Cheetah7

I was very excited about my old Dad coming out for his first visit to Australia in 3 weeks time, I havent seen him since I left the UK 3 years ago and he had been saving up for his ticket which he finally booked a while back.

For ages/years he has been getting missed heartbeats/irregular heart beats and ECGs have shown nothing really but he has just seen a new cardiac specialist who had him wired up for 24 hours or whatever and he went back today for the results.

Basically his heart is all over the place and the specialist has forbidden him to fly in 3 weeks time. Seeing how distressed my dad was, he organised an angiogram for Tuesday and said if it can be fixed as in if its a blockage, they will do it then and there and he will do his level best to fix Dad so he can fly but until they know what they are dealing with, he cant allow him to fly.

'Its terrible news, I will lose my money as my heart has been investigated before the insurance wont cover it' Dad said and I could tell by his voice he was crying/trying not to cry.

I told him that he might be able to change the ticket for a smaller fee which is better than losing his money and I can change my holiday as well and the main thing is, that this was discovered now, in his home town and not on the plane where little help is available and things can go wrong.

I tried to stay positive for him but I want to cry, I havent got the money to fly back to the UK and I am scared I am not going to see him again and I am upset for him, he was so excited - he made lists for what he would bring, was super organised and already counting down the days each time he phoned me.

Its not fair, and suddenly I am feeling very scared and re-living all the horrible shitty feelings you get when you think you might lose someone, just like I did with my Mum.

Bugger.

Poppy girl

Maybe his initial health insurance won't cover the lose but what about the airlines they will normally refund or credit you at least.

Cheetah7

I book flights for our lads to get on/off the rig so I will talk to our travel agent and see the best way to approach it.

I want my Dad.

Poppy girl

Bit or rather extremely over the top but!!

http://www.seat61.com/Australia-overland.htm maybe you can get lower rates!! Just a thought and sorry to hear the news mate

Cheetah7

Dont think Dad would go for that. I just have a feeling he wont be coming, I couldnt wait for him to come and I could show him our house and everything

Poppy girl

He might still make it you are in a panic and upset right now wait and see what the agent has to say and you could use the refund from your dads ticket if it works out, to fly to the UK better then not seeing him at all!! after all you do have the 3 weeks booked off already.


I want my mum now I really need to get my ass back to the UK.

Cheetah7

I want to turn the clock back 3 years on 5th March, when I said goodbye to him at the tube station, and I didnt do it 'properly'.

Bugger, this is crap Popply girl, total crap.

Poppy girl

OMG!! 3 years the time has flown by .....Good luck today with your investigations

sasbear

Oh PP - try to be strong - so hard I know. Things look bad now but wait and see. Hopefully they let him change the dates for a month later or soemthing???

The expense of flying back is a big thing for a lot of us here - and we never realise how much we will want to go back and visit family until we are at the other end of the world.

Thinking of you and saying a big fat prayer for your dad
xx

Kapri

It must be a real blow for you both

I hope he is sorted out soon hon and that you manage to have your holiday together xx

smiling4

(((HUGS))) for u n ur dad PP - hope things sort out soon! Here's to positive results on Tuesday!

Ems x

Kooky.

OK PP let's look at the options. Sod they insurance company; they don't care.

Your Dad rings the TA or airline and explains the issue, gets his ticket changed to a future date, with the understanding he will have to change the dates again when things settle down.

You ring them for him, explain the situation, ask for help politely but don't get off the phone 'til you have a satisfactory solution; IME a lot of older people don't like to challenge authority and just accept what they are told.

You ring them and see if you can change the flights to some for yourself to go be with him at this time. If you must, you can pay him back over time, but I'm sure he'd rather just have you there.

You get Dad's flights put on hold, as above, and stick some for yourself on a credit card. Or get a loan. You need to be there as much as he'd like you to be.

Sorry to be a drama queen but if I hadn't spent 7 days and shitloads of money getting to my Mum in hospital last year, I wouldn't have coped with not being there when she died a few months later (and, sod's law, I was actually only a few hundred miles away).

koalakim

Sorry to hear your news PP.

As the others have said I would explain to the airline the situation and get the flights pushed back or get a refund. Sometimes depending on the ticket you can't do a cancellation but they may be willing for a charge to alter the dates. If you can get the ticket refunded then maybe you can go and visit him.

Might be best to ask the question with the airlines so you have the info so that you can make a decision once he's had the tests.

Again it might be best if you can call as it's not easy dealing with airline call centers, did he book direct or with a travel agent? If with a travel agent then get them on to it.

Hopefully the doc will get him sorted out and then you can be together one way or another.

Juliecabs

Really sorry to hear this Sam. Big (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))).

As far as the insurance company goes, did your Dad declare to them, when he booked the insurance, that he had had heart problems? If this is the case, then ring the insurance company and explain the situation. They will check to see if his condition was declared. If this was the case, they will send him a claim form which he will have to fill in and return together with a stat dec from his GP stating what sort of treatment he was having, how long he had had the problem and whether any further investigations were needed. If they are satisfied with the answers then they will usually cover him.

It's worth a try Sam.

Stay strong for the both of you.

Julie. x

Cheetah7

Thanks everyone, he didnt book with an agent, he booked with Singapore Airlines directly.

I shall see what they find on Tuesday I guess and take it from there. All this bollocks about 'only being 24 hours away', my god has this never been further from the truth.

I shall speak to our agents at work today to see what suggestions they have and next week I can contact SIA if need be. Then I guess if he cant fly, I will see what I can do to get there.