My father needs triple bypass surgery NOW- how to get a flight I can afford?

Question

My father called tonight and he lives in Lyman, SC. (near Greenville/Spartenburg). He was told he needed triple bypass surgery and a valve replacement asap. It is scheduled for 14th blood work, and the 15th 8:00 for surgery. I live in Austin, Texas. All the round trip flights are a fortune for me - where can I find a flight for a reasonable price or next to free? He isn't dead - so not a death fare - but he could die during surgery, He is 72 years old. Please give me some info before I am flying to a funeral instead of him alive. Please.

Answer 1

Hey if you really dont have the money, and you really want to get there, then take a Greyhound bus. It will get you there in 25-28 hrs.

Answer 2

I am sorry to hear about your father,but with such short notice ... there isn't such a thing as a "reasonable price". You can try to look for a flight with the websites I have listed below. You may also try a travel agent which I dont know would give you better fares. If this a life/ death situation, I wouldn't be worrying about a cheap flight but the critical situation of your father. Best wishes to your father.

Answer 3

leave tomarrow, get back the 17th

$941

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qsc...

I hope everything turns out well, this was the best that I could find...have you considered taking a Bus, train, or car???

Answer 4

If you can put up with the restrictions,

the "name your own fare" on Priceline.com

might get you a cheap flight.

Here's the deal:

- you name the date, and it's anything from 1st flight out in the morning to a redeye.

- THEY pick the airline, the flights, and the times.

- you don't get any of those details until AFTER your offer is accepted.

- if your offer is accepted, NO refunds! (and probably no changes either), (and no Frequent Flyer points)

If your offer is rejected, then nothing more happens.

You can take a chance with a really low-ball offer

(1/2 of the regular fare or less) and see what happens.

The only risk is if they accept and then you can't make the flights.  Then you're out the money.

The idea is that they are selling left-over seats that would otherwise go unsold, and as far as the airline is concerned, any $ is better than $0 for an empty seat.

In exchange for a lower-than-normal fare, you give up a lot of flexibility.

(I have only used it with hotels, and very successfully,

but I don't like the "any time between 6 AM and 10 PM"

window on flights, so I haven't tried it for flying.)

Answer 5

American Airlines offers Family Medical fares. Just call AA - they will need the hospital name/address/phone number.

Also maybe worth checking if there is an alternate airport you could fly into ( Charlotte ) you still qualify for a 7 day advance and American has fares about 418.00 from Austin to Charlotte

Good luck !  

Hope your father has a speedy recovery

Answer 6

Call a travel agent.

They might be able to get you cheaper flights, or flights that are not roundtrip, standby, etc., that are cheaper.

Answer 7

aww hun I'm so sorry.  All my prayers to your family.

Go directly to a travel agency.  They will be able to find you the cheapest fares right now.  Easiest thing to do since you don't have the luxury of looking around and waiting for seat sales.

Is it possible to get a sibling or cousin or even your mother to lend you some money for now?  I know how much it sucks to ask but this is a special circumstance.

Good luck on the flight and his surgery!!