Speaker
Bob Bacheler

Session Details

Soaring with Ease: Making Airline Travel Accessible for Seniors and Disabled Passengers

Health Care & Home Care

Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
Time: 1:00 pm

Soaring with Ease will focus on the practical strategies and essential considerations for assisting elderly and disabled passengers during commercial airline travel. Attendees will gain insights into the key accommodations and tools needed to ensure safe and comfortable journeys, such as portable oxygen concentrators,  wheelchairs, aisle chairs, and stretcher services. We will explore the medical criteria for determining who can and cannot travel, including guidelines for passengers with mobility impairments, oxygen dependence, and cognitive conditions.

Additionally, the session will provide a case study demonstrating real-world applications of airline accommodations and the logistics of supporting special needs passengers during international flights. Participants will also learn about the role of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in setting industry standards and how to effectively communicate and coordinate with airline and medical personnel to ensure smooth travel experiences. The session will conclude with a Q&A to address specific queries and provide practical solutions for handling the challenges faced by elderly and disabled travelers.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify Key Airline Accommodations and Tools for Disabled and Elderly Travelers: Attendees will be able to recognize various airline accommodations, such as stretcher services, first-class and business-class options, as well as medical tools like portable oxygen concentrators and wheelchairs, that are essential for ensuring safe travel for passengers with special needs.
  2. Understand the Medical Criteria for Airline Travel: Participants will gain a clear understanding of the medical requirements for passengers with disabilities or health conditions, including who can and cannot travel and how to assess the suitability of air travel based on patient health, mobility, and oxygen needs.
  3. Apply Best Practices for Managing Complex Air Travel Scenarios: After the session, attendees will be able to apply practical strategies to manage the logistics of complex air travel for disabled and elderly passengers, including understanding the airline’s medical policies, preparing for medical emergencies, and effectively utilizing necessary travel equipment.