Transportation

[bligen1]

What is needed to get information on free or reduce travel. My wife has called the UBPN Wings Program several times for information and no one has called back.

[tylergsmom]

Julia is the UPBN Wings persons you need to talk to. I'm not sure why she hasn't called you back, but here is the most recent email address I have on her. I last spoke with her in June, so I hope this address is still good. j.aten@wavecable.com

[Cara]

When we went to Texas this summer we contacted Southwest airlines directly. We had to write a letter saying who was and why we were flying. We Also had to have a letter from TCH saying the dates of treatment. SouthWest was really great!

[admin]

Cara- do you have a phone number for SW? I sent them faxes, but need to make sure that they got them OK. We need ot fly next month and I am starting to worry. I looked up the cost on SW website and it will cost my child and I $681.00 to fly. I just cannot do that 9 days before Christmas. I also looked on their website for civic and charitable contributions and cannot find it anywhere.

[admin]

Southwest: Tracie Martin (214) 792-4103 and fax (214) 792-3799

[admin]

Thanks so much to whomever posted Tracie's phone number. I truly appreciate it.

[admin]

I just got off the phone with someone at SW. They are on a medical freeze for the rest of the year. She told me that with the physicians letter they could give us a sale rate and waive the advance purchase requirement. That will still be better than having to pay $681.00 right before Christmas. Does anyone know of any other airlines besides American (they will only fly you once per lifetime now) that assist people like us? Surely NW or Continental or someone else helps.

[tylergsmom]

Here's some more info I hope helps:


MIRACLE FLIGHTS FOR KIDS: (702) 261-0497 or (800) 359-1711. Their fax # is (702) 261-0494. They require 16 days advanced notice of flight requirements. www.miracleflights.org. Once they have the form filled from your doctor - they will GUARANTEE to get you the flight so you don't have to contact any other agency or airline. You can get all their forms right online at their site and then just send them in. They did not require anything from a non-profit.

AMERICAN AIRLINES MILES FOR KIDS, MD 1394, PO Box 619616, DFW Airport, Texas 75261-9616, FAX 817-931-6890 , free airfare. Debbie Ryan (817) 963-8118, FAX (817) 931-6890. You need to send them three letters 1) from doctor specifying need for going to Texas 2) from doctor specifying that child is medically able to travel 3) another one from a non-profit or charitable institution stating financial need. (3-27-2001 update: They will only give you freebies for two trips.)

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES - Continental dropped their medical necessity program for a while but it is now back again. Continental Airlines makes special arrangements for families traveling due to medical necessity. You will need to contact TCH - Jenna Caswell-Nassif at 832-822-1954 - she is available Monday through Wednesday and she will get you a reference number and a code number and she will call Continental to get the boll rolling. But here are the Continental numbers for yourselves: 1-800-468-7022 Meeting Works Dept. They have arrangements with certain hospitals (including TCH). Your reservations are made at 75% off of full coach fares and they hold them until the day of departure. You show the letter at the airport when you purchase the tickets. There are no fees for canceling the tickets or changing return dates. They also have a deal set up with Avis and Hertz rental car for a special rate of $50/day for a midsize car, unlimited miles, taxes, etc.


The people at Miracle Flights for Kids were really nice when I talked to them. They were on a freeze in May when I last spoke with them and could only offer assistance to families who were on some kind of government assistance.

I haven't actually spoken with Contenintal or American Airlines, so I'm not sure if they are also on a freeze, but it's definitly worth a shot.

Hope this helps.

[admin]

I called Jenna at TCH and she gave me the code. I then called Continental and they didn't give me any discount; they quoted me the same price that I found online. It was the cheapest price I have found so far, but no discount. This is difficult for me because I am not "cheap", but when you make this trip 2-3 times a year and you are paying for all of it, it adds up pretty dang fast. Not to mention the surgeries and therapy that we are still paying for. You know what I mean? So I am still waiting to hear from SW to see what kind of "sale fare" they can offer. I am just praying that we will be able to do this as inexpensively as possible. Thanks for all of your information, it was very helpful. One more question; does Miracle flights book you with commercial airlines?

[tylergsmom]

I don't know if Miracle Flights puts you on commercial or not. They were really nice, so I would just call them or go to their web site. I'm sorry you're having so many problems with this. I wish I had more info for you. Sorry.