Please talk to me like I am 5. How do you fly to Egypt?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

Obviously on a plane

But I am researching having surgery either in Turkey or Egypt. I've never had to book a flight before and it's stressing me out just a little bit already. I prefer the sound of the doctor based in Egypt (is an associate professor in his field, goes all over the world giving lectures and training students) although both doctors are -from what I gather- excellent. I enquired about the cost of surgery at the Egyptian place and they sent me a huge email in response with all the info I could need and there was this paragraph which has confused me slightly, I don't think the fact that English is not their first language is helping.

"Arrival at the airport:
You don't need a visa for any transit outside of Egypt. However you will need a Visa to enter Egypt. Some nationalities don't need to apply for a visa before departure (including US and UK nationals) in this circumstances you can get your visa when you arrive at the airport. Airport has many facilities where you can exchange money and buy sim cards at a very reasonable price (which we recomend)"

So do I need a Visa? If so can I really just rock up at the airport and get one? It sounds almost too easy
How do I book a flight? Where is the best place to book flights? I'm based in Lincolnshire and my closest airport is Doncaster, could probably get as far as Manchester to fly out if needed though.

If anyone could help this total noob that would be awesome, thank you!

Not sure about Turkey but I have been to Egypt a few times and there is not a hope on this planet I would go there for anything medical.

Best way to fly London to Alexandria is either through Athens or Istanbul, rather than Cairo.

There is no direct flight from Manchester to Cairo so you'd have to get the train to Heathrow. Look on a website like Skyscanner, enter the dates you want to travel, and they will show you all of the airlines that offer that route. Pick one that you like the look of (right time of day, price etc) then go directly to that airline's website to book the flight.

Next, the internal flight. Skyscanner again, and go through the same process but with Cairo and Alexandria.

That's about all there is to it - just like booking a train, but in the sky!

I'm having a Gastric Bypass, weight loss surgery. I'm looking at either Dr Tamer in Egypt, or Dr Tuna in Turkey. You can get this in the UK, on the NHS but the waiting list is several years long, plus the criteria seems to be very strict. I can't wait years, my weight is starting to impact my mobility and it's getting harder and harder to do simple things like just going for a walk I joined the gym last year but all that did was give me pain in my hip when I stand for too long. And if one more person tells me to eat less/move more and that it's easy I will rip my ears off

Bottom line; someone in UK who hasn't the capability ot organise their own transport and visas, certainly doesn't have the wit to assess and research the credibility of medical emails from strangers in Egypt or Turkey.

This may not be relevant but also double check airline policies on obese passengers when booking. Seats are increasingly narrow and many require you to book 2 seats if you cant get the armrests down. Means you may need to book with the call centres rather than online and it obviously costs more.

There’s a reason it’s cheap. I love a bargain and never like to pay full price for things but when it comes to your health it’s never worth the risk. It’s not just death it’s damaging your health that could leave you with a life long disability. Please seriously reconsider

I'm with the others OP. Having been to Egypt (and not just the nice Westernised tourist parts), I wouldn't even go there to have a splinter taken out. Let alone invasive surgery.

Have you had major surgery before? It is hard enough and difficult enough without having to worry about language barriers and getting home. How long will you be staying for? How will you manage the three hour drive from Alexandria ( it was longer than 3 hours when we did it BTW) back to Cairo for your long flight home when you are two weeks post op and in pain?

I take your point about the length of waiting lists, OP - but what's the problem with the eligibility criteria - which I've just read on the NHS website here.

Try Norway OP.

Google says this Dr specialises in cardiology (unless I have the wrong one?)

No, it's the dishy doc in Egypt!

@2bazookas ODFOD I'm asking questions to learn because I've never done anything like this before. I'm sure you are an expert in absolutely everything so well done you.

I'm very sorry you have to leave the UK to do this OP. Wishing you luck 💐

You may be able to fly direct to Alexandria by changing planes in say Turkey and flying in with Turkish. Or fly direct to Jordan and change in Amman. Etc. If you look at Alexandria airport website it should say which airlines fly there. So for example London-Amman-Alexandria may be easier then getting picked up from Cairo and driven through dodgy traffic to get to the clinic.

@PursuingProxemicExactitude

I take your point about the length of waiting lists, OP - but what's the problem with the eligibility criteria - which I've just read on the NHS website here.

There's more to it than that, you have to have counselling and support groups and diet plans etc before you even get anywhere near the surgery waiting list. There are a LOT of hoops to jump through. Apparently it's quite a gruelling few years.

@CateTown

Google says this Dr specialises in cardiology (unless I have the wrong one?)

No, it's the dishy doc in Egypt!

Yep that's Dr Tamer! I didn't recognise him when you said Dr Abdelbaki I've only ever heard him referred to as Tamer

But do you not consider that the hoops might be important as part of the treatment. An operation in isolation may well not live up to your expectations and have long term success. It is also likely to cost far more than you anticipate by the time you factor in travel, hotels, aftercare.

@2bazookas was being somewhat blunt in his/her comment, but I think it's a perfectly valid point. On what basis have you decided these doctors are well-regarded? (Associate Professor means nothing at all -- at some institutions it's simply shorthand for 'someone who teaches here and isn't fully tenured').

Have you ever had healthcare in a country like Egypt, or spent time in a similar place outside a tourist resort? If you've never booked your own flight before, or spent much time overseas outside the context of school trips and childhood holidays with your parents, and are this confused by the visa process, are you really able for a situation in which you'll be having an invasive surgical procedure while being unable to communicate fluently with at least some of the staff involved in your care, and deal with internal travel arrangements within Egypt before getting on a lengthy international flight, while still potentially in pain, or needing to postpone and rebook as you're unable to fly?

Honestly, OP, I do sympathise, but I think you are taking a big risk.

Have you checked to see if you will actually be able to get decent insurance? Do you know how long you are likely to have to spend in Egypt?

OP as you are in Lincolnshire, it could be worth looking at Birmingham Airport. Flights to Istanbul are still operating at present. The airport is situated to the east of the city with good motorway connections if you are driving or else with direct access to Birmingham International station.

Good luck with the rest of uour research, and with your future plans.

You can get the visa at the airport. It’s a sticker very shiny.

But seriously, are you sure this is a good idea? I have been to Egypt and it’s not somewhere I’d want to have a gastric op.

It’s a place most people get a bad tummy however careful they are. It lasted a couple of weeks after we got home too. Everyone I know gets it.

I honestly don’t think this is a good idea.

@Moomoolandmoomooland

I'm with the others OP. Having been to Egypt (and not just the nice Westernised tourist parts), I wouldn't even go there to have a splinter taken out. Let alone invasive surgery.

Have you had major surgery before? It is hard enough and difficult enough without having to worry about language barriers and getting home. How long will you be staying for? How will you manage the three hour drive from Alexandria ( it was longer than 3 hours when we did it BTW) back to Cairo for your long flight home when you are two weeks post op and in pain?

100% this!

This is a risky idea and I think you know it.

Also not even adding in that we're in the middle of a global pandemic - what are you going to do if you catch Covid whilst you're there?

No travel insurance company will insure you for this.

Yes you need a visa.

You do not need a visa to board the plane in the UK.

The plane lands at the Eygpt airport, you leave then plane and go through to the terminal where there is a queue for the visa desk. You get in the visa queue, fill in a very short form and pay for your visa (was £14 last time I went), they give you the visa which is stuck on your passport. You then go through passport control and out of the airport.

My post may have been more reassuring had I spelled Egypt correctly!

I think you need to jump through the hoops rather than taking a short-cut.