No, I didn't break my ankle, but a loved one did. She is an active 70 year old, still working at a job that requires standing all day, and was in Vancouver on business when she slipped and broke her ankle. She has been there for an extra three weeks and is still not allowed to walk on it, but is considering coming home anyway. She has a fair amount of freedom to choose her flights, obviously, but cannot afford to pay for J. She spoke to AC who said they can't give her a complimentary upgrade but they can give her a bulkhead seat. She is Prestige at the moment.
What plane would you recommend she try to get on? She needs to have the foot propped up pretty well all the time - she can only have it down for about half an hour before it starts to hurt. Therefore she needs to be able to put her carryon luggage or something in front of her after takeoff to prop up the foot. Is that feasible? She can hop a few steps on her good foot but I am not sure how far into the aircraft the wheelchair can go, or whether she can hop all the way back to row 12 or not. How does this all work?
How far into the airport at YVR can she be accompanied by a non flyer? How far into YYZ can I get to pick her up? Where can/should I park at YYZ so that wheeling her to the car will not take hours? Would having two adults pick her up so that one can just circle until I emerge with her be the smartest approach? I think I need another adult anyway to help getting her into her house etc.
Other thoughts and suggestions much appreciated.
Zorn's suggestion is probably the best way to guarantee her comfort.
An alternative is seat 19C/H on the 777. There is no seat in front which would provide an opportunity to stretch her foot out.
Row 18 A/B or J/K on the 777 are also good
19C/H are isle seats, I don't think they would put someone with a mobility problem in an aisle seat. What if the people next to them have to get up to go to the bathroom and what not, if this person can't move, it would be a big problem.
Jay
What day is she travelling back to YYZ? YVR-YYZ with broken ankle - advice please - FlyerTalk Forums::
YVR-YYZ with broken ankle - advice please. User Name. Remember YVR-YYZ with broken ankle - advice please. No, I didnt break my ankle, but a loved one did.
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AC 34: J4 C1 Z1 Y9 M9 U9 B9 R9 H9 K9 V9 N9 Q9 L9 P9 A0 E0 S0 T0 I1
There's quite a # of flights that day that are showing I8 or I9:
AC136/108/130/116/1162/1168/148/102 plus a few others later in the day.
You can through this forum try to find someone who can be her "companion" and offer her a SWU for upgrade purposes, on that flight. If that is possible, she buys a (fully refundable and changeable) latitude fare, and upgrades (presuming that "I" class is available).
Alternatively, call AC reservations, and book a seat or seat(s) (as suggested in the previous posts) that would give her the maximal amount of comfort in the economy cabin.
You can possible get a gate security pass to accompany her to the gate of the departing flight.
You can probably arrange a wheelchair to take her between the gate and check-in, at both airports.
Air Canada may have someone who can escort her from the gate of the arriving flight, to someone who is waiting for her at that airport.
I have been in AC 34 on J and I would think that would be the most comfortable option if her friend can locate some SWU..
It all worked ok in the end. There were a few disappointments. First, the line at Special Services at YVR was so long that not only was there no time for the lounge, when she reached the gate they were "we've been paging you" etc which made her feel rushed and bothered though it wasn't her fault. She's short legged so (like me) couldn't reach the foot rest while sitting upright, but did find comfortable positions nonetheless. She felt the FAs weren't as solicitous as she expected, but then told me a story about ringing and asking to be taken to the bathroom and being asked whether she would prefer with or without a window (heh heh I might not have mentioned that.)
She is glad she went on that particular flight and was especially pleased with the YYZ people who helped her from landing till she reached me. The overall disruption and pain and need for painkillers was less than the subsequent day of getting to dr's appts, shopping etc, all land based.
Now comes "living alone with a broken ankle and a wheelchair" but it seems that is going to be ok too. Thanks to everyone here for suggestions and tips.
Don't forget to order "wheel chair service" in advance.
I am on AC1168 on the 22nd so if there is anything I can do to help don't hesitate to ask me. Unfortunately I cannot help with upgrades since I have no certs/status.
Looks like AC34 (9:10am) on the 20th (Sunday) is the current candidate. A neighbour is going to search her house for certs that could be couriered to her tonight. Can anyone tell me if there is I on the flight?
Smart move...AC34 is the 777 with the foot rests in J so she can keep the ankle elevated for the flight and also won't have any issues with someone next to her bumping into her ankle.
Good luck...travelling injured is no picnic. I broke my collar bone and flew for 6 flights with my arm in a sling - amazing how few people offered to help with things like putting my bag in the overhead - and I was flying J class no less!! Get Jealous.com::
in flight diary YYZ-YVR. 2004-02-11 **actual journal excerpt oh, and the ankle/leg formally-known-as-broken held up splendidly.
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Shaving 4 minutes off YVR-YYZ - fuel related, or just scheduling? 75 days ago YVR-YYZ with broken ankle - advice please. 105 days ago. Air Canada Aeroplan
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I am on AC1168 on the 22nd so if there is anything I can do to help don't hesitate to ask me. Unfortunately I cannot help with upgrades since I have no certs/status.
Is it too obvious to suggest she sit in J by paying a potentially small premium for it?
She is prestige. Does she have any upgrade certificates left? Upgrade space is wide open on many flights even today and tomorrow, for example. A few days from now there is plenty of space even on some 763/333/777 flights, where propping up the foot will be quite easy.
The cost of a web latitude fare is about $300 over Tango.
She's rather doubtful whether she even has any upgrade certificates at all but she is 100% sure that she didn't take any with her on this routine (at the start) trip out of town. So Latitude-and-then-upgrade isn't going to be an option, unfortunately.
We are considering YVR-YYZ return on points, there being some Classic availability in business, and setting a far off return to YVR since she has family she can visit in YVR later this year with the other half of the ticket. She could probably use the YVR-YYZ that was put on hold when she couldn't return on schedule for this trip as her ticket home from that future trip.
Zorn's suggestion is probably the best way to guarantee her comfort.
An alternative is seat 19C/H on the 777. There is no seat in front which would provide an opportunity to stretch her foot out.
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Please consider your actions and motives. My flight pattern is usually with SAS to NA with an occational AC flight to YYZ.
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Row 18 A/B or J/K on the 777 are also good
In the end she has paid J for the flight, convinced by seat maps and pictures, talks with doctors etc that it will be a night and day difference to be upfront. She will be on 34 on Sunday.
She said to me just now on the phone that in the past when I've been trying to arrange bookings (for her, me, or others) that I have said things like "well at 3pm it's a nicer plane" and she has never understood what I was talking about, valuing schedule above all. Now she is astounded that the 77L costs the same as some of the other planes that are on this route. She's also pretty jazzed about the COS bonus - and I reminded her she has lounge access and to be firm to whoever is wheeling her through YVR post-security that they are to wheel her to the lounge. I also advised her, painkillers permitting, to get tiddly on the flight. I think it would help.
No gate pass at YYZ, they will wheel her out to me, I am not sure where. I intend to park in the shortest term lot I can find.
Thanks for all the help so far!
Pressurization/depressurization cycles are murder on sprained/broken ankles (personal experience speaking here..), so make sure the painkillers aren't far away.
Yep, I flew CDG-YUL on a broken ankle in Y. NOT FUN. Luckily I got a window seat on a 747 upper deck, and I'm short so I got to stretch out somewhat. Highly advise trying the upgrade route on an L fare, especially given her age.
Other thoughts and suggestions much appreciated.
Is it too obvious to suggest she sit in J by paying a potentially small premium for it?
She is prestige. Does she have any upgrade certificates left? Upgrade space is wide open on many flights even today and tomorrow, for example. A few days from now there is plenty of space even on some 763/333/777 flights, where propping up the foot will be quite easy.
The cost of a web latitude fare is about $300 over Tango.
Looks like AC34 (9:10am) on the 20th (Sunday) is the current candidate. A neighbour is going to search her house for certs that could be couriered to her tonight. Can anyone tell me if there is I on the flight?
[KVS Availability Tool 3.1.2/Platinum - Galileo: ETR/JP] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
YVR Vancouver Metro / Vancouver Int'l BC CA = CXH YVR [CYVR]
YYZ Toronto Pearson Int'l ON CA [CYYZ]
SUN 20 Jul 2008
Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- ---- ------------
AC 136 YVR 06:00 YYZ 13:28 767 0 I9
AC 108 YVR 07:00 YYZ 14:25 333 0 I9
AC 142 YVR 08:00 YYZ 15:27 763 0 I1
AC 34 YVR 09:10 YYZ 16:40 77L 0 I1
AC 130 YVR 09:30 YYZ 17:02 320 0 I9
AC 116 YVR 10:15 YYZ 17:40 767 0 I9
AC 1162 YVR 11:15 YYZ 18:44 767 0 I8
AC 62 YVR 11:45 YYZ 19:14 763 0 I1
AC 1166 YVR 12:30 YYZ 19:59 321 0 I3
AC 1168 YVR 13:00 YYZ 20:28 763 0 I9
AC 148 YVR 13:15 YYZ 20:43 763 0 I9
AC 102 YVR 13:45 YYZ 21:10 333 0 I9
AC 192 YVR 14:00 YYZ 21:30 763 0 I1
AC 1188 YVR 15:00 YYZ 22:27 767 0 I9
AC 100 YVR 15:45 YYZ 23:12 767 0 I9
AC 132 YVR 17:30 YYZ 00:55 +1 321 0 I8
AC 156 YVR 22:30 YYZ 06:05 +1 767 0 I8
AC 1170 YVR 23:55 YYZ 07:30 +1 321 0 I9
Book it now. If no cert can be found, cancel (fully refundable) and rebook cheapest available.
Does she use the internet? Sign her up for FlyerTalk. Who would go so far away from home without an upgrade cert :eek:;)
Another option is to pick a relatively empty flight, ask for a row of three seats, sit in the window seat with legs across. Should be able to sit like that except for TO and landing.
What day is she travelling back to YYZ?
That can vary. She needs a final go-ahead from the Vancouver doctor, and at that point it will be as soon as she can - if there are no reasonably priced tickets that day she might go the next, sort of thing. I would expect it would be within the next week. But if a specific plane or a particularly low load is worth waiting a day or so for, she'll wait.
Is it too obvious to suggest she sit in J by paying a potentially small premium for it?
She is prestige. Does she have any upgrade certificates left? Upgrade space is wide open on many flights even today and tomorrow, for example. A few days from now there is plenty of space even on some 763/333/777 flights, where propping up the foot will be quite easy.
The cost of a web latitude fare is about $300 over Tango.
It's about 4 hours flight yea? so an extra $300 is only around 75 extra an hour for piece of mind and comfort. Get a 777 and have a kip.
Looks like AC34 (9:10am) on the 20th (Sunday) is the current candidate. A neighbour is going to search her house for certs that could be couriered to her tonight. Can anyone tell me if there is I on the flight?
On the 777 in J! Perfect
Not to get your hopes up, but my grandma, a once-a-year AC flier (no status), and 90 years old, with significant mobility problems, is usually put in J even though she buys bargain-basement discount fares.
Don't know if its a unique practice to the station she flies out of, or if its done simply for operational reasons, but it saves her from having to hobble to the back of the bus.
Pressurization/depressurization cycles are murder on sprained/broken ankles (personal experience speaking here..), so make sure the painkillers aren't far away.
 How much does getting a small tattoo on your hip/stomach hurt?
 Do anyone else have an itchy anus? ?
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YVR-YYZ with broken ankle - advice please