Cheaper or Free Flight Options
As you know, we have to make another trip to Cleveland Clinic soon. It was supposed to occur in March, but was pushed back because of the little one was sick and had a setback with her new medicine. Our next visit is on May 5th. we have the hotel lined up, but have been trying to get options on cheaper flights.
Currently, the best I have found is through Southwest and come to around $750.00 for the 3 of us. My wife tried to make some calls yesterday to get options on free flights. There are networks of private pilots who offer flights for sick children and their families. These groups are usually regional and coordinated through a non profit agency.
We did find one yesterday, because these are usually smaller 4 seater planes, the reliability is not 100%. If the weather is slightly on the bad side, they don’t usually fly. Because of this, they recommend that we have a backup option.
The reason for this post is a call out to the readers to find if anyone has had experience in this realm. If so leave a comment or shoot me an email. I would be very interested in learning more about other options.
Filed under: Kids, Saving Money
Hey, in real life I’m a social worker with children in a medical center, so I can help! Miracle Flights for Kids is one option, there’s also American Airlines Miles for Kids. Does your pediatrician have a social worker at their clinic? They ought to be able to assist you with such things.
Thanks Ryan!! The Miracle Flights info has been passed on to my wife. She is great at handling this. I will ask at the the pediatrician and neurologist’s offices about a social worker.
Hey, glad to help. Kind of hard to do social work over this far of a distance, but let me know if there’s more assistance needed.
mmj,
Any update on this? I was reminded just because I applied a kid today for their second (twice lifetime max I think) flight with American Airlines Miles for Kids in Need. If you need help, let me know!
Thanks Ryan, I have not had luck yet, but am waiting for a call back from the neurologist this evening. I will ask him if they have someone on staff that can help. I also found this resource. Have you had luck with them? http://www.patienttravel.org/resources.html
I’ve looked at them years ago but didn’t really get anything out of it. The one I use the most is the American Airlines program; I’ve used Miracle Flights once, but there was lots more paperwork than AA (which required a letter from me and a letter from the physician). Also, since there’s no such thing as a private plane flying from here to any other state, there was really no advantage to them unless the patient had already used their two time lifetime limit with AA. And since Miracle Flights would have to come up with money for the flight, there was a lot lower chance that they would come through than AA because their funding is quite limited.