emrom

My mum has a back injury and needs repatriated with a pain-killing drip and catheter. Insurance say they will put her on a commercial flight.
We are trying to get her from Alicante to Glasgow and its only budget carriers.
Does anyone know how they would get this sorted?
I am thinking they are just fobbing us off and trying to avoid the cost of an air ambulance.
Is there an organisation that can help?
Been an absolutely dreadful experience to date.

clacko

what does the doctor say? a statement confirming ambulance need might help....major air carriers operate from alicante...ba & ib for sure & most likely can get to glasgow....

have you confirmed that they have stretcher capability?

obscure2k

Welcome to Flyertalk, emrom. I believe that the Disability Travel Forum is more appropriate for this topic.
Please follow there.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

oldpenny16

If Mum doesn't have travel evacuation insurance, this will cost a ton of money. As you say she has some insurance coverage, make sure you understand the terms and conditions.

Start by calling her own doctor in her hometown to see what can be worked out or advised back to front. At least that person will know her and have an interest in her well being.

Good luck.

Katja

Is there a social worker/case worker involved in her care? This person should be involved with the insurance company in working out appropriate transport. This may require transporting her by ambulance to Madrid, where a mainline carrier can accommodate her.

It may be useful to call BA, Iberia, KLM and Air France and ask to speak to a special assistance coordinator to learn whether they accept stretcher passengers on this route.

Here are some links:
http://www.britishairways.com/health...avel_guide.pdf
http://www.iberia.com/faqs/special-needs/
http://corporate.airfrance.com/uploa..._France_02.pdf
http://www.airmed.com/uploads/100012...les/100126.pdf
http://www.iasmedical.com/page/75/co...-repatriations

moeve

OP please come back and tell us how it went when you get a moment. Just so someone else might learn from this.....

ribspreader

It should be no problem to get a strechter on Thompson Fly or Thomas Cook, which both serve direct flights from Alicante to Glasgow.

JDiver

I've seen stretchers on an airline or two - they usually take up a seat block of six or so seats in coach, iirc. It requires close coordination with physicians and the airline. The LCC carriers have contact information on their websites - but they often charge for telephone communication with them.

First thing I'd do is ask if the insurance company has a repatriation specialist or physician you can speak with. Does NHS cover any of this? Would they be worth contacting? Have you contacted the nearest consulate, in Alicante?

British Consulate
Plaza de Calvo Sotelo, 1, 2º
03001 Alicante
Tel: 902 109 356 (if calling from within Spain)
Tel (+34) 91 334 2194 (International/alternative number)
Fax: (+34) 965 14 05 28
E-mail: [email protected]

As to LCCs,

Thomson: http://www.thomson.co.uk

Where Thomson flys: http://flights.thomson.co.uk/en/destination.html (they do in fact fly between Alicante and Glasgow)

Thomas Cook: http://www.thomascook.com/flights

A bit harder to figure out where they actually fly (I don't think Alicante is one of their destinations).



Good luck.