Traveling with older parents can be a meaningful experience that creates lasting memories. Two local travelers share their top 12 tips for a smooth air travel experience when flying with their parents or in-laws who are in their late 70s and 80s.
Thank you to Heidi Campbell and Kerri Klingfus for your helpful advice!
1. Start your journey at RST or another small airport.
Benefits include a faster, friendlier TSA process and calmer atmosphere to start your trip.
2. Book flights strategically.
Choose flights that are early in the day when everyone is fresh. Also, choose flights with longer layovers so no one feels rushed.
3. Book seats strategically.
If possible, book in business class. Seats with extra leg room, aisle seats and locations near the front of the plane can also benefit older travelers.
4. Arrange for front-door drop-off.
This limits the amount of walking before getting into the airport — there is plenty of walking after that point! Options:
- Drop your older traveling companions off at the front door of the terminal yourself.
- Prearrange a ride for your whole group to the airport.
- Stay overnight at a nearby hotel and use their complimentary shuttle.
5. Pre-book wheelchairs.
Remember to pre-book wheelchairs at all the airports you’re using – origin, layover, and destination. Contact your airline directly to reserve wheelchairs, which are generally provided free of charge.
6. Pack smart.
- Navigating the airport and TSA will be easier if you check luggage.
- Ask your parents to weigh their luggage ahead of time to avoid overweight charges.Make sure all medications are either in your parents’ carry-on luggage or personal item. This is essential if your checked luggage gets delayed.
- If your parents have medical conditions or are traveling with medical equipment, get some additional guidance in these articles: 10 Tips for the Traveling Caregiver and 4 Tips for Mayo Clinic Patients Flying into RST.
7. Tickets.
Depending on your situation, it could be wise to keep your parents’ tickets for them. Alternately, they may want to hold a printed rather than electronic version themselves so they can see on paper the time of the flight, gate, and seat they’re in.
8. Board early.
This allows older travelers to take their time down the ramp without slowing others down, and to settle into their seat without feeling rushed.
9. Get comfortable.
Expect to spend a few minutes stowing luggage, getting settled and helping set up your older companions’ in-flight entertainment systems. Enjoy the flight!
10. Have a plan for your layover.
Look up the layout of layover airports in advance so you’ve figured out the locations of elevators and restaurants and can pre-plan where to eat. This is especially important if a senior traveler uses medication that is required to be taken with food.
11. Arrive well.
When you arrive at your destination, remember that travel can be tiring for anyone, especially older adults. Be patient with the pace.
12. Most importantly, enjoy your time together!
Heidi Campbell of Rochester (shown with her parents Marsha and Roger Winch in Vermont) has traveled with her parents to Washington D.C., New England, and Florida.
The trips I took my parents on were bucket list trips for them that I knew they could not do on their own anymore. For me, it was meaningful to help them achieve their dreams and see parts of the country they’d never been to before… My advice is to enjoy the experience! While certain times can be challenging, remember to slow down and enjoy it with them.
Kerri Klingfus of Mantorville has accompanied her mom to visit relatives across the country. Kerri also recently traveled with her mom to Hawaii, a place she’d wanted to visit her entire life.
It's special to travel with my mom just to spend time together, as well as to give her experiences she still wants to do and freedom to see those she loves... For the older generation, it's important to honor their need for independence while being realistic about their abilities to manage travel.
