Travel Tips Every Senior Should Know For Stress-free Flights

Top travel tips for seniors: Arrive early, ask for help, use tech

For seniors looking to take a trip, here's a few tips to fly with ease and confidence.

• Plan ahead by booking direct flights, reserving suitable seats, and researching airport facilities.
• Pack strategically to avoid overweight baggage fees and ensure easy access to essential medications.
• Utilize available accessibility services and don't hesitate to request assistance when needed.

Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.

There’s this weird thing that happens as people get older where the world starts to treat them with kid gloves. I may not be in that stage of my life, but I can certainly see it happening to others I love and care about: falling victim to this perception that getting older automatically means you need to slow down. Of course, many people do start to experience reduced mobility as they age, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally or at the same time in life. 

Plenty of people stay active and traveling well into their 80s or 90s or beyond, and experts agree that “a body in motion stays in motion,” so the more you make yourself do as you get older, the less likely you are to become a couch potato. 

That said, there are some considerations for senior travelers, especially when it comes to navigating the airport and flights, that the younger set might not have to think about. 

In general, it’s all just practical travel advice for all ages, but maybe a little more important for those in their golden years. 

One of the biggest things for travelers of every age is that airports are more stressful if you have to run, and if you’re slowing down (or even if you’re an active senior) it’s better to get to the airport with plenty of time before your flight. 

“Get to the airport early,” Michael Campbell, co-author with his wife Debbie of the Senior Nomads blog, told me. “Why add stress by trying to figure out how close you can cut it when you get to the airport?” 

The Campbells just wrapped up about 12 years of continuous travel and settled back in Seattle. Michael, 80, said that he and his wife, 69, learned a lot about how to fly comfortably and without stress after more than a decade on the road. 

“Check bags. The push and shove for overhead bins is getting more and more frustrating, so we’re happy to check bags,” he said. “We also try to take the least amount possible onboard as we can.” 

Amy Goyer, AARP’s family and caregiving expert, agreed that leaving time at the airport is key to getting a trip off to the right start, especially for seniors with mobility or other health issues that can slow them down. 

“The main thing is to plan for plenty of time because travel can be complicated in the best of situations and if you have mobility issues or low energy or any concerns at all, if you’re rushing, it’s so much more stressful, and the stress makes everything else harder,” she said. “If you’re having flights and you have a layover, make sure there’s plenty of time. Do not schedule a flight with a tight layover, just don’t do it.” 

For some seniors who aren’t already experienced travelers, it can be a good idea to start with shorter trips at close-to-home destinations to feel out your comfort level. 

This really is one of those universal pieces of advice: for seniors or anyone else, traveling is easier if you have a plan. At the airport, that can mean researching which terminal you're departing from and arriving in in advance, and double-checking what facilities are available. 

“In the airport, I think it’s a good idea to do your research and know where the restrooms are,” Goyer said. 

It can also mean making sure you book direct flights whenever possible, to minimize the risk of complicated delays.

Campbell said he prioritizes booking directly with airlines, because it’s often easier to get issues addressed without relying on a third party. 

“I would only buy direct, not from an aggregator,” he said. “Now the airlines have really made it, if you bought this ticket through Kiss and Fly (a third-party platform), call them, don’t call us.” 

For many seniors, getting the right airline seats also takes some planning. 

“One of the things I really suggest is getting the right seat, that is easy to get into and out of. For some people it’s very much worth paying extra to get a little more legroom to make it easier to get in and out of the seat,” Goyer said. 

Being familiar with your specific plane’s layout can also help you ensure your seat is as comfortable as it can be, and websites like aeroLOPA, which I’ve previously written about, can be a great place to start. 

“What do you need on the plane? Think ahead to: if mom sits too long her back starts to hurt, or her neck hurts or her knees hurt or whatever,” Goyer said. What kinds of things do you need to address those issues during the flights? 

Campbell said it’s important to strategize your packing in advance so you don’t wind up having to pay overweight bag fees, which could also mean your stuff is harder to schlep around. 

"I always feel sorry for people who are at the check-in counter who have their suitcases open" trying to reduce the weight, he said. 

Goyer added that senior travelers with specific medical needs should also be sure they have their medications easily accessible throughout the trip. 

“All medications should be carried on. You never know when your luggage is going to be lost,” she said. “I suggest people travel with a printed medication list because if you unexpectedly run out or lose something or need something, then you have all that information right there.” 

Airports usually have accessibility services that are readily available, and for senior travelers, there should be no shame in taking advantage of them. 

“Just because someone doesn’t need a wheelchair every day...maybe it’s a good idea to request that in advance, especially at large airports,” Goyer said. 

We’re all on our devices all the time now, and travelers of all ages should be comfortable using self-serve options for customer service if something goes awry with their travel plans.  

For many airlines, you can still call in or go to the help desk in the airport if you need customer service, but some low-cost carriers like Frontier only offer customer service by text now. If you’re not comfortable with relying on technology, it could be a good idea to fly with a full-service airline. 

“The internet is your friend; you need it all the time. You need to be comfortable using it to do all sorts of things, and that’s true more so today than it was 12 years ago when we started,” Campbell said. 

Above all, travelers of all ages should take travel as the great opportunity it is to learn more about the world around us and experience new things. 

“People are the same around the world and people are different around the world, and what an education it is to go see how other people live, and it’s just a blessing to travel,” Campbell said. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.