Frequently Asked Questions

These are the most frequently asked questions that veterans ask when contacting our offices

I sent in my Application but I haven’t heard anything. What’s up?
Can my wife (husband) go with me?
I am the widow of a WWII Veteran. Can I go?
How do you decide which veterans get to go?
How much does it cost? How much money do I need to bring?
Can I make a donation to Honor Flight?
I am a WWII Veteran that really wants to go see my Memorials. If I make a donation, can I move up on the list?
Can a family member go as my Guardian?
Can my family meet me at the Memorials in Washington?
What if there is no Honor Flight program in my state?
How are you funded?
What if the veteran is on oxygen or will need a wheelchair?
Are terminally ill WWII Veterans given any special priority?

I sent in my Application but I haven’t heard anything. What’s up?
Please visit www.honorflight.net/veterans.html then click on Sorted by Last Name or Sorted by Date Received to find your name. If your name is on the list, then just be patient, we will contact you when you have been selected for your Flight.

Can my wife (husband) go with me?
No. At the present time, we have many WWII Veterans on our waiting list and hundreds more who will apply. It is doubtful that we will get to every deserving veteran in time. Many WWII Veterans have passed away while patiently waiting their turn. Scores more will not live long enough to visit their precious Memorial. Can you image how long the waiting list would be if we added non-veteran spouses to our waiting list? The only spouses that are permitted to go are those who are Veterans themselves and have applied to go.

I am the widow of a WWII Veteran. Can I go?
Sadly, the answer is "no". Again, we simply do not have the resources, funding, or seating available to transport all the WWII Veterans who are presently on our national waiting list. Adding spouses and widows simply isn't an option for our program.

How do you decide which veterans get to go?
Veterans are flown on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Veterans 90 years old or older are given priority as are terminally-ill Veterans of any age.

How much does it cost? How much money do I need to bring?
The cost is FREE for Veterans selected to go. You do not need to bring any money, unless you intend to purchase souvenirs.

Can I make a donation to Honor Flight?
Honor Flight gratefully accepts donations from anyone EXCEPT WWII Veterans. We feel that WWII Veterans have given enough. This is our way of saying "Thank you!"

I am a WWII Veteran that really wants to go see my Memorials. If I make a donation, can I move up on the list?
No . It’s first come, first served… your money won’t be accepted for any reason.

Can a family member go as my Guardian?
Family members can apply to be a Guardian but, if selected as a Guardian, they will not be your Guardian. Please understand that we take approximately 125 Veterans to Washington D.C. but we only take about 40 Guardians out of Huntsville (we meet up with the other 85 in Washington D.C.). Your Guardian has been specially trained to be there for your safety, comfort, and security and they answer to the Honor Flight Leadership. Experience has shown us that family members, while good-intentioned, do not stick-to-business and are more likely to do things they shouldn’t.

Can my family meet me at the Memorials in Washington?
Absolutely. We arrive at the WWII Memorial between 10 and 11 am (Eastern time). Of course, it is your family’s responsibility to get there and back. Your assigned Guardian must remain with you at all times and you will not be permitted to leave the Memorial area. There is no additional bus space for families so they need to make their own arrangements while in D.C.

What if there is no Honor Flight program in my state?
If a program does not exist in your part of the country, you may submit an application anyway. Once the application has been received, you will be invited to participate on a flight when your name comes up. You will be responsible for obtaining travel to and from Huntsville, AL, hotels, meals, etc. Starting at 5 a.m. on your Flight Day, Honor Flight will cover the cost of the trip from Huntsville to DC and back again, to include three meals, bus transportation, etc. We will deliver you back to Huntsville, AL at approximately 8 pm that same evening. After your arrival, it becomes your responsibility to get back home, make additional accommodations, etc.

How are you funded?
Honor Flight receives donations for thousands of individuals who mail in $1 to $10,000. Our funding comes primarily from individuals across the country who recognize the great accomplishments and sacrifices of Veterans and want them to see their memorial before it’s too late. Our corporate sponsors include organizations who want to stand beside the Veterans who have bought freedom and allowed these companies to be so successful. Corporate Sponsors include The Huntsville Times; WAFF Channel 48, Huntsville, AL; Dynetics, Inc.; Elite Travel; Boeing; Lockheed Martin; Woody Anderson Ford; SAIC, Inc.; and US Airways, to name a few. Please do business with these guys!

What if the veteran is on oxygen or will need a wheelchair?

WHEELCHAIRS – Let us know! About 30% of the veterans we have been transporting over the past three years have been in wheelchairs. Our deluxe motor coaches are ordered based upon this fact. Many of our coaches are equipped with wheelchair lifts. We own about 100 Wheelchairs so no need to bring yours! When you arrive at the Airport on Flight Day, volunteers will have a Wheelchair waiting.

OXYGEN -- Let us know! If you require oxygen, a prescription for the oxygen must be provided by the veteran’s healthcare provider, identifying the delivery method (mask or nasal cannula), frequency (as needed or continuously), and the rate of delivery (2-3 liters per minute). Our Oxygen coordinator will contact you and we will make arrangements to have your Oxygen waiting for you in Washington DC. Honor Flight will provide an FAA approved oxygen concentrator for use during the trip. Veterans on oxygen are required to have oxygen cylinders available from their home to the departure airport and also on the return from their local airport back to their homes. No oxygen cylinders are permitted to be used on the aircraft.

Are terminally ill WWII Veterans given any special priority?
YES! Such veterans go to the top of the list for the next flight departing to Washington DC.