Qantas Frequent Flyer - Assistance for elderly with Qantas

Hi - just looking for some info from anyone who has past experience on this - does Qantas provide assistance to elderly passengers? My 76 year old mum is travelling from Per/syd/la/ny (return) in June - although she is able bodied, she is likely to get confused going through different terminals etc and using the passport scanners etc. I was hoping someone could make sure she gets off one plane and onto the next safely and in enough time to ensure she gets the next connection. I will write a step by step kind of guide for her but knowing that someone else is looking out for her will be an extra comfort for me!
thanks all.

Hi - just looking for some info from anyone who has past experience on this - does Qantas provide assistance to elderly passengers? My 76 year old mum is travelling from Per/syd/la/ny (return) in June - although she is able bodied, she is likely to get confused going through different terminals etc and using the passport scanners etc. I was hoping someone could make sure she gets off one plane and onto the next safely and in enough time to ensure she gets the next connection. I will write a step by step kind of guide for her but knowing that someone else is looking out for her will be an extra comfort for me!
thanks all. Just make sure that there is a note in her booking saying that she requires transit assistance, and she will be fine, in both SYD and LAX (in both directions).

Dave

Hi - just looking for some info from anyone who has past experience on this - does Qantas provide assistance to elderly passengers? My 76 year old mum is travelling from Per/syd/la/ny (return) in June - although she is able bodied, she is likely to get confused going through different terminals etc and using the passport scanners etc. I was hoping someone could make sure she gets off one plane and onto the next safely and in enough time to ensure she gets the next connection. I will write a step by step kind of guide for her but knowing that someone else is looking out for her will be an extra comfort for me!
thanks all.

Been there, done that. It is quite a worrying experience for "us younger" people who are not confident that their elderly parent will be able to handle the airport system (even though the oldies insist that they will be OK :rolleyes:) ).

The easiest way may be to ask for a wheelchair so they will be personally taken from the aircraft, through the formalities and delivered to the next aircraft. This (in the USA anyway) seems to guarantee they won't have to queue for immigration - I've seen some oldies who are perfectly capable of walking onto the aircraft and lift heavy "carry-ons" into the locker only to be met at the other end with a wheel chair - W T F? - but they are the ones who are not waiting 90 min in the immigration line with everyone else - they go straight through to the head of the line with their personal escort.

Oh, the other stunt is to carry your pet dog on board (in the USA) - just put a coat on the beast with the words "Service Animal" and then it gets a cabin ride instead of being in the hold below (but I digress).

thanks for the advice -I will enquire about the wheelchair availability although I know she will feel a bit of a fraud for using it when she can get around, but like you say, it is a worry - and knowing she has assistance would be great - I'll just ask her to tip the assistant well!

...- I'll just ask her to tip the assistant well!
Tips are not needed in Oz. There is a minimum wage that (in theory) provides a reasonable remuneration for the job. This is different to some other countries...:(

I've seen some oldies who are perfectly capable of walking onto the aircraft and lift heavy "carry-ons" into the locker only to be met at the other end with a wheel chair - W T F? -
Oh, the other stunt is .

og, please don't take things at face value.

for instance my partner is not an oldie, however, due to a chronic lung condition (ironically probably caused through flying) he cannot walk long distances (about 150m max) without great effort, therefore he needs to use a wheelchair at most airports

he is however quite capable of lifting things and walking on and off planes (yes even up stairs to a 737)

some 'oldies' could be a in a similar position - it is not a stunt (necessarily)

og, please don't take things at face value....he is however quite capable of lifting things and walking on and off planes (yes even up stairs to a 737)...some 'oldies' could be a in a similar position - it is not a stunt (necessarily)

I certainly understand your situation and no offence intended. I have had to manage an elderly parent who was dependant on wheelchairs and could not lift things, let alone walk without a risk of falling - I know these forms of assistance are essential for some.

It is, though, easy to be cynical when seeing people who "appear" to be in good health, walk briskly to check in, have no problem with lifting heavy bags onto the scales and then pop into a wheelchair and zoom through the queues.