Is this something that happens often?!

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately common, and becoming more common.

[Anonymous]

We’ve determined our elderly parents can’t travel alone anymore. Last time they traveled, I flew with them to drop them off at a relative’s (where they stayed for 6 weeks) and then another relative flew them back. It made everything less stressful for them as well as everyone who would have worried about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

It is a US airline. Maybe that was a mistake. She usually does not fly US airlines. Never again!

With airline alliances, you need to double check which plane will be flying. My cousin said she was flying to France on Delta. She had a Delta ticket but it was actually turned out to be an Air France plane.

Air France is much much better than Delta. Fantastic FAs, better food, top notch planes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

It is a US airline. Maybe that was a mistake. She usually does not fly US airlines. Never again!

PP you replied to. Aha! Yes, I think that increased her risk of last-minute changes, the US airlines tend to do that a lot more than European ones (not even sure it's legal in the EU).

Illegal to cancel flights?

Airlines have to pay a lot of money for no good reason cancellations, up to 600 Euros per passenger. It's a pretty good incentive not to do that.

The US flights operating out of the EU also have to pay that fine, so the incentives are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

+1

DP

This is why we take turns flying our aging relatives abroad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

I'm not assuming anything. Obviously I am VERY aware my mom is getting older. Are we not all aware our parents are aging? And not sure why you are trying to school me on my own experience as an immigrant with parents abroad. That's my whole adult life... We will see how this trip goes. And there is nothing entitled about me. I am going to visit her this summer as well but she insisted on coming, 100% HER choice, for something for my dd. For the poster saying she should speak English, she left school at 16 for financial reasons and never studied English. We all speak her native language so we don't speak English together at all when she comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

I'm not assuming anything. Obviously I am VERY aware my mom is getting older. Are we not all aware our parents are aging? And not sure why you are trying to school me on my own experience as an immigrant with parents abroad. That's my whole adult life... We will see how this trip goes. And there is nothing entitled about me. I am going to visit her this summer as well but she insisted on coming, 100% HER choice, for something for my dd. For the poster saying she should speak English, she left school at 16 for financial reasons and never studied English. We all speak her native language so we don't speak English together at all when she comes.

Well you assumed she could manage this trip which she clearly can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

I'm not assuming anything. Obviously I am VERY aware my mom is getting older. Are we not all aware our parents are aging? And not sure why you are trying to school me on my own experience as an immigrant with parents abroad. That's my whole adult life... We will see how this trip goes. And there is nothing entitled about me. I am going to visit her this summer as well but she insisted on coming, 100% HER choice, for something for my dd. For the poster saying she should speak English, she left school at 16 for financial reasons and never studied English. We all speak her native language so we don't speak English together at all when she comes.

Well you assumed she could manage this trip which she clearly can't.

You don't actually know that she can't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

I'm not assuming anything. Obviously I am VERY aware my mom is getting older. Are we not all aware our parents are aging? And not sure why you are trying to school me on my own experience as an immigrant with parents abroad. That's my whole adult life... We will see how this trip goes. And there is nothing entitled about me. I am going to visit her this summer as well but she insisted on coming, 100% HER choice, for something for my dd. For the poster saying she should speak English, she left school at 16 for financial reasons and never studied English. We all speak her native language so we don't speak English together at all when she comes.

Well you assumed she could manage this trip which she clearly can't.

You don't actually know that she can't.

Granny is stuck somewhere overseas and can't communicate with anyone. So yeah, she's having issues. Unless she now lives in the airport.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to a Trump world

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe your mother's plane was only 40% full and they decided to redistribute the passengers to other flights.

The others on the list were reasonable, this one is not. Major airlines do not cancel flights the day before (or even the week before) because of low bookings. It's too disruptive to operations. Cancellations/changes months in advance, yes that is very common.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/airlines-cancel-empty-flights/

Oh BS

Delta just did this to my sister out of Heathrow
American dies it all the time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s really hard for your mother; I’m sorry her trip has been made so difficult.

But it does happen. Maybe you can arrange wheelchair escorts or buggy service through the airline to help her navigate the transfers? My mother used to disdain this kind of support, until she tried it. Then she used it whenever possible.

Best of luck to you both!

How could I do this? Just call JFK and ask they meet her at her flight? She would gladly ask but she does not speak English, another reason why she avoids these scenarios!! I am actually a little shocked they did not put her on a direct partner flight (there was one) because she visibly does not look well, it would be striking. She is also likely very frazzled right now.

I don’t mean this to be rude but she does not remotely sound like a viable candidate for solo overseas travel. This is actually a fairly common occurrence. And yes if you change planes in the US, you have to pick up your bags and walk them through customs and recheck them.

This is such an ignorant comment - likely made by someone who is only looking through the lens of their own international travel experience (came into it as an adult, goes to a lot of new places). International families around the world do this kind of thing all the time. To make an American analogy, this is like feeling comfortable with your elderly parent driving an established route, but maybe not wanting them to navigate an unfamiliar highway alone, which they wouldn’t. Now imagine the main road has been closed, unannounced, and most other familiar roads are blocked (a scenario that doesn’t really occur while driving - usually it’s possible to get some information about part of the route ahead of time). Doesn’t mean the parent is not remotely viable as a candidate to drive.

OP, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I really see it as emblematic of the state of air travel today, and I think it’s only going to get worse for the large majority of us in the middle as the wealth gap widens.

It's pretty absurd (and entitled) to assume that an aging relative, who isn't tech savvy, doesn't speak the language and is ailing physically, is going to continue to be able to do this unaccompanied the exact same way they have been doing for the last 25 years. If you are going to live a continent/ocean away from an aging relative, the scenario of them no longer being able to travel alone has to have occured to you.

I'm not assuming anything. Obviously I am VERY aware my mom is getting older. Are we not all aware our parents are aging? And not sure why you are trying to school me on my own experience as an immigrant with parents abroad. That's my whole adult life... We will see how this trip goes. And there is nothing entitled about me. I am going to visit her this summer as well but she insisted on coming, 100% HER choice, for something for my dd. For the poster saying she should speak English, she left school at 16 for financial reasons and never studied English. We all speak her native language so we don't speak English together at all when she comes.

Well you assumed she could manage this trip which she clearly can't.

You don't actually know that she can't.

Granny is stuck somewhere overseas and can't communicate with anyone. So yeah, she's having issues. Unless she now lives in the airport.

Are you there with her seeing how it's going? No. I think we've all had experiences out of our comfort zone that sometimes went well, and other times not. So this is premature judgement. People are surprising and resourceful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe your mother's plane was only 40% full and they decided to redistribute the passengers to other flights.

The others on the list were reasonable, this one is not. Major airlines do not cancel flights the day before (or even the week before) because of low bookings. It's too disruptive to operations. Cancellations/changes months in advance, yes that is very common.

https://onemileatatime.com/insights/airlines-cancel-empty-flights/

Oh BS

Delta just did this to my sister out of Heathrow
American dies it all the time

What evidence do you have to support your sisters claim?