Advice on return travel options please - injured family member in USA

[Deewhy]

Some advice on options to help my folks out please.

Got a call from mum today and she tells me dad is in hospital after breaking both bones in his lower leg skiing and required a metal bar in it. They competed the surgery just now.

Initial discussion with Insurance company ...seems to cover medical but not for return journey (they are 4 days into 3 week trip), unless he needs urgent medical attention at home (which may not be the case, but waiting on advice from dr). However, they obviously want to come home...they'll prob have to forgo any remaining pre-paid options and return flight, but at the moment, the thought of traveling with an incapacitated husband is the last thing she wants.

Im im trying to help out by seeing what options they have. They are both gold QFf, and they flew FJ biz to lax. Anyone experienced in gaining any compassion from FJ in matters like this? Or advice on appealing to QF to free up 2 biz reward flights home for them? They have the points, but I checked and there are no j awards lax-syd for this month.

thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some advice on options to help my folks out please.

Got a call from mum today and she tells me dad is in hospital after breaking both bones in his lower leg skiing and required a metal bar in it. They competed the surgery just now.

Initial discussion with Insurance company ...seems to cover medical but not for return journey (they are 4 days into 3 week trip), unless he needs urgent medical attention at home (which may not be the case, but waiting on advice from dr). However, they obviously want to come home...they'll prob have to forgo any remaining pre-paid options and return flight, but at the moment, the thought of traveling with an incapacitated husband is the last thing she wants.

Im im trying to help out by seeing what options they have. They are both gold QFf, and they flew FJ biz to lax. Anyone experienced in gaining any compassion from FJ in matters like this? Or advice on appealing to QF to free up 2 biz reward flights home for them? They have the points, but I checked and there are no j awards lax-syd for this month.

thanks

If he cannot continue his holiday, insurance should cover should get you a return flight to Australia (although ANZ only seems to cover economy class). A medical certificate is required to say you can't continue, and the insurance company must be consulted as they will only cover you if they consent.

If they don't play ball, or only offer economy, you can look for alternative award seats yourself. I would do this by calling Qantas - they have much better access to search all available routings. There may be something at short notice on Cathay via Hong Kong, or JAL via Tokyo.

 

[Quickstatus]

Some advice on options to help my folks out please.

Got a call from mum today and she tells me dad is in hospital after breaking both bones in his lower leg skiing and required a metal bar in it. They competed the surgery just now.

Initial discussion with Insurance company ...seems to cover medical but not for return journey (they are 4 days into 3 week trip), unless he needs urgent medical attention at home (which may not be the case, but waiting on advice from dr). However, they obviously want to come home...they'll prob have to forgo any remaining pre-paid options and return flight, but at the moment, the thought of traveling with an incapacitated husband is the last thing she wants.

Im im trying to help out by seeing what options they have. They are both gold QFf, and they flew FJ biz to lax. Anyone experienced in gaining any compassion from FJ in matters like this? Or advice on appealing to QF to free up 2 biz reward flights home for them? They have the points, but I checked and there are no j awards lax-syd for this month.

thanks

Award flights from USA to Aust by any route are extremely rare at this time of the year.

However before you go down this route of trying to retime their flights, I would suggest getting advice from the doctor/surgeon in regards to long haul travel after major surgery to both lower limbs. It is natural to want to come home but your mum I think is right - travelling with an incapacitated partner will be very difficult for her and him. I would suggest using their holiday to recuperate and heal. He will need a lot of time for this. Flying long haul and possibly also a domestic leg in the US is difficult enough but doing it so soon after post-op will be even more difficult.

This is what I would do if I were your father.

However as they have flown FJ business class, it may be possible to retime their business class flights with payment of a fee.

But I would stay there if i were him

 

[MEL_Traveller]

However as they have flown FJ business class, it may be possible to retime their business class flights with payment of a fee.

I was unsure whether it was a paid or award FJ business class seat. If it was a paid seat, should be fairly easy to change (with change fees).

 

[Quickstatus]

As with everything medical, the best course of action is what is in the best interest of the patient.

Im not sure if coming home prematurely will do that... But Im not family.........

When my wife has a 1 broken lower leg requiring a long metal rod, leg remained swollen for weeks. It was difficult just getting around on crutches. but both legs out of action...Difficult even if you get assistance at airport. Flying even in business class will worsen swelling. How is he going to get himself to toilet on aircraft etc etc.

Take a bit of time. dont rush home just yet. Seek advice first.

 

[Quickstatus]

If he cannot continue his holiday, insurance should cover should get you a return flight to Australia (although ANZ only seems to cover economy class). A medical certificate is required to say you can't continue, and the insurance company must be consulted as they will only cover you if they consent.

If they don't play ball, or only offer economy, you can look for alternative award seats yourself. I would do this by calling Qantas - they have much better access to search all available routings. There may be something at short notice on Cathay via Hong Kong, or JAL via Tokyo.

I think doing connects wit recent major surgery to one leg is going to be very difficult for them. Ideally if advice is to come home, then a direct flight into home port is preferable...

But yes Cathay does provide an alternative to getting back to OZ

 

[coolkid101]

sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances.
if i may offer my thoughts - quite like what everyone else has said - if your dad has broken both his lower leg bones (sounds like a tib/fib fracture) in 1 leg then he would've either had a IM rod and screws or a T plate and screws. Either way, the post-operative recovery's most important step is mobilisation as soon as possible - with the aid of physio to get the muscles and joints active to prevent wasting. This cannot be done on a lengthy flight. The risk of DVT when on board a flight increases exponentially as well, unless you were taught how to administer anticoagulation twice a day to decrease the risk of this occurring. His surgeon will undoubtedly be the best person to tell him all this, but i cannot imagine him being cleared to fly back from the US this early - at least not till he's at the weightbearing phase of his rehab.

Some advice on options to help my folks out please.

Got a call from mum today and she tells me dad is in hospital after breaking both bones in his lower leg skiing and required a metal bar in it. They competed the surgery just now.

Initial discussion with Insurance company ...seems to cover medical but not for return journey (they are 4 days into 3 week trip), unless he needs urgent medical attention at home (which may not be the case, but waiting on advice from dr). However, they obviously want to come home...they'll prob have to forgo any remaining pre-paid options and return flight, but at the moment, the thought of traveling with an incapacitated husband is the last thing she wants.

Im im trying to help out by seeing what options they have. They are both gold QFf, and they flew FJ biz to lax. Anyone experienced in gaining any compassion from FJ in matters like this? Or advice on appealing to QF to free up 2 biz reward flights home for them? They have the points, but I checked and there are no j awards lax-syd for this month.

thanks

 

[coolkid101]

i hope the OP means both bones in 1 leg (tib/fib) as opposed to a bilateral (both legs) fracture - which would rule any fit person out of action for anywhere up to 4 months

I think doing connects with 2 legs out of action is going to be very difficult for them. Ideally if advice is to come home, then a direct flight into home port is preferable...

But yes Cathay does provide an alternative to getting back to OZ

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think doing connects with 2 legs out of action is going to be very difficult for them. Ideally if advice is to come home, then a direct flight into home port is preferable...

But yes Cathay does provide an alternative to getting back to OZ

Thankfully I think it's one leg!

But I was wondering - is 15 hours in economy non-stop better or worse than 23 hours with a full flat bed? I guess Qantas and Virgin will sell extra seats in economy to solve any economy class issues.

 

[coolkid101]

Thankfully I think it's one leg!

But I was wondering - is 15 hours in economy non-stop better or worse than 23 hours with a full flat bed? I guess Qantas and Virgin will sell extra seats in economy to solve any economy class issues.

a full flat is without question essential if he's going to travel. even then i would imagine he'll need heparin injections around the time of flying and mechanical appliances to decrease risk of DVT (TEDS stockings at the very least).
the risk of a DVT in a recently fractured leg in a sitting position in economy would be huge. his leg needs to be above the level of the heart.
if it was my family i would never let them do that, even if anticoagulation was given during that flight it wouldn't significantly mitigate the risk. i would be really surprised if any orthopod would give clearance to fly so quickly after a fracture requiring internal fixation.

 

[drron]

Actually this would be a great time to have AA miles.AA are only releasing their milesAAver awards now close to the date of flight.However no milesAAver J awards to NRT.But 2 F saaver awards on 8/2 and 9/2 on AA169 from LAX and AA175 and AA61 from DFW.Also 2 on AA175 from ORD on 8/2 and 12/2.cost is 62500 miles each and ~ $US6 in taxes.So do you know family or close friends with aadvantage accounts?

 

[Quickstatus]

a full flat is without question essential if he's going to travel. even then i would imagine he'll need heparin injections around the time of flying and mechanical appliances to decrease risk of DVT (TEDS stockings at the very least).
the risk of a DVT in a recently fractured leg in a sitting position in economy would be huge. his leg needs to be above the level of the heart.
if it was my family i would never let them do that, even if anticoagulation was given during that flight it wouldn't significantly mitigate the risk. i would be really surprised if any orthopod would give clearance to fly so quickly after a fracture requiring internal fixation.

Its not only 15 hours in economy or 23 hours in bizo.

factor in the likely domestic leg (skiing in US/Canada invariably add domestic leg)
travel from hotel to airport
checkin
security
etc etc

repeat if connection(s)

Again decision should be in best interest of patient. traveling in such circumstances may not.

 

[Quickstatus]

i hope the OP means both bones in 1 leg (tib/fib) as opposed to a bilateral (both legs) fracture - which would rule any fit person out of action for anywhere up to 4 months

My error. It does sound like a tib/fib on one leg. Fib fracture is often not an issue. The Tib is though

stay in USA, enjoy the holiday environment, frest mountain air to recuperate. Will be boring but boring at home too.

other benefit of being OS is that you wont have relatives wanting a visit (sticky beak)

 

[Will]

a full flat is without question essential if he's going to travel. even then i would imagine he'll need heparin injections around the time of flying and mechanical appliances to decrease risk of DVT (TEDS stockings at the very least).

Can't use TEDS nor intermittent compression devices on the injured leg. Enoxaparin/ Dalteparin would be (bare minimum) essential if it was me or my family members travelling. If he can't get access to these, then he should not fly, even it means staying put in the US for 6 weeks. I have seen too many people die or be permanently disabled by DVT-PE in the context of broken limbs & long-haul flight.

 

[RooFlyer]

No disrespect meant to your parents, but they may not be in the best state of mind to argue with the insurance company right now. Can you get a look at the policy and see the wording with respect to flying back when its safe to do so?

A lesser important aspect is that the policy may/should cover the re-imbursement of pre-paid accommodation, tours etc foregone. After medical and medi-evac from third world places, this is one of the main features I would have thought any travel insurance policy would have.

 

[vetrade]

Deewhy, might I suggest that there is too much uncertainty / ambiguity about the injury for you to be planning return flights yet. Straight after surgery no sensible surgeon would give you specific advice about when your father would be OK to take a long flight, even if that's on a lie flat seat. My guess is that at this stage you probably haven't even been able to get specific info on where the fractures exactly are, the extent of surrounding soft tissue damage, or what type of implants have been used - unlikely to be anything other than tib/fib but if it's immediately above the ankle or below the knee recovery might be quite different to a "straightforward" mid shaft fracture. These factors can vary the post op approach to his care significantly. Speculation without facts is counterproductive and any plans made now will almost certainly have to be changed.

I would wait until you have clear medical advice.

 

[andye]

I would definitely wait until clear medical guidance for all the DVT/limb swelling/impaired mobility reasons above. Insurance companies are sometimes keen to extricate people relatively quickly from the US medical system because of the fear of high expenses-this should not overrule patients' best interests