My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Feb 16th 2007, 1:46 am
#16
spuggy
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Yellow Springs, Ohio
Posts: 145
Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Wish I could offer some advice, just want to say I am sorry and hope you are able to find a flight soon.
Feb 16th 2007, 3:30 am
#17
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Location: Western Chicagoland's Fox River Valley
Posts: 78
Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
I'm so sorry and understand how important and upsetting this is for you.
We recently had to fly urgently back to England for my Father in Law's funeral.
My husband was already in England ahead of us, and I flew out with my boys.
We flew out on United and got a compassionate fare of $469 round trip, Chicago O'Hare to London Heathrow. We had a seven week advance purchase; my husband did not and his fare on American was $629 to fly out on the same day as purchased.
We went out on Jan. 31 and returned Tues. Feb. 6. I don't know if that has changed much by now.
They will ask you for information from the hospital/doctor/undertakers. While this may seem unusual to you, it's a standard request here since people are spread out across the country and this is common for people to have to fly last night under such circumstances.
Good luck.
We recently had to fly urgently back to England for my Father in Law's funeral.
My husband was already in England ahead of us, and I flew out with my boys.
We flew out on United and got a compassionate fare of $469 round trip, Chicago O'Hare to London Heathrow. We had a seven week advance purchase; my husband did not and his fare on American was $629 to fly out on the same day as purchased.
We went out on Jan. 31 and returned Tues. Feb. 6. I don't know if that has changed much by now.
They will ask you for information from the hospital/doctor/undertakers. While this may seem unusual to you, it's a standard request here since people are spread out across the country and this is common for people to have to fly last night under such circumstances.
Good luck.
Feb 16th 2007, 1:14 pm
#18
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Andover, MA
Posts: 250
Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
I'd second the advice about having a quick look for ordinary cheap tickets. We were in a similar situation and wanted the first flight we could find. Most tickets were $2000+ but for some reason Virgin had seats at a good price that could be booked online. Easier than going through a long explanation with details at a difficult time. If you can't find a cheap ticket, compassionate fares are definitely a good idea, but not always necessary.
All the best...
All the best...
Feb 16th 2007, 1:27 pm
#19
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
My mother has been ill and has been in hospital for the past five weeks, I spoke with my sister tonight and she has told me that my mother is dying .. the prognosis is not good ... doctors have said that they wouldnt give her life support ... Im sorry .. Im very emotional .. my mother's body is failing her and I HAVE TO GET BACK ... I hvae to see her. She is asking for me .. Oh please can anyone tell me what "compassion?? flights are ??? Funds are low .. please can anyone point me in the right direction??
Best Wishes!!
Feb 16th 2007, 2:19 pm
#20
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Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
I had exactly the same situation - we called BA and explained the circumstances, they gave us a compassionate rate of half that advertised
Feb 16th 2007, 2:56 pm
#21
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Mine said compassionate I am starting to wonder what the real price would of been? I paid O'Hare to Norwich rtn $1004 booked and flew the same day.
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:06 pm
#22
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
My mother has been ill and has been in hospital for the past five weeks, I spoke with my sister tonight and she has told me that my mother is dying .. the prognosis is not good ... doctors have said that they wouldnt give her life support ... Im sorry .. Im very emotional .. my mother's body is failing her and I HAVE TO GET BACK ... I hvae to see her. She is asking for me .. Oh please can anyone tell me what "compassion?? flights are ??? Funds are low .. please can anyone point me in the right direction??
I managed to get a flight with BA after racing to Atlanta airport on Friday 16.
This was surely the worse flight I'd ever had but the cost for myself and my daughter was $1,800 (I"ll double check that later as I only arrived back last night and I'm completely shattered). My mother had planned in advance that I should get enough money for the flight and this was already in place - apparently from when I left the UK in 2004.
After racing from Gatwick to Llanelli Hospital, Wales - I arrived to be told that my mother had died one minute before my arrival.
I'm in pieces ... emotionally torn apart. Trying very hard to carry on - well I know I have to. I feel so guilty that I didn't arrive in time ..
Anyway I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies etc.
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:10 pm
#23
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
So sorry to hear your news 
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:12 pm
#24
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
I'm so sorry to hear this Lara.......sending you 
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:22 pm
#25
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Very sorry to hear this news Lara.
Don't feel guilty, you did whatever was humanly possible to be there and your mum knew you were coming.
Peace to you and your family.
Don't feel guilty, you did whatever was humanly possible to be there and your mum knew you were coming.
Peace to you and your family.
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:29 pm
#26
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Oh god I'm so very sorry. My mum died last year while I was pregnant and I never got back to see her and couldn't even go to her funeral. Try not to feel guilty, you tried your very best to get back in time. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Mar 2nd 2007, 10:35 pm
#27
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Thank you everyone for your very fast replies.
I managed to get a flight with BA after racing to Atlanta airport on Friday 16.
This was surely the worse flight I'd ever had but the cost for myself and my daughter was $1,800 (I"ll double check that later as I only arrived back last night and I'm completely shattered). My mother had planned in advance that I should get enough money for the flight and this was already in place - apparently from when I left the UK in 2004.
After racing from Gatwick to Llanelli Hospital, Wales - I arrived to be told that my mother had died one minute before my arrival.
I'm in pieces ... emotionally torn apart. Trying very hard to carry on - well I know I have to. I feel so guilty that I didn't arrive in time ..
Anyway I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies etc.
I managed to get a flight with BA after racing to Atlanta airport on Friday 16.
This was surely the worse flight I'd ever had but the cost for myself and my daughter was $1,800 (I"ll double check that later as I only arrived back last night and I'm completely shattered). My mother had planned in advance that I should get enough money for the flight and this was already in place - apparently from when I left the UK in 2004.
After racing from Gatwick to Llanelli Hospital, Wales - I arrived to be told that my mother had died one minute before my arrival.
I'm in pieces ... emotionally torn apart. Trying very hard to carry on - well I know I have to. I feel so guilty that I didn't arrive in time ..
Anyway I just wanted to thank everyone for their replies etc.
so very sorry to hear about your mum however please don't feel guilty for a second ....i sat with my beloved Mum at the end and the minute i left to go to the loo she passed over and i too felt ever so guilty. however the nurse said in her experience the loved ones choose to leave us while no-one is in the room. take care.
Mar 2nd 2007, 11:19 pm
#28
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Reno Nevada
Posts: 15,917
Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Oh Sweetie I am so very very sorry to hear your news as I know only too well what you are going through.
Chin up and I hope that you can move on slowly and peacefully with your life,you did everything that you could and she knows that I am sure.
Chin up and I hope that you can move on slowly and peacefully with your life,you did everything that you could and she knows that I am sure.
Mar 3rd 2007, 2:56 am
#29
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
My mother has been ill and has been in hospital for the past five weeks, I spoke with my sister tonight and she has told me that my mother is dying .. the prognosis is not good ... doctors have said that they wouldnt give her life support ... Im sorry .. Im very emotional .. my mother's body is failing her and I HAVE TO GET BACK ... I hvae to see her. She is asking for me .. Oh please can anyone tell me what "compassion?? flights are ??? Funds are low .. please can anyone point me in the right direction??
I went through the same thing at Christmas. We tried every airline and the only one that had compasionate flights was Virgin Atlantic. They were exceptionaly helpfull. They told us to find the cheapest flight on their web site and they would then discount it if we called them with the details. We had to book a return date but they said we could change the date without any extra charge with just a phone call, they stuck to their word because we changed flights at no extra cost. Besides this they treated us like royalty both ways.
Call the British offices and ask for help........ The number is on the web site.
I wish you the best of luck and hope this info is of help.
Mar 3rd 2007, 3:38 am
#30
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Re: My mother is dying and I need URGENT advice
Thanks Dolly,
Stupid thoughtless me ........... I should have read the whole thread first.
I noticed the cost was rather excesive ! Virgin charged $1200 for 4 of us.
Sorry Lara
Stupid thoughtless me ........... I should have read the whole thread first.
I noticed the cost was rather excesive ! Virgin charged $1200 for 4 of us.
Sorry Lara