When you get older, you may need greater comfort and support especially when travelling a long distance. Fortunately, there are some very attractive facilities available to senior citizens when travelling by air, knowing about them can help senior travellers not only with a better travel experience but also save lots of money! Here are some of the facilities that seniors can avail when travelling by air.
Priority Boarding
Seniors travelling by air don’t need to stand in queue when boarding the flight. They get priority boarding through most of the airline companies. Seniors using the priority boarding service get assistance from the airline staff to avoid crowded entry and occupying the allotted seat on the flight. Priority boarding can prove to be even more beneficial when the senior is travelling unaccompanied.
ALSO READ: Three Wearable Devices To Improve Super Seniors’ Quality Of Life
Free Mobility Support
Seniors who are suffering from some ailment or find difficulty in walking can request mobility assistance from the airline companies in advance. With mobility assistance, seniors use facilities such as wheelchairs, automated buggies or electric caddies to move inside the airport. Under mobility assistance, the airline companies also provide support inside the flights. Seniors suffering from health problems may find mobility support to be very useful.
Concession On Airfare
Senior people often find it difficult to bear the cost of flight ticket fare. Post-retirement even a little spike in travel costs can be financially challenging for the seniors. To address the issue, several airline companies nowadays allow special discounts for senior citizen travellers. To get flight tickets at discounted fare you need to choose the senior citizen category at the time of initiating the booking. Airline companies also bring seasonal discount offers for senior travellers.
ALSO READ: Is Contribution To Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) Taxable?
Other Benefits For Senior Travellers
When travelling on a flight you may check for some additional benefits depending on the availability with the airline company, for example, you can get a special meal choice, seat selection with extra legroom, early boarding, extra luggage allowance, etc. If you are a senior citizen and planning to travel on a flight, try to plan your travel early and book the required services in advance.
The author is an independent financial journalist.