Airline Ambassadors

See Where We Work

Since 1992, AAI has helped an estimated 500 thousand people restart their lives.

To find out how you can also restart these lives click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I Become a member of Airline Ambassadors?

2. Can I make a donation without becoming a member?

3. How do I participate on a Mission or Special Event?

4. How do I involve my children?

5. Can I volunteer to escort a child?

6. How else can I help?

7. Will I be safe in a developing country?

8. What can I expect on a mission and how much will it cost?

9. Does Airline Ambassadors provide airfare or special rates to members?

1. Become a member of Airline Ambassadors
Please press the membership button to become a member quickly, easily, and securely. Membership fees support minimal administration costs and support programs and services helping children and families around the world. We have a range of membership levels and we strongly encourage you to join at the highest level possible. Your membership donation is tax-deductible, as AAI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. By becoming a member you support our work helping children and families in need. You will receive a luggage tag, newsletter, a regular e-update and become eligible to join our volunteer activities and missions around the world. These are the types of opportunities you just wouldn't have as an ordinary individual.

2. Can I make a donation without becoming a member?
You can make a donation in any amount online via PayPal! Just click the "Donate" button at the bottom of any page, or send a check to Airline Ambassadors and mail it to the address below. We will provide you with a thank you letter and our Tax ID # for your records.

A. Donate to our general fund
We are a volunteer-driven, grassroots organization that relies on financial contributions. For every dollar donated, Airline Ambassadors deliver $20 worth of aid that substantively assists and gives hope to children and families in need.

B. Sponsor a Mission
You may want to have your corporation, club, church, or school sponsor a mission to a certain location (Ie sponsor a Rotary mission to paint Cipi Orphanage in El Salvador and provide wheelchairs, food and clothing for all of the children there. The cost to sponsor a mission is $5,000. Airline Ambassadors will work with you to make sure that your organization reaps all possible public relations and team building benefits.

C. Contribute to an AAI project
You can designate your funds to support a specific AAI project on our web site in a country or for an issue that is close to your heart. You can find a list of our adopted projects under the Highlights section of our web site.

D. Sponsor an "Ambassador"
You may not be able to participate on missions yourself, but your donations could help sponsor another member to volunteer. Mission expenses are generally about $400 per trip - thank you so much for helping to create a chain of goodwill by donating to enable our "Ambassadors of Goodwill".

3. How do I participate on a Mission or Special Event?
Airline Ambassadors would love to have you join us delivering needed aid and supporting development projects in under-privileged communities, or participate at special events or charitable activities in our home communities. Simply visit the Calendar on our web site and contact the Mission or Event Leader in charge of the activity that interests you to learn about space availability and details. Please note that unless stated otherwise, members pay their own expenses.

4. How do I involve my children?
Young people, schools, clubs and church groups can help make "Ambassador Kits" or gather donations for our humanitarian missions. They can also participate in our Cards of Kids Program. One of the most popular items we bring on missions are cards written by children here in the U.S. If your child is studying Spanish or will simply write a short note saying, "Hola!" we'd be delighted to deliver it to a child in an orphanage. The best cards include a drawing, a piece of candy, or a photo of the child who wrote it. Your child can include things like his favorite color, if he likes sports, how old he is, where he lives, his favorite animal, etc. These cards are often more popular than the toys we bring. Most of the children we visit have never received a piece of mail in their lives. Thanks for helping us spread joy and goodwill. Send your cards to Airline Ambassadors, 418 California Ave, PO Box 459, Moss Beach, CA 94308.

Youth memberships are available for students aged 13-17 for $25.00. Youth members may participate in AAI activities and on missions with a parent or legal guardian.

5. Can I volunteer to escort a child?
We utilize the pass privileges of airline personnel for this unique volunteer program escorting children in need of medical attention or orphans to a new home. Due to the last-minute nature of these trips, they are open to airline employees only. However there are some opportunities to meet and greet orphans or provide homes for medically ill children during their treatments for non-airline personnel.

6. How else can I help?

Help gather donations. We are also always in need of new children's clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, children's chewable vitamins, hygiene items, basic medications, and small toys. If you'd like to help us, please send an inventory list of these items to us at the address below and we will process the donation for our projects:

Airline Ambassadors
418 California Avenue, PO Box 459
Moss Beach, CA 94038

7. Will I be safe in a developing country?
Airline Ambassadors has a high level of diplomatic and political support in the countries we visit. We will take every precaution to keep you as safe as possible. Our members will be appraised if there is a US State Department warning to a location, and members take full personal responsibility if they decide to travel to the location anyway.

8. What can I expect on a mission and how much will it cost?
You will need to submit a release form and $50 mission fee to reserve your spot on a mission. The fee covers administrative overhead and helps to maintain aid in warehouses around the country. You can pick up and check this aid as part of your two 50 lb bag allowances for international flights. We have hygiene kits, school kits, newborn kits, clothing, wheelchairs, shoes and food supplements available. Members pay for their own expenses in country and Mission leaders will give you details for specific trips. Team sizes vary from small (4-6 members) to large (over 40) – but most missions have from 8 – 12 participants. We offer a variety of missions to match with your personal preferences:

Class A -These humanitarian tours are a good introduction to "traveling to make a difference". The team usually stays at a 4 or 5 star hotel, and the itinerary includes tourism as well as humanitarian efforts. Costs for these trips are usually a little over $100 per day.

Class B - These are the typical Airline Ambassador mission where participants stay in a "boutique" hotel, and spend approximately 3-5 days visiting orphanages, clinics, remote communities to deliver aid or provide programs or services. Typical costs per day per person are from $60-$80 per day.

Class C - AAI members also participate in hands on relief work, such as responding to disasters, helping in refugee camps, or remote communities. These trips provide a higher level of "adventure" and may involve comfort level below what we are used to in the US. We may sleep in tents, or on cots, travel by horseback or jeep to remote locations. Such missions generally cost under $60 per day.

9. Does Airline Ambassadors provide airfare or special rates to members?
Airline Ambassadors negotiates with airlines for the best possible fares for non-airline personnel traveling on our missions. These "humanitarian fares" change regularly. Your Mission leader will inform you of special rates if they are available, as well as the expected cost of the land portion of the trip. In most cases you are responsible to make your own reservations. Airline Ambassador members pay for their own personal expenses.