Can I bring a CPAP machine on a plane as carry-on?

Yes. CPAP machines are classified as medical devices under IATA regulations and are exempt from standard carry-on allowances on most airlines worldwide. In most cases you can carry your CPAP in addition to your normal cabin bag, at no charge.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with a CPAP machine?

It depends on the airline. Many airlines do not require any medical documentation. Others, including Qantas and some Asian carriers, recommend or require a doctor's letter or a MEDIF (Medical Information Form) for in-flight power use. Carrying a letter from your sleep specialist is always a good idea.

How many Wh (watt-hours) can my CPAP battery be to fly?

IATA regulations allow lithium batteries up to 100 Wh in the cabin without airline approval, and 101–160 Wh with airline approval. Most airlines enforce a 160 Wh limit per battery. Always carry batteries in the cabin, never in checked baggage.

Do airlines charge extra for carrying a CPAP machine?

No. The vast majority of airlines treat CPAP machines as medical devices and allow them as a free additional item, not counted against your cabin baggage allowance. This applies across Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and most other major carriers.

Can I use my CPAP machine on the plane?

On many airlines, yes. Major carriers including Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific allow CPAP use in-flight with seat power available on select aircraft. Some airlines only permit CPAP use with battery power. Budget and short-haul carriers rarely have in-seat power.

What is a MEDIF form for CPAP?

A MEDIF (Medical Information Form) is a document completed by your doctor that notifies the airline of your medical condition and equipment requirements. Some airlines require a MEDIF before allowing CPAP use on board or before providing in-seat power. Airlines that commonly require MEDIF include Japan Airlines, ANA, Korean Air, and several others.

Can I take my CPAP on Qantas flights?

Yes. Qantas allows CPAP machines as free additional cabin baggage. In-seat power is available on select aircraft and must be requested at least 5 days in advance. Batteries are limited to 160 Wh. A doctor's letter is recommended.

Can I take my CPAP on Emirates flights?

Yes. Emirates allows CPAP machines in the cabin as a free medical device. In-seat power is available across most of the Emirates fleet. No medical clearance is required, and no advance notice is needed for carriage.

CPAP Airline Travel Guide

Medical clearance requirements, battery limits, in-seat power and official policy links for 60 airlines worldwide — so you know exactly what to expect before you fly.

60 airlines·43% require no clearance·Updated June 2026

Flying with a CPAP machine involves more rules than most travellers expect. Every airline has its own policy on medical clearance, in-seat power, battery watt-hour limits, and advance notice requirements — and many of those policies aren't easy to find. This guide compiles the official policies for 60 airlines worldwide so you can arrive at the airport prepared, not surprised.

Battery rules

Most airlines follow IATA guidelines: up to 160 Wh per battery with airline approval. Always carry batteries in the cabin — never in checked baggage.

Carriage rules

CPAP machines are classified as medical devices and are exempt from standard carry-on limits on most airlines. You can carry your CPAP in addition to your normal cabin bag.

In-seat power

In-seat power for CPAP is available on select long-haul routes. Request in advance — most airlines require 24–72 hours notice and some require a MEDIF form from your doctor.

Use the search and filters below to find your airline. Each card shows the key facts at a glance: whether medical clearance is required, the battery watt-hour limit, in-seat power availability, and a link to the airline's official policy page.

60 of 60 airlines

Alliance

Region

Qantas

Australia

oneworld

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 72 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+61 2 9123 7471Policy ↗

Virgin Australia

Australia

Ind.

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

1300 139 303Policy ↗

Jetstar

Australia

Ind.

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

131 538Policy ↗

Air New Zealand

New Zealand

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

0800 737 000Policy ↗

Fiji Airways

Fiji

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: —

+679 672 0888Policy ↗

Regional Express (Rex)

Australia

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

13 17 13Policy ↗

Singapore Airlines

Singapore

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+65 6223 8888Policy ↗

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+852 2747 1888Policy ↗

AirAsia

Malaysia

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+60 3-2171 9333Policy ↗

Scoot

Singapore

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+65 3157 6434Policy ↗

Thai Airways

Thailand

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+66 2 356 1111Policy ↗

Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+60 3-7843 3000Policy ↗

Garuda Indonesia

Indonesia

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+62 21 2351 9999Policy ↗

Vietnam Airlines

Vietnam

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+84 1900 1100Policy ↗

Philippine Airlines

Philippines

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+63 2 855 8888Policy ↗

Japan Airlines

Japan

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+81-120-254-007Policy ↗

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Japan

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Yes
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

03-6741-8900Policy ↗

Korean Air

South Korea

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-438-5000Policy ↗

Asiana Airlines

South Korea

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-227-4262Policy ↗

Air China

China

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Yes
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-212-371-9898Policy ↗

China Eastern Airlines

China

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Check with airline
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+86-021-95530Policy ↗

China Southern Airlines

China

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Check with airline
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-222-4262Policy ↗

EVA Air

Taiwan

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+1-847-261-9900Policy ↗

China Airlines

Taiwan

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Yes
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-227-5118Policy ↗

British Airways

United Kingdom

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+44 1895 694807Policy ↗

Lufthansa

Germany

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

Policy ↗

Air France

France

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+1 888 415 1913Policy ↗

KLM

Netherlands

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Swiss International Air Lines

Switzerland

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: Yes
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

Policy ↗

Austrian Airlines

Austria

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

Policy ↗

Iberia

Spain

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Finnair

Finland

oneworld

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: Yes
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+358 300871161Policy ↗

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

Sweden

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+44 207 660 6876Policy ↗

Turkish Airlines

Turkey

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

Policy ↗

easyJet

United Kingdom

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 300 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Ryanair

Ireland

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Check with airline
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: —
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: —

Policy ↗

Aegean Airlines

Greece

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

TAP Air Portugal

Portugal

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Aer Lingus

Ireland

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Cabin or hold
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Emirates

United Arab Emirates

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

Etihad Airways

United Arab Emirates

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-877-690-0767Policy ↗

Qatar Airways

Qatar

oneworld

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+1-888-367-9497Policy ↗

Gulf Air

Bahrain

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

0844-493-1717Policy ↗

Oman Air

Oman

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 72 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+968-24531111Policy ↗

flydubai

United Arab Emirates

Ind.

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: 100 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+971-600-54-44-45Policy ↗

Royal Jordanian

Jordan

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Check with airline
Max battery: —
Advance notice: 72 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+962-6-5202408Policy ↗

American Airlines

United States

oneworld

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-433-7300Policy ↗

United Airlines

United States

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-228-2744Policy ↗

Delta Air Lines

United States

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-404-209-3434Policy ↗

Southwest Airlines

United States

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-435-9792Policy ↗

Air Canada

Canada

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-888-247-2262Policy ↗

WestJet

Canada

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-888-937-8538Policy ↗

LATAM Airlines

Chile

oneworld

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

Policy ↗

JetBlue

United States

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: Select flights
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: —
MEDIF form: Not required

+1-800-538-2583Policy ↗

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopia

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+251-11-665-2222Policy ↗

Kenya Airways

Kenya

SkyTeam

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 24 hr
MEDIF form: Required

+254-20-642-2000Policy ↗

Royal Air Maroc

Morocco

oneworld

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+212-522-489-797Policy ↗

Air India

India

Star Alliance

Medical clearance: Required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+91-11-24632050Policy ↗

IndiGo

India

Ind.

Medical clearance: Not required
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: Not required

+91-99-1038-3838Policy ↗

SriLankan Airlines

Sri Lanka

oneworld

Medical clearance: Check with airline
CPAP carriage: Carry-on (free)
In-seat power: No (battery only)
Max battery: 160 Wh
Advance notice: 48 hr
MEDIF form: —

+94-11-733-5555Policy ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about flying with a CPAP machine, answered.

Information on this page was sourced by visiting each airline's official policy pages and is provided as a general guide only. Airline policies change — always verify directly with your airline before travel, particularly for battery Wh limits and medical clearance requirements.

Travelling with a CPAP? Shop our USB-C Travel Cable for ResMed AirMini & AirSense 11 →