Upgrading with injury.
May 30, 2015, 12:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 19
Upgrading with injury.
My son is 15 years old and going to Beijing, China next weekend by himself. He is meeting his friend who lives there. He will be flying from Boston to Chicago and Chicago to Beijing. He injured his foot, a sprain, pretty badly and will have crutches. He will be flying on American Airlines. What is the chance that they would allow him to go to business class and have a bed. We do not have any status.
Thank you
Thank you
May 30, 2015, 12:29 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,532
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
As long as you are willing to pay the fare difference between Coach and Business Class -- and there is still an unsold seat in Business Class -- I'm sure that AA would be happy to take your money.
If you're asking about getting a free upgrade, well, anything is possible, but I would not hold my breath.
As long as you are willing to pay the fare difference between Coach and Business Class -- and there is still an unsold seat in Business Class -- I'm sure that AA would be happy to take your money.
If you're asking about getting a free upgrade, well, anything is possible, but I would not hold my breath.
May 30, 2015, 12:30 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 461
None to Slim, but more likely none.
Most I'd even remotely hope for is to be moved to a bulkhead seat, but there's no way I'd count on that.
If he needs the room, buy the ticket.
Most I'd even remotely hope for is to be moved to a bulkhead seat, but there's no way I'd count on that.
If he needs the room, buy the ticket.
May 30, 2015, 5:51 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Simple answer is No as been pointed out above. Complicated answer is still no. best idea is to pay the change fee and go later when he is healed
May 30, 2015, 6:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
Lots of people travel every day with injuries, and not get upgraded, unless they have status or pay for it.
May 30, 2015, 7:17 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Beware of in any way suggesting that he has a medical need for J. The result will be that he won't be permitted to fly in Y and you are then stuck with either purchasing the J ticket or not flying. A little bit of swelling at ground level is an annoyance. At 40,000 with a medical diversion airport 90 minutes away, it can be life-threatening.
Air carriers don't take chances and once you've told them he needs it, it's all over.
As to simply asking whether they might consider it just as a matter of comfort and not for any medical reason, the answer will uniformly be no.
In no way suggesting that your son is faking it. Simply that if it worked for him, there would be 1,000 people showing up on crutches every day.
Air carriers don't take chances and once you've told them he needs it, it's all over.
As to simply asking whether they might consider it just as a matter of comfort and not for any medical reason, the answer will uniformly be no.
In no way suggesting that your son is faking it. Simply that if it worked for him, there would be 1,000 people showing up on crutches every day.
May 30, 2015, 7:19 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I traveled for a week around New Zealand and flew back (in the cramped 10 abreast Y seats on NZ's 773) with a broken foot bone. If my then-37-year-old body could survive, no doubt this 15 year old kid can make it in coach with his sprain. If not, pay to upgrade or change the date if it's too much.
May 31, 2015, 8:59 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I would recommend speaking with his doc. and making sure the doc. knows the length of the flight and the circumstances of the seating. If the doc thinks that the circumstances are not medically sound, either UG or reschedule. If the doc thinks Y is OK, it's merely a matter of comfort and that is discretionary.
May 31, 2015, 11:34 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 19
does a note have to be brought when we check in so they know he is okay to fly, or no?
May 31, 2015, 11:53 am
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Jun 1, 2015, 12:25 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
No, but if you're consulting the doctor about the travel plans anyway, it wouldn't hurt to have a note from the doctor just in case the airline questions the kids fitness to travel. Don't volunteer the note unless airline staff raise the question and express concern.
Jun 4, 2015, 2:51 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
Since this post is off-topic for the Info Desk, and the query has had ample replies, the thread is now closed (see Welcome to the Information Desk! Please READ THIS BEFORE POSTING at the top of the forum for guidance about appropriate topics for this forum).
Thanks.
Thanks.