Husband is in the Army & we received an emergency Red Cross message & have to fly home.Who pays for flights?

Question

The doctor recommended in the Red Cross message we come home as the life expectancy of his father(my father-in-law) is less then 3 months.Will they pay for both of us to fly home and who exactly is paying for the tickets?Thanks for any information you can give.

Answer 1

Amber, if you are out of the country the military may fly you home to your base, but if you are stateside you will probably have to pay for your flight.  My kids have had to pay for all theirs, even when my son (their brother) died.  The emergency flight was very expensive and the airlines were not helpful like they had been in the past.

If you can and you think you will have time, its probably better to drive, or for only one of you to fly.  Try contacting the base chaplain for help.

God Bless You

Answer 2

I believe if he is deployed, the army will pay for your husband to go home, or at least back to where he is stationed.  however I can't them paying for you to fly.  The army is not very generous from what I have learned in my days.  Sorry to hear about your FIL.

Answer 3

You pay for it.

You can get a loan or grant from the Red Cross to help with the cost.  You can also get assistance from the Army Relief fund.

Answer 4

It is all on your dime unless you can get a MAC flight or some other form of military flight.  Sorry about the bad news.  He is very lucky to get to go home even with the message.

Answer 5

You will have to pay it, that sucks I know.  

Answer 6

it will come out of his pay and they wont send him until his father passes and it will be only him sent home not you

Answer 7

If your husband is deployed, the army will cover his flight. He will have to first pay out of pocket, the fill out a travel claim and be reimbursed. If he is not deployed, the both of you will have to pay out of pocket. You can take a Space A flight, which is free, but it's flexible and you aren't guaranteed a seating as they allow you to put your name on the waiting list 45 days in advance. If you can get an emergency letter from his CO, they will move your priority level of the space A flight up, and you'll have a better chance of getting on the flight. I say you look up space A flights in the area you folks are stationed in, and talk to his CO about getting an emergency leave letter. If not, you could see about getting a loan to pay for the tickets.

My condolences to you and your husband.

EDIT:

I don't know any info for bases out of europe but you can read more about Space A flights here http://www.baseops.net/spaceatravel/  and try contacting your base to see if they participate in space a travel and the times/dates of the flights.

2nd EDIT:

you're welcome! :)

Answer 8

Klieghs answer in incorrect, wrong.  With his Red Cross notification he can get emergency leave and go to his father.  He pays.  Coordinate everything through the Red Cross.  The reply suggesting a MAC flight is a good one.  You'll have to investigate where there are MAC flights and the destinations.  Complicated and maybe the Red Cross can help you.  Maybe a local Army recruiter can be of help.  A Congressman can provide you with info if it comes to that.  The cost is on you, however.  Ask the Red Cross and the Army Relief Agency for info.  Good luck.

Answer 9

the army - but you will be paying it back, aer loan is what they use i think and  you pay it back monthly for 12 months. i know they will fly him, and i think they should be flying you too... tell him tocall his sgts and they will be able to tell you more...

Answer 10

When my husband was deployed he didn't have to pay but I think in all other cases you the money has to come out of your pocket. There are some no-interest loans in case you cannot afford to fly home.