Grandma’s coming to visit. But can Grandma get on the plane by herself? If not, no problem: FareCompare has the answers. And trust us, these escort strategies really work.

By Anne McDermott

A lot of older people can do most things young people can, but navigating a busy airport may not be one of them. Especially if the senior in question doesn’t fly much. And if the senior hasn’t flown since 9/11, forget it.

GRANDMA COMES TO VISIT

A FareCompare reader named Marlene wants to fly her 94-year old grandmother out to California from Florida for a visit. Grandma may be up there, but she can still take care of herself (she can walk unassisted, and still drives her own car). But she hasn’t flown in 20-years and Marlene worries she could get lost in the maze of lines and screening procedures. There are no relatives or friends in Florida who can accompany Grandma on this flight; Marlene herself could fly out, and travel with Grandma, but she simply doesn’t have that kind of time, let alone money.

CAN A FRIEND/FAMILY ESCORT A PASSENGER THRU SECURITY?
If someone could get Grandma to the gate, and personally see her off on a non-stop flight, that would pretty much solve Marlene’s problem. But CAN a friend escort Grandma to the gate?
The answer is a qualified “no.” Many airlines will give a parent a pass to escort a child to the gate, but generally airlines (including American, United, Southwest, and Delta) say they will not allow you to do this for other passengers.

• EXCEPTIONS: There are always exceptions; some people report that they can sometimes “beg” a pass from a customer service rep at the airline’s ticket counter, but it doesn’t always work so DO NOT COUNT ON THIS.
• PLAN B: Most airlines DO have their own escort programs that provide personnel with wheel chairs who can meet passengers curbside or at the ticket counter.

But-what if they don’t show up? It has been know to happen.

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
You’re going to need to hire a limo service, enlist a friend (or pay a trusted acquaintance) and stay in close contact with the airline. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. BUY TICKETS FOR NON-STOP FLIGHTS ONLY: When making Grandma’s reservations, be sure to buy tickets for non-stop flights only. If non-stops are unavailable at the nearest airport to Grandma, have her driven to the next closest airport that CAN provide non-stop flights to your location.
2. MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR AN ESCORT: When you reserve Grandma’s plane ticket, be sure to tell them Grandma will require an escort with a wheel chair (even if Grandma is ambulatory, she may not realize how far she has to walk in most airports). You can do this over the phone, or in most cases, on the airline’s website (many sites include boxes to check for “seniors” or “special needs”; if you can’t find this information, type those terms into the “search” box. And, if you make your request via the website, I would still call and get a “human” to confirm this. BE SURE TO REQUEST THE ESCORT SERVICE FOR THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SEGMENTS OF BOTH FLIGHTS.
3. CONFIRM ESCORT RESERVATIONS: Call at least once before the flight to remind them you WILL need that escort and wheel chair. Better yet, call twice.
4. GET A LIMO: Hire a reputable limo company that provides door-to-door service; be sure and speak with the driver beforehand, and exchange cell phone numbers. Typically, you pay for this service via credit card (including the tip) so tell the driver in advance he’s not to accept money from Grandma.
5. GET A FRIEND FOR THE LIMO RIDE: If you can’t find a friend, hire someone Grandma knows (a college kid who does chores around her place, someone from the local senior center, her hairdresser); this person will ride in the limo with Grandma. At the airport, the driver will stay with the car while the friend does curbside check-in, and waits with Grandma for the wheel chair escort. If the wheel chair escort doesn’t arrive, the friend can approach a Skycap or the ticket desk, and get the situation resolved (be polite, but persistent).
6. CONTACT NUMBERS: Make sure both the friend and Grandma have numbers for you, the airline, her doctor and anyone else you think would be appropriate.
7. PACK FOOD/MEDICINE: Grandma probably expects to be fed on the plane, and of course, Grandma would be wrong. Have the friend pick up a sandwich for her, and make sure Grandma has any medications or other necessities she needs (eyeglasses, hearing aid, etc.)

DOES YOUR SENIOR NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE?
If your flyer’s medical/mental condition is such that they require a higher level of escort (perhaps a medical professional to travel WITH them), there are a few organizations on the web you might want to check out; one I found is called RN Flying Worldwide (NOTE: I cannot vouch for this organization personally). Such services do not come cheap though; RN Flying services will cost you roughly $1500 plus the price of the ticket for a cross-country flight.