Nepal Airlines has been offering free flight tickets to support cancer patients traveling from Nepal to India for medical treatment.
Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Nepal Airlines officially announced the scheme on February 4, 2024. This announcement was made on the occasion of World Cancer Day. It was a way to show support for people fighting cancer worldwide.
Since its launch, the initiative has already had a notable impact. According to an official press release from Nepal Airlines, over 770 cancer patients have benefited within a year.
Cancer patients get significant discounts on flight tickets under this program. One caregiver traveling alongside the patient is also eligible for a discounted flight ticket. This has helped in making travel more accessible and more affordable during tough times.
How the Discount Works: Fare Concessions Explained
Nepal Airlines has structured its fare discount program to offer progressive concession benefits for cancer patients and their accompanying caregivers.
Here’s how the discount applies for each trip.
1st Time (First Treatment Travel)
- Patient: Receives a 100% discount on the base fare (completely free of charge).
- Caregiver: Eligible for a 50% discount on base fare, provided they are traveling with the patient.
2nd Time (Follow-Up Travel)
- Patient: Receives a 50% discount on base fare.
- Caregiver: Receives a 25% discount, provided they are accompanying the patient.
3rd Time (Final or Continued Check-up)
- Patient: Eligible for a 25% discount on base fare.
- Caregiver: No discount available on the third trip.
This structured discount system for flight tickets is particularly helpful for cancer patients. They often require multiple visits abroad. These visits are typically for first treatment, follow-up, extended care, or reviews.
By flying with Nepal Airlines, patients can save three times in terms of costs during their treatment journey.
(Note: These discounts apply only to the airline’s base fare; taxes are still applicable.)
Requirements: What You Need to Get the Discount
Nepal Airlines provides meaningful airfare concessions for cancer patients and their caregivers. Nonetheless, travelers must fulfill specific requirements to qualify for the discount.
These documents and procedures are mandatory to guarantee the concession is granted in an organized and verified manner.
Medical Proof Required
- The patient must present a medical report confirming a cancer diagnosis, issued by a recognized doctor or medical institution.
- Acceptable documents include a biopsy, FNAC, or CT scan report that supports the diagnosis and ongoing treatment recommendation.
Referral & Recommendation Letter from NCRS
To access the airfare discount, patients must obtain a formal letter of recommendation from the Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS). This letter verifies the patient’s eligibility and allows them to claim the concession.
To get this letter, the following documents must be submitted to NCRS:
- Referral letter from a hospital in Nepal stating the patient’s diagnosis of cancer.
- A copy of the biopsy, FNAC, or CT scan report.
- Citizenship or passport of both the patient and the caregiver. For passengers below 16 years of age, a birth certificate is accepted in place of citizenship while traveling.
Once NCRS verifies your documents, they will issue a recommendation letter. Then you can submit it to the Nepal Airlines office in Kathmandu to avail the fare discount.
Arranging of necessary documents is crucial for you to avoid getting stranded at the airport during your flight time.
How to Apply for the Discount
Once you have your medical reports, referral letters, and ID or passport copies ready, head to the Nepal Airlines office in Kathmandu for the application process.
Remember, you can only confirm discounted tickets at the Nepal Airlines office, not through travel agencies.
The application process typically involves the next steps:
- Visit the Nepal Airlines office with all the required documents (as mentioned above).
- Show the recommendation letter from Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) along with supporting medical reports and identity documents.
- The ticketing staff will verify your documents and process the applicable airfare discount based on your eligibility.
- Once approved, your discounted or free ticket will be issued.
When to Apply?
Passengers are advised to finish this process at least 2 to 3 business days before their planned departure. This will guarantee a smooth verification and a better ticketing experience.
Nonetheless, in emergency cases, applications will still be accepted. This depends on whether the ticketing office is open and whether the process can be facilitated.
Nepal Airlines staff are generally cooperative and understanding in urgent medical situations.
Route of Travel Covered by the Discount
Nepal Airlines offers discounted flight tickets for cancer patients on the Nepal-India sector only. At this time, flights to destinations outside India are not included in this discount program.
Most passengers use the Kathmandu–Delhi–Kathmandu route, as many patients travel to Delhi for cancer treatment.
Nonetheless, the discount is not limited to Delhi alone. The patient is eligible for the same fare concession if they travel for treatment to other Indian destinations served by Nepal Airlines. This includes destinations like Mumbai or Bangalore. But all eligibility criteria must be met.
If Nepal Airlines expands the scheme to other countries or routes in the future, updates will be published on their official website. Alternatively, updates will be available through the Nepal Cancer Relief Society.
Who Can Benefit: Nationality & Eligibility
The fare concession advantage is only available to Nepalese nationals for cancer treatment.
The accompanying caregiver must also be a Nepali citizen, holding a valid citizenship certificate or passport.
If the patient is under 16 years of age, a birth certificate can be submitted in place of citizenship.
Maximizing Your Fare Discount
When traveling for cancer treatment, patients often need to make multiple trips for diagnosis, follow-ups, and recovery checkups. To make the most of the fare concession program, here are some key tips to help you book efficiently and maximize your discount:
Book Round-Trip Tickets Together
If you’re traveling from Kathmandu (KTM) to Delhi (DEL) and back soon, it’s best to book a round-trip ticket (KTM–DEL–KTM). This is better than purchasing two one-way tickets.
For example, booking KTM–DEL counts as one trip. Booking KTM–DEL–KTM will also count as one trip, making it more cost-effective and easier to process the discount.
Comparing Regular Fare and Discounted Fare
Nepal Airlines applies the fare concession to the base fare of Y-class tickets (full-fare economy class). And, passengers still need to pay the applicable taxes and fuel surcharges.
There are times when the regular flight ticket price is very low, somewhat equal to the payable taxes. Using the discount during these periods won’t save much. In such cases, it’s often smarter to buy a regular ticket and save your discount for your next travel.
For example, A low round-trip fare totals around NPR 22,000 (including base fare and taxes). When applying the cancer patient discount, passengers pay only the taxes. It can still amount to approximately NPR 17,000 to 18,000.
This means there’s not much difference in using your discount. So save it for later travel during peak seasons, when fares are higher.
Peak Season Travel
Sometimes, when you need to travel for treatment, the travel season can be at its peak. This causes fares to rise significantly.
In such cases, using your discounted ticket on a high-demand date helps you save the greatest amount. This lets you travel with peace of mind.
FAQs
1. Can I use the discount for Delhi–Kathmandu return only?
Yes. If you booked a one-way ticket from Kathmandu to Delhi earlier, you can still claim a discount. This discount applies to the return trip. (Delhi–Kathmandu).
2. How do I book the Delhi to Kathmandu discounted tickets later, being in Delhi?
The discount is available only from Nepal Airlines’ head Office at Kathmandu. In that case, your relatives can submit the application and documents on your behalf at Nepal Airlines’ Kathmandu office.
2. Can a caregiver travel alone using the discount?
No. The caregiver discount is only valid when they are traveling with the patient on the same booking and flight. Solo travel by the caregiver is not eligible for the concession.
3. Can more than one caregiver get a discount?
Multiple caregivers do accompany the patient for support. Yet, only one designated caregiver is eligible for the airfare discount per trip. You must declare the caregiver’s identity during the booking process.
Conclusion
Airlines providing student discounts and added benefits for frequent travelers are a growing trend. But Nepal Airlines has gone a step further by compassionately offering free services to those in urgent need. A gesture of deep compassion, turning travel into a path of hope and relief for individuals battling cancer.
It aims to ease the financial burden of air travel for patients. This ensures they have prompt access to critical care without extra challenges. With proper documentation and coordination with the NCRS, eligible patients and caregivers can benefit from this generous scheme.
Even a slight savings can help one to pay for their medications and make their expenses lighter. It not only relieves the financial burden but also promotes easier access to international medical treatment.
NAC or NCRS policies can change or expand over time. So, it’s a good idea to check their websites regularly for updates.
Share this with anyone undergoing cancer treatment and heading to India. It will ease their journey in more ways than one.