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For
many parents, treatment means travel. That can
mean anything from a 1 hour drive, to a 4 hour plane
trip! This section is for all of you - from
snacks to plane tickets, you'll find it here........
When
traveling for the initial fitting (not the
casting), try to have an appt early in the week to
allow a stay for an extra day (or two) to be sure there
is enough time to check for red spots
sufficiently. Make sure to have a
follow-up for the next day and have the
adjustments made, if necessary, before beginning
the journey home! It would be much harder to
try to drive or fly back before the next
adjustment, more expensive, too! The faster
you can get baby wearing the helmet/band for 23
hours of the day, the better!
Keep
all your airfare, rental, taxi, food, hotel, gas,
etc. receipts, as well as mileage driven.
For
U.S. residents, check out the IRS website
for what qualifies for tax-deductions (esp.
hotel/food) so you will be able to have proof of
medical travel. See http://www.irs.gov/prod/forms_pubs/pubs/p502toc.htm
for all the tax information you need.
For other countries, tax breaks are probably very
similar. Contact your local tax office.
You
may be eligible for FREE FLIGHTS!
www.aircareall.org/
Click
the above link to go to The Air Care Alliance, or
Angelflight. Here you can learn how this
organization works, and find out if you apply for
free flights.
Driving
-
Again,
keep track of all mileage driven. Keep
gas receipts, and any receipts from tolls
paid.
-
U-neck
pillows, favorite sleeping toy, blankie
- Make sure baby is comfortable
while sleeping
-
Repositioning
rolls/wedges for the carseat (see the
REPOSITIONING link).
-
Toys
- keeping a small basket of toys/books beside
the carseat should keep baby happy - at least
for a while!
-
Kids
music/activity tapes/CD's - keep baby clapping
and singing. Find an extra annoying one
to keep the driver awake! :o)
-
Snacks
and drinks - keep a small cooler handy to keep
milk/juice, your pop and cold snacks in.
-
If
you are traveling quite a ways, plan to stay
over night with family, or in a hotel.
You don't want to risk driving when you are
over tired! Safety first!
-
Don't
forget yourself. Take a big travel-mug
of coffee (or what ever you prefer!).
Plan for rest stops to refresh yourself and
stretch your legs.
-
Plan
to drive while baby naps, if possible.
If s/he will sleep at least part of the way,
it will make the trip that much shorter for
them.
Flying
-
Check
with your employer's HR department (if
applicable) to see if they would allow any airline
or rental car company discounts for
this....every little bit helps!
-
Find
out which airline carriers make the most
flights to your destination (you want more
just in case of cancellation or missed
flights!).
-
Find
out all you can about the airport area and
where the clinic is compared to the airport.
For instance, Dallas Love Airport is a
better choice than DFW if you are flying
to the Dallas Clinic (unless Southwest doesn't
serve your area).
-
Check
out each airline's
frequent-flier programs; online purchases may
qualify for bonuses, and see what they have to
offer....they do vary!
-
Midweek
flights may be easier to get a seat on
(cheaper?) and may be easier to get in/out of
the airport than Monday/Friday
-
Check
whether there is a discount (~1/2 price) for the
infant/toddler....perhaps if you call and talk
to someone they might be able to give you a
better rate
-
If
you choose to bring your own car seat, don't
forget the locking clip for the rental car
seat belt or whoever will pick you up.... There
is a lap-restraint approved for flying at www.onestepahead.com
item # 06448. It is $29.95.
-
Check
to see if the airline allows gate-checking of
strollers or carseats. A caution,
though: you do not know how roughly they
treat carseats and they could become damaged.
-
Do
an internet yellow-page search for Taxis in
that city and call one to see what the
charge would be from the airport to the
clinic address & if you need to bring
your own carseat? It might just be
less hassle than renting and about the same
price to get a taxi round-trip. You
just never know!
-
A
baby front or back carrier, would work in
the airport and maybe during the flight
-
A backpack
is useful for "hands-free" traveling,
boarding and use as a diaper bag, and
conveniently fits under the seat in front of
you on the plane - in case you need something.
-
avoid
the flights heavily traveled by business
travelers (if your route is a business route).
The airline can tell you which fill up
fastest. Business travelers are usually
not as accommodating to a mom and child.
-
bring
along a schedule of flights so if there is a
cancellation/delay, you immediately know what
your other options are.
How
to buy plane tickets (making the most of your
money!)
To
avoid being charged an astronomical amount for
same-day travel (without an overnight stay),
make 2 adjustment appointments and use two
tickets. Sounds complicated, but here it
is broken down:
I
have 2 appointments, May 12 at 9am and May 26 at
9 am.
I purchase my tickets like this:
Ticket #1A Flight 158 Departs Tulsa 7am arrives
Dallas 8am, May 12
B Flight 779 leaves Dallas 11:15am arrives Tul
12:15 May 26
Ticket #2C Flight 779 leaves Dallas 11:15am
arrives Tul 12:15 May 12
D Flight 158 Departs Tulsa 7am arrives Dallas
8am, May 26
You use Ticket #1A to go to appt. #1 (May 12),
and use
Ticket # 2C to return from appt #1 (May 12).
Then, use Ticket #2D to go to appt #2 (May 26),
and use Ticket #1B to
return from appt #2 (May 26).
This way you are in-out to the appointment the
same day without being
overcharged for not making an overnight stay.
Rental
Cars
-
get
a National rental car Emerald Club
membership or Hertz Gold membership ( think
Avis or Dollar may have one, too).
They are about $50, but they make it
possible bypass the whole counter thing
altogether and make renting the car easier.
Call each place at the airport or their
reservation phone numbers or online and see
which is cheaper at that airport. At
DFW, Hertz was cheaper than National...at
Dallas Love, National was cheaper than
Hertz.....
-
The
$50 membership will be recouped by the
rental discounts the club provides.
National was 15% discount every rental. I'm
sure Hertz offers a discount as well.
The fastest way to sign up for these is to
go right to your airport and do it.
National was ready immediately after filling
out the paperwork - 10-15 minutes - instead
of the 2-3 week mailing time.
When
you get on the rental car bus, tell the
driver that you need an infant carseat (if
you reserve the car with a
carseat, you have to go to the desk) and
they will put a carseat on, or set it into
the first car on the end of the
"club" row. You will have to
install it, though. Don't forget your
locking clip!!!
-
The
rental cost for a carseat is $5-10 per day.
The rental club will be helpful even if you
bring your own carseat and install it.
Even if you rent, be sure to keep an extra
locking clip with you, in case one is needed
in the car you get
-
Rental
cars are usually cheaper on Fridays because
of the weekend discount, however, flights
are usually cheaper during the week.
If using an employer's plan that
discounts every day that may not be an
issue. It may be worth the price
difference if the traffic & flights are
easier to handle midweek.
-
Be
sure to have plenty of change for tolls, if
needed
Miscellaneous
Tips
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