Adopters are given a 60% discount on airfare when they travel to the adopting country to pick up their children. How 'bout that? Very generous of the airlines.
I will say that there may be certain restrictions and limitations that apply, and I get the impression that it's not readily advertised. Also according to the link, the 50%-65% discount is applied to the child's airfare:
"This is when the adoption fare program may be a good deal because when parents choose the adoption fare, the child's ticket is 50-65% off depending on the airline and seating choice. These savings may help balance out the parent's expensive tickets."
(Please visit the above link for all the info.)Now how about this for the suggestion box? May I have a 60% discount when I return to visit that country? Why not? It makes sense to me that it should go both ways. Discount to be transplanted, why not a discount to revisit the place of my birth?
Now I could see particular individuals of a certain sociopolitical bent replying, why certainly, and while you're at it, make that a one-way ticket, you ungrateful little thing.
And I would say, well, I didn't choose to come here in the first place, you ignorant...let me interrupt myself--
Where is this awful, acerbic tone coming from? I think I'm too tired and exhausted to govern myself. Oh well, I can't be that perfect, sensible, compliant, docile little Asian all the time...
33 comments:
60% off is definitely NOT the norm for adopters. This is one of those rumours that surfaces frequently but really isn't true, at least not for 99% of us. Anybody who thinks they are getting a special 60 % off 'adoption airfare' is probably getting duped by their travel agency. I can see why it would make you angry, but take heart, I think it's pretty likely that the PAP your friend was talking to was just talking out of their butt.
I'm sorry you're feeling so tired. May the sleep be with you.
I don't know ANYONE who got a discount like this. I do know of some people who saved that were a part of a large group--maybe 10%, but never anything like this.
To chime in with the other posters-- I believe that this is just a rumor. We too had heard about these kind of *deals* but were never actually able to find them. I don't know of any adoptive families who were given such a discount by an airline for their travel.
While I agree with the idea of offering discounts for return trips if there is a discount for the first, I have never, ever heard of these types of discounts. I think it is just a rumor. Agree with Claudia that perhaps it's a marketing ploy on the part of a travel agent, but to my knowledge there are no such discounts.
Melissa,
I really can’t speak about the airfare issue, but I would tend to agree with you on that.
The first few months of motherhood, just flat out suck…a lot! Especially with the first child, the lack of daily showers the vomit in your hair, the leaky boobs and sleep deprivation can leave you feeling very raw (or at least it did me). Hang in there, you will get more sleep….someday.
It's not a rumor. I was speaking directy with the AP, who has already adopted 2 kids from Korea. She told me she is picking up the 3rd in July and when she gets the call, she has 2 days to retrieve him. When I commented that airfare must be exorbitant with that short notice, she told me there is a 60% off adoption fare. I don't know if it's subsidized by the adoption agency or the airlines but I do know adoptees don't have that option. And I was too stunned to ask.
That is ridiculous. Where is MY discount?? I pay full fare for every flight I take to see my n family, who all live at least 2000 miles away from me.
Not to mention, if you can't afford to the trips, how will you afford the lifetime of therapy for the kid?
Oh, the irony....
Wow. Adoptive parents really do get everything!
I'm not even going to ask about first families- I know THAT will be laughed out- but what about the adoptees? Why do they always get shorted?
Huh, I really don't think that's true. Perhaps it is something w/ that person's particular agency (worked into the fees) or airline or who knows what, but there was no such discount for us no matter what airline we took. I've never heard of anyone getting a discount like that and I know a zillion APs... it would be all the talk if that was normal.
oops. here is the link:
http://adoption.about.com/od/international/bb/adoptionfare.htm
it's one of the links that came up when i googled "airline adoption fare"
Of course, I don't mean to propagate false info. So, I certainly appreciate everyone's feedback.
However, it does seem that adoption airfare is real, but perhaps not readily advertised & also seems to come w/certain restrictions & limitations (maybe like bereavement discounts--if you don't inform the airlines or don't know to ask then you would not receive a bereavement discount...I only learned of this when I had to fly to a funeral due to a close friend's sudden death).
Visit the link that Sona posted. It's very informative. It is possible that perhaps adoption airfares may be offered through only particular airlines, not sure. But nonetheless, they're not just rumors, they seem legit.
And their availability also may not be readily advertised or discussed perhaps due to the reactions such knowledge might elicit from people like myself...
Here's an excerpt from the link Sona shared:
"This is when the adoption fare program may be a good deal because when parents choose the adoption fare, the child's ticket is 50-65% off depending on the airline and seating choice. These savings may help balance out the parent's expensive tickets."
Also, I updated the post with the related link and clarification...
We looked into the adoption airfare discount when we adopted and the catch is that the discount is off full price fares, which people aren't paying anywhere close to most of the time anyway. We actually got a better price on our tickets by *not* using the adoption fare.
"Anybody who thinks they are getting a special 60 % off 'adoption airfare' is probably getting duped by their travel agency" kinda fits with the adoption industry and all the duping that goes on there too.
It may be as Kate says--off full fare. Our adoption agency claimed they received a discounted rate (not 60%), but I found that to be false in the overall scheme of things. Their discount was off full fare, I found much better flight prices online and paid several hundred dollars less by booking through an Asian travel agency.
As the article also points out, those large discounts are off child's seats. That was case when we traveled back to China--the child had to be under six and only on certain seats. It also did not apply to first or business class tickets--exception on a Chinese airline that did allow the child's seat discounted in business premium--glorifies coach.
"Wow. Adoptive parents really do get everything!"
We are not all bad people. I don't really understand this statement. Some of us desire a relationship with our children's first families. Some of us didn't adopt to "save a child" . Some of us would love to snap our fingers and wiggle our noses to make all of the night terrors, grief and trauma go away because it is really gut wrenching to watch your daughter that you love more than yourself be in so much pain. But all we can do is love them, hold them and try to be the person that they are actually grieving for...some of us get it. In a perfect world, my daughter's would have grown up in their own culture and with their own families...but obviously this world isn't perfect. In a perfect world, I would have all of the answers for my daughters as to why they were given up for adoption but I don't and for my little Lottie the answer that I usually have to give "I'm not sure" is just not good enough for her. And maybe I am being too sensitive...maybe I am understanding...finally... how awful it is to be "grouped" in with people such as Adoptee's are often grouped together in a negative way. I guess I just feel like that if we are ever going to change the face of adoption...we will have to all work together....all of us.....so that the face of adoption won't be what it is today. And that we should all be careful of our words...I have learned so much from reading Melissa's blog, things I would have never understood before. I am a better AP for it, I am certain of this. I promise if you knew my heart you would know I am not attacking you, that is not my nature at all.....I even waited awhile before typing this and was going to leave it alone. Just please know that "some of us" are really trying. Please forgive me if I have taken this statement completely out of context.
1. Yes, I believe you took what I said a little too personally, but I can understand why you did. I didn't mean it personally, I was just being sarcastic- it's part of who I am.
2. Yes, it does suck to be stereotyped in a negative way.
3 Adoptive parents aren't without their own difficulties, but they do get the most out of adoption. That's just a fact.
4. That being said, I do not think all adoptive parents are horrible people (Nor do they always have it easy). Most adoptive parents are not. My children's adoptive parents are wonderful, and I can honestly say that each of their mothers are some of my closest friends.
5. I am glad that you are supportive of your daughter and seek out ways to be a better parent for her. I think that is awesome.
I apologize if my comment seemed mean-spirited. I did not mean it that way.
"Some of us didn't adopt to "save a child"
True. That said, the only way a child can be adopted is because someone else couldn't "save" them first.
I did search around for airline tickets when we adopted. I did not find any airline that provided discounted tickets for adoption.
If you have a young child flying with you (not sure of the age) the airlines I have found that the airlines *sometimes* give the child a slightly reduced rate of
~20%. This was for a flight not at all related to adoption and also for one that was the ticket for our oldest when we adopted her sister. Only the child's ticket was discounted by approximately 20%.
everyone, i just got off the phone with delta (3/24/11). YES. they do offer discounted fares on international travel only. the rep wasn't super knowledgeable and had to put me on hold many times, but she came back with this info: the ADULT(s) is to be charged 35% of the fare - that is a 65% off discount. it has to be a round trip ticket and the discount does not apply to the child. of course you have to furnish adoption info and must travel within 3 days.
but really, the whole point is that yes, the discount applies. and applies to the ADOPTIVE parent. the discount does not apply to the child, nor do they offer a discount for adoptees who wish to visit their country of origin. the frustration among us adoptees is that we are not regarded in any such importance that WE would receive a discounted fare. that is unless we were not naturalized by our parents, and then shipped back to our country of origin on the government's tab.
Ugh! Who cares if it is a rumor or just hasn't been put out there yet...I don't think that was her point! RRrrgh!
Either way, you are right Yoon...get your discount for going back to your rightful home and culture. Good grief...people can be so daft. That's the problem.
@ Demeter, I have to say I do appreciate you acknowledging and redirecting back to the original point of my post--basically, the overall & persistent status quo: the imbalance of power, favor, and focus given to AP's...while adoptees are generally expected to assume a passive, powerless, compliant role...
Yes, this fare is real. However, I don't think a lot of "adopters" use it. When we adopted from China in 2009 I looked into the adoption fare. With only 5 days notice until we had to leave and a little help from a friend who is from Beijing and travels to China regularly, not only did I get a decent deal that was several hundred dollars better than the adoption fare, I got our child's fare at considerably less than the full fare I would have had to pay if I had used the adoption fare. These sorts of "special fares" are off the several-thousand-dollar full price fares, and you still have to pay full price for the child's fare, which, for a seat, are almost as high as the adult tickets. In fact, the only benefit I can see to use the fare at all is that you wouldn't have to pay extra to change your schedule. In the world of business this is called a gimmick.
Vivian
I'll repeat what I said to Demeter:
@ Demeter, I have to say I do appreciate you acknowledging and redirecting back to the original point of my post--basically, the overall & persistent status quo: the imbalance of power, favor, and focus given to AP's...while adoptees are generally expected to assume a passive, powerless, compliant role...
Furthermore, as this example demonstrates--regardless of the details or "gimmickiness" of the discounted fares--it is worth recognizing the reality that the adoption system is currently set up to favor & cater to the adopters...I'm just sayin'... ;)
I hear you Melissa, I really do, and I think you have a really good point, one worth considering for several other issues, but I would not look at this particular thing as any "favor" to APs/PAPs. This so-called discount is almost always more expensive than other available fares, and is used as a way to make APs/PAPs who have fears of traveling abroad pay MORE for some piece of mind of having a flexible schedule. In many ways, the airlines are taking advantage of the APs and PAPs who use it. It is similar to shops that raise their prices of something 400%, then advertise a 70% off sale. Airlines do this all the time. Furniture stores and airlines are the worst for this sort of gimmick.
Vivian
Vivian...I see your point--I wasn't trying to make a cheap shot. I need to be sure to check my facts. And the AP that relayed this info needs to be aware of how she communicates such details. Regardless, it's on me...perhaps this particular instance is not the most relevant example (now that I understand the details more clearly) for the pertaining point being made...
Why do you call them "adopters'? Just a way to say they aren't real parents?
Jessica, I have followed Melissa's blog for quite some time now. She loves her adoptive parents and her Omma and her Appa very much. I have never seen her write with the harsh words that you have written. You should really get to know her heart before writing something like that.
"Why do you call them "adopters'? Just a way to say they aren't real parents?"
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that maybe, JUST maybe, she called them "adopters" because.... That's what they are. I mean, I could be wrong, but that's the only thing that seems to make sense.
lol. It's ridiculous the things people take offense to.
@ Jessica...an honest question you ask, I suppose. But also uninformed. It almost makes me laugh, simply because it's so obvious that you didn't bother to read anything else on my blog before making such an erroneous assumption.
(don't know if you'll even read these responses or if you were just doing a "troll-by" to stir up negativity...hope you were sincerely asking me with a willingness to hear me out & acknowledge your mis-assumption...)
"Not Just a Birth Mom" is indeed correct. My use of "adopters" was not intended to be a loaded word but simply an encompassing descriptor for adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents...When I'm called an "adoptee" rather than an "adopted daughter" I do not not then assume that I am not considered the "real child" of my American parents. (Also, I rarely refer to my parents as "adoptive" because I don't really like the distinction. I simply refer to them as my parents or my American parents--versus my Korean parents--for clarity's sake because I'm in reunion.)
Furthermore, I would encourage you to read my blog in more detail. (As @ Byrd's Nest recommended--if you're truly interested in informing & educating yourself).
Even if you had taken a minute to read the tab "The Journey," one of the first things I say is that "I not only love my Dad and Mom, I also respect and admire them. We have our disagreements, and I suspect they still don't understand me and I don't understand them. But we do our best." (which could be said of a lot of parent-child relationships, regardless of adoptive or non-adoptive status)
Also, if you will take the time to read a recent post, "She's a Broken Record: Why talk about Adoptee Loss again & again?" I think you'll realize more accurately the context of my blog and where I'm coming from...
http://yoonsblur.blogspot.com/2010/07/shes-broken-record-why-talk-about.html
Best to you, Jessica...
I will admit that this post is a bit more antagonistic than my usual tone, so I don't half blame you, Jessica, for responding in an antagonistic way...If I'm going to dish it out, I suppose I should be ready to eat it back...
Even still, I consider myself to have 4 "real" parents (and well, seven if you include my in-laws...). So, there, that should answer your question, Jessica. ;)
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