Advice on getting my 86 year old mother out to SEA for a visit.
Jun 26, 2019, 2:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,964
Advice on getting my 86 year old mother out to SEA for a visit.
My 86 year mother ( sound mind, uses a walker) would like to come out to Seattle this summer from Cleveland for a visit. In years past she has used Frontier as it was the only airline with a non-stop..... but it is just too uncomfortable for her at this point with their hard seats and tight space. ( The return is a redeye to boot)
She has options using Delta to connect through DTW, MSP, ATL, and SLC
I think we will spend the money to fly her First Class.
The question I have is there one airport out of the above that is easier to connect? Is there a minimum time we should consider in the connection ( quite a few of them are under an hour)? She would need wheelchair service between gates so that needs to be factored in as well.
Thanks for any insight.
She has options using Delta to connect through DTW, MSP, ATL, and SLC
I think we will spend the money to fly her First Class.
The question I have is there one airport out of the above that is easier to connect? Is there a minimum time we should consider in the connection ( quite a few of them are under an hour)? She would need wheelchair service between gates so that needs to be factored in as well.
Thanks for any insight.
Jun 26, 2019, 3:56 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
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Posts: 21,371
SLC is a very easy airport to negotiate, as all the concourses connect on the same level
most of DTW's gates are in the long A concourse, but there's a reasonably good chance the CLE flight will operate from B; MSP is a labyrinth (but less of a problem if she'll have wheelchair service)
summer weather in ATL introduces a lot of risk, and the sheer volume of passenger traffic makes it pretty unpleasant
most of DTW's gates are in the long A concourse, but there's a reasonably good chance the CLE flight will operate from B; MSP is a labyrinth (but less of a problem if she'll have wheelchair service)
summer weather in ATL introduces a lot of risk, and the sheer volume of passenger traffic makes it pretty unpleasant
Jun 26, 2019, 4:09 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
I recently had a knee replacement and could not stop traveling for business. Delta handles wheelchair requests very well. You can have her met by a helpful wheelchair attendant at every point of the trip. It really does not make much of a difference which connection point although ATL is more difficult than the others.
Just make sure to order up the chair for her when you book the ticket and whoever takes her to the airport tell the first Delta person met that a wheelchair is needed for this passenger. Also, tell her that since she is in first, get her 1A so she can look out the window when each flight docks so she can see if the chairs are already there, as they usually are. If they are not, she can just sit comfortably until they arrive.
Just make sure to order up the chair for her when you book the ticket and whoever takes her to the airport tell the first Delta person met that a wheelchair is needed for this passenger. Also, tell her that since she is in first, get her 1A so she can look out the window when each flight docks so she can see if the chairs are already there, as they usually are. If they are not, she can just sit comfortably until they arrive.
Jun 26, 2019, 4:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
Have her connect in ATL and make SURE she has wheelchair service and I’d shoot for an hour and a half connection time. I frequently fly my 84 year old aunt from Augusta through ATL and on to SAN without issues. She too, has mobility issues with double hip replacements. Never had a misconduct and she comes out every winter for a month. Good luck with your arrangements.
Jun 26, 2019, 4:23 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
SLC is a very easy airport to negotiate, as all the concourses connect on the same level
most of DTW's gates are in the long A concourse, but there's a reasonably good chance the CLE flight will operate from B; MSP is a labyrinth (but less of a problem if she'll have wheelchair service)
summer weather in ATL introduces a lot of risk, and the sheer volume of passenger traffic makes it pretty unpleasant
most of DTW's gates are in the long A concourse, but there's a reasonably good chance the CLE flight will operate from B; MSP is a labyrinth (but less of a problem if she'll have wheelchair service)
summer weather in ATL introduces a lot of risk, and the sheer volume of passenger traffic makes it pretty unpleasant
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 26, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Jun 26, 2019, 4:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
Have her connect in ATL and make SURE she has wheelchair service and I’d shoot for an hour and a half connection time. I frequently fly my 84 year old aunt from Augusta through ATL and on to SAN without issues. She too, has mobility issues with double hip replacements. Never had a misconduct and she comes out every winter for a month. Good luck with your arrangements.
Jun 26, 2019, 4:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
OP, if your mother connects in MSP you can call the Travelers Assistance office there and ask for someone to “meet and assist” your mother. A volunteer will meet her at the gate upon arrival and escort her to the connecting flight. If your mother doesn’t want a wheel chair the volunteer can help flag down one of the electric carts. If she has a long layover and wants a quiet place to rest, she can wait for her flight in the Travelers Assistance office. It doesn’t have the style of an airline lounge but it does have a couple of large, comfortable recliner chairs, magazines, cold (non-alcoholic) drinks, and friendly staff and volunteers.
I’m a volunteer at MSP and do this often for passengers who need extra help because of age, language problems, disabilities, etc.
If you decide to do this you should call MSP Travelers Assistance at 612-726-5500 several days or weeks in advance of your mother’s travel and give all the details of her itinerary and needs. This service is available at no charge seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, except for major holidays. Unlike the wheel chair attendants, the volunteers do not accept tips. Donations to the MSP Airport Foundation, which operates the Travelers Assistance program are accepted but definitely not required.
This can be arranged in addition to requesting a wheelchair.
I’m a volunteer at MSP and do this often for passengers who need extra help because of age, language problems, disabilities, etc.
If you decide to do this you should call MSP Travelers Assistance at 612-726-5500 several days or weeks in advance of your mother’s travel and give all the details of her itinerary and needs. This service is available at no charge seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, except for major holidays. Unlike the wheel chair attendants, the volunteers do not accept tips. Donations to the MSP Airport Foundation, which operates the Travelers Assistance program are accepted but definitely not required.
This can be arranged in addition to requesting a wheelchair.
Jun 26, 2019, 4:45 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
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Posts: 23,766
I have had wheelchair assistance on morethan a couple of dozen occasions and have never met an assistant who was anything less than caring. I suggest that the OP stock his mother up with $10 bills since she will really appreciate their help and they are surely underpaid.
Jun 26, 2019, 5:01 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: GRR
Programs: Delta Plat & Million Miler
Posts: 1,375
My suggestion
We used to take my mother (now 96) back and forth twice a year when she was in her 80's. She used a walker. The Delta FAs, the wheelchair assistance and the drivers were always great. The hardest part was the transition between plane and jet way. Just give her time!
Personally I would avoid ATL totally. I'm a big fan of DTW and MSP--always felt they had their act together with helping her.
I am not a fan of SLC, but it is getting better--assuming she doesn't have to go with one of those "bus station" gates where you walk five miles and go outdoors to board your plane!
We always took her first class-made a big difference in comfort for her.
I would not be comfortable with a LO of less than an hour for any. Although if she takes the little car she can get their quite quickly!
Personally I would avoid ATL totally. I'm a big fan of DTW and MSP--always felt they had their act together with helping her.
I am not a fan of SLC, but it is getting better--assuming she doesn't have to go with one of those "bus station" gates where you walk five miles and go outdoors to board your plane!
We always took her first class-made a big difference in comfort for her.
I would not be comfortable with a LO of less than an hour for any. Although if she takes the little car she can get their quite quickly!
Jun 26, 2019, 5:36 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Full time Nomad
Posts: 842
WOW, good information!
OP, if your mother connects in MSP you can call the Travelers Assistance office there and ask for someone to “meet and assist” your mother. A volunteer will meet her at the gate upon arrival and escort her to the connecting flight. If your mother doesn’t want a wheel chair the volunteer can help flag down one of the electric carts. If she has a long layover and wants a quiet place to rest, she can wait for her flight in the Travelers Assistance office. It doesn’t have the style of an airline lounge but it does have a couple of large, comfortable recliner chairs, magazines, cold (non-alcoholic) drinks, and friendly staff and volunteers.
I’m a volunteer at MSP and do this often for passengers who need extra help because of age, language problems, disabilities, etc.
If you decide to do this you should call MSP Travelers Assistance at 612-726-5500 several days or weeks in advance of your mother’s travel and give all the details of her itinerary and needs. This service is available at no charge seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, except for major holidays. Unlike the wheel chair attendants, the volunteers do not accept tips. Donations to the MSP Airport Foundation, which operates the Travelers Assistance program are accepted but definitely not required.
This can be arranged in addition to requesting a wheelchair.
I’m a volunteer at MSP and do this often for passengers who need extra help because of age, language problems, disabilities, etc.
If you decide to do this you should call MSP Travelers Assistance at 612-726-5500 several days or weeks in advance of your mother’s travel and give all the details of her itinerary and needs. This service is available at no charge seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, except for major holidays. Unlike the wheel chair attendants, the volunteers do not accept tips. Donations to the MSP Airport Foundation, which operates the Travelers Assistance program are accepted but definitely not required.
This can be arranged in addition to requesting a wheelchair.
Jun 26, 2019, 9:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 795
Avoid Atl. After that go with the airport that allows for a connection of around 90 minutes and has the best backup available. In my personal order of ease would be dtw, slc, msp but really I would let price,flight times, equipment, available seating and backup options drive the choice
