TAP with a CPAP?

Have flown with TAP in the past, found them to have a strict carry on policy.
You may have to pay for luggage allowance.

Flew TAP from Heathrow to Lisbon. They were very strict with carryons. Can you combine into a backpack? I had my suitcase and my 25 L backpack. I was instructed to put backpack under seat in front of me not in overhead bin.

Part of the problem is the "personal item" is limited to 2 kg, and the CPAP weighs morethan that just on its own. Other airlines have always treated it as an extra piece of luggage not included in the personal allowance (because of the essential medical nature).

This link might help: https://www.flytap.com/en-ca/special-needs/medical-assistance

Pretty far down the page, there's a link to the TAP Contact Center to get your questions answered about your specific flight. Did you do that already? It's a generic link, not just about CPAP machines. You may need to think and ask questions somewhat outside their boxes

Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine (CPAP)

"Passengers who need to travel with a POC or CPAP machine (for treatment of sleep apnea) can carry them on board TAP flights. However, they must contact the TAP Contact Center to find out about the specific conditions for their flight."

Lo thank you so much. That is exactly what we need. I did look for something like this but was unable to find it. You're a star!

I do believe they have a legal requirement to allow necessary medical equipment.

We're flying TAP on Monday (BOS-LIS) and have the same issue. I posted a similar question here a little while ago. I called TAP and at first, the agent was a little baffled but then asked for model number, and dimensions of the case (strangely not weight). He told me that the note was made in the file and other agents could see it but I wouldn't see it if I looked up my reservation. I asked if it counted toward the weight limit and he said no. Without anything in writing that I could show, I'm a little nervous but had to call again last week for a different reason and asked if the CPAP was noted on the reservation, the person said it was.

I'll post an update based on our actual experience. I am wondering if the online reference, as someone provided above, was referring to if you needed to use the CPAP or any breathing machine on the flight, rather than just transporting it. This is the only airline we've flown in the last 8 years that has specified prior authorization needed for a CPAP. In any case, we are actually under the weight limits, even with the CPAP but hopefully none of that will matter.

Thanks Sanomh. We are in the same boat! We fly the same day, we leave Montreal at 10:40pm. I reached out to TAP via Facebook messanger just yesterday and got a reply back asking for the model and dimensions. I was also asked for weight. I will follow up today with those details and will ask the "does this count" question. I'll do a screen shot of the conversation.

Do you have the name and date of the agent you spoke to? I often note that in my "official" dealings and am ready to throw it out there...not as clear as a detailed written record, but I think of it as short circuiting the question "did she just make that up?" Presumably they could "check the tape" to confirm.

Good luck to us both! I will also share my experience so that we have some data points for future travellers.

Just a quick update that may be useful--I just followed up with them via FB messenger and we got part way through but not to the confirmation stage. Apparently that can only happen during Portuguese business hours. So--worth it to get it done early if you can, as that leaves me confirming it while I'm actually in transit. (Before the TAP flight but after I leave home.)

Hi, I flew TAP Bos to/ from Lisbon direct in July 2019 and June 2022. Both times I checked my 25 inch bag and brought a travelon bucket bag (2019) or tumi nylon tote (2022) and my Resmed air curve 10 Bipap (2019).

The Bipap counted as a carryon item. None of my carryons were weighed either direction. But I did see an overstuffed duffel bag weighed in Boston.

The online medical forms were for use of Bipap/CPAP on the plane.

Happy travels!

Did a quick search since I’m looking into this travel. I’ve only had an issue with my CPAP at Newark airport TSA. Guy intentional took his time inspecting because I asked him to put on clean gloves because of this being a medical device. He rolled his eyes and I nearly missed my flight because his ego was hurt by my request. I’ve learned to put each section in a plastic bag and will avoid Newark if possible.

You may need to contact TAP and register, dimensions, weight, serial number and carry a doctor’s prescription.
I found this
https://www.flytap.com/en-ca/special-needs/medical-assistance But it’s not clear. I am interested in what you learn.
Thanks

Just flew TAP Munich to Lisbon Friday. At the gate all the people with large carry-on bags had to check their bags. I did not hear a reason why or know if these people had a checked bag allowance. It must have been at least 25+ bags. I had a small travel rucksack and could keep it with me in the cabin. In Lisbon we did have a bus from the plane to the terminal.

Just an FYI to anyone reading this. The original question relates to carrying a medical device for sleep apnea onto TAP, not your typical carry on luggage, nor personal item. In the US, this device is in addition to your carryon and personal item totaling 3 items is allowed on an aircraft due to Americans with disability act.

It seems that Portugal has additional steps for bring this device on an airplane.

It would be great to hear relevant responses since I’m in need of this info as well.

So far I understand that dimensions, serial number, and maybe weight,… needs to be provided to TAP. By contacting them directly. Looks like good information above. Thank you!

We just returned from 10 days in Portugal. We had called and "pre-registered" the CPAP and were told that it wouldn't count in terms of weight or number of items. When we flew out of Boston, we each had a carry-on and one personal item, within dimensions and weight limits. I carried the cpap in it's case as a 3rd item. No one commented on any of it. In fact, in Boston, I didn't see any enforcement of size or weight limits, although I was surprised to see a sign by one of the gates stating the the weight limit was only 8kg for carry on and 2 kg for personal item. Online it listed 10kg for carry on and 2 kg for personal item.
On our return flight we lightened our carry on considerably and my husband packed the cpap inside of his backpack/carry on. We made sure our weights were less than 8kg and 2kg, just in case they said the lower weight limits were now in force. We didn't have any problems and didn't see anyone questions on weight of luggage, although at the gate waiting area two agents continually walked around looking at people's luggage. When they thought a bag was too big, they asked the person to go check it in the sizer bin. I noticed they seem to look more closely as suitcases than at backpacks as there were clearly several backpacks that were much wider than the 8 inches required but they weren't asked to use the sizer bin. Also, they didn't seem as concerned about size of personal item, because there were people who had backpacks that were very large as well as suitcases.
So, my experience was that for our flight out of Boston I saw no checking/enforcement of size limits. On the return flight from Libson, I saw a lot of size checking for the carry on, but didn't see any weight checking. I don't know what to make of the sign on a TAP sizer bin in Boston that said 8kg wieght limit, because the website said 10kg.

This whole strictness about carry on bag weight is so weird. Is this TAP’s way of reducing fuel cost (a lighter plane uses less fuel). Crazy way to nickel and dime.

We recently went to Portugal and I was hoping to book a TAP flight just to experience something new. I’m going to avoid them now.

Coming over we got paranoid at all the talk of restrictions and ended up checking a bag. As a result we had extra space and my husband put his CPAP inside his rolling carryon. But we did get a notice from TAP that his device was "registered" so that was reassuring. Note I made contact via Facebook messenger. I much prefer getting it in writing for posterity! Though it took a couple of days of back and forth to fully resolve it.
We were also on a pretty empty flight a and there was little urgency at Montreal. We did connect via LIS to FAO and had a couple of our bags tagged for the hold during checkin to the flight (no charge). We did give up one of them as we boarded but managed to keep the other one with us . The CPAP never left our immediate custody.