[Kopite]

Ironically given my other post / rant about the awful and inadequate NAIA Manila terminals it’s the one place that does have a seniors immigration line that works for me every time.

God bless the Philippines for caring for the elderly.

[BPP]

Hi AndrewinHK. Your mention of paid assistance in BKK is of interest as this is another base with ‘the long walk’. Do you have contact details for this service please? I don’t need a wheelchair just a buggy would be a great help. BPP

[Alsacienne]

My experience of Schiphol EU to non-EU flights, is that whilst the distance between gates can be relatively long, the travelators (when working!) and the provision of trolleys for use airside do make life more comfortable. I do wish LHR had airside trolleys …

And the ‘old chestnut’ that certain airports cannot specify a departure gate until xx minutes before departure (STN, LGW are the ones that come to mind immediately) means that those who need to walk slowly suddenly have to find Mercury’s wings on their feet, be swept away by the stampede of the passengers or even be denied boarding because of the gate closing before they reach it …. FR thinking of you …

We all get older …

[AlanOrton1]

Alsacienne – spot on with the assessment of STN and LGW. And if your flight is over the skybridge at the latter….quite the trek.

Slight thread creep – I was at Euston train station yesterday am. Train platforms announced 10-15 mins before departure for high capacity routes to Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool etc. Packed around the main boards and as soon as the platform announced a huge swarm of pax moving. For those not fleet of foot / less mobile, almost an accident waiting to happen.

[AndrewinHK]

BPP if you go to FirstClassBangkok.com you then can select the service you need, escorted with or without a buggy, they will escort you through immigration and help you take your bags from the carousel.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Jeffrey, BPP

[BPP]

Andrewin HK – Many thanks for the info, next trip I will certainly try it. Baggage is not an issue as we always travel in ‘J’ mainly with EVA and with cabin bagage only but always seem to get docked miles from immigration! BPP

1 user thanked author for this post.

AndrewinHK

[DavidSmith2]

There are also a number of companies who offer ‘VIP’ meet and greet at Heathrow. I have only used one once – shortly after I was hospitalised and knew I would struggle. It wasn;t cheap but we were met at the top of the airbridge, buggied to immigration, fast tracked through, then helped with baggage as far as the Heathrow taxi rank. I havent used them since as my mobility has improved and I find it hard to justify the cost, particularly at an airport I know so well. But the service is there if you are prepared to pay for it.

[hyphen33]

After recent awful, rude experiences with 3rd party contractors at ATL, IST,LHR,JFK, I can confirm the appalling attitude of these employees in pushing a 75 year old disabled wheelchair bound traveler. The false smiles are really for tips . When a tip is not forthcoming after I apologized explaining that I just landed and only had cards on me or only a large denominated foreign currency bill and no exchange bureau on our itinerary to the drop off point, I was suddenly abandoned by the wheel chair pusher on the spot, turning their back on me walking away mumbling and cussing me no doubt. Scandalous, mean, rudeness at each of the above mentioned airports.

[MartynSinclair]

Thank you AndrewinHK for highlighting the services of First Class Bangkok. At Baht 4,900 PER PASSENGER, from gate to immigration hall this is nearly twice the cost of a BMW 7 series from BKK to downtown! It can be expensive to for the elderly/retired to benefit

Also the Priority Lane for Immigration, is frequently opened up as an overflow for general immigration area.

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BPP

[BPP]

Wow! Perhaps not at that price. Thanks for the info.

[Casey_99]

The long walks at some airports is a problem. Those with plenty of moving walkways is a big help like Changi.
Long walks and then finding a long queue for another security / passport check is the worst.
Similarly, a long walk to the gate, then packed onto a bus which drives to the plane and sits for ten mins because the crew aren’t ready for passengers isn’t great for the more elderly travellers.
Trying to get all my post retirement long haul travel in before my early seventies. Bad knees and a declining hip are a problem in airports and on planes.

[RoyC]

I have unfortunately had to use special assistance for the past 10 years with roughly 10 flights a year and it has been a lifesaver for me.
Unfailing courtesy, friendliness and sympathetic help everywhere with no charge or tips expected anywhere but Dubai where a tip was implied but not openly requested. At Faro I was once forgotten on arrival but on my next departure the pusher made a bee-line for me saying ” you are the first person I have ever lost” and whisked me at great speed to departures ! At CDG it was my pushers first day and she got lost causing me to miss my flight but (unusually I believe) the ground staff pulled out their digits and re-booked us to Genoa via two flights in time for our cruise.
A small charge, say up to £/€/§ 10 could be justified but not the § 50 – 200 quoted on some middle/far eastern airport web sites.

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cwoodward

[Author]

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