My elderly parents and I are traveling overseas soon. Does anyone know if I can go through the TSA "fast track line" with them? Also, I am worried that when we arrive in the other country, they will have to stand in the long customs line. Can I get assistance for them overseas?
I tried to do the Delta Clear pass for my 94-yr old Mom... her fingerprints were so work out that they wouldn't scan. Her posture is so stooped and her eyes so cloudy that the retina reader didn't work on her. Every time we have to go through this only to be walked to the front of the line. This program isn't in every airport and if you're TSA approved, is barely better. I think with Clear you don't have to take off your shoes. I'm TSA approved and my Mom not. We go through the TSA line anyway and she still has to go through the scanner -- even if we pull up with a wheelchair! Even her wheelchair pusher has to go through the scanner! And sometimes they even pull her aside to search her.
Getting parents pre-TSA approved is probably the best strategy and value.
Where are you going overseas?
How long will you be there?
What kind of assistance do you need specifically?
Are you or your parents native to that destination? Do any of you speak the language?
There is no short-cut lines for customs that I'm aware of.
If either of your parents have cognitive or incontinence issues, air travel on long flights can be very very challenging.
Sea-Tac airport, for example, offers a variety of accessibility options. When I took my 89-year-old mom to her flight from Seattle to Ft. Lauderdale back in April, I did two things:
- I made a TSA appointment -- basically, you say when you want to go through security and book a time in advance (depending on availability). As a result you can move pretty quickly through the standard line.
- I booked a "Visitor Pass" through the airport itself. I don't know how common these are. But Sea-Tac offers a few dozen passes a day, in advance. You still clear security and everything, but there's no cramped flight on the other side. Just overpriced food. :)
I also looked into getting her a wheelchair by arranging directly with the airline, but with the visitor pass and the TSA appointment (and plenty of time to get to our gate) in the end I didn't need one.
I'd check with your airline, and your airports, and the TSA for their accessibility / assistance options. I was pleasantly surprised. Best of luck to all of you and bon voyage!
If you plan to travel often with them, check with their credit card company. Many will reimburse most or all of the cost of Global Entry, which includes TSA Pre-check for domestic air travel. Good luck and be safe.
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