First off, I have to apologize for being long-winded.
So, yeah, we made a reservation on Jetblue for a 5 day vacation in July. Of course, being cheap, we opted for the cheapest flight, as its only about 2 hrs. But, with the new fare rules, you’re not allowed a carry-on. Just a “personal item”, and they’ve gotten really strict about the size. Yes, I should’ve paid the extra $140 to be allowed a carry-on, but between flight, hotel, car, this trip to see my mom is already getting crazy expensive. I called today, as I woke up in a panic about not having all my supplies. With just my normal meds, I might be able to get by, but definitely not all my D stuff. Also, hubby is most likely getting a cpap machine that will need to be taken. I called Jetblue, and asked if there’s any way that I can buy a carry-on pass or anything. Nope. I’d have to cancel the flights, and rebook at much higher rates. I did explain what the carry-on would be for, but they were not budging. Most likely going to have to go that route.
I’m trying to think outside the box, like maybe I can mail my “bigger” meds (my digestive enzymes take up a lot of space), extra inhalers, and an extra sensor to mom’s, or next time that I need a replacement sensor, have Dexcom send it there.
Can sensors be put in checked luggage? I don’t actually NEED the CGM, but it sure makes life easier.
I’m really stuck in my head about this one. Any advice, no matter how off the wall, would be greatly appreciated!
So the most expensive option short of re-booking would be to mail enough of the stuff to your hotel or your mom’s house so that you can carry your medical supplies, but the other stuff that is less critical would arrive in the mail. (I wouldn’t mail a cpap or medical supplies)
The option I would go with would be to bring everything with me and then tell the gate agent that they are medical items at which point I can’t imagine they would fight with you about it. Especially the cpap and the diabetes supplies. Those are common enough that they probably wouldn’t say anything about it.
Unfortunately, Jetblue’s new policy is that if you bring anything besides a personal item, they will automatically check it, and charge you $65. Maybe I’ll just stop being paranoid, and check everything that I can’t fit in a small bag. Keep all absolute necessities with me, and hope for the best.
Although I’m feeling very ughy about their policies.
I carry all my pump, CGM, and every other diabetic item in a separate backpack and have never had a problem but we’re vip’s with United because of all the miles we have. Friends of ours who are diabetic have had zero problems with medical supplies being counted as carry on baggage. They will even keep the insulin in the fridge in galley for you if you ask them. We have not flown since the pandemic broke and have to fly to Dubai next month which I’m not looking forward too at all.
Update:
After being on hold for over 2 hours, 3 separate times, and being told that if I bring the Cpap or a backpack, they will be put in checked baggage, I kind of lost it.
Me:“So, since I have diabetes, I have to pay more for a ticket?”
Her: “Can’t you just bring what fits in your purse?”
Me: “Yeah, but I could die.”
Her: "You could purchase the more leg room option if you cancel these tickets. That comes with a carry-on. "
Me: Stunned silence. “So, you’re saying that since I technically have a disability, I have to pay more.”
(Sorry, I was MAD, I do not consider D a disability, but I couldn’t believe that she wouldn’t understand my point.)
She talked to the supervisor, and apologized for not knowing that medical devices and medications were allowed, and not considered carry-on bags.
But why did I have to deal with this? They obviously are not training their CSRs correctly.
I did ask if they could email something that I could print out. She said that I didn’t need it.
I will most likely call again (their hold music is growing on me. ) or take a trip to the airport some morning and ask in person.
@Mariethm per US DOT regulations, your medical devices do not count as carry-ons and IF they have to be checked due to a lack of space in the cabin, they are not allowed to charge you a checked baggage fee.
That said, there is no way they are prying my medical devices and supplies out of my hands without a lawsuit.
Thank you! I did a lot more research, and finally found that in Jetblue’s complete “contract of carriage”. Cut and pasted, and will print to bring with me. Its like 1 sentence in the “definitions”, and then a couple more under the baggage regs.
Being super kind, polite, patient and prepared with bribes is very helpful in dealing with gate agents. Gate agents get yelled at all day and it’s a pretty crappy job. And anything in print to verify your rights is the best idea.
Power tripping pissed off gate agents are bad for everyone and everything.
I actually told a gate agent for an airline named for a state that my carry-on had medical supplies that I would not allow to be checked under any circumstances unless she wanted to get me a second bag for my medical supplies that I could carry onboard while they checked my original carry-on.
Sometimes you have to just eliminate the obvious knee jerk reactions that are ingrained from dealing with tons of irrational travelers
) or take a trip to the airport some morning and ask in person.
