Help please – Flying with a bad back.

My wife and I, are booked on VSO43 on the 3rd of June ( K ) The holiday was planned late last year, unfortunately in March she was diagnosed with a prolapsed disc.
In the last few weeks the condition has worsened, up to a point of unbearable pain. In the past I have good results upgrading with miles at the airport. Not quite sussed how to source load check information?
I’m sure Virgin have heard every Sob story under the sun! Quite happy to stay in Premium myself and give the option of a single upgrade to my wife, lying down is the key. Do I call Flying club in advance or politely ask on the day?
Fully aware Virgin have limited seats on this route and would like to sell seat as normal or on the day. Perhaps frequent flyers can help with the upgrade or if anyone who has a similar flying experience, give suggestions as to how to get through the flight? ?|

UC on this route is popular and with only 14 seats, the chances of upgrading at the airport (even with cash is very limited), miles highly unlikely.

Currently EF is showing a fairly full cabin - J2 C2 D2 I2 Z2

If your wife really can't fly PE, I would suggest calling VS now to pay for the upgrade (unlikely to be cheap).

Other than that, some very strong painkillers perhaps, I flew with a bad back on Diazepam - it did the trick, in addition to getting up every hour.

Thank you Luke12, sorry for being dim The seats listed are they what is still open or are they the ones sold?

That means 2 seats are still available for purchase. It does not mean they're available as reward seats though, and given there are only 14 seats in the UC cabin, it's unlikely they ever will be I'm afraid.

If by chance they're still unsold 24 hours before the flight, they MAY become available to buy with miles at check-in, although you may have to pay (potentially quite a lot) to get from a K to an S PE fare as a K can't be upgraded with miles.

If you want to be guaranteed of getting them, as Luke says, you'd be best upgrading to UC with cash now as unfortunately you can't use miles to upgrade with the class of ticket you've bought.

They are what's left in the fare buckets shown,basically there are 2 UC seats left

Thank you for the information, need to put my hand in my pocket and or raid the Drug cabinet!

[Nottingham Nick]

Best of luck with getting it sorted, however you decide to proceed.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, the other thing you MUST do, is make sure your holiday insurance covers any problems that may potentially arise from your Wife's pre-existing medical condition. Insurance companies really seem to be tightening up on paying out for things that can be even remotely blamed on pre-existing conditions; and this can lead to massive medical bills especially in the US. n(

Nick

I would get your wife to check with her GP that it is OK for her to fly with a prolapsed disc and to review her pain medication.

The changes in air pressure during the flight may have an effect on the fluid inside the disc and cause her even more pain.

Also you might want to check your travel insurance policy re pre existing medical conditions should anything happen that required treatment whilst you are in the USA.

Also given that she is/may be on some strong pain medication she should also ask her GP to do a note (that she will probably have to pay for) relating to the medication as some common medications in the UK aren't in the US and may raise some suspiscion.

Thank you NN / Tonybear, unfortunately she also Diabetic! As a Amex Plat holder I’m covered but I always take out separate cover for my wife. My sister in law is in insurance and I can ask her for advice on a policy.
Thankfully I have never claimed on any insurance ever, although I take very dim view of the industry.

Thank you NN / Tonybear, unfortunately she also Diabetic! As a Amex Plat holder I’m covered but I always take out separate cover for my wife. My sister in law is in insurance and I can ask her for advice on a policy.
Thankfully I have never claimed on any insurance ever, although I take very dim view of the industry.

If your good lady does not already have travel insurance (and taken out befor her disc problem started)Vthen it is likely that she would not get anyone to cover her for any issues that might crop up relating to her disc problem.

Thank you, I’m going to have put my thinking cap on and explore options. Issues really come to a head the past few days, hence the narrow window.
Thank you V-Flyers, the glass is still half full. :$

[honey lamb]

Another suggestion is that you contact Special Assistance for help in the airport and also so that a note can be added to the flight manifest to alert the cabin crew to her condition

Another suggestion is that you contact Special Assistance for help in the airport and also so that a note can be added to the flight manifest to alert the cabin crew to her condition

She does love a good G&T,like your good self? Perhaps not wise with pills! On that note, is the Vegas flight still Tea total?

Insurance wise, I would suggest that, for a pre-existing medical condition, you make contact with AllClear: http://www.allclearoptions.co.uk

Prolapsed discs are not uncommon in the general population; the severity of the symptoms i.e. pain, numbness, sphincter disturbance, mobility, treatment undertaken, and planned (including medication) and duration of stay abroad will determine your insurance risk and pricing.

take a look at their website and feed in your, honest, details.

NV

Thank you NV, thank fully made some positive steps with pain management and MRI completed.
Relaxing night in Gatwick Hilton should help the following day go smoother. Insurance is taken care of.
Mocktails only, due to medication.
ii)