Airport Stretcher Transport: What Patients & Families Need to Know

Airport stretcher transport costs $350–$400 base rate plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. This service moves patients who cannot sit upright from a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or home to the airport terminal or private aviation terminal, where they connect with a commercial flight (with medical escort) or an air ambulance. A two-person NEMT crew handles the entire ground leg, including bed-to-stretcher transfer, vehicle transport, and the handoff to the airline or air ambulance team. Below is everything patients and families need to know.

When Is Airport Stretcher Transport Needed?

Airport stretcher transport is required whenever a patient must remain lying down during ground transit to or from the airport. Common scenarios include:

• Air ambulance connections: A patient being transferred by air ambulance from another state or country needs ground stretcher transport from the airport to the receiving hospital, rehab center, or home. The reverse is also true — patients leaving Chicago via air ambulance need ground stretcher transport from their facility to the airport.
• Commercial flights with medical escort: Some patients fly commercially on a stretcher (airlines offer this service on select routes) or travel with a medical escort. They still need ground stretcher transport between their facility and the airport terminal.
• Post-surgical patients returning home out of state: A patient who underwent surgery in Chicago and cannot sit upright for the discharge flight needs stretcher transport from the hospital to O'Hare or Midway.
• Long-distance facility transfers: When a patient is being transferred between facilities in different states, the transfer often involves a ground stretcher leg, a flight, and another ground stretcher leg at the destination.

If the patient can sit upright in a wheelchair, a wheelchair van is the more appropriate and less expensive option ($60–$70 base). Stretcher transport is specifically for patients whose medical condition requires them to remain in a supine (lying down) position for the entire ground trip.

How the Airport Stretcher Transport Process Works

Before the Trip

When you call Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994, we collect the following information:

• Patient name, date of birth, and approximate weight
• Current location (hospital room number, SNF unit, home address)
• Destination airport and terminal (or private aviation terminal name)
• Flight details: departure time, airline, flight number, or air ambulance company name
• Special equipment needs: supplemental oxygen, IV pole, cardiac monitor (for monitoring only, not treatment)
• Payment method: private pay, Medicaid (with prior authorization), or insurance

We confirm pricing upfront. A stretcher trip from Olympia Fields to O'Hare (approximately 35 miles) costs $560 to $610 one way, including the $30 airport drop-off fee, plus any tolls. To Midway (approximately 18 miles), the cost is $458 to $508 plus any tolls. Surcharges apply for weekends (+$50 per leg), holidays (a fee shown before you book), supplemental oxygen ($25), and wait time beyond the included window ($15 per 15 minutes after the first 15 free).

Day of Transport

The two-person crew — a driver and an attendant — arrives at the patient's location with the medical stretcher. The typical sequence is:

1. Bed-to-stretcher transfer: The crew enters the patient's room, positions the stretcher beside the bed, and performs a safe lateral transfer. For bariatric patients, a Hoyer lift or additional staff may be used. The patient is secured with a five-point harness.
2. Loading: The stretcher is wheeled to the ambulette and loaded using a hydraulic lift system. Four floor-mounted locking points anchor the stretcher base to the vehicle, preventing any movement during transit.
3. In-transit monitoring: The attendant rides in the patient compartment for the entire trip, monitoring the patient's comfort, adjusting head and knee positioning, and communicating with dispatch if any concern arises.
4. Airport arrival and handoff: At the airport, the crew unloads the stretcher at the ADA zone or the private aviation terminal. For air ambulance connections, the crew coordinates directly with the air medical team for a stretcher-to-stretcher transfer. For commercial flights, the crew delivers the patient to the airline's medical services team at the terminal curb.

Air Ambulance Ground Connections at O'Hare and Midway

Air ambulance flights often use private aviation terminals rather than the main passenger terminals. At O'Hare, the primary private aviation facilities are Signature Flight Support (on the south side of the airport) and Atlantic Aviation (west side). At Midway, Atlantic Aviation operates the main private terminal.

Dream Care Rides coordinates directly with the air ambulance company. We obtain the tail number and estimated arrival time of the aircraft, position our crew at the private terminal, and perform the patient transfer as soon as the aircraft doors open. The handoff takes 10 to 15 minutes from aircraft arrival to departure in our ambulette. For return trips (ground to air), we arrive at the private terminal with the patient and hand off to the air medical crew at the aircraft door.

If you are coordinating a long-distance medical transfer and need ground stretcher transport on the Chicago end, call (708) 505-6994. We work with all major air ambulance companies operating at Chicago airports.

Stretcher Transport Pricing for Airport Trips

Surcharges: Weekends +$50 per leg, Holidays a fee shown before you book, Wait time $15 per 15 minutes after the first 15 free, Oxygen $25, Stairchair $40. All prices confirmed before the ride with no hidden fees.

Documentation and Authorization

For private pay airport stretcher trips, no medical documentation is required. You book, we confirm the price, and the crew arrives at the scheduled time.

For Medicaid-covered stretcher transport to the airport, a Physician Certification Statement (PCS) is required. The PCS confirms that the patient cannot travel seated and needs stretcher-level transport. Your MCO's transportation broker must authorize the trip in advance. Dream Care Rides can help you obtain the PCS from the treating physician. Note that Medicaid only covers airport transport when the trip connects to a covered medical service — personal travel is not covered.

For insurance-covered trips, contact your insurer for prior authorization requirements. Many Medicare Advantage and private insurance plans cover stretcher transport with appropriate documentation.

What Families Should Know

Arranging airport stretcher transport for a loved one can be stressful, especially when it involves a long-distance medical transfer. Here are the key points for families:

• Book early. Stretcher vehicles require a two-person crew and specialized equipment. Book 72+ hours in advance whenever possible. For urgent situations, call (708) 505-6994 and we will do our best to accommodate.
• One companion can ride along. A family member can ride in the ambulette with the patient at no extra charge. The companion sits in the front passenger seat.
• The price is all-inclusive. The quoted price covers the crew, stretcher, vehicle, fuel, and all patient handling. There are no surprise add-ons. Oxygen is the only common add-on ($25 per trip).
• We coordinate with the air team. You do not need to manage the handoff between ground and air transport. We communicate directly with the air ambulance or airline medical team to ensure a smooth patient transfer.
• Flight delays do not cost extra. We track the flight in real time. If the aircraft is delayed, we adjust our arrival. No penalty, no surcharge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does stretcher transport to the airport cost?

Stretcher transport to the airport costs $350–$400 base rate plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. From Olympia Fields to O'Hare (35 miles), expect $560 to $610 one way, including the $30 airport drop-off fee, plus any tolls. To Midway (18 miles), expect $458 to $508. All prices confirmed upfront. Call (708) 505-6994.

Can you transport a patient directly from a hospital to the airport?

Yes. Our crew arrives at the hospital room, performs the bed-to-stretcher transfer, and transports the patient directly to the airport terminal or private aviation terminal. We coordinate with the hospital discharge team for timing.

Do you work with air ambulance companies?

Yes. Dream Care Rides provides ground stretcher transport for patients connecting to and from air ambulance flights at O'Hare and Midway. We coordinate directly with the air medical team for patient handoffs at private aviation terminals.

Is the patient monitored during the ride?

Yes. A trained attendant rides in the patient compartment for the entire trip. The attendant monitors comfort, positioning, and safety. Our staff are CPR and First Aid certified. We do not provide medical interventions (that is what the air ambulance crew handles), but we ensure the patient is safe and comfortable during the ground leg.

Can you accommodate bariatric patients?

Yes. Our bariatric stretcher system supports patients up to 700 pounds. Bariatric stretcher transport starts at $525–$575 base per leg (the stretcher base plus the $175 bariatric fee) plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. Notify us at booking so we assign the appropriate crew and equipment.

What happens if the air ambulance is delayed?

We monitor the aircraft status and adjust our arrival time accordingly. There is no penalty for air ambulance delays. We communicate directly with the air medical team to ensure the patient is not waiting unnecessarily at the terminal.

Do I need a physician order for private pay stretcher transport?

No. Private pay patients can book stretcher transport without a physician order. A PCS is only required for Medicaid or insurance-covered trips. Call (708) 505-6994 to book.

Can you transport to airports outside Chicago?

Dream Care Rides primarily serves O'Hare and Midway airports. For long-distance transport to airports in other cities, call (708) 505-6994 to discuss options. We also provide stretcher transport to private airfields in the Chicago area.