Lie-flat transport on a scheduled airline
For patients who can't sit upright for a flight, a row of seats on a commercial airliner is removed and replaced with an airline-approved stretcher. Our clinical team travels with the patient and manages care throughout, at a fraction of the cost of a private air ambulance.
At a glance
- Position
- Lie-flat for the whole flight
- Installed
- Airline-approved stretcher over a row of seats
- Privacy
- Curtained stretcher area
- Team
- Full clinical escort team & equipment on board
- Carriers
- Many international airlines
- Cost
- A fraction of a private air ambulance
How a commercial stretcher works
The airline removes a block of seats, typically at the rear of the economy cabin, and installs its approved stretcher with privacy curtains around it. The patient boards before other passengers and travels lying flat, with our clinical team seated alongside and their equipment on board.
Because the stretcher travels on a scheduled international flight, the patient benefits from the airline's global network rather than the cost of chartering an entire aircraft and crew. Oxygen, medications, and monitoring are managed by the team throughout, exactly as on a seated escort.
Who a stretcher is right for
- Patients who are medically stable but can't sit upright for the duration of a flight
- Patients recovering from surgery, fractures, or a stroke who need to stay lying down
- Long-haul international repatriations where a private air ambulance would be prohibitively expensive
What we arrange
- Clinical assessment of fitness to fly, including whether a stretcher is genuinely required
- Airline medical clearance (MEDIF) and the stretcher booking with the carrier's medical desk
- Full clinical escort team and in-flight equipment, including oxygen where needed
- Ambulance and stretcher-van transfers at both ends, with airport and boarding assistance
- Hospital or rehab admission coordinated before arrival
Stretcher, seated escort, or air ambulance?
Some patients who are told they need a stretcher can travel safely seated with a medical escort beside them, at lower cost and on more routes. Others genuinely need to lie flat, and a small number need a full ICU in the air. Our clinical team assesses each case and recommends the option that is safest for the patient and most sensible for whoever is paying.
When a medical escort is the smarter choice
Air ambulance is essential for critically unstable patients. For everyone else, a commercial medical escort delivers comparable safety for far less cost.
Our clinical team assesses every patient’s fitness to fly and recommends the safest option, and we’ll tell you honestly if an air ambulance is the right call.
Commercial Stretcher: common questions
Straight answers from our coordination team. Still unsure? Call us and we'll walk you through the options, with no obligation.
Which airlines offer stretcher service?
Stretcher service is offered by many international carriers, mainly on long-haul widebody aircraft. Availability depends on the route, the aircraft type, and the airline's medical desk, so we confirm the options for each case rather than promising a specific carrier.
How far in advance does a stretcher need to be booked?
Airlines need lead time to remove the seats and clear the patient medically, so a stretcher usually takes longer to arrange than a seated escort. We'll give you a realistic timeline up front once we know the route.
Does a clinician travel with a stretcher patient?
Always. A full clinical escort team travels with the patient and manages oxygen, medications, and monitoring throughout the journey.
How does a commercial stretcher compare with an air ambulance on cost?
A commercial stretcher is a lie-flat option at a fraction of the cost of a private air ambulance. The price depends on the route, the carrier, and the clinical team required. Tell us the situation and we'll provide a clear, transparent quote.
Case studies & guides
Case studies and practical guides from real CME missions, written by the people who fly them.
All insightsNeed to bring a patient home?
Call our coordination team or send us the case details. We’ll review the situation and give you clear options.