Airlines - Discount For Seniors?

Andrea, any "discounts" for seniors are probably like those on Southwest -- a reduction from full base fare but waaay higher than available-to-all fares with advance purchase and restrictions.

That's exactly what we've seen - a discount on the full-fare prices, but never on the economy tickets.

There is no penalty for seniors.

When I select myself as a senior on United, it becomes necessary to make my younger wife the Principal Traveler even though I am making the booking. If I am the Silver-miles status this denigrates our joint booking. It’s stupid. Forget about senior air discounts in the US. It’s more likely they want to exclude the frail traveler! No corporation is “your pal.” It’s all about the money!

Delta does not do anything (money wise) with Seniors having flown delta more then a few times with my elderly father. Or sent him someplace on Delta. As we live near a Delta hub.

That being said delta will do a lot for a senior if you call them. I once had Delta relocated out seats to the front of our class and to the side vs the middle (bumping someone out of those seats I believe) because they did not want my 80+ year old father farther back and or separated from me. And they let him board ahead of everyone else as they like him out of the way. And of course you can get wheelchair service. To name a few.

So if you are traveling with your uncle or making reservations for him you may try to call the airline directly to see what they can do for you.

British Airways often has a small discount for AARP members.

Thanks everyone. It looks like there would be no benefit to choose the senior category for my uncle, as sadly we will be traveling in economy. Maybe economy plus if it isn't too much more expensive. All things being (mostly) equal we will fly United because I have priority boarding with them. My uncle is physically fit, but has dementia. He would probably be insulted if I suggested a wheelchair, so I will make sure we have long enough layovers to walk between gates. I will be sticking to him like glue.

This is the thread I posted last year when we were supposed to go to Germany together.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/fear-of-flying

I was not aware of the dementia at that time, so it was a blessing that he decided not to go. The good news is that he has forgotten that he is afraid to fly. I've moved him close to me (he flew here!) and he now lives in an Assisted Living facility nearby. We will go for one week to visit his daughters and his twin grandsons who will be 23 months old at the time of our visit in October. A week is long enough for everyone I would say.

That sounds like an improvement, Andrea.

I hope that he can finally get there, and that you can too. Understanding must help.

Good luck with pulling it all together. You're a trooper,

Thanks Nigel. Since his neighbor contacted my cousin last October to express her concerns about him I have made many trips to Kansas. At the beginning my goal was to just help him take care of business. It became clear that he could no longer live safely on his own. Since his children live in Germany, and have since they were very small children, there was no possibility that one of them could move here to be close to him. And no option for him to move there. I could not leave him there, so here he is. I will only go this time if he is going. The difference this year, as opposed to last year, is that in addition to forgetting he is afraid to fly he actually saw the children a couple of weeks ago via FaceTime. He has no technology, and when we have FaceTimed with the family in the past he has felt very uncomfortable with it. After a couple of minutes he is ready to terminate the conversation. But then he finally saw the children and he was fascinated with seeing them in action. He decided he is ready to go, remembers the upcoming trip (that's amazing that he remembers, because he forgets a lot of things), and asks questions about it in a curious way. He doesn't seem to have any concerns. He has seen them once since then and we plan to FaceTime with them again this afternoon. Fingers crossed this goes off without a hitch and everyone has a good time.

Andrea, you are a sweetheart--but we knew that already!

Oh Andrea we’re hoping for the best for all of you on your upcoming trip and reunion with family. Blessings to you for making this happen.

Andrea, please post a trip report so that we can all learn from how your trip goes. I wish you and your Uncle well and am sure your cousins appreciate all you have done. You have earned your Halo in Heaven girl!

Have a Great Trip!
Mimi

Ladies, thank you for your support. I just hope things go smoothly and he enjoys the time with the family. He hasn’t been with his daughters together since 1994. This will likely be the only time he will have this opportunity. Who knows when it will be possible for my cousin with the twins to come here for a visit and his memory isn’t getting any better.

Of the many flights I have booked for my Parents who are Seniors I have never seen any discounts or for Students. The prices I have seen are the same as selecting Adult. Now there may be special agencies who buy tickets in bulk and offer the discounts to specific groups. Southwest charges more for Seniors as their tickets are flexible.

The cost Southwest adds is too much in my opinion as you could get a good annual travel insurance plan that would pay you to change the flights.