Help with bring a elderly parent to Thailand

[NCC1701A]

Anyone have any experience with bringing a elderly parent on the long flight to Thailand?

I am going to be putting my 89 year old mother into a retirement assisted living facility.

I am looking into flying first class from Los Angeles to Bangkok.

I want to fly on the best airline that can deal with a person in a wheel chair and who is on oxygen.

I want early first class check in and no or short lines and want to be in a first class lounge waiting for the connecting flight and I want to escorted to the connecting flights gate by the airline which is common if requested in first class.

Is there a way to get pre-screened by the TSA or get to a express lane for very elderly people?

I am thinking there are airlines now that have "sleeper" spaces, and large seats that fully recline. If I can get her out of her wheel chair and into her semi private space and set her up with pillows and her food she should be OK.

I am bringing a nurse to help me take care of her during the flight.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[harrry]

You get that on all main airlines whether first or Y.

Well they will transfer her to a wheelchair, escort her through screening and into the lounge. They will arange for her to be taken to a lounge in transit or through customs and to the airport door on arival. Board before all other passengers. Transfer her to her seat. They need advance warning. As it is a flight from the US with a US Flight number check these services.

http://www.disabilitytravel.com/airlines/air_carrier_act.htm

Oxygen may be a problem and definitely needs pre approval. I strongly suggest that you buy a portable Oxygen concentrator in the US. THey are very expensive (About US$5000 with the needed spare batteries. Persnally I use an Airsep freestyle as once you get to the Airport door you are on your own.

I also suggest you buy a conserving regulator for Oxygen but as they use a different fitting here you may need to buy that here. PM me if you need info on the dealer here. (They cost about $750 but make a large bottle of oxygewn that may last 20 hrs last a week.

Note that airlines do not charge excess baggage for reasonable mobility or care equipment. Bring a properly sized wheelchair with her bring a transfer hoist if needed as they are hard to get here and expensive,and if you bring a concentrator you will save a lot of tax.

[NancyL]

I'd recommend Korean Air for service from the west coat of the U.S . They do a superb job with wheelchair service. Is the facility where she's going closer to Chiang Mai than Bangkok? They have a direct flight from Seoul to CM and you can completely avoid BKK.

As for the oxygen -- contact the airline; they have to provide the oxygen. There is a form that her doctor will have to complete, called a MEDIF form. Every airline has one. Just google the airline name and the word MEDIF. The airlines do not charge extra for wheelchair service, but they may for other medical accommodations.

Definitely good that you're planning to bring her over first class. That's definitely the way to go! If you decide to go business class on Korean, you can buy a day pass at the first class lounge in Seoul for a very reasonable price or even check in at one of the two hotels right in the terminal if you have a long layover.

I've had much experience in arranging repatriations for elderly people who want to leave Thailand and return to their home countries and a few who were coming here to be with their adult children. Is your Mom totally on-board with the idea? Have you thoroughly checked out the facility where she's going? Hope you'll be close-by to visit her frequently.

Edit: Wow: Just noticed the OP's "handle". That was my phone number in the college dorm room: NCC 1701 Got lots of phone calls from heavy breathing trekkies! Took me a while to figure out why I was so "special", though.

[mickjn]

Whats Mums Doctor say about this

[harrry]

Korean air may be a good bet or not. The ADD requirement that they have to provide (with a charge) oxygen or allow oxygen concentrators to be used only applies on flights loeaving the US or having a US flight number. It would not apply to the Seol leg and it is up to them whether they supply or not.

A direct flight is best if possible. Probably best for her too.

Cheaper carriers are supposed to comply too but often the complience is more scanty. US Airways just paid a big big fine.