Children's Flight of Hope

What you get

Help with a one-way or round-trip itinerary selected with you, commercial airline ticket for one adult companion and commercial airline ticket for your child traveling to medical care.

How to start

Fill in the New Family Application, questionnaire and waiver. Get your doctor’s air-travel approval and financial verification. After acceptance, use your client number to request flights.

Good to know

• Request each flight at least 14 days before departure.
• Two tickets: your child and one authorized adult companion.

What help you may get

Check the main eligibility rules

• A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
• The appointment must be with a board-certified doctor at an accredited medical hospital.
• The child's doctor must complete the Air Transportation Approval Form and medically clear the child for commercial air travel.

Financial need is required.

• A social worker, case manager, referring doctor, or other relevant professional completes financial verification unless the family submits proof of government assistance.
• The family must face significant financial hardship or receive government assistance, but the program publishes no income ceiling.
• The program considers whether flight cost would prohibit travel or create financial hardship.

Where you live and where your child is treated

How to get started

Get ready to apply

Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.

Who can start: Parent Or Guardian

1. After approval, use the flight-request portal for appointments.
2. After program acceptance, submit each flight request with the client ID at least 14 days before departure.
3. Apply as a new family.
4. Complete the Eligibility Questionnaire and waiver, obtain the doctor's Air Transportation Approval Form, and submit financial verification or proof of government assistance.
5. Provide waiver, annual financial verification or government-assistance proof, medical Air Transportation Approval, and Eligibility Questionnaire.
6. Receive the child's client ID and personalized form links from the Missions Team.
7. Review the itinerary options and reservation information provided by the Missions Team.
8. Submit the New Family Application with the child's treatment and travel information.

Documents to prepare

• Air Transportation Approval Form signed by the child's doctor
• Confirmed appointment information
• Eligibility Questionnaire
• Financial verification form completed by a social worker, case manager, referring doctor, or other relevant professional, or proof of government assistance
• Waiver of liability

• The family is responsible for airline check-in and any baggage fees or seat upgrades.
• The Missions Team works with the family to choose an economically reasonable commercial itinerary and sends the reservation information.

Availability and timing

• A family must be accepted before requesting a flight. New families cannot use the urgent exception process for travel less than 14 days away.
• Returning families may seek an urgent exception with certified form.
• Southwest exception for new and returning families applies only when travel is booked and concluded by 2026-08-31.
• Standard request lead time is at least 14 days.
• Every flight request normally must be submitted at least 14 days before departure.
• The Urgent Medical Appointment Form is only for returning families and does not ensure an exception.
• The new-family page says the Missions Team reaches out within 1–2 business days, while the FAQ says 3–5 business days; families should allow up to five business days for the initial response.

Limitations and things to confirm

• Baggage fees and seat upgrades are not covered.
• Changes are supported only for unexpected medical reasons.
• Exactly two tickets with no exceptions.
• New families cannot receive an urgent-flight exception for a request made less than 14 days before departure.
• No air ambulance or medical support.
• Only the child and one adult companion are covered.
• Response time conflicts between one-to-two and three-to-five business days.
• The child must be age 18 or younger, medically cleared for commercial travel, and traveling for confirmed specialized medical care.
• The doctor must be board-certified and the medical hospital accredited.
• The family must demonstrate significant financial hardship or government assistance.

• Does destination scope include Alaska and Hawaii?
• Does the Southwest waiver fully override the new-family urgent restriction?
• Which response time and medical-form validity rule controls?

Official sources

Program details were last verified Aug 28, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.

• FAQs & Resources — Children's Flight of Hope · checked Aug 23, 2026
• New Families Start Here — Children's Flight of Hope · checked Aug 23, 2026
• Commercial Medical Air Travel · checked Aug 24, 2026
• Commercial Medical Air Travel · checked Aug 24, 2026
• Commercial Medical Air Travel · checked Aug 24, 2026