-map symbol alone.
How do I prepare for a disrupted journey?
Discuss a travel plan with your treating professional and ask the airline how to handle delays affecting your equipment arrangements. Keep essential supplies and contact details accessible. Avoid putting the only copy of important instructions in checked baggage.
Travel essentials
Complete your travel plans
Choose the service you need, then compare the offer and its terms with the provider.
Mobile data for your trip
Compare an eSIM with your carrier’s roaming offer and a local SIM. An eSIM only helps if your exact device and the plan suit the trip.
Affiliate partner options
Affiliate links through Travelpayouts. FlyingWith may earn a commission on an eligible purchase or paid service.
Build my eSIM shopping list →Checks before choosing
Installing an eSIM and starting its validity period can be different events. Follow the chosen plan’s instructions. The checklist is a reminder, not an automatic device check.
- Check the device model, purchase region and network lock with the provider before paying.
- Compare the countries covered, data allowance, validity start, hotspot rules and any speed limits.
- Check whether calls and SMS are included. Save maps, the hotel address and installation instructions for offline use.
Getting from the airport
Compare the airport’s official public transport and taxi information with a prebooked transfer. Choose based on the whole journey to your accommodation.
GetTransfer is a transfer marketplace. Availability and suitability depend on the offer; a listed vehicle does not confirm accessible transport or a child seat.
Affiliate partner options
Affiliate links through Travelpayouts. FlyingWith may earn a commission on an eligible purchase or paid service.
Take these details to your airport pickup quote
Copy these questions into your request. A marketplace listing alone does not confirm a child seat or accessible vehicle.
0 of 4 pickup details reviewed
Checks before choosing
- Confirm the exact terminal, meeting point, luggage space and contact method if your flight changes.
- Ask for written confirmation of any child seat, pet or mobility requirement before payment.
- Read the total price, waiting policy, cancellation deadline and refund method for the specific offer.
The provider handles prices, booking terms, payment and support. Review the details there before paying.
Sources checked
Destinations to explore for this trip
Worth considering
If you're traveling with medical equipment or ongoing care needs, travel insurance with medical coverage can be worth the peace of mind, especially for care abroad your regular health plan won't touch.
FlyingWith doesn't sell insurance or have an insurance partner. Compare policies directly with insurers, and check what your credit card or employer plan already covers.
This page is general preparation guidance. Rules change, and this page does not state any official one: where an official detail matters, the linked guides quote it, cite the authority that sets it and show the date it was checked. Confirm anything that affects your booking with the airline, the airport or the authority concerned. The date at the top is when this page's text last changed. It is not a verification of any rule.
Share this guide
Saves a reading copy on this device, visible to anyone using it. Checklist answers and bookings are not saved. Browser storage can be cleared automatically; check your saved guides before travelling.
Help keep this page accurate
Opens an email draft with this page’s public link. You can review it before sending.