Elderly Passengers
 

My grandparents, who are in their late 80's/early 90's, are flying to HKG next month. Do airlines have a policy on elderly passengers flying? In other words, do they impose an age limit, or would they require my grandparents to supply a medical certificate before they are allowed to fly (like they do with pregnant women)?

I know there is no age limit, the only time you have to provide a medical certificate is if the pax has recently had a major operation, I know you have to inform the airline if oxygen or sharps are required to be carried on board. I think it would be best to have a look at the airlines 'conditons of carriage' for each carriers rules.

a word of advice is to have medicines with them on the carry on bag. e.g. if say they need to take the pill every 3 hours and they mistakenly checked them into the checked bag it could be nasty if they get sick inflight

Having medicine with them in their carry on bag also causes another problem. When you go through customs / security screening some medicines require doctor / medical certificates of prove (that is is for personal use) before they can be brought outside Australia. I've seen this situation before where the pax got held up.

If they can't walk long distances and there's a possibility of them getting lost inside an airport (as passengers often do), request a wheelchair or assistance from the airline prior to the day of the flight. Even if they don't need wheelchairs to bring them to the gate, if they require assistance in navigating their way through the terminal in Sydney they could perhaps be led by a ground staff who may push another wheel chair passenger

I will be travelling with them, but will ask the check in staff if we can board the aircraft first so my grandparents can settle into their seats before the crush of other passengers.

Depending on the carrier, I'm pretty sure they'll be included in the first call up of passengers to board the aircraft i.e elderly or less mobile passengers, passengers with kids etc...

It's great to see they're still keen to travel!

If you could get assistance from the airline that would help them a lot with security and customs formalities.

in regard to medicine in Australia a prescription with the Pax name on it is fine for most medicines, do be concerned if security attempt to confiscate tablets - they've no right or power to do so, ACS should be the only party they speak to in regard to medication

Hope it helps and they have a good holiday!

Cheer's
Nate

Though highly unlikely this will be successful, but I hope we can score an upgrade, to make the flight as comfortable as possible for them.

I tried to persuade my grandparents not to go on the trip, but they are very keen to do it, especially when it's been 6 long years since their last trip back to HKG. And, not being mean, I don't know when or if they will be able to go there again after this one, gven their age.

My grandparents visited us 2 years ago and on the flight back to HKG on CX my grandfather required a wheelchair. They were able to board the flight first and left the flight last. No doctor certificate was required and the wheelchair was arranged during check in.

They said CX looked after them well at the airport and in flight.

My grandparents and I are flying CX as well. We're flying on the overnight flights so they have plenty of time to pack and arrive at the airports.

The last time my grandparents went to HKG, they flew with Qantas. They were asked to wait by the check in counters and all the elderly passengers on the flight were escorted through Immigration and Security by Qantas staff.

Same flight too. They had to wait for a CX staff at the check in counter before proceeding to immigration. This CX staff pushed the wheelchair and escorted them on the flight.