Hippest Woman in Seattle

March 23, 2009 7:04 PM

Help me fly to Belgium for surgery next month:

I'm scheduled for hip surgery in Ghent on the 29th of April, and I have no idea how to schedule my flight. My leave and return dates are flexible, and I plan to go a few days before surgery to do some sightseeing (my first trip to Europe!), but I'm very, very worried about leg room after the surgery.

Business class tickets from Seattle are looking to be $4000 round trip, which I can't afford, nor can I borrow. Coach is around $670 (Continental Airlines) and up. The money I have to spend on a ticket is around $1500. I've heard there's a possibility of buying an upgrade the day of the flight for something that approaches my total budget, but I don't know if this is a rumor, or if not, what the chances are of space being available to purchase an upgrade.

I'm using ITA software to check prices. Should I call an airline directly to buy a ticket? Should I suck it up, and ask the doc for more painkillers for the flight back in coach? Should I find a travel agent? I've never flown internationally, so I have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm nervous as hell.

I'm so very excited about finally having surgery and about going to Europe and seeing Ghent. Help me get there safely, and get back as comfortably as I can after surgery.

posted by tejolote to Travel & Transportation (8 answers total)

yes, call the airline. you probably won't be able to get a exit row seat if you have limited mobility, but they may be able to upgrade you for your return flight at a reduced cost if you have a note from your doctor. i don't know if this is the case, but it never hurts to ask.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:11 PM on March 23, 2009

Also don't forget the "premium economy" mid-range option on some transatlantic routes. Legroom can be almost as good as business class, depending on the airline.

(And while you should definitely try to sort this out in advance, if you totally fail and end up with a returning seat in coach, don't hesitate to explain your situation to the check-in staff, who are accustomed to receiving upgrade request for far more questionable reasons.)
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 7:17 PM on March 23, 2009

Continental (and other airlines) will allow you to purchase first-class upgrades with miles. See here. If you don't have the miles, you can purchase them -- this seems like a clever way (read the whole thread). In general, if you post your question on the FlyerTalk Forums, you'll get tips from the pros.
posted by ori at 7:24 PM on March 23, 2009

If you do end up in economy on the way back, make sure you have crutches or some other obvious medical device, produce a doctor's note, and ask for bulkhead seating. That gives you similar legroom to the exit row, but isn't an exit row. The only downside is that bulkhead seats are often used for families with babies, so you might have some crying neighbours.
posted by Joh at 8:57 PM on March 23, 2009

Ghent's only 2:45 from Amsterdam Schipol Airport on the train, if that would make things cheaper than flying to Brussels.
posted by mdonley at 1:36 AM on March 24, 2009

Just a thought: How would things be different if you arrive at the gate in a wheel chair? (I really don't know what they do for that). It sounds within reason, if you've had hip surgery. Also, what do your doctors say about the travel?
posted by Goofyy at 6:21 AM on March 24, 2009

I can't help with information about upgrades, but if it's cheaper to fly to Paris, the TGV from the airport to Brussels is only 1.5-2 hours, and then it's about another half hour to Gent. Air France will even sell you a ticket that includes the train journey (use airport code ZYR for your destination).
posted by eendje at 12:21 PM on March 24, 2009

Thanks for the great ideas and encouragement guys!

I'll be requesting a wheelchair and luggage assistance at the airport since I'll be there alone, and I will be on elbow crutches, so hopefully getting through the airport will be smooth.

I'll drop a note in here after I get back in early May to let you know how it went, and also to post a link to pictures (er, of what I see before the surgery, naturally).
posted by tejolote at 2:25 PM on March 25, 2009