What Air Ambulance Brokers Do
Air ambulance brokers act as middlemen. They take your details, ring around operators, and present an option. Some can save time when you don’t know the market. However, brokers don’t own aircraft, set medical standards, or supervise crews. That distance can create risk.
Common Drawbacks of Air Ambulance Brokers
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Added cost: Brokers layer fees on top of the operator’s price. You may pay thousands more for work you could do yourself.
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Limited transparency: You don’t always know who actually flies the mission, what aircraft will be used, or which clinical team will show up.
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Slower answers: With a broker in the middle, simple questions about equipment, bedside-to-bedside logistics, or family travel often take longer.
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Misaligned incentives: Some air ambulance brokers prioritize commission over clinical fit or total trip value.
For a deeper look at pitfalls, see Disadvantages of Air Ambulance Brokers and how to Spot a Fake Air Ambulance.
Why Booking Direct Is Usually Better
When you work directly with an operator, you can:
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Confirm credentials (FAA Part 135 certificate, aircraft tail number, medical director).
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Choose the right clinical level (BLS/ALS/critical care) and review crew qualifications.
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Clarify the plan for bedside to bedside coordination, ground ambulances, and receiving-facility handoff.
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Get itemized pricing without broker markups.
New to the process? Start with Keys to Stress-Free Medical Air Transport and this step-by-step overview: How Does Air Medical Transport Work?.
Smart Questions to Ask (Operator or Broker)
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Are you the operator or a broker? Who owns and flies the aircraft?
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What’s the aircraft type, range, and medical equipment onboard?
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Who is on the medical team, and what are their certifications?
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Can my family member ride along?
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What’s included in the written quote (flight time, crew, ground legs, international fees)?
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How do you handle insurance and payment? (Also review our Air Ambulance Cost Guide.)
If answers feel vague, keep looking. Reputable teams respond clearly and quickly.
Travel Care Air: Direct, Transparent, Coordinated
Call us and you speak with our team—not air ambulance brokers. We operate and coordinate your mission end-to-end, including ground transfers and receiving-facility communication. If you’re comparing options, we’ll provide a clear, itemized quote and walk you through the plan.