So, my 3 year old son was recently diagnosed with asthma. We have a preventative plan in place which includes the use of a Nebulizer to administer a prescripion medicaion. Our trip is less than a month away (YAY!) and it just occured to me that this will be our first time travelling with the Nebulizer and necessary medication. The medicine is less than 3 oz. and sealed in individualized foil packets and I see no problem just adding this to my carry-on (with extra "just in case" packed in my checked luggage).

What to do about the machine? If anyone is familiar with what I'm talking about and has brought it on an airplane, I would love to hear about your experience. The easiest thing would be to pack it in my checked luggage and I'm tempted to do this...BUT the small chance of lost luggage and the small chance that we would need it right away in FL...leads me to believe that this is too risky.

Will I have any problems going through security with the Nebulizer?

Any ideas on how best to transport it?

Thanks in advance! (by the way, this is my first trip with everyone out of diapers and I thought this would be the trip where I could finally pack less and "travel light"...now I'll be schlepping this contraption through the airport LOL!!!)

Will I have any problems going through security with the Nebulizer?
Prescription medication and medical devices, no matter the packaging, are explicitly allowed (http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm) through TSA checkpoints. You might want to print out a copy of that Web page just in case.
TSA's checkpoint security screening procedures for persons with disabilities and medical conditions have not changed as a result of the current threat situation. All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices continue to be allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

Additionally, we are continuing to permit prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes:

All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

However, if the liquid medications are in volumes larger than 3 ozs each, they may not be placed in the quart-size bag and must be declared to the Transportation Security Officer. A declaration can be made verbally, in writing, or by a person's companion, caregiver, interpreter, or family member.

We've traveled with my son's asthma paraphernalia with no problems for more than 9 years. We usually leave the big ProNeb Ultra II (http://www.pari.com/pdd/ultra2.htm) compressor at home and use the Trek (since superceded by the Trek S (http://www.pari.com/pdd/trek-s.htm)) for travel. We make sure that it's easily accessible in case the TSA folks need to look at it, but I think that's only happened once in our last 20 or so flights. No problems with the meds, either. Keep the foil pouch in the box with the prescription label on it, just to be sure, but again being checked by the TSA is the exception because they've seen plenty of compressors and asthma meds before.

Have a great trip, and feel free to ask any other "Disney with asthma"-related questions if you've got them!

Thanks for the replies!

Mark, ours looks like the ProNeb Ultra II in your link. It's a bit heavy and awkward in size...so I'm thinking of just putting it in a canvas tote with handles and keeping it separate. If I store it separately, will this count towards my carry-on allowance? Have you ever just transported it in your checked luggage? We have a direct flight and I am so tempted to just put it in the big suitcase, but the "what ifs" remind me that's probably not a smart idea:rolleyes:

Thanks again for sharing your experience!

I would not put it in the checked luggage if you consider it vital. There is always a chance that something will go wrong, your bags are lost, and then you are out of luck.

As for it counting as a carry on if you put it in a separate bag, some airlines these days may count it as such. However, I will surely yield to people with experience, such as Mark, for a more accurate "real life" thought on that.

I would suggest either having a newly filled prescription to travel with you or have your son's doctor give you a paper prescription so you have it...just in case.

Good luck with your son's asthma treatments; when my oldest child was that age, we also had to travel with a nebulizer so I know what you're going through.

Some TSA check points are tough on the 2 bag thing, others let people through with 3 (just noticed it last weekend - I was tempted to ask her if they said anything to her). If you want to have it separate, just have enough room in one of your other bags that you could stick it in, but put it through the X-ray machine individually.

And DO NOT pack it in your checked bag!!!! Even though you have a direct flight, you never know what's going to happen!

I agree with not checking your nebulizer- it's not worth the risk.

If your son isn't currently on any nebs and you're just bringing them as a precaution, you may want to ask your doctor about a spacer and an inhaler.

The spacer fits over the mouth on one end and the inhaler goes into the other end and it helps the meds get inhaled properly.

This is what we used when travelling when my son was younger (he's 10 now and has had asthma his whole life)

I agree that you should not put the nebulizer in checked luggage (what if something happens on the plane and you need to access it during the flight?). I wonder if the flight attendants could take it from you and stow it somewhere on the plane (if they are concerned about its safety) for you?

As everybody else said, do not put it in your checked luggage. We've had luggage delayed once or twice (never lost, thankfully), but if our son was having an asthma attack and we didn't have access to the compressor and nebulizer right then, we'd be in deep trouble.

Pack it in one of your carry-ons and just make sure that it's not underneath everything else or you may find yourself digging everything out of the way for the TSA folks to look at. It doesn't happen often, but it's always a possibility. If you carry it in a separate bag, it will count as an additional carry-on, but unless you've already got six for the three of you you should be fine.

If you expect that the asthma is not a short-term issue and you're thinking that you might be traveling a bit with your son (even if it's long car trips), you might want to consider a second compressor for traveling. Aside from the fact that it's smaller and lighter, our Trek has a car adapter so that we can give our son a treatment while we are driving somewhere (just did that a week ago while driving to Maryland, as a matter of fact). It also comes with a battery so that we can administer a treatment whenever he needs it even if we're in a park, on a plane or somewhere else where there's no electrical outlet. Just a thought.

The FAA requires airlines accept medical equipment/supplies outside of the normal luggage restrictions. So if you have one (or more) bags that only have medical equipment/supplies they are not allowed to either count or charge for them.

The FAA requires airlines accept medical equipment/supplies outside of the normal luggage restrictions. So if you have one (or more) bags that only have medical equipment/supplies they are not allowed to either count or charge for them.
Thanks for the clarification, Mike!

Well, I'll just pack it as a carry-on and we should be fine. We do need it on a regular basis for now, so I'll check in with the doctor and see if I could get the travel size one which makes more sense for the long-term.

Thanks again for the helpful info!:)