Packing list · CPAP travel

Taking your CPAP away: the carry-on checklist

A printable list for Australians flying or cruising with CPAP. It is built around three things that go wrong most often: batteries that need approval you did not ask for, no power at the seat or bed, and a machine packed where it can be lost.

Two weeks before you leave

Ask your GP or sleep physician for a letter stating the diagnosis and that the device is medically necessary. The Qantas and Jetstar CPAP guide suggests one dated within the last 12 months.
Read your airline's medical-device page. CASA says that if you travel with an electronic medical device you should contact the airline before you go and ask about any requirements to carry or use it.
If you want to use CPAP in flight, tell the airline at least 48 hours before departure, as the same guide recommends.
For a cruise, ask the line which socket types and voltage the cabin has, and whether there is a power point near the bed.

Work out your battery size

Watt-hours (Wh) decide where a lithium battery may travel. If the rating is not printed, CASA gives the formula: volts × amp-hours = Wh, or volts × mAh ÷ 1000. Type your battery's figures here:

Voltage V Capacity mAh →

Battery rating	What CASA says
Up to 100 Wh	Recommended to carry in the cabin
Over 100 Wh up to 160 Wh	Airline approval required
Over 160 Wh	Prohibited in passenger baggage, except mobility aids
Any spare battery or power bank	Cabin only, never checked; tape terminals or keep each in its own bag

The carry-on bag itself

CPAP machine in its own case. Qantas allows one standard carry-on bag up to 7 kg plus the CPAP in its own bag; Jetstar allows one main item up to 7 kg and the CPAP as an extra item.
Mask, tubing, power cord and a spare filter in the same bag, not in checked luggage.
Humidifier chamber emptied and dry.
Doctor's letter and a copy of your prescription settings.
Any battery, charged, rating visible, terminals protected.
A universal travel adapter for a cruise; ships may use Australian Type I, North American Type A/B or European Type C/F sockets.

At security and on board

Take the CPAP out of its bag and put it in a separate tray, like a laptop; masks and tubing can usually stay packed.
Do not count on seat power. Domestic Qantas 737 and A320 aircraft and most Jetstar economy seats may have none, so bring a battery if you plan to sleep on board.
On a ship, set the machine on a stable surface with space for air to circulate, and use distilled water if your humidifier needs it.

Which machine are you travelling with?

Most CPAP devices sold in Australia run between 4 and 20 cm H₂O and many have heated humidifiers. If you are buying a lighter unit for travel, the overview of major CPAP brands in Australia covers ResMed, Fisher & Paykel and Philips Respironics, including the 2021 Philips recall to check before you pack an older device. Cruise-specific tips are in cruise holidays with CPAP.

Sources used on this page

CASA: Lithium batteries (PackRight) — Wh bands and formula, spare battery rules
CASA: Looking after your health while travelling — contact the airline about electronic medical devices
healthdirect: Obstructive sleep apnoea — what CPAP is