FAQs & Resources

Click below to find answers to some frequently asked questions about flying with Children’s Flight of Hope.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

  • Children's Flight of Hope provides commercial airline tickets for children traveling in the United States to specialized medical care with board-certified doctors at accredited medical facilities.

  • Children’s Flight of Hope offers private flights on a very limited basis as resources allow, requiring at least a month’s notice. A doctor must complete a form indicating that your child is unable to fly on a commercial plane and each request is reviewed individually by our Medical Advisory Team.

    For more information, please email missions@cfoh.org.

    For other private flight options please visit our other resources below.

  • Children’s Flight of Hope exclusively assists children through the age of 18. Upon reaching their 19th birthday, a family will be referred to other organizations for further support.

  • You may qualify if:

    • Your child is 18 years old or younger and medically cleared to fly on a commercial plane.

    • You are traveling to a board-certified doctor at an accredited medical hospital within the United States of America.

    • You have a confirmed appointment with a board-certified doctor at an accredited medical hospital.

    • Your family is facing significant financial hardship or on government assistance.

    • A social worker, case manager, your child’s referring doctor, or another relevant professional can complete the financial verification form on your behalf, available Here.

    • Your child’s doctor will complete the air transportation approval form, available Here.

  • CFOH assists families facing significant financial hardship. If you are on government assistance, a picture of proof will be required. If not, a social worker, case manager, your child’s referring doctor, or another relevant professional must complete the financial eligibility form.

  • Your child must be traveling to a board-certified doctor at an accredited medical hospital in the continental U.S. CFOH does not accept families traveling to clinics or doctors who are not board-certified.

    You can verify if your doctor is board certified by clicking Here.

    To see if the hospital you are visiting is accredited, click Here.

    If you do not find your doctor or hospital on these lists, please contact us at missions@cfoh.org for assistance.

  • CFOH only provides flights TO medical care. If this is your first flight with CFOH, you must be originating from home to medical care or from medical care to a more specialized and referred accredited hospital.  Your first flight cannot be upon discharge from a medical facility to home, although we can assist with future round-trip requests.

  • CFOH is currently unable to accept new international families into our program. CFOH defines “international” as any originating airport or home outside of the 50 United States of America. 

  • CFOH provides flights exclusively for children traveling to board-certified doctors and accredited medical hospitals for life-saving, life-changing, and life-sustaining care.

    While CFOH does not cover other types of travel, please see our other resources detailed below to explore other flight options and assistance programs.

  • CFOH works with all airlines to ensure flexibility and convenience. We collaborate with families to select the airline that offers the best flight options for their required medical travel. 

  • CFOH is a registered non-profit 501(c) (3), funded by the generous support of individual donors, corporate partners, airline partners, grants, and others who believe that the cost of airfare should not be a barrier for children to receive the life-saving care they deserve.

New Application and Flight Request Questions

  • To apply, click the “New Families” application. A team member will contact you within 3 to 5 business days with required documentation and a unique Client ID for your child, which will be used for future flight requests.

    Required documentation are as followed: 

    • A picture of proof of government assistance if applicable.

    • If you are not on government assistance, you will need a relevant professional (social worker, case manager, your child’s referring physician) to complete the financial verification form found Here.

    • Completed Eligibility Questionnaire found Here

    • The air transportation approval form signed by your doctor found Here.

    • You will also be asked to complete a waiver, which can be done virtually. The link will be provided for you. 

    Once all documentation has been reviewed and approved, you will be welcomed to CFOH and can then submit flight requests on behalf of your child.

  • CFOH requires that flight requests be submitted at least 14 days prior to departure. This requirement is for EVERY flight request of both new and returning clients. If circumstances require less than 14 days’ notice, this form is required. Completing this form does not automatically approve this request for exception. You can find this form HERE.
    *this policy does not apply to a rebooking of a flight due to airline cancelations or extended stays in the hospital.

  • CFOH provides two tickets – one for an adult companion (usually a parent) and one for the child traveling for medical care. There are no exceptions to this policy.

  • CFOH provides flights to accredited medical hospitals in the continental United States.

  • When completing the flight request, you may include preferred flights. If these flights are economically reasonable for our organization, we are happy to accommodate. If you do not have a preferred flight in mind, a team member will reach out about a month before your departure date with flight options. We will work with you to find the best options for your family.

  • Annually. There are four required documents reviewed before welcoming new families to our program: a waiver, the financial verification form or proof of government subsidy, the air transportation approval form, and eligibility questionnaire. These forms must be updated annually.

  • No, if you are accepted to CFOH, follow the “Returning Families” link and submit your flight requests there. You will need your child’s client ID for every flight request, so please keep a record of it.

  • If you are purchasing another ticket for additional family members, CFOH will book the flight for the child and the adult companion and send you the confirmation.

    You can then book the other adults on the same flight. CFOH always tries to coordinate seat numbers so that your family can sit together, but we cannot guarantee this.

    You are welcome to send us the confirmation number for the flight you booked, and we can call the airline to link the two reservations.

  • Typically, the adult companion is the child’s parent or legal guardian, but it can be any adult over the age of 18 with whom you are granting permission to act on behalf of the child for travel and medical appointments.

  • Yes, CFOH can book a one-way flight if you are unsure of the return date. We can also book a round trip with a tentative return date and adjust it based on your child’s treatment. We will accommodate whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

CFOH has booked my flight, what’s next?

  • No, families are responsible for checking in for their flights, either at the airport or online through the airline’s website or app.

  • CFOH does not cover baggage fees or seat upgrades. Please visit your airline’s website for more information.

  • For changes after arriving at the airport or completing part of your travel, please work directly with the airline. For changes before your travel day, contact our mission’s team at missions@cfoh.org or call 919-466-8593. Cancellations and changes must be due to unexpected medical reasons. Our team is on call after work hours, weekends, and holidays for urgent issues. If you need to contact us outside of business hours for a non-urgent change/cancellation, we will respond within the next business day.

  • All airlines have different policies, so we advise checking your airline’s website for the most up-to-date information on carry-on and baggage requirements and special accommodations.

Flight Resources

  • Denver based nonprofit helping seriously ill children travel to distant, life-saving medical care on private jets at no cost to families. 

  • Geographic based organization providing private flights.

    Website: https://www.angelflight.com/

    Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic:

    Angel Flight North East:

    • ME, NH, MA, CT, VT, NY, NJ, PA 

    • Toll Free: 800-549-9980/ Direct: 978-794-6868

    • Fax: 978-794-8779

    • info@angelflightne.org

    Mercy Flight South East:

    Angel Flight Central:

    Angel Flight South Central:

    Angel Flight West:

  • Denver based nonprofit providing private flights, air ambulance, medical escort, and ground transportation resources. 

  • Registered nonprofit in Canada and United States that offers flights to connect people in palliative or critical care with their loved ones.

  • Mercy Medical Angels provides assistance in the air with commercial airline tickets and volunteer pilots, and on the ground with gas cards, bus and train tickets - at No-Cost to Patients.

  • Nonprofit that arranges free flights for medical patients requiring medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up who cannot afford or are unable to fly commercially.

    Based in New York, serve anything “east of the Mississippi.”

    Serve all ages, including adults.

Other Resources

  • Boston Airport Medical Assistance Program to provide accessibility and easy navigation of BOS airport. Curb to gate assistance 

    Please email our missions team at missions@cfoh.org for more information.

  • TSA Cares is committed to ensuring all travelers, regardless of their circumstances, can navigate security with ease.

    You can request the assistance of a Passenger Support Specialist through TSA Cares. These experts provide guidance and support during the security process.

Other Humanitarian Flight Organizations

Air Care Alliance – www.aircarealliance.org

If you are seeking free air transportation or aviation services, you can send an inquiry to each appropriate organization in one easy step by providing Air Care Alliance the necessary information about your transportation needs.

Medical Support Housing

Ronald McDonald House Charities – www.rmhc.org

Ronald McDonald Houses are a “home-away-from-home” to keep parents and children together. Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children – a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close-by for love and support. A Ronald McDonald House is that home-away-from-home for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.