Navigating Air Travel — Suggestions for Older Adventurers

Welcome aboard Air Aging Research!
We are delighted to have you ever flying with us at the moment! 

Whether you’re jet-setting on a huge worldwide journey or taking a brief flight to go to household and mates, as you put together on your subsequent air journey journey, we’d wish to assessment a couple of essential “flight procedures” to assist make your journey day as easy, secure, and gratifying as potential. Please direct your consideration to the security card – or on this case, the guidelines beneath. 

Pre-Flight Safety Check: Planning Goes a Long Way 

The boarding move in your telephone is completely acceptable. A printed copy tucked inside a folder can also be completely acceptable. Bringing each is taken into account superior journey. 

A fantastic journey begins earlier than you permit residence. A easy, thought-out journey plan will help cut back stress and make it simpler to deal with the sudden. Before your departure, collect these necessities in a single place: 

• Healthcare supplier contact info

• Flight, transportation, lodge, and every other tour confirmations

• A present medicine record (together with dosages)

• Copies of essential journey paperwork and identification playing cards

• Airline assist numbers and accessibility desk contact info

If you’re flying throughout the United States, make sure that your driver’s license or identification meets Real ID necessities. As of May 7, 2025, vacationers with out an appropriate type of Real ID will need to pay a $45 charge. If you might be not sure or don’t have an up to date Real ID, you possibly can journey with one other acceptable type of ID, reminiscent of a passport.  

If you’re touring internationally, verify that your passport is legitimate properly earlier than your departure date, since renewals can take time. In the case that it’s essential renew your passport, you are able to do so both on-line or in-person, following these steps. 

Build Time into Your Itinerary 

Today’s flight time contains beneficiant layovers. We suggest having fun with them. 

One of the perfect journey methods can also be the best: don’t rush.  

Give your self additional time to get to the airport, examine in, transfer by way of safety, and discover your gate. Airports are massive, sudden delays occur, and hurrying will increase the chance of falls or pointless stress. 

If your flight is delayed or plans change, airline employees are there to assist. Keeping your airline’s customer support quantity useful can save worthwhile time and ease stress.  

Request Assistance – Before You Need It 

Should you require wheelchair help, notify your airline earlier than departure. Waiting till you’re standing within the safety line shouldn’t be thought-about an emergency process. 

Before your journey day, contact your airline to request wheelchair help or different accessibility companies, together with ambulatory help. Most main airways supply these companies at no further value and let you request them on-line by way of devoted telephone traces and digital request varieties.  

These companies aren’t only for vacationers who commonly use a wheelchair. Many older adults who’re snug strolling brief distances select to request mobility help to keep away from lengthy walks between check-in, safety, gates, and/or connecting flights. Airlines can supply various ranges of help to fulfill your wants, so it’s essential to coordinate upfront. 

If you didn’t organize help upfront, you possibly can nonetheless go to your airline’s check-in counter or airport help desk after arriving. While same-day help is usually obtainable, making these preparations forward of time is one of the best ways to attenuate wait occasions and make sure the help you want is obtainable upon your arrival. 

Cabin Safety: Comfort Begins Before Boarding 

Confirm you’ve your drugs, mobility aids, journey paperwork, and medical wants useful in your private merchandise — the illumination of the “buckle seatbelt” signal shouldn’t be the best time to find your medicine is in an overhead bin in Row 28. 

Once you’ve reached your gate, know that you’re virtually there! Before boarding, take a second to make use of the restroom and get water. Staying hydrated is essential whereas touring, and so is starting your flight while not having an early journey to the restroom onboard. 

When settling in your seat, be at liberty to retailer your bigger baggage within the overhead bin. Flight attendants and fellow vacationers can help you if essential, so don’t be afraid to ask. However, make sure that the necessities you could want throughout your journey are accessible in your private merchandise underneath the seat in entrance of you: 

Know Where Help Is 

Our crew members are right here on your security. Airport employees are there to assist. Asking for help is sensible journey, not an inconvenience. 

Even the best-planned journeys can encounter “turbulence”. Before leaving the airport, be aware of the place you could find: 

• Customer service counters and data desks

• Accessibility or wheelchair help desks

Knowing the place these assets are situated could make sudden conditions a lot much less annoying. Especially if it’s essential be reunited together with your mobility and/or assistive gadgets, coordinating this upfront together with your airline and realizing who to contact might be key. Your aide could also be ready for you on the gate, and/or airport employees will help transport you to your vacation spot.  

Helpful Resource: The Sunflower Lanyard  

As you navigate the airport, safety checkpoints, and boarding, there are further assets which you could make the most of. Alliance Board Member and Patient Advocate, Jay Reinstein, not too long ago spoke in regards to the Sunflower Lanyard; a discreet option to let employees know you’ve a hidden situation and may have a bit of additional help. Learn extra in regards to the Sunflower Lanyard initiative and get your personal here.  

Enjoy The Journey 

Travel shouldn’t be a race. The greatest reward is making it to your vacation spot – there isn’t any prize for getting anyplace first. 

Keep your seatbelt mounted at any time when seated, tempo your self as you progress by way of the airport, and don’t really feel pressured to maintain up with sooner vacationers. Save your vitality and ensure to gather all your private belongings with you.  

Thank you on your consideration throughout at the moment’s security briefing. We hope the following pointers enable you really feel extra assured, ready, and able to benefit from the journey forward.  

Safe travels, and thanks for flying with Air Aging Research! 

Lauren Belsky serves because the Development Coordinator for the Alliance for Aging Research.