5 Air Travel Tips For Seniors

Air Travel Tips For Seniors: Ways to Make the Flight Easier and More Comfortable

 

Due to advances in health care, medicines and mobility devices, today’s seniors are more active than ever. You enjoy outdoor activities, sightseeing, visiting family, vacationing and more. And these activities often require flying on an airplane for travel.

Flying, as most travelers know all too well, can be difficult. But while some of us may grumble about cramped airline seats and security pat-downs, simply navigating an airport can be downright disorienting for elderly travelers. Fortunately, the airline industry understands the concerns of senior travelers and works to makes the flight process easier and more comfortable for them.

5 Tips For Seniors When Flying

1. Booking.
   Experts recommend making as many requests as possible when booking a flight, including requests for expedited boarding and seats with extra legroom. For example, you may want to inquire about seats in the front of the plane for easier access and you should request a wheelchair with attendants to maneuver you through the airports you’ll be departing from and arriving to. If you don’t want a wheelchair, but want some help, ask about electric carts. You also need to check with the airline regarding their policy for portable oxygen concentrators. Some airlines require specific medical forms that will need to be signed by a doctor. Also, senior discounts are a rarity on airlines, but they do exist. You may as well ask about a discount. It couldn’t hurt.
2. Getting to the Airport.
   If you’re unable to drive or receive a ride from a family member or friend, you can arrange transportation with a volunteer driving program or medical transportation company instead of a taxi. A taxi is a good option, but they can be expensive and the driver may not be able to help you, with a wheelchair, for example. A service such as the Independent Transportation Network of America (itnamerica.org) can direct passengers to drivers more attuned to problems like getting in and out of a car. Older fliers who order a car by 5 p.m. the day before will be picked up by a driver who will come to the door and help with luggage at the airport.
3. Airport Assistance.
   You might not know that airlines do allow non-traveling escorts through security all the way to the gate for passengers that require extra help. You don’t need to give the airline any special advance notice or request security clearance to take advantage of this option as long as the escorted individual is elderly or incapacitated in some way. If you’re spry and obviously very fit, the airline personnel might not think that an escort is necessary. If someone is helping you, just allow a bit of extra time for them to get through security too. Make sure they have their own government issued I.D. Some companies will meet passengers at the curb to help them check bags and escort them to security.
4. Going through Security.
   All U.S. airports offer expedited screening to passengers 75 and older that allows them to move through security without removing their shoes or jacket, and many airports have lanes specifically for use by passengers with disabilities and medical conditions so they don’t have to wait in line. You should ask about these when you check in.
   -- Medications --
   If you’re packing medications in a carry-on bag, you should know that pills and/or liquid medications do not have to be packed in their prescription containers to get through airport security, but they’ll need to be separated from your other belongings so they can be screened. Liquid medications in excess of 3.4 ounces will require separate screening.
   -- Medical Conditions --
   Fliers should inform security officials about any medical conditions. Passengers, no matter the age, should not be asked by security to inspect medical equipment like a colostomy bag, or to put a back brace through an X-ray machine. If these incidents occur, he said, fliers should get the name of the official and file a complaint with the security administration.
   -- For More Information --
   For more information on other airport security screening policies and procedures visit tsa.gov/traveler-information, or call TSA Cares at 855-787-2227 where you can ask specific questions.
5. Departure and Arrival.
   When it’s time to board, you can take advantage of the airline’s pre-boarding option for elderly passengers who need some extra time to get on the plane and get settled. And for getting off the plane, you can wait for the other passengers to debark so attendants can assist you with carry-ons and escort you from the plane.  A relative is allowed to meet an older passenger at the gate. Relatives should call 48 hours ahead to notify the airline, and arrive more than an hour before the flight does.

In general, the key to arranging a less intimidating journey for an older flier is simple: plan in advance and never be hesitant to ask the crew for assistance.

 

BLOG Date: Thursday, November 5, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen