Getting old people to fly for the first time

[jimothy]

My Uncle passed away this morning. The funeral's next week up in Scotland, and we need to get my Gran up there from the South Coast.

She's 92, starting to get a bit frail and has never flown before.

Does anyone have any suggestions (other than a bosh on the head - 'I aint gettin on no plane, fool') of how to help her overcome her nerves and be comfortable on a filght to scotland and back?

Thanks

[puggit]

I assume there isn't time for one of those courses they run at Heathrow? I understand they work very well

Edited to add: Sorry for your loss - I kinda skip-read!

>> Edited by puggit on Wednesday 25th May 08:43

[B17NNS]

here gran, drink this milk

[Yugguy]

Just stick her in the catapult like you would anyone else.

[towman]

Don`t fly her on one of the bargain carriers - it will worry her. Fly BA and explain the problem, I`m sure she will be well looked after.

[alexkp]

Tell her it's great fun (which it is) and what does she really have to worry about? At 92 she has had a pretty good innings I'd say!

Could you book business class? I know it costs a fair bit more, but this is probably the first and last time she will fly. Make it something special and you do get looked after much better "up front".

[benyeats]

As long as you let the airline know (and it is a proper airline, not eiroflot or sleasyjet) they will arrange for a buggy to take your gran to the aircraft. Are any of you able to travel with her ?

If you are going from Gatwick drop me a PM my mother runs an agency that looks after passengers such as your gran so maybe could help.

Ben

[Tuna]

jimothy said:

Does anyone have any suggestions (other than a bosh on the head - 'I aint gettin on no plane, fool') of how to help her overcome her nerves and be comfortable on a filght to scotland and back? Thanks

As has been said, go with a 'proper' airline, see if you or another family member can go with her, and treat the whole thing as a perfectly normal process (or exciting adventure, if she's the sort of person who would go for it). My grandfather-in-law flew for the first time in his late eighties - to Hong Kong!

The biggest thing is to make sure she's not going to get tired, or pick up on your own worries. Unless she walks for miles every day, make sure that she gets a buggy/wheelchair provided at all points so she can sit and enjoy the ride.

[bruciebabe]

benyeats said:

As long as you let the airline know (and it is a proper airline, not eiroflot or sleasyjet) they will arrange for a buggy to take your gran to the aircraft. Are any of you able to travel with her ? If you are going from Gatwick drop me a PM my mother runs an agency that looks after passengers such as your gran so maybe could help. Ben

Do everything you can to make the whole day as easy as possible for her, the airline will help you in this if you get on to the right person there. Sell it to her as something routine and everyday in the modern world, don't make a big thing of it. As a last resort lace her Gin with Beta Blockers.

[jimothy]

Thanks for all your help guys and gals. It'll be me and my parents flying with her, but we're all not the best of flyers. She does walk a bit, but a buggy probably would be best. I'm certianly going to fly BA, having been on RyanScare and the like I wouldn't trust them!

Southampton does sound like a good idea, she'd panic in Heathrow.

And I'll keep some vallium or a spliff to hand just in case.

[Tuna]

jimothy said:

I'm certianly going to fly BA, having been on RyanScare and the like I wouldn't trust them!

Breakfast in London, dinner in New York, granny in Kuala Lumpur.

[Trooper2]

Tuna said:

jimothy said: I'm certianly going to fly BA, having been on RyanScare and the like I wouldn't trust them! Breakfast in London, dinner in New York, granny in Kuala Lumpur.

Priceless.

[jrm]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's about the same price as a BA flight up there I think, takes 6 hours ish overnight from Kings Cross

[BliarOut]

jimothy said:

Does anyone have any suggestions (other than a bosh on the head - 'I aint gettin on no plane, fool') Thanks

Oh well, that's my suggestion out of the window

[Pot Bellied Fool]

As already suggested, big carrier like BA will probably be more comforting for her OR a small regional (not a LoCo) airline with the friendly touch - although that will be a smaller aircraft so not as 'normal' perhaps.

If you're nervous, she'll pick up on that, if you're not then hopefully she can treat it as something interesting.

Do make a point of telling her (in advance) that you'll hear noises of things whirring & bumping, and that it's normal.

Remind her that the crew do this for a living, day in, day out with no problems.

Don't let her watch the pilots as they board, she might get nervous with seeing them fumble with lucky white heather, rabbits' feet & rosaries!

And if it's a small twin engined aircraft - remember the old adage. In the event of an engine failure, the remaining engine is intended to take you directly to the scene of the crash..

>> Edited by Pot Bellied Fool on Wednesday 25th May 14:12

[apache]

You might need to starch the clothes (to give a good aerofoil section) and ballast em up front with a good meal, launch into a good headwind and tell them to curl the toes (this helps control airspeed)
If your old person displays particularly good glide characteristics then you best stuff a mobile phone with a good A to B in their back pocket, good luck

>> Edited by apache on Wednesday 25th May 14:39

[jimothy]

apache said:

You might need to starch the clothes (to give a good aerofoil section) and ballast em up front with a good meal, launch into a good headwind and tell them to curl the toes (this helps control airspeed) If your old person displays particularly good glide characteristics then you best stuff a mobile phone with a good A to B in their back pocket, good luck >> Edited by apache on Wednesday 25th May 14:39