Need advice - JNU-WAS xmas kid in hip cast
 

Apologize for cross-post from AS forum, but need more exposure and opinions on upcoming medical travel - Alaska-WAS (prefer BWI, but AS SEA-DCA is a favorite due to schedule and MVPG status. Complicated situation.

JNU-BWI or DCA 12/10 - or 12/11 departure
13 y.o. son having major hip reconstruction surgery on Dec 14.
Will be able to return to JNU on Dec 22.
Have traveled many, many times post-surgery in various kinds of casts, fixators, etc. (16 operations in the past 11 years, most of them in Baltimore - he's fine, just needs his leg rebuilt).
He was MVPG at four years old, 48 hr RT JNU-DCA every 2 weeks for rechecks during limb-lengthening.

But, we've never traveled post-surgery during Christmas holidays.
Last year DCA-JNU day before Thanksgiving after knee reconstruction was not good. AS uncharacteristically poor service in all aspects - rebooking, in-terminal, onboard (e.g. on SEA-SIT-JUN load was not full, yet would NOT reassign seats to allow open middle seat for elevation of operated leg. Flight attendants downright SNARLY) - only TSA, of all entities - was kind and helpful!

So i seek advice on three issues:
1) BWI-JNU on Dec 22 or avoiding the crowds by traveling on Christmas Day -
2) BWI on Delta, or DCA's nice AS connections?
3) partner Delta mileage tickets, AS mileage tickets, use companion fare on AS, or just buy the best fare Kayak offers?

Even your experiences traveling 12/22 vs 12/25 would be helpful!

Thanks - It's enough to deal with an unexpected major surgery - adding 3400 miles each way during Christmas given past AS Holiday traveling just a leg brace and crutches pushes me to the top of the precipice....

Unfortunately 12/22 is one of the heaviest travel days of the year while 12/25 is possibly the lightest. On 12/22, you have to consider the possibility that unless you actually buy a second seat, that the aircraft will be completely full and thus no extra seat. Can your son handle lengthy flight with no elevation?

On 12/25, exactly the reverse. Flights are likely not full and a much greater chance of an empty seat.

A consideration here is talking with the carrier's medical desk. While they will not reserve a second seat without payment, they can note the record and likely snag you an empty seat.

Lastly, call me crazy, but if your son can travel on 12/22 and you are considering a 3-day stay for better flight options, consider Amtrak on 12/22 and then the hop from SFO or SEA back home. Might get you home faster.

You are not crazy - Thanks!
 

Amtrack is a good suggestion - I had tried to book travel this summer just for the experience, but it was impossible - no sleepers available. I will look into it. And yeah, it does not make sense to try and travel on 12/22.

I should have learned that last year on 11/23. But it was horrid that the AS flight attendants would not move ONE person to accommodate a child with a disability on a plane that had at least ten open seats.

I there actually an AS medical line? My son has flown cross-country at least 25 times, nearly always on AS.



Thanks!

Every carrier has a medical director. AS may well contract this out, but if you call CS and explain the issue, they ought to be able to connect or refer you.

As to train, you may actually want to consider flying to closest Canadian destination YUL/YYZ and training West from there. Train will have lots of room to move around, no altitude to worry about post-surgery and generally a nice experience.

Since cross-posting isn't allowed and CommunityBuzz is not used for the purpose of this thread, we're going to close the thread. But we are leaving it visible while closed considering the seriousness of the subject.


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