So I'm asking for my neighbour, who's 94 years old and possibly about to fly back to end his days with his family in the US.

His daughter says she will fly out here, then escorts him back, but there are concerns as to whether the airline will let him fly due to his frailty.

As far as I know she hasn't booked anything yet, possibly due also to the new war in the Me (although they are West Coast of the US and their route probably won't be affected).

I have googled, and it says fit to Fly are for pregnant women over so many weeks, for those who've just has major surgery, and for those with chronic illness.

He doesn't fit into any of those categories, but we guess the Airlines could still request one.

So the question isn't whether he will be asked for one, but where in Pattaya could he get one?

I'm just trying to help out prior to his daughter arriving, which was supposed to be 'within the week'.

I was asked to get a fit to fly certificate at Suvarnabhumi when i turned up for a flight limping, i had twisted my ankle a few days before, Thai check in said it was to make sure i could get out the aircraft by myself(i was travelling alone) they sent me to the medical centre which was close to domestic arrivals, they saw me and said fine signed the form, if you are any way infirm i suggest getting one

The 3 stages of air travel from Thailand to USA that might ask for "fit to fly" or refuse travel are:

1) Check-in desk

2) The gate

3) Boarding the plane

Asking for wheelchair assistance could help, so long as he has his faculties, and shows no obvious signs of distress, illness or injury. Frailty should not be an issue.

I hope it works out well for the OP's neighbour.

BTW: We are booked next month to fly from BKK to Seoul to Seattle. Easy route to that west coast destination.

My family departing Bangkok in October 2022. Mother 84yrs and Uncle 80yrs old. No issues whatsoever. Uncle could hardly walk as waiting for knee replacement.

Edit.

19 minutes ago, howerde said:

26 minutes ago, howerde said:

I was asked to get a fit to fly certificate at Suvarnabhumi when i turned up for a flight limping, i had twisted my ankle a few days before, Thai check in said it was to make sure i could get out the aircraft by myself(i was travelling alone) they sent me to the medical centre which was close to domestic arrivals, they saw me and said fine signed the form, if you are any way infirm i suggest getting one

That's good to know it is possible at the airport. Thanks for sharing.

Frailty should not be an issue.

10 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Yes, that's what I figured. Plus it could be classed as ageism maybe if he is otherwise "healthy".

Go on a flight with Chinese tourists and see how many folks use wheelchairs

5 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

That's good to know it is possible at the airport. Thanks for sharing.

If he appears to Airline agents like he can't make it, able to sit upright taking care of himself, it might not be allowed.

Get a fit to fly with assistance (the daughter escort) certificate from a Doctor and no problems.

Book business class

You can go to his doctor and get a fit to fly rather easily. Book a wheelchair from seat to seat so he has assistance getting in the plane. If the daughter can come it would probably help, but it shouldn’t be a big issue. I’ve done it before. Get the wheelchair from the moment you get to the airport. Good luck.

On 3/3/2026 at 11:30 AM, Johnlkuk said:

So I'm asking for my neighbour, who's 94 years old and possibly about to fly back to end his days with his family in the US.

His daughter says she will fly out here, then escorts him back, but there are concerns as to whether the airline will let him fly due to his frailty.

As far as I know she hasn't booked anything yet, possibly due also to the new war in the Me (although they are West Coast of the US and their route probably won't be affected).

I have googled, and it says fit to Fly are for pregnant women over so many weeks, for those who've just has major surgery, and for those with chronic illness.

He doesn't fit into any of those categories, but we guess the Airlines could still request one.

So the question isn't whether he will be asked for one, but where in Pattaya could he get one?

I'm just trying to help out prior to his daughter arriving, which was supposed to be 'within the week'.

Ask the airline you are going to use, what they want from a person that age, and also inform if there are any special conditions they need to be aware of.

When my father was going to fly at age 101, the airline asked for a "fit to fly" certificate from hos own doctor. As he answered that he didn't have an "own doctor", since he haven't seen any doctor for more than 10 yers, they let him fly without a certificate. (Perhaps it also helped that he was travelling to play an exhibition tennis match in an ATP-tournament...😄)

On 3/3/2026 at 7:47 PM, Johnlkuk said:

That's good to know it is possible at the airport. Thanks for sharing.

Why not get a departure fast track , online , just look it up. With wheelchair.His daughter will be with him, so I doubt very much there’ll be a problem. He’ll have the wheelchair to the door of the plane, then must be able to walk to his seat.

On 3/3/2026 at 8:19 PM, Yagoda said:

Go on a flight with Chinese tourists and see how many folks use wheelchairs

They do that to get priority boarding?

2 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

They do that to get priority boarding?

Well no they are crippled but the flight cures them so they can walk off the plane

On 3/3/2026 at 1:19 PM, Yagoda said:

Go on a flight with Chinese tourists and see how many folks use wheelchairs

I agree there are many who use wheelchairs and the same goes for Indians/ Pakistanis etc who are often overweight and/or lazy . Medical cert; not needed to use a wheelchair in airports and that is often abused .

On 3/3/2026 at 5:30 PM, Johnlkuk said:

my neighbour, who's 94 years old

Not many here that old. There's an American chap that age that I've spoken to at breakfast a few times. Very friendly but not long for this world.

Good luck to your neighbour. Hopefully he can make it back home to his family before he departs to that "undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns".