r0m8470

Does anyone know if CI has special assistance service for elderly pax? I am about to buy ticket for my mom - she is 81 yrs old - from CGK to SEA. The options are either CI or NH for us. CI will have all lie flats but on the outbound, there is a stop at SFO, then connect with UA. My mom is healthy for an 81-yr old, courtesy of her 2.5 miles daily walk regiment. She is fluent in English, just not very used to conversing, since she does not use it daily. What gave me pause is that she's wearing hearing aids, and this will be her first time traveling internationally alone since my dad passing 3 yrs ago.

I looked up ANA's website and they do have pax assistance for elderly (escorting pax gate to gate, helping with baggage claim at destination), but CI is not listing such services. My concern with NH is that the segment from CGK to HND is on their old cradle seat, while CI has lie flats all the way to SFO.

moondog

Once she is in the US, ADA applies, regardless of carrier(s).
https://www.transportation.gov/indiv...ded-assistance

boat stuck

I would book the ANA flight.

1. There are enormous benefits to not having to go through US inbound immigration in a different city than your final destination. You avoid having to claim and re-check bags, having to go through domestic security, and risking missing the US domestic flight. SFO is also notorious for delays if the weather isn't perfect.
2. The ANA cradle seats (I assume it's a 767?) are perfectly serviceable for a day-time intra-Asia flight. They don't lie flat, but they do recline pretty far, enough that it's quite comfortable for relaxing and napping (much better than a US domestic first class seat). Plus, if you take the CI flight, you'll have to deal with a recliner on UA's SFO-SEA flight, and that will be much less comfortable than the ANA 767 recliner.
3. NH feels like a more operationally competent airline than CI.

username

CI has nonstop TPE-SEA service starting Mid July. It does not operate daily though.

https://www.portseattle.org/news/new...port-to-Taipei

plunet

Also worth noting, other than when the passenger is seated on board, passenger assistance throughout the airport including aircraft embarkation and disembarkation is typically a function of the local airport or port authority, all the airline will be doing is booking the assistance for you.

coolfish1103

If you book wheelchair service for your mom then she will have someone escorting her all the way, not sure she wants to be wheelchaired if she is considered healthy but it does save her hassle getting the bags.

CI has direct flight to SEA from mid-July, you might want to consider that option if you fly then. I wouldn't want to transit at SFO if a direct service is available on CI or NH.

moondog

My mom hasn't had a flight outside of the US since she started availing of wheelchair service, so I can't vouch for "all the way" in the case of the OP, but I can say that the extent of the service has really impressed me (i.e it really has been curb to curb).

Since she doesn't normally use a wheelchair, she initially felt kind of embarrassed by resorting to special assistance, but the benefits of being looked after far outweigh the downsides of her possibly falling down in airports or simply needing to take rest breaks during long walks. In any event, the embarrassment phase is now well behind her, and she is grateful that the program exists.

The special assistance request forms do ask for specifics about the extent of your immobility (using carefully crafted language that is simultaneously sensitive and on point), by the way.

r0m8470

Thank you all. I am aware of the future CI non stop service, but mom's US visitor visa ends in late July, and we really do not want to go through the rigamarole of applying a new one, so I think we will stick with NH.
Their cradle seat I think would be fine for the intra Asia. Mom - thank goodness - is healthy for her age, and do not need the wheelchair service, only the gate to gate assistance, and assistance to take the luggage off the carousel in SEA.

I am aware that airline will book the services of the local partners at the destination airport, and I've seen the services of the local crew (MIL used them before), and it was okay.

Thank you for all the inputs.

moondog

According to my mom, who is by no means an expert, she isn't given the option to refuse the wheelchair. This might be, at least in part, due to a value judgement by the handlers though (i.e pushing her is more efficient than allowing her to move on her own at her normal pace).