Airline Stretcher Services: Ensuring Safe and Comfortable Medical Transfers

Airline stretcher flights are cost-effective for patients who cannot sit in an airline seat during aircraft taxiing, takeoff, and landing. Medical escorts travel with patients to monitor their condition and meet their needs. This service requires coordinating with airlines to remove rows of seats to accommodate the stretcher. It can be complicated for international flights, but an airline stretcher service makes it easy to coordinate medical flights. 

Privacy 

Airline stretcher transport is ideal for patients who require the support of a professional medical team but are too sick or injured to travel safely in a seat and must lie down during the flight. This option is considerably less expensive than chartering a private plane, notably for long flights that cross the ocean. A commercial airline stretcher is installed in the passenger cabin after blocking off a few rows of seats, making it easy for next of kin and medical staff to travel with the patient. Dedicated space is also provided for oxygen bottles, IVs, and other essential equipment. Using an expert commercial airline stretcher service – ensure safe and comfortable medical transport and can save families thousands of dollars versus the cost of air ambulance transport, which is exclusively chartered for the patient and requires airport clearances and documents on a case-by-case basis. However, it’s important to note that airlines have stringent guidelines for allowing stretchers on board. 

Safety 

Airline stretcher flights are an ideal option for patients who require air medical transport but do not need the level of care provided by an air ambulance. This service removes rows of seats from a scheduled commercial airline flight and installs an FAA-approved stretcher. This type of medical aircraft flight can save patients and their families thousands of dollars compared to the cost of an air ambulance. The stretcher flight is accompanied by a medical escort team that monitors the patient’s condition throughout the trip. The medical escorts also help the patient navigate security and boarding procedures at each airport. In addition, they ensure the patient is positioned correctly for comfort and safety during the flight. 

The only drawback is that not all airlines allow stretcher flights.  

Comfort 

Commercial airline stretcher flights are an excellent option for patients who cannot sit up in traditional aircraft seats during the flight. The service removes rows of economy seats and installs an airline stretcher to accommodate the patient’s medical equipment (excluding oxygen tanks). Nonemergency stretcher transport saves patients and their families thousands of dollars compared to private air ambulance transportation costs. A medical team stays with the patient throughout the flight to provide continuous care and comfort. When selecting an airline stretcher service, looking for a company with extensive experience is essential. Check how many years the company has been in business and their track record of successful medical transports. The experienced physicians and nurses will customize the treatment plan based on the patient’s condition. The patient will be comfortable throughout the flight, with room for a reclined position and a privacy curtain to separate them from other passengers. 

Reliability 

Airline stretcher services are the safest and most affordable way to transport a bed-bound patient across international borders. They allow families to save tens of thousands of dollars over the cost of an air ambulance repatriation. This service enables stable patients who cannot travel in regular airplane seats to fly on a commercial airline flight, where they are placed in a medically modified plane and separated from other passengers by a curtain. The airline removes a block of seats to accommodate the stretcher and all required medical equipment so the passenger can remain on a stretcher during the entire flight. Medical repatriation companies can help plan an airline stretcher flight and coordinate all the details, including airport security clearance, customs and immigration arrangements, boarding, deplaning, and ground transportation. They can also assess whether a patient meets the eligibility requirements, such as body weight and isolation restrictions, to be eligible for this alternative medevac solution.