Originally Posted by dba
Are there airlines that will provide upgrades to Business or First at prices below full fare for those who need them due to a medical disability? I'm not asking about free upgrades, just any sort of program (advertised or unadvertised) to provide them at somewhat lower than usual cost.
(I'm thinking, along the lines of bereavement fares -- a fare for which you'd need to prove eligibility with a doctor's letter.) Does this exist at all?
I just read through some sites for disabled travelers. There are a few airlines who offer travel for those who due to medical disabilities need extra seats, can't sit upright in a standard seat or require stretcher travel. Generally, this does require a medical form from your doctor, possibly an attendant that you must pay for, and purchasing all those seats. I found nothing about getting a discount, but if you're interested in looking into it NW would be an airline to call. As far as not getting a discount goes, as one of the sites put it, paying for five coach seats so you can lie down is a whole lot cheaper than paying for a medical flight.
BTW, I did once see a passenger upgraded for a medical reason. His oxygen tank wouldn't fit in the Y overhead so they moved him up to F where it did fit.