Frequently Asked Questions

A: No. At the present time, we have our several veterans on our waiting list and many more who will apply this year. Our mission is to get to every deserving veteran in time. Over 250 World War II veterans have passed away while patiently waiting their turn. Hundreds more will not live long enough to visit their precious memorial. The only spouses who are permitted to go are those who are qualified veterans themselves.

A: YES! Such veterans go to the top of the list for the next flight departing to Washington D.C. as part of our TLC Program. Not only are World War II and Korean War veterans given this top priority, but any veteran with serious medical conditions, who has never been able to visit their memorials, is given the same priority under our TLC Program. Please call us for more information.

A: WHEELCHAIRS – 100% of the veterans we have transported over the past 2 years are asked to use a wheelchair on their Honor Flight. Our deluxe motor coaches are ordered based upon this fact are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

OXYGEN – If the veteran requires 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). Honor Flight will provide an FAA-approved oxygen concentrator for use during the trip if local oxygen equipment is not available. 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.

A: Only under certain limited circumstances. Our TOP priority is the safe travel of ALL the veterans. A normal ratio is 1 veteran to 1 Honor Flight Guardian. Who will or will not serve as an Honor Flight Guardian, and how many Honor Flight Guardians will be needed, is the sole responsibility of our Medical and Administrative Directors. That decision is based upon many factors, such as but not limited:

• How many disabled veterans are scheduled to go?
• Of the disabled veterans going, how many will have to be physically assisted in getting on and off the bus?
• Which guardian applicants are most qualified? Medically trained, active duty military personnel and veterans who have previously participated in an Honor Flight are given top priority and serve as leadership members. The applicants physically capable of assisting in the lifting of our veterans are also a top priority. Once the Medical and Administrator directors feel enough of those positions to have been filled, other applicants are then considered. Again, these decisions rest solely with the Medical and Administrative Directors.

A: Veterans are flown on a “first come, first served basis.” Within the applicants, the top priority is currently given to World War II veterans and our Korean War veterans, and all veterans with serious medical conditions. Our Vietnam War veterans will be our next priority, followed by Cold War veterans.

A: Honor Flight Austin gratefully accepts donations from anyone EXCEPT our World War II veterans. We feel that World War II veterans have given enough. This is our way of saying “Thank You”!

A: Our funding comes primarily from individuals across the great state of Texas who recognize the great accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans and want them to see their memorial before it’s too late. Other significant contributors have been organizations like local American Legion, VFW, Am Vets, DAV, MOPH, posts, and chapters, as well as various corporations.

Beginning October 1, 2020, only state-issued driver licenses and identification cards that are fully compliant with the REAL ID Act will be accepted for official federal government purposes, such as entering secure federal buildings or boarding domestic flights. Texas began issuing REAL ID compliant cards on October 10, 2016, and these cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner, as seen in the examples.

After October 1, 2020, Texas DL/ID cards would not be accepted for federal identification purposes, and Texas residents would not be able to enter federal facilities or board a domestic flight unless they had another form of identification acceptable for federal purposes, such as a U.S. Passport.

WHAT TO DO:

Because Texas is in compliance with the REAL ID Act, all Texas driver licenses and identification cards are currently valid forms of identification for federal purposes.

If your card expires before October 1, 2022, and you don’t have a star in the upper right-hand corner, renew your driver license or identification card before the October 1, 2020 deadline. You are eligible to renew up to two years in advance of your card’s expiration date.

If your card expires after October 1, 2022, and you want a REAL ID compliant card, you can request a duplicate card either in person or through Texas.gov. If you have been issued a card on or after October 10, 2016, and see a gold star in the upper right hand corner, you already have a REAL ID Act compliant card, and no further action is required on your part.

If you received your renewal notice in the mail, be sure to bring the required documents that are listed in your renewal notice. If you did not receive a renewal notice, are obtaining a replacement, or are not sure what to bring with you, download this checklist to determine which documents you may have that will meet these requirements. While these documents may already be on file with the Department, bringing them with you will minimize any delays in renewing or replacing your driver license or identification card.

To determine if you are eligible to renew online or need to obtain a replacement card, visit www.texas.gov.

Other Forms of ID Accepted For Flying:

Adult passengers 18 and over must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.

• Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

If the Veteran does not drive anymore and only has an expired ID, please have them bring one of the following forms of ID above along with the expired license.