Guest guest Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Suzanne-- I am so glad that my little tip made a good difference for you! Since I amnot the one w/ bronchiectasis, my little boy is, I can haul the heavy stuff and he isquite able to walk along side. The last time we went thru O'Hare (Chicago) we were going for several weeks so I had 3 roll-aboard suitcases, the vest and 2 carryon bags w/ meds, and the nebulizer machine! We made it to the bus and got everything loaded onto that bus and sat back into the seat and I thought, "Oh myGod, what if I had this disease, there's no way we could travel together w/out myhusband, with all the bags and the machines, etc!He and I are traveling (again) without my husband back up to Rochester, Mn togo to his appt. in May. So we will have to try all of this ALL OVER AGAIN!! Wish me luck!! -eSubject: travel with The VestTo: bronchiectasis Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 8:25 PM I've lost the email from the lovely person (I think they may be a flight attendant) who told me how to fit my percussion device on a small airplane. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! It was a bit of a hassle - LOTS of explanations both at Airport Security and to the Gate Agent and the Flight Attendant - but it did work. Biggest problem I had was the wheelchair assistance - claimed it was too heavy for them to pull while pushing me at LaGuardia. We ultimately solved that problem but I had to tip two people to get it done. I'm very glad I have done this once, but next time I go to NY to see my son, I'll rent The Vest and have it shipped to his house. I ended up having to take a service car from NYC to CT and it cost me more than the rental would have been - didn't realize there had been a HUGE increase in price in the past 14 months. Now I know! Again, thanks for the tip - I would not have been able to take my Vest on the plane without your hint to remove it from it's case, put it in the overhead compartment (fit nicely), and then gate-check the carrying case. Geeze, having bronchiectasis is a nuisance.... Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2011 Report Share Posted April 4, 2011 Good luck on your trip, e, and again, MANY thanks! Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Just joining this thread . I know what you mean about the hassle of The Vest and a wheelchair at airports. It helps when my partner travels with me , but I travelled alone from NY to Thailand a couple of years ago . The Vest went in Hill Rom's wheeled travel case ( approx $75) which also has room for my nebulizer and medication. Fits easily in overhead and as a medical device doesn't count as carry on allowance and goes on my lap in the wheelchair. I call the airline ahead and they register it in my profile and I carry a letter from my pulmonologist.I always allow extra time as some security stations like to inspect the vest. I travel regularly to the UK like this , no probs !Good luck To: bronchiectasis Sent: Sun, April 3, 2011 9:44:04 PMSubject: Re: travel with The Vest Suzanne-- I am so glad that my little tip made a good difference for you! Since I amnot the one w/ bronchiectasis, my little boy is, I can haul the heavy stuff and he isquite able to walk along side. The last time we went thru O'Hare (Chicago) we were going for several weeks so I had 3 roll-aboard suitcases, the vest and 2 carryon bags w/ meds, and the nebulizer machine! We made it to the bus and got everything loaded onto that bus and sat back into the seat and I thought, "Oh myGod, what if I had this disease, there's no way we could travel together w/out myhusband, with all the bags and the machines, etc!He and I are traveling (again) without my husband back up to Rochester, Mn togo to his appt. in May. So we will have to try all of this ALL OVER AGAIN!! Wish me luck!! -eSubject: travel with The VestTo: bronchiectasis Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 8:25 PM I've lost the email from the lovely person (I think they may be a flight attendant) who told me how to fit my percussion device on a small airplane. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! It was a bit of a hassle - LOTS of explanations both at Airport Security and to the Gate Agent and the Flight Attendant - but it did work. Biggest problem I had was the wheelchair assistance - claimed it was too heavy for them to pull while pushing me at LaGuardia. We ultimately solved that problem but I had to tip two people to get it done. I'm very glad I have done this once, but next time I go to NY to see my son, I'll rent The Vest and have it shipped to his house. I ended up having to take a service car from NYC to CT and it cost me more than the rental would have been - didn't realize there had been a HUGE increase in price in the past 14 months. Now I know! Again, thanks for the tip - I would not have been able to take my Vest on the plane without your hint to remove it from it's case, put it in the overhead compartment (fit nicely), and then gate-check the carrying case. Geeze, having bronchiectasis is a nuisance.... Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Hi, ! The wheeled carrying case came with my vest. The problem is that I live in a city where most flights are on small planes and there is no way the Vest carrying case will fit anywhere on these planes. The only way it will fit is if I take the device out of it's bag and put it in the overhead compartment, and then gate-check the carrier bag with the hoses and vest. I pack my nebulizer in my suitcase - it's a small one not much bigger than a deck of cards.Sent from my iPadSuzanne R Brown Just joining this thread . I know what you mean about the hassle of The Vest and a wheelchair at airports. It helps when my partner travels with me , but I travelled alone from NY to Thailand a couple of years ago . The Vest went in Hill Rom's wheeled travel case ( approx $75) which also has room for my nebulizer and medication. Fits easily in overhead and as a medical device doesn't count as carry on allowance and goes on my lap in the wheelchair. I call the airline ahead and they register it in my profile and I carry a letter from my pulmonologist.I always allow extra time as some security stations like to inspect the vest. I travel regularly to the UK like this , no probs !Good luck To: bronchiectasis Sent: Sun, April 3, 2011 9:44:04 PMSubject: Re: travel with The Vest Suzanne-- I am so glad that my little tip made a good difference for you! Since I amnot the one w/ bronchiectasis, my little boy is, I can haul the heavy stuff and he isquite able to walk along side. The last time we went thru O'Hare (Chicago) we were going for several weeks so I had 3 roll-aboard suitcases, the vest and 2 carryon bags w/ meds, and the nebulizer machine! We made it to the bus and got everything loaded onto that bus and sat back into the seat and I thought, "Oh myGod, what if I had this disease, there's no way we could travel together w/out myhusband, with all the bags and the machines, etc!He and I are traveling (again) without my husband back up to Rochester, Mn togo to his appt. in May. So we will have to try all of this ALL OVER AGAIN!! Wish me luck!! -eSubject: travel with The VestTo: bronchiectasis Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 8:25 PM I've lost the email from the lovely person (I think they may be a flight attendant) who told me how to fit my percussion device on a small airplane. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! It was a bit of a hassle - LOTS of explanations both at Airport Security and to the Gate Agent and the Flight Attendant - but it did work. Biggest problem I had was the wheelchair assistance - claimed it was too heavy for them to pull while pushing me at LaGuardia. We ultimately solved that problem but I had to tip two people to get it done. I'm very glad I have done this once, but next time I go to NY to see my son, I'll rent The Vest and have it shipped to his house. I ended up having to take a service car from NYC to CT and it cost me more than the rental would have been - didn't realize there had been a HUGE increase in price in the past 14 months. Now I know! Again, thanks for the tip - I would not have been able to take my Vest on the plane without your hint to remove it from it's case, put it in the overhead compartment (fit nicely), and then gate-check the carrying case. Geeze, having bronchiectasis is a nuisance.... Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 hi like SO many things - easy when you know how! And how the 'how' works in your own particular patch. Certainly falling over both my SmartVest (in own case provided) & personal luggage right at the very start, before even booking our baggage in, did NOT help! Hence the need for wheel-chair. Otherwise I'd have been fine. IF I do travel again, I'll be so much the wiser! But really not sure if I'm well enough any more - and if so, that's fine too. I've done some, enjoyed it, moved a lot and happy for stability and boring stability now! how things change hey? cheers, Joy H Aust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 Suzanne, and others..... at least I was lucky enough both airlines we travelled with could fit the SmartVest in its carrycase in their overhead lockers. The staff were tremendously helpful in lifting it in, and sympathetic joy h OZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 All I can tell you, as a flight attendant now for 21 years on AmericanAirlines: The size of the aircraft MATTERS. If you can find out whatairplane you are going to travel on, you could guage you chances.Anything large would be going the longer distances, obviously.If you are traveling from say Omaha to Chicago, you are going tobe flying on a quite small plane. The vest is probably going to haveto be taken out of its duffel bag carrying case. If though, theplane is so small that they are taking everything bigger than your walletat the aircraft door and checking it into the small storage area justbehind the passenger cabin, you MAY have to allow that. SCARY!That said, though, if you're traveling from say NYC to L.A. or to EUthe aircraft will likely be big enough that the overhead bins can accommodate at least the vest motor and then the duffel separately.I would say any plane with less than 150 seats wouldbe unable to accommodate the whole thing together. Anything bigger, you could likely fit it ALL in the overhead bin... Never easy is it??It is really more to do the size issue than the Airline policy.. The Americanswith Disabilities Act-ADA- really does protect us in most situations like this.Mention THAT to the gate agent, TSA agents and the any flight attendantthat may be shaking their head "no". THAT will disarm them immediately.We are trained often on the ADA and often get 'little reminders'. Happy Travels!! KrisSubject: Re: travel with The VestTo: bronchiectasis Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 8:51 AM Suzanne, and others..... at least I was lucky enough both airlines we travelled with could fit the SmartVest in its carrycase in their overhead lockers. The staff were tremendously helpful in lifting it in, and sympathetic joy h OZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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