Does a CPAP count as a carry-on on US airlines?

Often no. Many airlines treat CPAP and other respiratory devices as assistive devices that don’t count toward the standard carry-on or personal item limit when packed as the device (not mixed with clothes). Check your airline’s medical or assistive-device page (examples: American mobility page; JetBlue medical-devices page; Frontier special services; Delta medical devices). BagRule does not give medical advice.

Can I use a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on the plane?

Covered US airlines generally must allow an FAA-compliant POC (a manufacturer label showing FAA acceptance, or an older model on the listed models) under 14 CFR § 382.133, subject to airline procedures (notice, forms, batteries, seating). Compressed or liquid oxygen is typically prohibited. See DOT POC guidance and your airline’s list. A third-party “approved brands” list is not authoritative.

How many POC batteries do airlines require?

DOT consumer guidance and most airline pages in this guide require enough fully charged batteries for about 150% (1.5×) of expected flight duration (some also count connection and airport time). Exact wording varies, so check the airline page. Some airlines publish watt-hour limits (for example, JetBlue’s 100 Wh limit for POC batteries); follow what your airline publishes.

Do I need a doctor’s note?

It depends on the airline and whether you will use the device onboard. Examples from airline pages: United POC physician form for use; Frontier Form 30881 or a physician statement for POC; Delta OxygenToGo process; JetBlue states FAA no longer requires physician documentation for POC use (the airline may still check how the device operates and its flow setting). CPAP often needs no medical authorization on some carriers (for example, Frontier respiratory devices). Always check the operating airline.

Are wheelchairs and mobility aids free?

Under DOT disability rules, airlines generally must transport assistive devices including wheelchairs without counting them as regular baggage. Carriers in this set publish free carriage language (for example, Frontier special services; Avelo special services; Sun Country special services; American mobility page). Battery and hazardous-materials rules still apply.

Can airport security confiscate my nebulizer or CPAP? What’s the official rule?

Follow the operating airline medical-device page and TSA screening pages. Example: JetBlue lists a nebulizer as allowed in carry-on or checked bags, but not for use onboard. Alaska states advance notice is not required for certain medical portable electronic devices (MPEDs), including nebulizers and PAP machines. BagRule does not give medical advice - only policy pointers.

US Airline Rules for CPAP, Portable Oxygen Concentrators and Assistive Devices in the Cabin (2026)

Compare CPAP, POC, battery, and mobility aid cabin rules for 12 US airlines, in a policy guide with official sources. BagRule does not give medical advice.

YMYL disclaimer

BagRule does not give medical advice. This guide only summarizes airline, DOT and FAA carriage and approval policies for medical and assistive devices in the cabin. It does not tell anyone which device to use, how to treat a condition, whether travel is medically appropriate, or whether a device is “safe” for a person. Always check the operating airline’s official special-assistance or medical-device pages (and the DOT and FAA links below) before you fly. Policies change; codeshares follow the operating carrier.

Quick answer

On most US airlines in this guide, an FAA-labeled (or listed) POC and many battery-powered CPAP and other respiratory devices may be carried and used in the cabin as assistive devices under DOT Part 382 and each airline’s page, usually without counting as a regular bag. Airlines may require advance notice, a physician or airline form (varies), and enough charged batteries (DOT often cites at least 150% of expected flight duration). Compressed or liquid oxygen is generally not allowed. Confirm the operating airline list and battery rules before you fly. BagRule does not give medical advice.

Last verified: Sep 16, 2026

Official sources:

How we check: We only publish what these official pages say. See How we verify fees.

Check the operating airline’s special-assistance or medical-device page before you fly. For Allegiant, check its special-needs page directly, because its row in this guide stays general.

DOT and FAA rules for all airlines

What regulators say (high level - not medical advice):

Under the Air Carrier Access Act and 14 CFR Part 382, covered U.S. carriers generally must allow a passenger with a disability to use certain passenger-supplied electronic respiratory assistive devices in the cabin on aircraft originally designed for more than 19 seats when the device meets applicable FAA criteria, including POCs, ventilators, respirators, and CPAP machines that display a manufacturer label indicating FAA acceptance (legacy listed models may also be accepted without that label). Airlines may require, among other things:

Up to 48 hours’ advance notice to use a ventilator, respirator, CPAP, or POC onboard
Early check-in (often 1 hour before general check-in)
A physician’s statement or medical certificate for POC use (airline-specific)
A supply of fully charged batteries for no less than 150% of the expected flight duration (DOT and FAA consumer guidance)

Assistive devices (including many medical devices and mobility aids) are generally not charged as baggage when required under Part 382. Airlines may charge for optional services such as carrier-supplied medical oxygen where offered.

Official links:

12-airline comparison table

High-level policy only. BagRule doesn’t list brand approval charts, watt-hour limits, or device fees here. Use the airline’s medical-device page and the FAA and DOT links. Nebulizer rows: only where published. In the “Mobility aid free?” column, free means the airline publishes free carriage of a personal wheelchair or mobility aid as an assistive device (not a fare claim).

Swipe for more

Airline	CPAP and respiratory devices in cabin?	POC in cabin?	Advance notice (as published)	Battery rules (summary)	Mobility aid free?	Official source(s)
American	CPAP and collapsible assistive devices listed among cabin medical and mobility items; don’t count toward carry-on limits (space permitting).	Yes. FAA-labeled or American-listed POC; under the seat for use; no exit, bulkhead or aisle-blocking seats when used. Compressed or liquid personal oxygen prohibited.	At least 48 hours for a POC (American’s Conditions of Carriage); contact Special Assistance. The mobility page adds that POC approval and a 150% battery supply are checked at the gate.	Bring fully charged batteries: at least 150% of flight and ground connection time (including delays) for POC. Bring batteries even if there are outlets (outlets may work with an adaptor if available).	Wheelchairs and mobility devices: carried free and don’t count as regular bags; battery type must be labeled; contact Special Assistance for battery-powered devices.	Mobility and medical devices; Special assistance
Delta	CPAP, BiPAP and VPAP: cabin use with a compliant independent battery; 150% battery life if used onboard; some models need an RTCA DO-160 label, so check Delta’s chart for your model. Check PackSafe and the airline for Wh and spare-battery rules. BagRule won’t guess a number. If not used onboard, 150% not required for PAP (battery still must meet airline rules).	Yes, with OxygenToGo approval; Delta does not accept compressed or liquid oxygen. Under the seat; no exit or bulkhead seats.	POC authorization 48 hours ahead for domestic trips and 72 hours for international; approval per reservation. Respirators and ventilators: call accessibility at least 48 hours ahead.	Medical devices: battery life for 150% of actual flight time if bringing or using a device, per Delta’s page; POC batteries are not charged in flight; spare packaging rules published.	Assistive devices and wheelchairs are treated as free extras on Delta’s baggage pages; Delta’s assistive-device pages have the details.	Medical Devices and Medication
United	Ventilator, respirator and CPAP allowed free as assistive devices; FAA manufacturer label; call the Accessibility Desk for the certificate and details. Certificate at least 48 hours ahead if using the device (or in tracheostomy and ventilator cases, as published).	Yes. FAA-approved POC free on United and many United Express flights (check Express flights when calling). Printed POC physician form required for use.	At least 48 hours ahead by phone at 1-800-228-2744 if using a POC onboard.	Batteries for 150% of flight, connection and airport time; pack spares to prevent short circuits. In-seat power not guaranteed.	Mobility and assistive devices: details in United’s Accessible travel hub; POC and medical devices free as published on the oxygen page.	Traveling with oxygen; Accessible travel; POC form PDF
Southwest	Assistive devices and disability medication don’t count toward bag limits if packed separately (medication article). For CPAP use onboard beyond assistive carriage, check Southwest’s help articles; we don’t state a rule here.	Yes. Approved POC in battery mode; batteries for at least 150% of the expected maximum flight duration; at least one extra battery recommended (packaging rules apply). An unapproved POC may be transported but not used.	Advance notice encouraged through Manage reservation; an agent check at the airport is required (boarding pass indicator), plus an Operations Agent check before each flight.	At least 150% of expected maximum flight duration; spare packaging criteria published.	Southwest’s mobility and wheelchair assistance articles treat assistive devices as free under disability accommodations; check the wheelchair help article for details.	Flying with a POC; Medication and assistive devices
Alaska (accessible-services page shared with Hawaiian)	Medical portable electronic devices (MPEDs) such as PAP machines, breast pumps or nebulizers: the airline states it no longer requires advance notice to use them onboard (still follow the device and power rules on its page).	Yes. FAA label or Alaska approved list; under the seat; no exit rows; usually not bulkhead. A non-approved POC may be carried (within size and weight limits) with batteries removed and packed.	Not required for POC and respiratory devices, but 48 hours’ notice strongly recommended. An agent checks the model, phases of flight and batteries.	At least 150% of flight time plus ground connection time for delays; spares in the cabin only; don’t depend on power ports.	Mobility: Alaska’s wheelchair and accessible-services pages list assistive devices as free.	Oxygen and respiratory devices
JetBlue	CPAP, BiPAP, ventilators and respirators: carry and use under FAA rules; battery only (in-seat power not for medical devices). CPAP: “Documentation not required for onboard use” on device table. Nebulizer: allowed in carry-on or checked bags; onboard use: No (as published).	Yes. Labeled or verified POC; batteries for 150% of expected travel time; lithium-ion 100 Wh or less stated in the POC battery section; window seat; no bulkhead or exit rows; Mint stowage exceptions published. Compressed O₂ prohibited.	JetBlue does not publish a set notice time for a POC. Its criteria focus on the manufacturer’s FAA label, whether you can operate the device and its maximum flow rate. Contact JetBlue accessibility as needed.	POC: 150%; spares in carry-on, terminals protected; lithium-ion 100 Wh or less per POC battery, as listed. See Batteries.	Assistive device alone: no fee if the bag holds only the assistive device (a fee applies if mixed with personal items in the same bag, as published).	Medical Devices
Frontier	Battery-powered respiratory devices (for example, a ventilator, respirator or CPAP) with an aircraft approval sticker; medical authorization not required for these respiratory devices (as published). Carried free as an assistive device.	Yes. POC approved by the FAA or Frontier; Form 30881 or a physician statement covering the form’s points; free as an assistive device. Compressed or liquid oxygen never accepted.	Complete medical authorization before travel; show it at the airport (customer service agents and crew will ask).	Plan for at least 150% of scheduled flight time; all batteries in carry-on, protected; no aircraft outlets for devices.	Wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and canes: no charge in the cabin or in cargo (space rules for cabin wheelchairs published).	Special Services; Oxygen FAQ
Allegiant	Check Allegiant’s special-needs and baggage pages for current rules; this guide does not state them.	Check Allegiant’s current special-needs and baggage pages.	Check Allegiant’s current special-needs page.	Check the battery wording on Allegiant’s special-needs page (many airlines use the DOT 150% figure).	Check mobility and assistive-device carriage on Allegiant’s pages.	Passengers with special needs; Baggage
Hawaiian	Uses the accessible-services page shared with Alaska (page title: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines), with the same advance-notice waiver for PAP machines and nebulizers as Alaska.	Yes. POC with the FAA acceptance label or on the approved device list; stowed under the seat in front; no emergency exit seats and usually no bulkhead seats.	Not required for a POC or respiratory device, but 48 hours’ notice is strongly recommended.	As for Alaska: at least 150%, plus connection time and delays.	Follows Alaska’s mobility and accessible-services pages.	Hawaiian oxygen and respiratory page, or the Alaska page above (shared content).
Sun Country	CPAP and nebulizer onboard-use wording is not clearly published on Sun Country’s Special Services FAQ; check its Contract of Carriage or help pages.	Yes. FAA-approved POC only. Tell Reservations at least 48 hours ahead; check in at the airport at least 1 hour before departure for inspection. Accessibility Request form available.	At least 48 hours ahead to Reservations or through the Accessibility Request form.	Enough batteries for the entire journey (flight, ground time and delays); do not rely on aircraft power. That FAQ does not give an exact 150% figure; it asks for batteries adequate for the entire journey.	Wheelchair, walker or cane: yes, no charge (overhead or checked depending on size).	Special Services Help; Accessibility Request form
Avelo	Assistive devices (including medication) don’t count toward bag limits if packed separately. For CPAP use onboard beyond assistive carriage, check Avelo’s restricted-items page or Contract of Carriage.	Yes. FAA red-letter label statement; battery mode only (no outlets); under-seat dimensions published for use in flight; window-side seating; no exit or bulkhead rows.	Request it through Special assistance when booking or in Manage Trips, or call (346) 616-9500. Check in at least 90 minutes before departure and be at the gate at least 45 minutes before.	At least 150% of expected maximum flight duration; at least one extra battery recommended; spares in carry-on only, protected from short circuits.	Wheelchair or assistive device: no additional charge beyond the checked allowance (recreational extras may carry a fee).	Special services and assistance
Breeze	Nebulizer use onboard versus carriage: not published here; check Breeze’s support article.	Yes. FAA red-letter label or FAA-approved list; under the seat; seat closest to the window; free if carried alone or with assistive items or medication. Medical oxygen not allowed; Breeze does not provide medical oxygen.	Add Special Assistance or a POC special service request (SSR) when booking or in My Trips (recommended if using onboard).	At least 150% of flight duration, including a conservative delay estimate; outlets not available; protect spares.	Breeze’s Guests with Disabilities support pages treat mobility aids as free assistive devices under the Air Carrier Access Act and Breeze’s disability pages (check a mobility-specific FAQ if needed).	Portable Oxygen Concentrators; Nebulizers, Respirators and Ventilators; Guests with Disabilities

Decision checklist

Before you travel (policy checklist - not medical advice):

Contact the operating airline’s special-assistance or accessibility desk (or add the special service request in Manage Booking) for your device type.
Check the airline’s approved POC list or the FAA label. Third-party brand lists are not a reliable guide.
Confirm battery rules (often at least 150% of expected flight duration; spares in carry-on; terminals protected). For watt-hour limits, rely only on the airline page or FAA PackSafe.
Download and complete any required form (for example, United POC form, Frontier Form 30881, Delta OxygenToGo authorization) if the airline requires it for use onboard.
Plan seating: many airlines require window-side seating and ban exit and bulkhead rows when a POC is used under the seat.
Mobility aids: ask about gate check, the cabin closet or cargo, and battery labeling. Personal mobility aids are generally free as assistive devices when Part 382 applies.
Codeshares: follow the operating carrier’s medical-device page.

At the airport (3 steps)

Check in with an agent early (many airlines ask for about 1 hour before general check-in, or a published earlier time such as Avelo’s 90 minutes). Bring forms, device, and spare batteries in carry-on.
Have the device verified (model or FAA label, phases of flight when you’ll use it, battery count and packaging). Get any boarding pass indicator the airline uses (for example, Southwest).
At the gate and onboard, sit only where the airline and FAA seating rules allow. Stow the device under the seat (or as the airline directs for taxi, takeoff and landing). Aircraft power is not something to count on unless the airline expressly allows it for that device.

Tips

Screenshot or print the airline’s current medical-device or POC page and any confirmation email for the airport.
Pack spare batteries in the cabin, terminals protected (plastic bag, recessed terminals or manufacturer packaging). Check Delta’s chart for your model. Check PackSafe and the airline for Wh and spare-battery rules. BagRule won’t guess a number.
Empty humidifier water before security if your device has a water chamber (a common airline and TSA practice; check with TSA and the airline).
If connecting on another airline, check that airline’s POC and CPAP rules too.
For mobility devices, label the device and bring disassembly and battery instructions for ramp staff.

FAQ

Does a CPAP count as a carry-on on US airlines?: Often no. Many airlines treat CPAP and other respiratory devices as assistive devices that don’t count toward the standard carry-on or personal item limit when packed as the device (not mixed with clothes). Check your airline’s medical or assistive-device page (examples: American mobility page; JetBlue medical-devices page; Frontier special services; Delta medical devices). BagRule does not give medical advice.
Can I use a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on the plane?: Covered US airlines generally must allow an FAA-compliant POC (a manufacturer label showing FAA acceptance, or an older model on the listed models) under 14 CFR § 382.133, subject to airline procedures (notice, forms, batteries, seating). Compressed or liquid oxygen is typically prohibited. See DOT POC guidance and your airline’s list. A third-party “approved brands” list is not authoritative.
How many POC batteries do airlines require?: DOT consumer guidance and most airline pages in this guide require enough fully charged batteries for about 150% (1.5×) of expected flight duration (some also count connection and airport time). Exact wording varies, so check the airline page. Some airlines publish watt-hour limits (for example, JetBlue’s 100 Wh limit for POC batteries); follow what your airline publishes.
Do I need a doctor’s note?: It depends on the airline and whether you will use the device onboard. Examples from airline pages: United POC physician form for use; Frontier Form 30881 or a physician statement for POC; Delta OxygenToGo process; JetBlue states FAA no longer requires physician documentation for POC use (the airline may still check how the device operates and its flow setting). CPAP often needs no medical authorization on some carriers (for example, Frontier respiratory devices). Always check the operating airline.
Are wheelchairs and mobility aids free?: Under DOT disability rules, airlines generally must transport assistive devices including wheelchairs without counting them as regular baggage. Carriers in this set publish free carriage language (for example, Frontier special services; Avelo special services; Sun Country special services; American mobility page). Battery and hazardous-materials rules still apply.
Can airport security confiscate my nebulizer or CPAP? What’s the official rule?: Follow the operating airline medical-device page and TSA screening pages. Example: JetBlue lists a nebulizer as allowed in carry-on or checked bags, but not for use onboard. Alaska states advance notice is not required for certain medical portable electronic devices (MPEDs), including nebulizers and PAP machines. BagRule does not give medical advice - only policy pointers.

Official sources

Regulators

Airlines

How we check: We only publish what these official pages say. See how BagRule verifies.

Disclaimer

Bag rules change. Confirm size, fee, and fare rules on the airline site before you travel. BagRule is a publisher site and does not sell tickets or bags.