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Flights and travel for patients: dates matched to the clinic's schedule, airline clearance and airport assistance

A patient's ticket is not an ordinary booking: the date has to fit the clinic's schedule, the fare has to survive a change, and a wheelchair, oxygen or an extra seat must be confirmed by the airline before the flight. We plan the whole route on scheduled flights: the ticket, the airline's medical form, assistance at both airports, a hotel near the clinic and transfers. If the patient's condition does not allow an ordinary flight, we tell you before booking.

  • A fare that survives a date changeThe doctor decides the return day on site, and the ticket must allow for that

  • Airline medical clearanceMEDIF, wheelchair, oxygen device and extra seat agreed before the flight

  • Door-to-door routeTbilisi airport, transfers and accommodation near the clinic

Get a travel plan for your dates

Tell us the city, when the clinic expects you and what help the patient needs on the way. We will send you options with prices and change conditions.

Drawing up the route commits you to nothing before the ticket is bought; the airline fare and our fee are shown separately.

In short: what to know before the patient flies

  • We buy the ticket only after the clinic has confirmed the admission date in writing, and we book the return on a fare that allows a date change.
  • If the patient needs a wheelchair, oxygen, a stretcher or a medical escort, the airline asks in advance for a medical form (MEDIF), part of which is completed by the treating doctor.
  • Only the treating doctor decides when the patient can fly after surgery; the airline relies on the doctor's written opinion, not on a general table.
  • Medicines and syringes go in hand luggage, in their original packaging, with a doctor's letter translated into English or the language of the destination country.
  • Ordinary travel insurance generally does not cover planned treatment, so we read the policy terms together before you buy.
  • If the doctor says a scheduled flight is dangerous for the patient, we do not buy an ordinary ticket and look into medical transfer options instead.

How do we choose dates and fares when the clinic's schedule may change?

The most expensive mistake in a treatment trip is a ticket bought too early or on too rigid a fare. Here are the four rules we work by.

  1. A date only with the clinic's letter

    We do not buy a ticket on a verbal promise that "you can come". We wait for a letter stating the admission day, the time and the first step: a consultation, tests or hospital admission. We plan arrival for the day before, so that a flight delay does not derail the appointment.

  2. A return with the right to change

    The clinic's plan gives an estimated length of stay, but the doctor sets the discharge day on site. So we either book the return flight on a flexible fare or split the trip into two one-way tickets and book the return later, depending on which works out cheaper on the route in question.

  3. Refundable or non-refundable fare

    A cheap non-refundable ticket makes sense when the treatment date is firm and the patient is stable. When the risk of postponement is real, we compare the price of a flexible fare with the change fee on a rigid fare and show you both figures side by side.

  4. A direct flight beats a connection

    For a patient, every connection means another wheelchair transfer, the risk of a tight connection and a chance of lost luggage, and the luggage may contain medicines. If a connection cannot be avoided, we leave more time for it than the booking system suggests.

The ticket price is set by the airline and we show it to you unchanged; our fee is a separate line. If the clinic has not yet been chosen, choosing the clinic and doctor has to be completed first: that is where the date comes from.

When does an airline require medical clearance, and what is MEDIF?

MEDIF (Medical Information Form) is the airlines' standard medical form. The airline's medical department reviews it and decides whether the patient can fly on a scheduled flight and on what conditions.

The form has two parts. The first is completed by the passenger or their representative: the flight, the assistance needed, the accompanying person. The second is completed by the treating doctor: the diagnosis, the current condition, the need for oxygen and an opinion that flying is safe. An airline usually requires clearance when the patient has recently been discharged from hospital or has had surgery, needs oxygen or a medical device in flight, travels on a stretcher or with an extra seat, or when their condition may worsen during the flight.

Each airline has its own version of the form and its own submission deadline. So we request the form for the specific flight, prepare the English version for the doctor, and either hold off on the ticket until the airline replies or buy it on condition that the money is refunded if clearance is refused.

Code What it means What we ask you before booking
WCHR The passenger walks and can climb stairs, but needs a wheelchair for long distances in the terminal How long they can walk without a rest
WCHS Cannot climb stairs, needs a lift or ambulift to board, can take a few steps in the cabin Whether they have their own wheelchair, its size and battery type
WCHC Fully immobile, taken to the seat in a narrow aisle wheelchair Who will help with eating and the toilet in flight
STCR A stretcher in the cabin, in place of several seats The doctor's opinion and the medical escort's details
MEDA A medical case assessed by the airline's doctor The treating doctor's contact details and the diagnosis in English

The codes follow the IATA standard and most airlines use them, although each airline sets the scope of the service and the advance notice period by its own rules.

Wheelchair, extra seat, stretcher and oxygen: what is possible on a scheduled flight

The four requests most often added to a patient's booking, and the practical conditions for each.

  • Your own wheelchair

    Airlines usually carry mobility aids at no extra charge, but the battery type and capacity of an electric wheelchair must be declared in advance. The patient stays in their own wheelchair up to the aircraft door, and on landing the wheelchair is returned at the door if this was requested in the booking.

  • Extra seat

    When a leg must be kept extended, a limb is in a cast or the patient does not fit in one seat, a second seat is bought in the same passenger's name. Sometimes business class is more sensible than two economy seats; we compare both options by price.

  • A stretcher on a regular flight

    Some airlines install a stretcher in the cabin in place of several seats. This is not available on every route or every aircraft, it requires a medical escort and a great deal of advance arrangement. We explain this format and travel with a doctor on the medical flight page.

  • Portable oxygen concentrator

    Your own oxygen cylinder is generally not allowed in the cabin, or only with special permission. Instead, most airlines accept a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) of a model they have approved, with a doctor's statement on the flow rate and batteries that cover the whole flight and a possible delay.

How should medicines and syringes be carried, and when can the patient fly after surgery?

Every medicine the patient needs on the way or in the first days after arrival goes in hand luggage. A checked suitcase can be lost or arrive on another flight, whereas in the cabin the medicine is always to hand.

  • In the original packaging. A box or blister pack with the pharmacy label; unlabelled or repacked tablets raise questions at security and at the border.
  • With a doctor's letter. The international name of the medicine, the dose and the reason, in English or the language of the destination country. We prepare this document through our translation of prescriptions.
  • Liquids and injections. Liquid medicine needed during the flight may exceed the usual liquids limit if you present it separately at security. Syringes and needles are allowed in hand luggage by most airlines and airports when the medical need is documented.
  • Cooling. Insulin and some biological medicines travel in a cool bag with an ice pack; do not count on a fridge on board.
  • Controlled medicines. Narcotic and some psychotropic medicines are subject to a separate permit or quantity limit in many countries. We check them in advance against the rules of the destination country.

We do not set the date for flying home after surgery, nor will we give you a general figure, because it depends on the type of procedure, any complications and the patient's condition. In flight the cabin pressure is low, the air is dry, and sitting for a long time increases the risk of blood clots. After some procedures, for example when gas remains in the eye or a body cavity, flying is not allowed until the doctor confirms otherwise. Airlines have their own medical guidelines, but the deciding factor is the treating doctor's written opinion, which we request at discharge and send to the airline.

The rest of the route: airport, transfer, accommodation, companion and insurance

The ticket is only part of the route. Below is what we arrange with every booking, so that the family does not have to look for anything on arrival.

  1. Assistance at Tbilisi airport

    We request assistance from the entrance to the aircraft through the airline, as soon as the ticket is bought. A staff member meets the patient with a wheelchair, takes them through check-in and security and accompanies them to the aircraft, while the companion stays alongside. The airline sets the deadline for the request, so we do not leave it to the last day.

  2. Arrival airport and transfer

    The same assistance is requested at the destination airport, and a driver waits at the exit. We choose the vehicle according to mobility: a saloon car, a wheelchair-accessible minivan or a patient transport vehicle. If the clinic's international department offers its own transfer free or cheaply, we use it.

  3. A hotel near the clinic

    We look for accommodation within walking distance or a few minutes' drive of the clinic, with a lift and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom where needed. For long treatment, an apartment with a kitchen is often both cheaper and more convenient. The booking is made with a cancellation option, because hospital stay dates change.

  4. Companion

    We book the companion's ticket in the same reservation, so that the seats are next to each other and any flight change applies to both. If the patient cannot look after themselves in flight (eating, the toilet, moving during an evacuation), the airline makes a companion mandatory, because cabin crew do not perform this role.

  5. Insurance

    A travel policy covers unexpected events on the trip, but generally excludes planned treatment and complications of a pre-existing condition. We read the terms and tell you what it actually covers: flight cancellation, luggage, the companion's medical costs. If the clinic offers a special policy for treatment complications, we check its terms too.

When a child travels for treatment with one parent, the destination country, the transit airport or the airline may require the other parent's notarised consent and a birth certificate naming both parents. You must have both documents in English or the language of the destination country, so we start the translation of the birth certificate and parental consent as soon as the ticket is bought. This is especially important when the child and the accompanying parent have different surnames.

If the destination country requires a visa for Georgian citizens, or the treatment will last more than 90 days, the medical visa question must be settled before the ticket. We describe the full journey, from choosing the clinic to coming home, on the treatment abroad page.

Frequently asked questions about the patient's flight

When should I buy a ticket if the clinic has not yet confirmed the date?

Not until you have the date in writing. A verbal answer from the clinic coordinator, or an email saying "probably next week", is not yet a plan. Fares may rise slightly after confirmation, but that is far cheaper than losing a non-refundable ticket or paying a change fee twice. In an emergency, when the clinic is admitting the patient within the next few days, we buy the ticket on the day the admission letter arrives, and even then we show you the price in advance.

What is MEDIF and who fills it in?

MEDIF is the airline's medical information form, on the basis of which the airline's medical department decides whether the patient is fit to fly. The first part is completed by the passenger or their representative, the second by the treating doctor, who states the diagnosis, the current condition and an opinion on whether flying is safe. Not every patient needs the form: it is required when oxygen, a stretcher, a medical device or an escort is needed in flight, or when you fly soon after surgery. We prepare the form for the specific airline and send the doctor the English text.

How many days after surgery can the patient fly home?

There is no universal figure for this, and we do not give one. The timing depends on the type of procedure, the anaesthesia, any complications, the risk of blood clots and whether any gas remains in the body. In some cases the patient flies within a few days, in others the doctor asks for weeks. The treating doctor makes the decision and puts it in writing, and the airline relies on that opinion. That is exactly why we book the return with a flexible date and ask the doctor about the flight date before discharge.

Can injectable medicines and syringes be carried in hand luggage?

With most airlines and airports, yes, provided the medical need is documented. Carry a doctor's letter or prescription stating the medicine, the dose and the reason, in English or in the language of the destination country. Present liquid medicines and solutions separately at security and tell the officer in advance that you are carrying medicine. A medicine that must be refrigerated needs a cool bag. For narcotic and some psychotropic medicines the destination country may require a separate permit; we check this before the flight. Such checks take time, so arrive at the airport earlier than usual.

Does the patient have to travel with a companion?

If the patient cannot look after themselves in flight, for example cannot eat, cannot go to the toilet unaided or cannot move during an emergency evacuation, the airline makes a companion mandatory. Cabin crew do not provide personal care. Otherwise a companion is not formally required, but in practice we almost always recommend one: after surgery, managing a suitcase, documents and getting around is hard for one person. We book the companion's ticket in the same reservation so that the seats are next to each other. A family member can take this role, provided they are physically able to help the patient.

Does travel insurance cover treatment abroad?

An ordinary travel policy generally does not cover planned treatment: it is meant for unexpected illness or injury while travelling, and pre-existing conditions and their complications are often listed as exclusions. Even so, a policy is useful: it may cover flight cancellation, lost luggage and the companion's medical costs. Before you buy, we read the terms together and tell you what is actually covered. Plan the cost of treatment on the clinic's cost estimate, not on the hope of insurance. The application must state the truth about the diagnosis, otherwise the insurer may refuse to pay.

The clinic gives you the date, we arrange the rest

Send us the clinic's letter and tell us how the patient gets around. You will receive flight, hotel and transfer options with prices and change conditions.

Get a travel plan

The patient's flight: dates, clearance, airport.

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