Medical escort on a scheduled flight
When a patient can travel as a passenger on an airline but needs care, monitoring or reassurance on the way, a doctor or a nurse from our team travels with them, from the hospital to the receiving hospital.
What a medical escort is
A medical escort is a healthcare professional who accompanies a patient on a scheduled flight. The patient travels seated in the cabin; the escort sits next to them, monitors them, gives the care planned with the treating doctor and handles the formalities at each airport.
Airline medical forms are clear on this point: cabin crew give first aid, not nursing care. Some airlines also state on their medical forms that family members are not accepted as medical escorts. When a patient needs care during the flight, a qualified escort is the answer.
When a medical escort may be enough
A stable patient
The patient can sit for the whole flight, including take-off and landing, but should not travel alone.
Care on the way
Medication to give, oxygen to monitor, or a dressing to check during a long journey.
Connections and airports
A patient who needs help through check-in, security, transfers and arrival formalities.
These are general situations. The decision belongs to our medical team with the treating doctor, and the airline’s medical service must accept the patient.
The airline’s approval
For a patient travelling for medical reasons, airlines ask for medical clearance before the flight, usually through a MEDIF form completed in part by the treating doctor. Oxygen and medical devices also need the airline’s prior approval. IATA recommends requesting special assistance at least 48 hours before departure, and each airline sets its own deadlines.
The cabin of an airliner is pressurised to an altitude equivalent of about 2,400 metres, as airline medical forms point out: this is one of the elements the doctors take into account. Our guide to MEDIF and fit-to-fly documents explains the paperwork.
Our escorts
[Composition of the escort team: doctors, nurses, specialities, languages spoken, training in aeromedical transport.] The escort is chosen according to the care the patient needs during the journey.
We book the seats for the patient and the escort, prepare the airline’s medical clearance with the treating doctor, and arrange the ground ambulances or transfers at both ends: [to be confirmed by the company: own vehicles or partner ambulance services].
Cost
A medical escort on a scheduled flight usually costs less than an air ambulance, because no aircraft is chartered. The quote includes the patient’s ticket, the escort’s tickets and return journey, the medical fees and the transfers. See our page on medical repatriation costs.
Questions about medical escorts
Can the patient lie down during the flight?
Not in a standard seat. If the patient must lie down, the options are a stretcher on a scheduled flight, when the airline offers it, or an air ambulance. See our guide air ambulance or stretcher.
Can a relative travel too?
Yes, a relative can usually travel on the same flight with their own ticket. They do not replace the medical escort.
What if the airline refuses the patient?
The airline’s medical service has the final say on its flights. If it refuses, we discuss the other options with the treating doctor, such as an air ambulance.
Do you escort patients on connecting flights?
Yes, but each airline and each flight on the itinerary must accept the patient, so a direct flight is usually simpler.
A patient to escort?
Send us the departure, the destination, the desired date and the patient’s condition in a few words. We reply with a written quote.