Free Flight for Charity?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
Free Flight for Charity?
In January, I will be participating in a 36 hour competition to get as far away from home (Cambridge University in England) as possible. The only catch is, we can't spend any of our own money... I've heard that it's been done in some cases before, but I was curious what you all thought of being able to get free flights to somewhere as far away as possible, and what airlines/airports would make this most likely to happen? As you can imagine, the airports we'd be looking to fly out of are the London ones - Heathrow, Stansted, Luton...
Any help would be much appreciated!
Any help would be much appreciated!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SZG, Austria
Programs: LH(OS) HON, IC RA
Posts: 33,193
What is the Charity about in this competition ?
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
the competition is RAG Jailbreak, and there are a large number of various charities that the group/competition is raising money for
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt


Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 47,408
Someone asked about this not too long ago. Do a search on some terms.
The result is that it is not likely the airline will consider participating, and it is against the TOS of this site to solicit for a donation of a free flight.
The result is that it is not likely the airline will consider participating, and it is against the TOS of this site to solicit for a donation of a free flight.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 5
i'm certainly not soliciting for a free flight now, as it's against the rules of the competition. i am simply looking for the names of some airlines people may have a rough idea would be willing to help out.
#6

Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 16,066
Speaking from the airline perspective, we have attempted to assist groups with this before but the hassle factor was simply not worth it. The teams failed to carry the correct entry documentation for the destination country (you do need a passport to fly internationally), showed up late (hitching a ride to the airport doesnt guarantee you get there in time for your flight) and were highly unprofessional and frustrating to deal with (changing of names at last minute, asking if we could reschedule our flight, drop them off at another destination, etc...). As a result, we have taken a decision NOT to deal with this kind of student group sponsorship anymore.
You will find most airlines operating from the UK have had similar experiences and similar policies unfortunately.
You will find most airlines operating from the UK have had similar experiences and similar policies unfortunately.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: lancashire, england
Programs: skywards, BMI, Qantas, Hilton honours
Posts: 213
blag, beg borrow as much as you can without paying for it?...
strange but I always thought if you wanted something in this world then you would have to pay for it as "you get nowt for owt"
strange but I always thought if you wanted something in this world then you would have to pay for it as "you get nowt for owt"
#9

Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,784
I would try for a private charter and/or repositioning flight. Though how to go about it I don't know (call on the CEO parents of some of your classmates?)
#10
Senior Moderator




Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,459
In view of the relatively recent thread on this general subject here, please follow the discussion in the linked thread. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

