Question for you world travelers
My Dad last week was in France on a cruise ship when he had chest pains. The ship was in port and my Dad was transported to a hospital where he was checked out. They wanted to keep him in the hospital and were talking about surgery. Dad was feeling much better and told them he had a cardiologist in California and would see him as soon as he arrived back in the U.S. To make a long story short he was denied rejoining the ship cause he had "refused treatment". After seeing any further argument with the cruise line was useless he and my step mom made their way to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and were denied a flight home for the same reason.<p> My old man and step mom are both pretty savvy people and have done a lot of traveling so I'm sure they exhausted every means. Anyway he chartered a Bombardier 6500 jet to fly him and my step mom to San Diego. That cost what a small house costs here.<p> Has anyone ever heard of someone being refused a flight home due to heart problems?
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I'm sure it's from a lawyer, and denying resposibility if anything were to happen to him. It's a new world now, not like when we were kids, back in the dark ages. [:)] 0 -
Interesting mainly because how did the airlines know their was a prior problem? Passport check? That would have taken something like a "terrorist alert" on the passport scan. Not likely but maybe.
The airlines have the right to refuse a flight to any individual. Mainly cost, a minimum of $15,000 to $800,000 if something happens during the flight.
Traveled a lot during the last 50 years and had learned an individual needs medical insurance that covers the costs incurred outside the U.S. I wouldn't be overseas w/o insurance. When working was covered by the companies.
Heart problems, overseas? Not a good. I'd ask if I'd die within the next 36 hours and if not, I'd head for the U.S. and my doctors. Even with local insurance.
Medical flights back to U.S. were w/o a doubt $50,000 dollars 15 years ago. Price sounds inline with what your parents paid.
The more I think about it, this seems like a "racket" where you are a prisoner, waiting to die, in a foreign country,, SUCKS>[:(!]0 -
I am not a lawyer, but think it is called a "contract for carriage"- and the carrier can decline for about any reason.
Case in point- have seen a passenger denied boarding on an aircraft due to extreme bad body odor. BTW- problem your Dad encountered is why there is a thing called medical emergency transport insurance. It pays to charter that aerial ambulance.0 -
Jeez I guess the plane could cause issues and they just err on the side of caution. I hope the cruise line finds it in their best interest to give him two more tickets for a future sail.
Ros0 -
If you read the contract that the airlines and ships have, it does specifically state that they can refuse service if you are "in their opinion" not healthy enough to travel.
The companies have been given very broad discretion using "for the safety of the other passangers".
Unfortunely most people see the long contract or just check the box if buying on line and never read the conditions you agree to when making the purchase.
We will be leaving for Germany for a river cruise in November, we always buy the trip insurance, for medical only, just for this reason.0 -
Ricci I have been a world traveler and I have never had a beef. That said I was flying under a DoS, JFKSWC or USASOC orders.
I had a guy who had nose bleeds at High Altitude. He went to the hospital got stabilized and sent home. No problems.
Not sure about a Cruise, I don't do them but I think I would have gone the other way into Eastern Europe to get home. Think Croatia and Serbia, They are less likely to mess with you than France.
Sorry to hear your Dad was messed with and I hope he OK.0 -
What was the name of the travel company? 0 -
That exact scenario is one of the reasons I choose not to travel outside of the USA. We are getting older; things go wrong and you are mostly screwed if overseas. 0 -
What was the name of the travel company? 0 -
I don?t know who he booked the trip with. 0 -
I think my 1st stop would have been to the US Embassy in this scenario. 0 -
Same reason Obama was born overseas and got a BC when they came home Mom was too ill to fly.
I would have at least had to try US consulate?
Glad he made it home and can get checked out here.0 -
I think it was a mater of Dad being sick and wanting to return to the good old USA asap. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Ricci Wright
I think it was a mater of Dad being sick and wanting to return to the good old USA asap.
I can understand that. With my condition, I have determined that if overseas and experience a significant problem, it would probably be best to return home for any re-plumbing rather than take my chances overseas.0
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