Flying or Driving to travel for surgery?

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Katie

So my only issue with taking the car is finding a place to put it. The parking anywhere near the hospital will cost us over $70/day x a couple of weeks. And we need to get the insurance updated to cover a private room so my husband can stay with me or else pay up to $200/night for a room. Of course that would solve the parking problem...leave it there at the hotel and take the train in

Either way, I'm hoping to not have to pay a couple of thousand dollars for accommodation for my husband while we are down there, plus the travel.

I need to get reimbursed for the consult as well, as that was about $400 cdn, but was very necessary at the time. I hope I can slip it in with the total cost to the insurance and get the hospital to give it back. Or some such evil scheme.....

All of these are good opinions...maybe a poll is in order!

Hey Katie,

I think flying would be easier IMHO. You'll get a wheelchair through the airport and you will be able to board before everyone else. I know the seats can be an issue, but airfare is super cheap right now. Plus, (the BIG plus for me) the cost of storing a car in NYC is absolutely insane--it would add up extremely fast.

It would be nice to have a car to stop and go as you please. However, traffic can be horrific on I-95 (if you are using it) and traffic can also be very aggressive. The thing I would worry about would be having to slam on your brakes, which would be brutal on your neck.

About accommodations for your husband--cheap hotels are just outside Manhattan (which can easily be $200-300 a night). He could stay at a place that is close to mass transit (subway), as it is extremely easy and cheap to get around NYC that way. This could save tons of money, albeit it would require more travel time during the day for your husband.

Good luck!

[Katie]

Thankfully Dear Heart is extremely good at navigating....we got to Lenox Hill Hospital on the first try without a map of the city...and traveled down on one of the 80 highways, 81 or 85 I think, without a problem. We actually found the traffic more civilized than up here. He has traveled all over the world with his work, and thinks everything is an adventure . I'm brave, just not that experienced .

I was hoping to relieve some of the planning from his shoulders, as his work load at the office is enormous right now, and he has missed so much already, what with going down to Dr. Bitan and then to help his dad in another province last week. He'll go with whatever is easier and makes sense.

I know that the train/subway system is wonderful down there, having taken it in to NYC from CT while visiting my daughter a couple of years ago.

Unless we can solve the parking problem, I can't see taking the car, as much as I love it. I'm off to check out air fares...that may be the deciding factor.

Which is the best airline to go with? I'm not impressed with what one of the other posters here had to deal with, coming back from Germany.

[Katie]

Harumph! $1800 for the cheapest return flight from our city to NYC! That's almost the same price as flying to Germany! It only cost us $200 in gas for the same trip two weeks ago.

Off to check on some American airlines.....

[Justin]

Wow, that's insane! I got my ticket to Germany for $400 ROUNDTRIP.

You might want to try farecast.com for airfare. I'm headed out the door...

[fuzzy]

Well, Justin you got one heck of a deal!! Are you in NY? From West Coast more likely 8 to 900 for a regular somewhat discounted ticket on a non stop flight. Frankfurt is a lot cheaper then Munich.

Katie, how long do you stay at the hospital or in the area after the surgery. If you stay there 2 weeks then I would drive. Take pillows and take breaks.

I made a 7 hour drive in a Mercedes E Class at 1 week out (my wife drove and she tried real hard!) and it was torture! I constantly had to beg my wife to not go so fast no more then 55 and steer gently as it hurt and those german autobahns are sooo temting. Mercedes cars are somewhat stiff if you have a larger american car and on the american roads at the slower speeds you will not have the problem. If you have small stiff car or a pickup then consider flying. Depending on your condition stop regularly and take a exercise walk as you can handle it. Slow and careful and just enough to loosen things up. I did't want to fly and I did not regret it even though the drive was painful. I love airplanes but not the cattlecar kind and all the nuisance that goes with them these days. 8 hours is long but you are in your own space. If you can break it up into 2 days even better. Don't drive fast stay in one lane dont pass more then nessesary and make an gently ride (note to the friendly driver!).

Thats a big surgery. My respect to you. I hope you will do really well.

[Katie]

Justin, are you kidding me? Wow, you really did get a deal! I have checked both Air Canada and United, and the second one was only three hundred cheaper...just over $1400. And I checked lots of dates, etc. and going as cheap as I can. I'll try the other one you suggested tomorrow. We are only an hour and a half flight away

fuzzy, you are so cute I will probably be in hospital two weeks total, as the surgeries will be three to four days apart, then recovery time afterwards. We haven't ironed out the small details yet. I hope I do really well too, thanks

We got a used Chrysler Pacifica three years ago and love it..it is so comfortable, even with 250,000 kms on it already. I think it has Mercedes parts in it, but they must be the softer parts

We can easily break the trip into two or even three days, although it will be nice to be back in our own bed as soon as possible. As this gets closer, I'm getting more scared, as everyone does, I guess. Time to check with the good doctor and get some more details cleared up.

And I never ever go anywhere without my nice soft pillow My youngest daughter travels all over the world in her job and has the same habit...she visited us last summer and had her beat up pillow under her arm

[Maria]

Since the airfare might be costly what about renting a van or even an RV and either fixing the back of the van up with a mattress and/or having the RV there with a bed in it.

Just throwing suggestions out there that you may have already tossed around

[Justin]

Fuzzy made some really great suggestions about driving.

Katie, if you can break up your trip over a few days that sounds like a great idea. The airfare sounds really expensive.

I'll look into some car storage places for you (my twin brother that lives in NYC is in town for the weekend and might have some good leads).

PS: you might want to look into a monthly pass at a local garage, as it is much cheaper (~$300). Central Parking Monthly Rates

[Cindylou]

Yeah, I have to go with Justin on this one. Fly. I do think, honestly, it's a matter of personal preference, but I would fly and not sweat having to deal with the car issue.

[Maria]

Katie,
I think I've mentioned this before however will again. When I have to fly to Florida to see my father I go on a Red Eye Non Stop and get 3 seats together (one row) and it's usually about $1000-1200 if I make advance reservations.

I wish I could sit like anyone else and I'm always amazed at people here who are in horrible shape and manage to fly sitting up because there's no way I can do this even tho the flight is only 5 hours. I know we all have our differing pains and probs re the spine but my tail end is in h*ll if I try to sit thru a movie even so don't even do that!

I tried a non stop flight so that I could get up and walk around between flights and found that to be *horrendous* for me. I had to hassle more with getting to and fro and just up and down and waiting for other flight and such it was absolutely frigging exhausting to me spinally and otherwise.. tho then again ~ that's me.

So if someone driving you with a mattress in the back of your vehicle is doable then go with that if you feel it's going to be an OK thing. Test drive this situation ahead of time if you're able like maybe this weekend to see how it goes and/or any adaptations you might need to make with this should you choose to go this route.

Good luck with all ~

[Katie]

Thanks Maria. We actually did this trip just over two weeks ago, down to see Dr. Bitan for a consult. We took it easy and had no problems other than being exhausted by the time we got home. We left on Sunday and came home on Tuesday, after the Monday appointment.

It is the coming home part that scares me. I will be having five levels done, with both fusions (3) and ADR (2). I don't know yet if he will be going in from both the front and back, but his assistant was pretty astounded that the surgeries were only going to be days apart instead of weeks or months.

The passenger seat isn't as comfortable as the drivers', and I'm a bit concerned about laying down without a seatbelt, safety wise, and it's probably not even legal. What are the laws in New York for that? Definitely illegal as soon as we cross the border.

I can use an Obus form for the passenger seat though...it works well enough, and we can stop as often as we like, and take two days coming back if need be, as I said.

I can't believe the cost of an hour & a half flight, and certainly can't afford to book three or four seats, with my husband coming with me. If it was just the flight time, I would probably be OK, but with all the delays, I think I'm going to try driving...with everything open to change, of course

I truly appreciate all the input from all of you. Thanks for caring so much.

[mary.mary]

Katie,

I noticed that you are in Ontario. I am not sure what part (I can't remember).

Have you thought of looking at what the price of the flight would be from the Buffalo Airport? I don't really know if that would work for you or not, but I thought I would just throw that idea out to you..

Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope it all works out well for you!!

Mary

[fortitudine]

I can't believe the prices for Air Canada! I know we paid over $1100 Calgary to Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. Are there no seat sales? With your husband travelling, do you have any aeroplan miles you can use to fly?