Why Commercial Medical Escort Flight Prices Change

Booking a commercial medical escort flight can be stressful enough without unexpected changes to the quoted price. Many clients ask: Why does the price keep rising? This article explains the realities behind medical escort flight pricing — and why the best way to minimise surprises is to book early.

Why Prices Rise: The Reality of Airline Tickets

Airlines constantly adjust their fares based on demand, time, and availability. Seats are not held without payment, and prices can change hourly. A seat that cost £800 yesterday could cost £1200 today.

When arranging a medical escort, the patient’s medical condition must first be cleared by the airline’s medical team. This process — submitting medical paperwork (often called a MEDIF) and awaiting approval — can take up to 72 hours. Until approval is granted, no tickets can be issued. During that waiting time, airlines continue to sell seats and prices often rise.

Unfortunately, by the time clearance is granted, the fare originally quoted may have increased significantly. Especially with last-minute flights, the seat availability is lower and prices rise rapidly. It’s not the medical provider increasing costs — it’s the airline market adjusting in real time.

Why Medical Flights Cost More Than Standard Tickets

It’s important to understand that when arranging flights for medical repatriation, we don’t have access to discounted consumer fares. Airlines typically require full-fare, flexible tickets for both the patient and medical escort — often in Business or First Class. This is due to space requirements, seating configurations, medical equipment needs, and airline policies that prioritise patient safety and dignity. These fares are significantly more expensive than standard economy tickets, and are a key factor in the overall cost of medical repatriation.

Stretcher and Oxygen Flights: Why They Take Longer

If the patient needs to travel on a stretcher or requires onboard oxygen, approvals can take even longer. Airlines must coordinate internally to make space for stretchers, and not all flights or routes allow it. Only certain airlines — usually large national carriers — offer stretcher services, and availability is limited to major international airports.

Some airlines may take days to approve a stretcher request, and in busy periods they may not even respond quickly. In addition, if the flight must pass through a major hub (such as Istanbul for many stretcher flights), this can further complicate logistics and costs.

Important to note:

• British Airways does not offer stretcher services.

• National airlines are usually the ones that provide stretcher options.

• Not all airports accept stretcher flights.

Similarly, if onboard oxygen is required, additional approvals are needed and some airlines take longer to process these requests, adding further delays before tickets can be booked.

Medical Charges vs Airline Costs

While the medical escort provider’s fees remain stable once quoted (for the medical team, equipment, and support), the flight cost itself can change hourly. The medical charges are fixed. The variable element is purely the airline’s pricing.

When a revised quote is provided, it reflects the actual flight cost on that day — not an arbitrary markup. Reputable providers will always be transparent and show clear breakdowns between medical service costs and airline ticket prices.

Why Early Booking Matters

The best defence against rising costs is booking as early as possible. Airlines release a limited number of cheaper seats first. As the flight fills up, cheaper seats sell out and only higher fares remain. If you book early — ideally weeks ahead — you are much more likely to secure a lower flight price.

In urgent situations, however, early booking is not always possible. Medical clearance processes cannot be rushed, and airlines require proper time to approve medical travel. Clients are encouraged to respond quickly to document requests and authorise bookings as soon as possible once clearance is given.

Remember:

• Prices can rise daily once a flight is selected.

• Approval delays can mean fewer flight options.

• The sooner you confirm, the better your chance to secure the best rate.

Conclusion: Transparency is Key

While price changes can be frustrating, they are not caused by us the provider. SkyCare Repatriation work hard to monitor flights and secure the best options, but airline fares are unpredictable until tickets are issued.

By understanding the realities of airline pricing, clearance procedures, and stretcher or oxygen approvals, clients can approach the process with realistic expectations — and a little less stress.

Booking early and acting quickly once approved will always give the best possible outcome, both medically and financially.