Travel Resources Page

Your case manager may not be in office on the day of your appointment. If you need URGENT assistance (something must be done before they return to office or within the next 24 hours) and are unable to reach them, please email us at urgentalex312@gmail.com.  We monitor that from Monday through Saturday, 9AM-5PM and are unable to guarantee assistance outside of these times. PLEASE include your full name and phone number in this email to ensure a faster response.

Please kindly note: If the issue is not urgent, please reach out to your case manager via call or text. They will get back to you and answer all of your questions as soon as they are able to.

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Travel & Transit Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you missed your flight but it departed within the last two hours, please head to the airport regardless and they will rebook you there. 

    If you have your case manager’s number, please reach out to them to reschedule. If you can’t find their contact information, or your case manager is out of office, please email us at urgentalex312@gmail.com as soon as possible. We monitor that from Monday-Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM CST. Please include your full name and phone number in this email so that we can support you.

    Please note: If you miss your travel and are not able to be booked on another option departing the same day, your case manager will support you in getting rescheduled as soon as possible. 

  • If this occurs between the hours on 9AM-5PM CST on Monday-Saturday, please email us at urgentalex312@gmail.com and we will help adjust your travel plan.

    If this occurs outside of our normal business hours and you are able to do so, please visit the pages below to cancel before your transit departs. This allows us to rebook you using a credit from the original booking.

    

Airline Cancellation Pages:

    Other Transit Cancelation Pages:

  • For flights:

    Please leave your house with enough time to arrive at the airport at least two hours before BOARDING (not departure time, you can find your boarding time listed on your boarding pass). We recommend looking at Google Maps and using the “arrive by” feature to adequately factor in what traffic conditions will look like at that time of day. If you’re not sure how to find this feature, please click here for instructions. 

    For other forms of transit:

    Please leave your house with enough time to arrive at your train/bus station at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure. We recommend looking at Google Maps and using the “arrive by” feature to adequately factor in what traffic conditions will look like at that time of day. If you’re not sure how to find this feature, please click here for instructions. 

  • For people who have appointments that are only one day, it is common to fly in and out in one day if flight schedules allow for it (especially for folks using medication for their abortion). With a medication abortion, a person should not feel any side effects  after taking the first medication.  Additional symptoms will start after the second medication is taken, which your provider will direct you to take 24-48 hours after the first. 

    If you’re concerned about flying in and out the same day and you’re currently scheduled to do so, please communicate that with your case manager.

  • Our tickets include carry-on bags only. If you have questions about the allowed size of each, please visit our first time flying page. We recommend sticking to a carry-on if possible to prevent delays while waiting for your bags to come out after landing. 

  • Depending on the policies of a specific airline/other transit provider, we may not be able to make changes to your flight but we will absolutely do our best to help get you home earlier if we can! We also recommend heading to the airport and talking with the check-in counter of your airline to see if there is a standby flight or a change the airline can accommodate directly. 

  • Typically when you take a bus, there will be someone standing in front of the door to look at or scan your ticket (if it has a QR code) and then they will let you board. If you have questions about how to know what stop to get off at, this staff member can let you know!

    When you take a train, however, after you wait at the terminal and board the train a staff member will walk through the aisles after the train has begun moving to review and/or scan your ticket (if it has a QR code). If you have questions about how to know what stop to get off at, you should ask this staff member when they come around!

  • For a step-by-step, detailed description of going through an airport, visit our first time flying page.

    If you have specific questions related to your itinerary (rather than about flying in general), please feel free to ask your case manager to clarify and/or reach out to urgentalex312@gmail.com for any urgent needs/questions.

Lyft Ride Frequently Asked Questions

Many of these FAQ’s mention outreach to our urgent email line, which is monitored from 9-5PM CST Monday-Saturday. 

Please note: It is important that you include your full name, phone number, and BOTH the location you’re departing from and the location you are trying to get to in your email so that our team has all the information needed to assist you.

  • If your case manager has scheduled Lyft rides for you in advance that are set up as “flexible,” this means that you can use them any time on the calendar date they’re scheduled for. To do so, please click the link in the text message and a request for that ride will be initiated through Lyft. If you don’t have access to the internet, you can also call the ride via phone (the number to call will be included in the texts sent to you). 

    You don’t have to download the Lyft app to use the links, though having the app makes it easier if you leave something in the car or need to message your driver. All you need is the ability to connect to the internet, whether that’s using cellular data or using Wifi.

    For step by step instructions, please review this webpage before emailing us or messaging your case manager.Our team will first recommend you visit this page. If you have any additional questions afterwards, please let us know

  • Please don’t call your Lyft ride until you are 100% ready to leave your location to prevent this from happening and reduce delays in your travel. That being said, if you do miss your Lyft ride after calling the driver, please email us with your full name and phone number, as well as the location you are departing from and going to, at urgentalex312@gmail.com so our team can send you a new one.

  • So sorry this happened! Please email us with your full name and phone number, and the location you are departing from and going to, at urgentalex312@gmail.com so our team can send you a new one.

  • If you don’t see the option to reach out to your driver personally, please reach out to your case manager and let them know and they can send a message to your driver. If your case manager is not in the office that day, please email us at urgentalex312@gmail.com.

  •  Please email us at urgentalex312@gmail.com so our team can send you a new one. 

  • Nope! They’re showing up that way because they’re booked as flexible, meaning that they’re available anytime in a 24 hour period, beginning at midnight. The ride will not come unless you use your link to call the driver, so there’s no need to worry about it saying 12 AM. 

  • If the incorrect address is the pick up spot, please reach out to your case manager or our urgent email (urgentalex312@gmail.com) ASAP so our team can correct it for you!

Packing List Recommendations

These are some items that our grantees have found helpful to pack while traveling:

  • NEED: Identification (driver’s license, passport, state issued ID)

  • NEED: Reliable cell phone, where your case manager can contact you AND you have the contact of your case manager & travel information (such as Lyft links, tickets, etc.) saved

  • NEED: Weather-appropriate clothes (make sure to check the weather where you’re traveling) 

  • Comfy clothes, blanket, comfort items (even if you’re traveling during warmer months, it may be helpful to bring something to keep you feeling comfortable and warm inside the clinic!)

  • Heating pad or hot water bottle (it can also be nice to have a portable version like this to wear while traveling in the car/plane)

  • Phone charger and, if you wish, a portable charger for on the go

  • Snacks (solid foods can be brought in carry on or checked bags if you’re traveling via plane)

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Travel-size toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, skincare, haircare)

  • Prescription medication (bring all prescribed meds in their original bottles)

  • OTC medication (you can call your clinic in advance and ask what they recommend for afterwards)

  • Pads and/or period underwear if you have some

  • Hair tie, claw clip, or scrunchie to keep your hair out of your face if it’s long enough to

  • Headphones (can be helpful while traveling and during your appointment)

  • A face mask to prevent getting sick while traveling/at your appointment

  • A book, handheld video games, and other hobby materials (you might be waiting for some time in the clinic, whether before your appointment, in a recovery room, or during travel) 

Other reminders:

  • The plane may not have Wifi unless you choose to purchase it (we cannot assist with that cost), so make sure to download any music, movies, or TV shows in advance!

Flying for the First Time

For a step-by-step, detailed description of going through an airport, visit our first time flying page.

If you have specific questions related to your itinerary (rather than about flying in general), please feel free to ask your case manager to clarify and/or reach out to urgentalex312@gmail.com for any urgent needs/questions.