Question:
Airlines & Surgery...How did you approach purchasing your tix?

Ok...I thought that I'd come to you all to get your opinion on which avenue I should take when purchasing airline tickets to Spain for surgery. What I was wondering is if you all thought it would be better booking through a travel agent so that notations can be made as to needing exta assistance due to size issues and being post-op on the way home or if you would still just purchase your tickets off the internet since you can find some better deals. But I also dont want to have problems with being forced to purchase a second seat due to being a SSBBW. When I went over to Spain 2 years ago, I booked through a travel agent. On that trip I didnt receive any extra help that I didnt normally get when traveling, especially in the airports. I know that I will definately be needing extra assistance especially in the airports this time getting a ride and such to and from my gates. I was left stranded in Amsterdam by the airline last time to walk the airport myself (which is huge). If it wasnt for a kind clerk at the information desk continually paging someone to come get me, I probably would of had a heart attack and died right there on the floor for all to see. She had seen me gasping for air and stopping about every five feet to squat from the pain in my back. What was your experience in traveling pre & post op? I would especially like to hear from those 400 plus on this issue. Thanks.    — ImANewDee (posted on January 4, 2003)

January 4, 2003
I work as a travel agent. You don't say when you are going to Spain, but right now the fares are very good. I have a small group of handicapped people who book with me and have several contacts within the airlines. Let me know if I can be of any help to you.....
   — barbara A.

January 4, 2003
Diane, my experience is only within the US with getting the assistance I needed at the airports but wasn't a good one. I purchased my tickets online and last June flew from northern Idaho to San Diego with a plane change in Boise. I went to Mexico to have a major abdominoplasty done. I was 324 lbs and following the surgery needed a wheelchair assist. Couldn't walk very far at all, bent over the whole time, very weak, sick to my stomach, 4 drains hanging out of my body hooked to 2 suction type machines that no matter what I did fell out of my clothing causing me a ton of embarrassment. I was extra miserable. Anyhow, my parents contacted the airline for me before I flew back to make sure they would have help for me at each stop (which they said they would). Ya right! I had to ask at each and every stop, wait forever for some help. Instead of being prepared and making sure I was on the airplane first I was LAST! I had to walk up the ramp and through a cramped airplane of people. I found the guy who pushed the wheelchair at my plane change in Boise VERY rude, mumbling about my size under his breath. It was not a good experience. In fact with no assist at my final stop I was angry enough to walk from the plane to the terminal at my final stop home. I made it in the door but barely. I had to lean on the half wall, trying not to blackout and wait for the wheelchair in order to make it to the car. I'm just letting you know all this because I'm wondering if a travel agent had been involved if it would have been different. It definitely did not work out using the internet and contacting the airline directly. By the way I flew Alaska/Horizon Air. I found at my weight that the seats were VERY tight. The ones at the front of the plane with the seat arms that done move didn't really fit at all. If I were to fly on such a long flight as you, at my old size of 324, I would definitely be planning to buy 2 seats, especially after my surgery flying home I REALLY needed that space.
   — Shelly S.

January 4, 2003
I'm just wondering, why, if this surgery is available in this country, would anyone travel that extensively to get it done? I'm not judging at all, I'm just trying to understand why you would put yourself through all that agony of traveling, and worrying about getting home, when there are perfectly capable surgeons here in the USA doing it. :-) please help me understand. (i'm pre-op waiting on a surgery date)
   — KellyJeanB

January 4, 2003
I was 440 at surgery and wasn't ready to walk distances for awhile. How long will you be there post-op? If it's less than 3 weeks, you're going to want to organize wheel chairs ahead of time. Just explain that you've had surgery. I found people to be very sympatheitc and accommodating when I needed some "specials" though I didn't use the airlines at that point.
   — jen41766

January 4, 2003
Hi..Oringinal Poster Here...I'm going to be in Spain for about 2 1/2 weeks total...only 3 days of it will be in the hospital and 7 days till the post op check up. Not sure as to the exact date of travel yet as still trying to raise the funds needed to go. I am going to Spain because I will most likely be a self-pay. It is much more affordable for me to travel to Spain and get an excellent doctor in the process. The cost for an open DS will only be $11,500 (hospital fees and doc included). I have a friend who lives in Barcelona so I am kinda making it into a mini-vacation as well. He will also be there to help me along during my stay. That's pretty much why I chose Spain over staying here in the US for surgery. Since there are very few Duodenal Switch surgeons, I have yet to come across one who is cheaper/in the same price range than that who do self-pays. Dr. Baltasar also takes out the gallbladder and appendix at the time of surgery...and does an transverse incision. Dr. B has been a bariatric surgeon for over 20 years and has performed all wls procedures. He now will only do the DS. So in my reality, I find those to be perks to getting the surgery done. I am only looking to have the DS procedure done. The RNY is something that I would only consider as a last resort...but at this point I still have options.
   — ImANewDee

January 4, 2003
Sounds like you got some good advice. This past summer I looked at buying two seats on Northwest over the internet because it was cheaper, but did not know how to buy 2 seats for one person. When I called the 800 number I was told I could not, I would have to book it through them or a travel agent. I was not going to accept that answer as I felt it was a violation of the ADA act. I was willing to pay for 2 seats but not an adidtional premium because their system could not deal with it. So I left a message I wanted to be called by someone higher up. When the person called she said it could be done. Just book one seat with my middle initial and the other one without it. Since I did not need any special arrangements this would have worked fine. We ended up flying Midwest, which has wider seats so I never booked these. However, if I needed all kinds of special arrangments then it is definitely worth paying the $25-50 fee the travel agent charges and even a higher ticket price within reason. They will be able to make all arrangments for wheelchairs etc.<p>I do have a little concern that you feel you won't have to or should not have to buy 2 seats. Maybe Dr. Baltasar's clinic has some special arrangments with some airlines. Worth asking about. I know not all large people agree with me but I feel if I want to fly at this size it is my responsibility to buy the space needed to fit me without disturbing another passenger. I realize the seats are too small, but the bottom line is as morbidly obese we have exceeded the standards in almost everything in the world and have found it more expensive in general. I like the latest plan that one of the airlines came out with. You buy 2 tickets. If the plane is not full the day it flys then they refund you the price of the 2nd ticket. In other words if they could not have sold that seat anyway, then they don't penalize you for using 2 seats. I personally think this is totally reasonable.<p>You are going to be nervous going over and in a lot of pain coming back. Do you want to be squished into one seat if the plane is full? I'd rather suck up the cost and know that I will be comfortable, especially if the plane fares are reasonable right now. I am flying to Seattle the end of June and planned to buy 2 seats, since Midwest doesn't fly there. Now I don't know what to do as I have no idea what size I will be by then, almost 5 months post op. I coud be down 75 lbs or 150 lbs, just depends on how it comes off. I have 250 to ideally lose. If I can get a good enough price, around $200, then I will probably buy two just to be sure I am comfortable. It is a 5 hour flight and comfort is important to me. I already purchased a 2nd seat for the portion of our tour where we fly from Seattle to Juneau but I am seriously thinking of asking if I can cancel that since it's booked through Holland American. That's only a little over a one hour flight and I can be cramped for that length of time. We will see. Yes potentially this trip will cost me an extra $500 in airline fees for the two flights but it's the cost of my size. Just my opinion!<p>In answer to the question why someone goes to Spain it is because of the cost. Dr. Baltasar does DS for around $12,000. Even with all other costs it is very good. I have previously asked the same question on another board. If I was self-pay I would look for a reasonable cost with the USA but Dr. B does have an excellent reputation.
   — zoedogcbr