What happens if you are too sick to fly?

[Disneycrazymom]

We started planning our trip several monthes ago and have non-refundable air tickets. My sister in law has MS and has taken a turn for the worst. She may be better ( I pray she will) but may not be well enought to go. Do we have any options or will we just loose the money for her ticket? Depending on how bad it gets we may all need to stay home or possibly she can stay with a different caregiver and we can still go. Our trip is not for awhile but I would like to know what the airlines usually do.

Ps. This has nothing to do with 9/11, just her illness.

 

[lillykat]

talk to the airline - sometimes if a doctor can certify that she is too ill to fly they will work to accomadate you and they might give you vouchers or a refund. My grandparents were supposed to take a vacation us a few years ago and my grandfather was too ill to fly and they were given refunds

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you Lillycat. A DR. note would be no problem, she sees many of them. Do I begin by calling Customer Service?

 

[JandD Mom]

Last Jan, my DH was pretty ill with food poisoning (we suspect it was acquired in O'Hana of all places at dinner -- It was definately acquired at WDW as we ate nowhere else). We were at my MIL's house in South FLA when it became clear there was no way he was going to fly. I called USAir. Their compassion was to charge me $300 to change all 4 tickets for the return. They told me not to bother getting a Dr's note as it would not matter.

 

[lillykat]

I'm not sure who you would talk to but it can't hurt to make some phone calls and see what they tell you. You could also talk to her doctor they might have a suggestion.

 

[Daisymeo]

The night before we were to leave for WDW my husband started bleeding internally. We made a trip to the ER in the middle of the night and he was admitted to the hospital and later received transfusions of 4 units of blood and was hospitalized for 4 days. I called Delta in the middle of the night when he was in the ER and explained the situation and told them the ER doctor said he would write a letter verifying all but it didn't matter to them. They said they accepted no medical excuses. Consequently we were charged $300 in penalties when we rebooked. I'm sorry to say that Delta does not have my sympathy in their current situation since they are so harsh on people in emergency situations. I'm sure the flight was overbooked to begin with and they didn't lose any money.

 

[JandD Mom]

Daseymeo,

I agree with you 100%. These airlines have been sticking it to people for the last several years. You reap what you sow.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

this is from Delta's website regarding refunds on non refundable tickets.


I have a non-refundable ticket and will not be traveling. Can I obtain a refund?
No, however depending upon the rules of your ticket and location of purchase, you may be able to apply the value of a non-refundable ticket, less any applicable service charge, toward future travel up to one year from the original issue date. Please check with your nearest Delta representative for details.

Exceptions include:

The death of the passenger, immediate family member, or traveling companion.
The passenger is precluded from any future air travel due to serious illness.
In these cases, you will be required to forward a copy of the death certificate or doctor's letter precluding any future air travel to the Passenger Refunds Department mailing address.


I hope this helps the original poster or anyone else in this situation.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

JandD Mom,
I do respectfully disagree with your comment on the airlines sticking it to people. When you purchase non refundable tickets you are expected to know the rules (which are easily found on the website or will be recited to you by the agent). By purchasing these tickets you have entered into a contract with the airline and they with you. They have rules they have to adhere to also.
The situations mentioned here are, indeed, unfortunate, but, not the airlines problem.
I would love to see them a bit more compassionate, but, they are a business and the bottom line is their concern. Sometimes a supervisor will override the rules, but, not an agent (they cannot). But, I feel saying that they are sticking it to people is totally wrong. They are sticking to the contract that you have entered into. Sad, but true.

 

[JandD Mom]

Gail, again, I must respectfully disagree with you.

A search of these boards will show numerous posts of people who have had difficulties with the airlines as a result of poor, horrible, or nonexistant customer service. Even before September 11th. A search of the major news organizations and major travel industry publications, as well as public government information will show that complaints about airline mistreatment by passengers have risen dramatically in the past several years. A recent article in Conde Nast Traveler reviewed many of the most common complaints and discussed possible ways in how the government can deal with them: Over crowded skies, over crowded passenger cabins with no room to move, baggage mishandling, losing children travelling alone, cutting down on the fresh airflow in the cabins to improve fuel efficiency, safety breaches, customer service breaches. My own SIL has an E ticket with USAir that was not used and after paying the fee, and after being given 1 year to re-use the ticket, cannot re-use the ticket. Why? USAir lost the record of the ticket and won't take her word or documentation for it. They have her money, but will not allow her to board. I could go on and on of just personal experiences, and I am sure others can too. I stand by my statement that airlines have been sticking it to people. It is a reported fact. If you are one of the few flying public that has not been stuck in some way, you are lucky.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Hi again,
I was speaking only in reference to the comments made about being ill and not having the tickets reissue or cancelled without a fee.
Your points are valid, and I will definitely take you at your word as you appear to have been reading a lot. One comment, however. Since I am taking you at your word and it is information easily obtained and since the conditions are horrific, why does anyone fly? One would assume that the public makes the choice to fly regardless of the conditions. We, as the public, should have refused to fly. That might have made a difference. BUT....because the airfares are great on some carriers, we choose to fly regardless of the conditions. It makes little or no sense to get on a plane knowing it is going to be like a sardine can and complain afterwards.
I generally fly Delta, SWA and Air Jamaica. All, for me, have been wonderful. I guess I am lucky. Hope it holds and hope you are lucky too.

 

[lillykat]

the other question is do you have trip insurance. This will sometimes cover the tickets if you need to cancel

 

[JandD Mom]

Dear Gail,

Why do we fly? Because we want to go someplace! Personally, I have a passion to travel and it is definately the quickest, safest way in general. I could certainly drive to Florida, and thought about doing so, but with 2 pre-schoolers, I can't imagine how bad it would be. Plus there is the safety issue. In 1999, 42,000 people died in auto accidents vs. a couple hundred in plane wrecks. The numbers will still probably be the same this year (God willing we have no more insane terrorists on the planes and no more problems).

FYI, as much as I hate flying, I really detest Amtrak and taking Greyhound buses. Customer service for both is worse than any airline I have ever encountered, except for American.

I think the problem is the airlines are overloaded. There are too many flights and the airfares are too low for these companies to make a profit. There are too many planes at airports and in the air for the airsystem to operate efficiently. One of the reasons Southwest is the only profitable airline is because they fly to less populated airports so there are less delays and it is easier for them to operate efficiently.

For the most part though, I have found if you are nice to people, they are nice to you -- again, except on American. Best wishes

 

[Lewisc]

I think people are missing the point, you have the option of purchasing tickets that are refundable and changeable. Most of us prefer the deep discounts that come with the restricted tickets. The airlines usually allow changes with fees. Even after you pay the fee and fare difference you'll probably still save money over a full fare ticket.
Another option is to fly SWA which has no change fees.
I suspect it is much too easy for people to get (or forge) doctors notes. One of the reasons airlines starting charging fees and allowing changes to the tickets to avoid having to make exceptions for some people.
JandD--The airlines have found lower fares/fare sales sell more tickets than better food, more leg room etc.

 

[B3LM]

YOUCH!!!!!!

Disneycrazymom asked a question! She did not ask for anyone to debate the issue. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank-you for the information. If she can not fly this time she will never be able to after this, as she really is quite sick. She wants to wait a little while and hopefully be better enough to make the trip. When she is ready we will discuss the situation with the Dr. and the airline (TWA/American). I do not expect them to do anything. It is really much sadder that she is so ill, than looseing the money. In the end if the airline does something - great, if not I choose to buy the non-refundable tickets and I knew the rules.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

JandD Mom,
SWA is not limited to less populated airports. They fly a lot of places that are well populated, ie: BWI and MCO, neither of which are very light traffic areas.