When working in a humanitarian organization, it is important to have access to affordable flights to reach your destination. These flights allow you to carry much-needed supplies and medical equipment to difficult locations.
In addition, many airlines offer specialized mission airfare options that are lower in price than traditional fares. These fares also include a generous baggage allowance and discounted rates for additional bags.
They Offer Flexible Flights and Cancellation Policies
If you are traveling overseas on a humanitarian trip, it can be a challenge to find flights that will accommodate your luggage and travel schedule. However, many airlines are flexible and willing to work with humanitarian organizations to make sure that your needs are met. In addition, you can often use frequent flyer miles or points to book your flight, depending on the airline and your organization. Some credit cards also have partnerships with charities and may allow you to redeem your points towards humanitarian travel bookings.
Whether you’re traveling with large quantities of medical supplies, food rations, or other types of equipment, it’s essential to find a flight that will allow you to bring these items. Many airlines have specific baggage restrictions for humanitarian travelers, and some even provide a higher baggage allowance or waive fees for these passengers. If you have a specific requirement, it’s best to check with your travel agent to ensure that the airline can meet your needs.
Most charity and humanitarian travel flights are booked as non-refundable tickets at special discounted rates. This means that if you need to cancel or change your flight, you will not receive any type of refund unless there are extenuating circumstances. However, there are some airlines that allow you to donate your unused ticket to a charitable cause instead of paying the cancellation fee.
Another way to save on airfare for humanitarian trips is by traveling outside of peak season. Many airlines offer lower airfares during non-peak times, as they are not expecting a high volume of passengers to take the flight. This can be an excellent option for individuals and groups who are preparing for last-minute humanitarian trips or emergency responses to natural disasters.
Another good way to save on airfare for humanitarian trips is to book through a missionary travel agency that has negotiated contracts with dozens of airlines. These contracts divide thousands of airports across the globe into different zones, and then assign pricing to each zone based on market conditions and seasonal demand. These contracts are typically only available through missionary travel agencies and are usually sold at a lower cost than standard airfare.
They Allow You to Bring Specialist Equipment or Supplies
Whether you’re traveling on a humanitarian flight as an aid worker or to volunteer for charity, it is likely that you will need to bring some specialist equipment or supplies. This can be particularly true for flights that are operating to or from conflict zones or disaster areas where the need is greater than usual. Luckily, many airlines allow for additional baggage allowance on these flights and will waive luggage fees, so you can travel with the supplies that you need.
In addition, some airlines provide humanitarian airfare options. For example, Etihad Airways has a Humanitarian Airline Pass program that offers reduced rates for charitable and aid workers who are traveling on approved humanitarian missions. In addition, American Airlines has a Humanitarian Organization Award Program that allows non-profit organizations and volunteers to redeem award miles for flights on its American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection routes.
Other airlines have dedicated ad-hoc flights to support humanitarian operations. For instance, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the EU launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation that transports material needed for the COVID-19 response, including medicines and vaccinations, to some of the world’s most fragile countries. Moreover, the flights provide rapid medical evacuations for aid workers and their families.
The EU’s ad-hoc flights are also used to temporarily relocate aid workers to safer regions in their country of operation and to assist with passenger repatriation flights organised by Member States. In the past, they have helped address various constraints faced by humanitarian actors on the ground, such as those resulting from security threats that require the evacuation of staff from their workplaces to safe places of refuge.
Whether you’re flying on a charity or humanitarian flight, it’s important to note that these fares are generally non-refundable. While this can be a big drawback, it’s not uncommon for airlines to waive the cancellation fee if you have to cancel your ticket due to extenuating circumstances. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to book your flight as early as possible to guarantee that you’ll be able to get a seat.
They Are More Affordable
Several factors contribute to the cost of overseas humanitarian travel. Some of the most important ones are airfare prices, baggage allowance, and policies on traveling with specialist equipment or supplies. These can add up to a significant bill, but there are ways to reduce costs. One way is to work with a humanitarian travel agency that can negotiate deals with airlines on your behalf.
This allows you to save money on flights and get the flight schedule that works best for your trip. Another option is to travel during the off-season when fares are typically lower. In addition, many airlines offer discounted fares to international volunteers and professionals on qualifying trips. You can also find discounts for direct relatives of workers on humanitarian projects.
Humanitarian airline fares often come with added perks that can make your trip more affordable, such as free or discounted change and cancellation fees, and pre-assigned seat assignments. These extras can save you a lot of money on your airfare, especially if you are booking for a group trip.
Lastly, some airlines offer mission fares that do not limit how long you can stay abroad, which can be incredibly helpful for longer furloughs or visa runs. These fares are not available on all flights, and they may require you to depart from your home base in the US rather than a different country.
Airline staff can also use humanitarian flights to evacuate aid workers for medical reasons or if security threats suddenly escalate in the area where they are working. These evacuations are often faster and more reliable than arranging a cab ride or finding accommodation in a safe location, which can be difficult in remote areas where there are no hotels or restaurants.
The EU funded its own humanitarian air service fleet in 2020 to enable humanitarian organisations to deliver essential aid to hard-to-reach communities in sub-Saharan Africa. It has also conducted numerous repatriation flights during the coronavirus pandemic to bring people back from places where they were stranded as a result of the outbreak. This has helped them to return to their families and continue their life-saving work.
They Are Easy to Book
Using airlines that offer humanitarian airfare can make travel for overseas humanitarian work more affordable. These fares are typically the least expensive flexible tickets and have proven to save nonprofit organizations a third on their flight costs. The airlines also offer reduced cancellation and change fees, making it easy to rebook if plans change. Additionally, these fares allow passengers to bring more luggage. This is especially helpful for aid workers who often need to transport specialist equipment and supplies.
Humanitarian flights are also a vital way for aid workers to evacuate from remote locations when safety threats arise. This was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic when many airlines imposed transport restrictions, forcing humanitarian organisations to arrange charter flights to relocate staff and to provide life-saving medical assistance. In addition, ad-hoc flights can also be used to evacuate staff for medical reasons or to reposition them in a safer region within their country of operation if the security situation becomes too risky to continue working there.
Many charities and humanitarian organizations have a partnership with airlines that enable them to book discounted flights for their staff members. These arrangements may not be available for the general public, so it’s important to consult with a travel agent who has experience with these types of arrangements. Travel agents can help you locate a suitable airline that has this type of partnership, and they can advise you on what kind of documentation you’ll need to provide to qualify for these bookings.
Some airlines will even let you use frequent flyer miles and points on charity and humanitarian travel. However, this option varies from airline to airline, so it’s best to check with your airline or charity directly for more information. Additionally, some credit card companies have partnerships with charities that enable you to redeem points towards charitable flight bookings as well.
When planning an overseas humanitarian trip, it’s essential to consult a travel agent with extensive knowledge of the destination countries you plan to visit. This will ensure that you have access to the most affordable fares, and that you have the right itinerary for your specific needs. If you are travelling with specialist equipment or supplies, it’s also crucial to inform your travel agent in advance so they can make the necessary arrangements with the airline to transport them safely and efficiently.
