American Airlines took my medical equipment bag

[Yoda]

This was my first trip with my CPAP unit. On my way home from my trip to LA on Sunday, an American Airlines gate agent took away my medical equipment bag. She refused to let me take the bag on the plane because there “was not room.” It was a regular rolling size bag and I only had that and a backpack. I told her the bag contained my medical equipment and she said I could take whatever I could get in the backpack. She said that either I checked the bag or I did not get on the plane. She would not even let me gate check it so I could get it back when I got to my layover in Dallas.

The only items in that bag were my CPAP unit and accessories, my laptop with the card reader and my prescription medicines. I was able to fit my CPAP, mask and laptop in the backpack, but had to leave the card reader and medicines. That left me to haul a 40 pound backpack to change terminals in Dallas.

Then they – lost the bag!

The “lost luggage” supervisor I have been speaking to told me I should have booked the ticket as “needing assistance” and that I should do so for the next trip. I told her that I did not need assistance until they took my bag –and that there would not be a next time on American Airlines.

Thanks for letting me rant… And, perhaps the lesson is to be a pest and have the airline mark the ticket in some way to prevent a rude and bad-tempered gate agent from taking your bag…

Otherwise travel with the CPAP was no problem. Each of the TSA agents was polite and helpful. I asked that they change gloves to examine the unit and they did. I asked that they give me time to get my other belongings and the did. An unreasonable American Airlines gate agent was the only problem.

Cecile

[alnhwrd]

She probably has sleep apnea and needs a cpap!

[ozij]

I wonder if a detailed letter to customer service time and date and gate can get her reprimanded - or worse. That would keep her from doing the same stuff to other people. And you could keep on flying AA for the reason you chose them this time around.

Just a thought....
O.

[Yoda]

I am definitely working on the detailed complaint...

[BeanMeScot]

I would say that goes against the airlines own regulations so you can believe I would take it as far up the line as it can go.

[Babette]

I am frequently told on those little-er planes that I have to cough up my carryon. I haven't had to relinquish my cpap yet, but I can foresee the day when it will happen.

Thanks for telling us this. I will now plan to make sure I print out the TSA regs immediately before flying, so I can show any snotty gate agents a recently reg, and then demand to talk to her supervisor.

BEST OF LUCK!!!!!
B.

[JeffH]

I wouldn't have done it. I would have asked to speak to a higher up. Nobody is taking my cpap away from me, EVER.


JeffH

[Tcamillemars]

You definitely deserve to rant! I would have been furious. Definitely complain, keep copies, and send it to everyone at the airline who you can possibly contact. Thank you for letting everyone on the forum know what happened.

[buzzkill58]

Yoda....

Do you carry your script for your CPAP? Almost most all my travel is on regional jets and always plane-side checked my bag and carried on my laptop (pre-CPAP days). Still trying to wrap my head around how to deal with flying.

Bret

[roster]

........It was a regular rolling size bag .......
Cecile

Cecile,

What size was it?

The safe maximum size is 45" ("total dimensions" of a rectangular cube), in the form of a 22" x 14" x 9" bag.

[DBoone]

I would say that goes against the airlines own regulations so you can believe I would take it as far up the line as it can go.

Ditto. I would do it nicely (I hope!) but firmly.

[Yoda]

I wouldn't have done it. I would have asked to speak to a higher up. Nobody is taking my cpap away from me, EVER.

I could have asked to speak to someone else, but I would have missed the plane. I did take my CPAP unit and put it in my backpack. In today's world, throwing a fit in an airport gets you off the plane or worse...

What size was it?

It was smaller than the carry-on size limit. It is a small black bag designed for carry-on. It was also marked "medical equipment." The plane was just full and the gate agent decided not to allow any more rolling bags.... I objected, but it she did not want to hear about regs or customer service.

Do you carry your script for your CPAP? Almost most all my travel is on regional jets and always plane-side checked my bag and carried on my laptop (pre-CPAP days). Still trying to wrap my head around how to deal with flying.

This was my first time flying with my CPAP. I do not carry the script. I did not have any problem going out on the leg of the flight with the regional jet. When I told the agent in Jackson that I needed to keep the bag, they made a place in the staff closet. They were nice about it. It was getting on the big jet in Orange County that I had the problem...

I did learn that you can ask the airline to mark your ticket for additional assistance... I will do that from now on.

[roster]

.....

What size was it?

It was smaller than the carry-on size limit. It is a small black bag designed for carry-on. It was also marked "medical equipment." The plane was just full and the gate agent decided not to allow any more rolling bags..........

Then I am with Jeff on this one. "You can put that bag in the cargo hull when you pry my cold dead fingers from it."

You did the right thing under the circumstances by transferring the equipment to the bag they were letting you take on. Sorry you had to lug all that weight around the Dallas terminal.

[raylo]

In the last month, I've flown three times.

Twice on Southwest I had absolutely no problem with my carry-ons. Of course, on one I had a longer flight and checked a bag. On the other, I had a rolling bag (clothes and laptop), my CPAP, and a small bag with a book and some magazines, just something to stick in the seat pocket. My little book bag fits in my roller case when I am walking around the airport, so it is really only two bags. I put both bags (CPAP and Roller in the overhead). Plenty of room, nothing said by flight crew. Loading of the plane was orderly and quick.

I just got back from a one night trip on a different airline, one that charges for bags. Four flight legs. I took the same stuff. My little book bag fits in my roller case when I am walking around the airport, so it is really only two bags. On all four legs crowding was an issue - people in the last zone were forced to check bags through to final destination, making boarding chaotic and lengthy. (I'm guessing they having figured out a way to gate check efficiently for bigger airplanes at bigger airports - I wouldn't mind checking my roller that way). On three of them the flight crew was ornery to people. Twice they were goofy with me. On one the flight attendant saw me take my book bag out of the roller as I was coming on board. She stopped me and told me I was only allowed tow carry-ons. I told her that one of mine was medical equipment and reminded her that she saw me enter with just two. No matter - no one was going forward until I put my book back in the roller for my 12 aisle walk. She then yelled at a woman behind me who pulled something out of one of her carry-ons. The last leg was the topper. I was fairly early in the boarding process, put my book in the seat I paid an extra five dollars for that has some of the under-the-seat-in front-of-you space blocked. Not enough room for my roller or my CPAP, so I put them in the overhead bin. The flight attendeant told me I was violating the "one carry-on policy," I told him that one was medical equipment (and of course their policy is two carry-ons). He told me, very loudly, to go "Go ahead - we'll be checking 25 to 30 bags because of the folks who disrespect the passengers by violating the one carry-on policy." So I did. Someone he knew came aboard with a roller bag after the bins were full. He told him "I got you covered" and pushed through the rest of the passengers to front carrying the guys bag, which was waiting on the jetway when we deplaned.

The airlines used to keep asking people to check stuff to reduce carry-ons. So now they charge for checking bags. It is just stupid.

This didn't use to be a huge problem. I wouldn't mind gate checking on shorter trips. I could still have my laptop and other things at the airports. I will pay the checked bag fee when it makes sense, but when I am on a one night trip and need to carry my laptop and my CPAP (which I am not checking), it seems stupid to pack, check, and pay for a third bag I don't need. Heck, add the cost of checking bags back into the ticket price - I won't mind when I don't check a bag. It would be worth it to have a more peaceful and orderly boarding process.

Sorry for ranting.

[elader]

Holy crap. They owe you big time. I would have demanded a supervisor and had them gate check somebody's over sized carry on to fit your bag on there. I won't check my cpap - no way.

The bag I use that has my computer in it doesnt fit int he overhead on some of those tiny commuter planes. I am ready to pull out my laptop and m series and stick them under my seat if need be.