Hope Air provides four programs to assist patients and their escorts for medical travel. Programs and Eligibility may vary based upon province of residence. These programs are:
Free Airline Travel: airline travel booked with major commercial airlines such as WestJet, Porter, Pacific Coastal, Air Canada, etc. Hope Air also provides seasonal small aircraft services through our Volunteer Pilot Program for patients living far from commercial airports.
Free Hotel/Lodge Accommodation: hotel accommodations for patients and their escorts. This program is available when flying through Hope Air, or driving to a medical appointment that is 80km or greater from your residence.
Free Meal Vouchers: When staying overnight at a hotel provided through Hope Air.
Free Ground Transportation: Car service through Uber, providing car transportation from airport to hospital, hospital to accommodation, and back to airport.
To be eligible for free travel services, you must:
Hope Air provides free flights for one escort when requested in the application. All individuals 19 years old and under must have an escort accompany them whose flight is also provided for free.
Patients may obtain one free flight and related travel arrangements for an escort to accompany them if requested in their application. Escorts must be 19 years of age or older.
Hope Air support under this program is currently reserved for patients traveling by air with Hope Air to reach their medical appointment.
We arrange flights throughout Canada, in all 10 provinces, on hundreds of routes.
Hope Air provides limited private flights in small aircraft through our volunteer pilot program. More information on this program can be found HERE.
No, we only provide free flights to non-emergency medical care. We are not able to assist individuals who need to be on a stretcher or who need medical staff traveling with them. You must be able to sit in a regular passenger seat on a commercial aircraft.
The Volunteer Pilot Program is made up of licensed volunteer pilots across the country who fly patients to their appointments in their small, private aircraft. Prior to being assigned a flight with a volunteer pilot, Hope Air will ask you if you are comfortable flying in a smaller aircraft.
Unfortunately, we cannot reimburse you for any flight or bus tickets you have purchased.
Unfortunately, we are not able to assist in this matter. Hope Air does not arrange compassionate flights. Our mandate is to assist individuals with travel to and from medical facilities to receive the care they cannot receive in their hometowns.
No, Hope Air is a charity that books flights for patients on commercial airlines, or on private airplanes through the Volunteer Pilot Program.
Hope Air support under this program is currently reserved for patients traveling by air with Hope Air to reach their medical appointment.
If you have any changes to your appointment or travel needs after your flights are booked please contact Hope Air immediately at 1-877-346-HOPE (4673).
Patients are eligible for support under this program provided that they are residents of British Columbia and need to travel long distances to reach medical care. Patients must also have a confirmed medical appointment prior to completing an application for support. Patients must also disclose their gross annual household income for the previous year together with number of persons living in the household.
One escort will be approved if requested by the patient or social worker and confirmed by the referring doctor. Escorts must be 19 years of age or older. Children will be automatically approved for one escort.
Hope Air will offer up to 3 accommodation nights.
Hope Air support under this program is currently reserved for patients traveling by air through Hope Air to reach their medical appointment.
Hope Air has partnered with Health PEI to offer free Confederation Bridge toll or Northumberland Ferry passes for eligible PEI residents (with a valid PEI Health Card) requiring out-of-province transport by private vehicle for medical services in another province.
Hope Air offers free overnight accommodations for eligible patients traveling by air with Hope Air to medical appointments and for approved travel companions/escorts.
Hope Air has partnerships with select hotels in the cities where our patients travel. We will always try to book a convenient location near your treatment centre.
To be eligible to receive free accommodations, you must:
Submit a travel request online by clicking here or by calling 1-877-346-HOPE (4673). If your travel request is approved, you will be asked to provide additional details to ensure we can book a place that meets all of your needs.
Patients resident in Ontario who require 3 or more nights of accommodation in Toronto, to attend schedule medical appointments, will be referred by Hope Air to Staywell, an independent Toronto charity. Patients will be reimbursed by Hope Air for a maximum of 5 nights accommodation expenses paid by the patient to Staywell, provided receipts and other required documentation are sent to Hope Air. Additional details on the reimbursement process and conditions will be provided to patients via email.
Staywell provides fully furnished apartment suites in downtown Toronto accommodating Hope Air patients (and their escort) requiring 3 or more nights of accommodation. Staywell apartment units are located within a 15 drive to most major downtown Hospitals. All Staywell units include kitchens, laundry, high-speed internet and other amenities. Patients will be contacted directly by Staywell upon referral from Hope Air. For more information on Staywell: www.staywell.ca
Hope Air support under this program is currently reserved for patients requiring travel by air through Hope Air to reach their medical appointment.
Hope Air will provide patients (and escorts) with free or discounted car transportation from your home to departing airport and from your arrival airport to your hospital or hotel and back. Digital vouchers will be provided through the Uber Ride platform to patients. You need the Uber app on your mobile phone to take advantage this program.
This service is delivered through the Uber car transportation network and is available at all major Canadian airports. Uber serves Canadian cities including Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax
You can schedule Uber rides to pick you up and drop you off at your departing airport and upon landing through the Uber Ride application.
Upon landing at the arrival airport, and after collecting your bags, you can order your Uber pick-up at airport through the App. Once you confirm your pick-up, there will be clear instructions on where to meet the car at the airport. Usually, this will be outside of the arrivals level of the airport, with a clear designated area, marker or curb area.
If you are unable to locate your Uber car after ordering, the Uber driver may call you to explain where to meet the car. You can also message the driver on the Uber app to ask for help.
Follow this process to book your return Uber ride whether you are leaving from Hospital or Hotel to return to the airport. You will be asked to confirm the specific address for pick-up by the Uber driver.
The voucher can only be used by the patient on the day(s) of travel confirmed by Hope Air. The voucher is restricted to transportation from home to departing airport and arrival airport to hospital or accommodation and back home. Patient escorts may travel with the patient through this program. The voucher may not be assigned, transferred, or sold to anyone else. Vouchers will automatically expire and be null and void if not used on the days confirmed by Hope Air.
No. Uber operates as an autonomous independent company. All terms and conditions relating to an Uber ride are set by Uber and accepted by a rider. Hope Air only provides free or discounted Uber ride vouchers to assist patients with car transportation from and to airport.
This program is operated by Uber independently of Hope Air. Hope Air is not involved in the selection of Uber vehicles or drivers. Hope Air assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind relating to your Uber ride, and you understand that there are inherent risks in all forms of transportation including Uber car service from and to Airports. You are under no obligation to use the Uber service as part of your Hope Air travel support.
Other ground transportation programs may exist in specific cities across Canada. Only Hope Air provides an integrated national program that combines air, hotel, meals and airport ground transportation service for families in need.
Hope Air provides free dining or meal vouchers for patients (excluding escorts) staying overnight in a city, as part of Hope Air travel assistance for medical care and is available in most Canadian cities.
The voucher can only be used by the patient on the day(s) of travel confirmed by Hope Air. The voucher may not be assigned, transferred, or sold to anyone else. Vouchers will automatically expire and be null and void if not used on the days confirmed by Hope Air.
Patients who are eligible for the bridge/ferry pass through Hope Air’s travel program are eligible for the gas card. Please visit hopeair.ca/travelrequest to apply!
We acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded, traditional territories of many Indigenous peoples. We are grateful for the privilege of being on lands that these peoples have nurtured since time immemorial.
Exigences de mise à jour des connaissances:
Veuillez noter que tous les pilotes bénévoles doivent être entièrement vaccinés contre la COVID-19.
Pour toute question ou préoccupation, veuillez contacter Andrew Knight à aknight@hopeair.ca
Recency Requirements:
Please note, all volunteer pilots must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
For questions or concerns, please contact Andrew Knight at aknight@hopeair.ca