Air France, CPAP restriction

This may mean that you cannot plug it in and use it on the plane. On another page, Air France indicates that a CPAP with a battery is allowed.

Some airlines don’t permit medical devices to be plugged in for liability reasons (e.g., power damages device).

No, and I've carried a CPAP on board Air France on several flights in the past couple of years. I wouldn't worry about it.

I checked their page, and I agree with Laura. I think you're misinterpreting what they're saying. It sounds like it's prohibited only if you are planning on operating it with an external power source.

Thanks, we plan to pack it as always, I just thought it was strange that they say, "In the cabin: NO, In the hold: YES".

I'm guessing it just isn't clear enough. I think the point of saying that with battery is accepted in the cabin is because lithium batteries are not supposed to go in the hold.
I'll just lean on that last line "Prior approval needed: NO"

I am a CPAP user and have traveled with it on Air France multiple times, with my AirMini in my carry-on because that’s the conventional advice (never put your CPAP in checked baggage). No airline has ever rejected it for the cabin.

But, it is possible that the reason Air France never did anything is because it was not Air France looking into my bags. The only bag inspection was by the government-run airport security checkpoint in the USA or Europe airport I was departing from. So, maybe if someone who actually works for Air France asked to look inside my carry-on (that’s unlikely of course), maybe they would have said something.

Now that I read the actual policy you quoted, it does sound like the only CPAP allowed in the cabin is one with an internal battery. But those are practically nonexistent now, so it's strange. Some possible reasons for the policy could be related to if someone wanted to use the CPAP during the flight:

• If a medical device requires AC power, the airline might not want to be liable for the cabin AC outlets to provide sufficient reliable power to the medical device. They don't support as many amps as an AC outlet at home. I’ve seen in-flight aircraft guides say that the AC outlet is limited to a certain number of watts, sometimes below what some devices might require.

• If a medical device requires an external battery, now the airline might be concerned about power bank risks, which are becoming a big deal (power banks are under more restrictions now).

Before I travel again I might call Air France for a clarification, because although I would expect to travel as I have in the past (CPAP in my carry-on, not to be used in flight), I don’t really want to break any rules.

But, it is possible that the reason Air France never did anything is because it was not Air France looking into my bags. The only bag inspection was by the government-run airport security checkpoint in the USA or Europe airport I was departing from. So, maybe if someone who actually works for Air France asked to look inside my carry-on (that’s unlikely of course), maybe they would have said something.

I carry my CPAP in a separate bag that is designed specifically for that, and have boarded actual Air France flights with it, along with a carry-on and a personal bag. I have never been stopped by any Air France employee. And believe me when I say that just about every airline employee knows what a CPAP bag looks like. 😊

Mardee, I agree about everyone knowing what a CPAP is. Whenever I'm at an airport I'm always amazed at how many people are carrying the distinctive cases. We've really never had a problem carrying on either the full size CPAP (in it's own case) or the travel CPAP inside the carryon suitcase or backpack. My husband has never tried to use his CPAP onboard. Once, going through security at Heathrow, something in my husband's case was flagged in the X-ray. We had to wait for quite awhile for hand check because the person in front of us had three large toiletry bags with dozens of bottles of make up, etc. and she spent a long time, deciding which to fit in the quart bag the agent gave her. They finally brought someone over to search my husband's bag, and after taking out and looking at each little piece, she said it was all set. I had to put everything back together and we cleaned it at home.
We have flown Air France out of CDG before, and every bag for each person had to be put on a scale together, to ensure it was under the carry on weight, BEFORE getting on the tram to the gates and the security check. We were fine for weight and Brio points out, it's not Air France or any other airline personnel that does security checks, it's TSA or their equivalent in other countries.
For this trip, we're on Air France leaving Boston, and Delta returning from CDG. I'm not worried about Delta, but I guess I'll give Air France a call, just to clarify.

We are typically on Delta flights but have flown on Easy Jet, ITA and occasionally American. Husband has a cpap (travel size which has been fabulous) and I purchased a bag on Amazon and a medical tag for said bag. We had a couple of times where the agent said too many bags, but we just point to the medical tag and they smiled and said ok and let us through.
We are very cognizant of only having medically affiliated items in the bag - we don't want to abuse the system. By medically affiliated I mean prescriptions (and we have many and bring original bottles for a month or more of travel), as well as the cpap machine, mask, hose and electrical adapter. My logic on the adapter is the cpap cannot operate without power.
Again, no personal experience with Air France but Easy Jet is known as being rather strict and we had no problems.