AirWaves and GroundRules

We're at the New York Times Travel Show, and just talked to a woman who perfectly illustrates why travelers need Air Ambulance Card.

Sabrina Oslinker of Pennsylvania traveled to India for her brother's wedding. She'd just had open heart surgery the year before. Thanks to India's noted pollution, Oslinker wound up in a hospital in Bangalore with an acute respiratory infection. The hospital promptly snatched up her passport and credit card... and admitted her.

You can imagine Oslinker wanted to go home. "I love my doctors here. There is nothing like the U.S." Her husband, a travel agent, purchased travel insurnce for her before she left. It did its job, it covered her medical bills in India, but it would not bring her home.

After seven days in an Indian hospital, Oslinker was released and headed for the airport, but the airline wouldn't let her board. She insisted, and got as far as Dubai where the airport doctor informed her she could not board the 16 hour flight home.

Now, imagine if she had had an Air Ambulance Card membership. We would have flown a dedicatd medical jet to pick her up, and fly her home. No hassles, no arguments.

Next time Oslinker travels... "I probaly will buy one of these things! I probably will buy this, so I can come home."

How is this for Value Added? On a recent trip to Germany, an Air Ambulance Card member left his camera on a train. This was not a "point and shoot," not an aged 35mm. This was a $1500 Nikon. Needless to say, hopes for the camera's safe return were dim.
However, this loyal Air Ambulance Card member has been dutifully placing personalized luggage tags, which he receives with his new AAC membership cards each year, on all of his travel gear.
This luggage tag was the only identifying marker on his camera bag.
Well, what do y0u know? The German railroad operators found the bag, called the number, and is returning the camera to our member.
I know you are all rushing off to your filing cabinets to find those tags you stashed away. Lost them? We'll send new ones when you renew.
And for those of you who want to know how to get the tags... they're free... when you buy one of our pre-paid air medical transports memberships!

Few complain when airlines announce they're suspending dreadful in-flight meal service... but there are plenty of people grousing now that United is charging extra for your cosmetics case and golf clubs.

This week, the airline announced those flying coach on non-refundable tickets will be limited to one checked bag... they'll be charged for every checked item after that.

Travel blogger Joe Broncatelli wrote a great post on United's fees, and the likelihood that at least some of the other big airlines will follow suit.

United may still have the lowest fare to the destination you're traveling, just don't forget to factor in your luggage from now on.

Good thing your Air Ambulance Card fits in your wallet, huh?

Ethnic and political unrest in Kenya earns only b-level headlines here, but several Kenyan friends, are constantly monitoring the welfare of loved ones in Nairobi through text messages and emails. Travelers with plans to visit the east African nation are no doubt aware of the mounting danger, but here's a resource for the latest information. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Alert for Kenya, warning U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Kisumu, Naivasha and Nakuru and to defer travel to other parts of the country.

Of course, Kenya is not alone in its potential for unrest. Travelers who know the risks can help mitigate them through protections like Air Ambulance Card, providing medical evacuation to the US or Canadian hospital of a member's choice, when they are hospitalized 150 miles or more from home.