FANS
FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)
Who
is eligible for the FANS Travel Benefit?
You
will receive the FANS Travel Benefit if you are eligible for the
Basic Grant. This benefit will help with travel costs for you and
your eligible dependants. The Travel Benefit provides for round-trip
excursion airfare between your home community and the nearest school
offering your program if you are going to school in the North.
If you are going to go to school in the South, the travel benefit
pays return excursion airfare from your Nunavut home community to
the nearest school offering your program.
The
FANS Travel Benefit includes travel for eligible dependants. Eligible
dependants include your married spouse, common law spouse, and your
children under 18 who are financially dependent upon you. A common
law spouse is eligible if he or she has lived with you in a family
relationship for a year.
How
do I make travel arrangements?
When you are approved for travel, FANS will notify Top of the World
Travel. You must call Top of the World Travel to make your travel
arrangements. You will be responsible for any costs for missing
tickets or any change fees if you change your ticket once it is
issued. Arrange for travel as soon as possible. FANS will pay only
excursion airfares. This means that travel must be arranged at least
one week in advance of the travel date. The telephone numbers are:
Top of the World Travel: 1 800 661-0710 ^TOP^
I
have to tay over night while traveling, what does FANS cover?
If the portion of your travel paid for by FANS includes a stay-over
because of flight schedules, FANS will make arrangements for your
hotel at an approved rate. FANS will pay for the hotel. Any other
stay-over costs including food are your responsibility. FANS will
not cover hotel costs during travel at or beyond gateway cities.
I
am going to school in the south. Why does FANS only fly me part
way?
FANS must operate within the money granted to it by the Nunavut
Government. In order to help control travel costs, travel is only
approved between the student's home community and the gateway city
nearest to the educational institution that you will be attending.
The gateway cities are: Kitikmeot: Edmonton
Kivalliq: Winnipeg,
Baffin: Ottawa/Montreal.
I paid my own way to school. Will FANS reimburse me?
FANS has some negotiated some special travel arrangements and if
the ticket costs more than what FANS will pay, FANS will only cover
the amount it would have paid for your ticket. The ticket must be
for travel between the student's home community and the gateway
city nearest the school. FANS will need the original receipt for
the ticket. You must submit your request for reimbursement within
three months of the date of travel. ^TOP^
Can
my dependents join me after I started school?
Yes they can. If you travel to school by yourself, any dependants
that you claimed on your FANS application may join you. Only students
who traveled by themselves receive a trip home at Christmas. If
a dependant joins you, you will not receive a Christmas trip home.
Can
my boyfriend/girlfriend join me?
FANS only covers travel costs for a married spouse or common law
spouse. A person is considered a common law spouse if you have lived
as a family for at least a year before application to FANS was received.
Will
FANS pay my way home because of a family medical emergency or death
in the family?
Unfortunately FANS cannot pay for emergency travel. Many airlines
have special fares for emergency travel. Call the airline and explain
to them your situation.
Will
FANS cover practicum travel?
Unfortunately the FANS travel benefit does not cover travel for
practicums or internships. You can apply for a Needs Assessed Loan
if you do not have the money to cover this cost. Needs Assessed
Loans must be repaid.
Can
I travel earlier than two weeks before school starts?
FANS will give special permission to travel two weeks before school
starts if the student is traveling with their family and needs the
time to enroll their children in school. The FANS office must approve
this in advance. ^TOP^
Can
I stay later than two weeks after school ends?
FANS will not pay for your return if you stay later than two weeks
after school ends. An exception will be made if you will be staying
because you have summer employment. You must notify FANS as soon
as possible if you are staying because of employment.
Can
I travel from someplace else than my home community to school and
have FANS pay for it?
In most cases NO. The FANS Supervisor will consider special cases.
Will
FANS pay for extra boxes or extra baggage while traveling between
home and school?
No. You must pay for anything you take that is more than what your
ticket entitles you to.
Can
I use my Christmas trip at some other time?
No. This benefit is only for use during the Christmas holiday so
the student can spend time with his or her family during the holiday.
If
I have my family with me, will you provide me with Christmas travel?
Unfortunately FANS cannot provide you with Christmas travel if FANS
paid for travel for your family. The purpose of Christmas travel
is to allow the student to spend time with his or her immediate
family. Since FANS paid for your family to travel, you are not entitled
to this benefit.
What
happens if I change my reservation?
Most airlines charge a fee if you change the dates on your ticket.
FANS will not pay for change fees. Please remember this when you
make reservations. ^TOP^
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