Senior Citizen Travel to India: Tips for Comfortable Long-Haul Flights

Long haul flights are a tough experience for any passenger. When parents or grandparents are traveling solo from the US to India, it may seem intimidating and exhausting without proper preparation. It could be an American father who is traveling to see his son in New Jersey, or a grandmother going to Chennai for her daughter's wedding. Whatever the case, senior citizen travel to India demands more planning than a regular vacation.

Here at Fantastic Fare, we arrange India tickets for NRI families on a monthly basis; we get many of our customers from the sons and daughters who are booking flights for their aging parents. Our team of travel experts share some valuable tips for making a trip comfortable and safe for seniors. Here you will find the most effective advice for making your trip to India hassle-free and enjoyable.

Why are long flights difficult for seniors?

A nonstop flight from the US East Coast to India takes 14-16 hours, one-stop routings from the United States through Europe or the Middle East add up another 6 hours or more to the total duration of the travel time. For seniors managing joint pain, blood pressure, diabetes, or reduced mobility, it can be genuinely risky if not planned for.

The three most common issues raised by families are:

• Risk of developing a blood clot due to prolonged periods of immobility (DVT)
• Mobility limitations when transiting in transit airport (especially big hubs)
• Taking medications and disruption of routine due to time zone change

These are not reasons not to fly but reasons to plan better. Below is a list of senior travel tips on long-haul flights that will make the most difference.

1. Choosing the Best Route, Not the Most Affordable One

The cheapest route may not be the best choice for a senior. An itinerary with a connecting flight in Frankfurt involving a 55-minute transit will help to save $80 but the need to run across the huge terminal with a cane won't make the trip enjoyable.

While booking tickets for elderly clients, we deliberately choose:

• Non-stop flights (less connections means less risks associated with delays)
• More comfortable transit flights (90 minutes and above are the minimum, 2+ hours are even better)
• Transit airports with short distances between the gates
• Airlines that accommodate senior travelers well, such as Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad (these airlines have a great wheelchair assistance system in their hubs)

This is one benefit of booking through an agency that has wholesale fares, compared to public booking sites, we can usually arrange a comfortable route at a fare that is only slightly above what an awkward connecting route will cost.

2. Arrange Wheelchair and Other Assistance Early

The airlines do not assume that passengers need assistance with anything, you have to ask for it. In all cases when seniors travel, we recommend to book the wheelchair assistance during the ticket purchasing process, as even if he or she can walk a short distance independently, long walks to terminals, queues in security check points, and gates change in the course of a trip require additional effort.

The special assistance usually includes the following:

• Priority boarding (additional time to settle down)
• Wheelchair or golf cart transport between gates
• Assistance with immigrations and luggage claim upon arrival
• Pre-boarding through the shorter security line at some airports

As it is the official procedure which involves the airline's passenger database, it should be organized by whoever is responsible for booking, rather than arranging at the airport.

3. Seat Selection is More Important Than Most People Think

Not all seats on a long-distance flight are the same for a senior citizen. Here are some of our seat selection criteria for a family to consider:

• Aisle seats allow easier access to get up, stretch and go to the toilet without waking up others
• Bulkhead seats provide more leg room
• Avoid seating at the rear of the plane close to the galleys
• A good compromise will be seats near restrooms (not too close due to possible noise and smell)

An upgrade to Premium Economy even if budget permits just by a small amount, will help considerably in reducing fatigue experienced by a senior person during a long sector flight due to better reclining facilities and cabin noise reduction.

4. Pack Health First, Travel Second

Having packed the carry-on right, one can easily avoid the stress situation mid-flight. In order to have comfortable flight experience for seniors, it's recommended to pack into a carry-on bag:

• All medicines in original packaging and doctor's prescription letter (very important in case of insulin, syringes or controlled substances)
• Medical information card including list of illnesses and emergency contacts in English, placed either in seat pocket or together with passport
• Compression socks to minimize swelling and chances of DVT
• A neck pillow and shawl as the long-haul cabin tends to be chilly
• Some light snacks just in case if your special meal requirements (low sodium, diabetic diet) may not be completely covered by the standard menu.

In addition, it's also important to remember that major airlines operating flights between USA-India would always organize you a special diabetic, low-sodium or vegetarian meal if requested at least 24-48 hours before takeoff.

Also Read: Best Airlines for USA to India Travel

5. Organize Your Movement During Flight

Extended sitting time during long-haul flights is a big physical strain. Here are some easy things to do:

• Stand up and rotate ankles every 2 hours
• Go to bathroom on schedule, not only when necessary
• Drink plenty of fluids and limit coffee consumption as it causes dehydration at high altitudes
• No sleeping pills for your first long-haul flight as the deeper you sleep, the more chances for blood clots formation

For older passengers suffering from cardiovascular disease, a quick consultation with your doctor regarding your flight duration and other precautions is an easy but effective step to take.

6. Time the Booking Around Comfort, Not Just Price

Flights to India vary a lot in prices during festive seasons such as Diwali, summer vacations, and now the upcoming season of Raksha Bandhan. While people looking out for the cheapest tickets often choose to fly at night or take flights with extended layovers to save some pennies, for seniors flying it may make sense to go for:

• Day flights which won’t affect one's sleep before the long flight ahead
• More direct or near-direct flights even if it's slightly expensive
• Making the booking 2-3 months in advance for the best value and comfortable flights

And this is when the intervention of a professional travel agency makes all the difference as opposed to booking through OTAs' search boxes. Our agents at Fantastic Fare will often rebook families onto a ticket which might be slightly more expensive but very comfortable for their parents once they know what it's about, thanks to consolidator fares.

Final Thoughts

It is possible to make a senior citizen's journey to India without stress both for the senior citizen himself/herself and the family organizing it, with proper routing, early assistance requests, wise choice of seats and some additional preparation in the field of health and comfort, a long-haul flight will not seem to be scary anymore.

In case you are planning to buy tickets for your parent/grandparent, our experts will gladly explain you all about routing possibilities, wheelchair assistance, meal requests on the phone this is one of conversations that we have daily and are glad to provide you with any help.