Crazy? Fly to Aus for two days?

[OllyBJolly]

My elderly, healthy, fit uncle (86) flies to Australia to see family every year. He's had a couple of strokes and a hip op. For the first time, he's a bit nervous about the journey this year and wishes he wasn't flying alone. He flies business class so will be well looked after. This may be his last trip (although we've said that most years for the past 10!)

Would it be madness for me to fly with him, spend two days in Australia and fly home (Business out, coach class back). I can't spend longer as don't want to miss Christmas with my family. His DD is flying back with him in February. We are very close. I lost my own parents when I was young and he's always been there so he's more of a father figure than an uncle, and I'm also very close to the cousins.

The cost is an issue, but I'm more worried about immigration and customs thinking I'm up to something. Don't want to be detained and miss Christmas altogether! And with the time of year can't pretend it's a business trip.

My DH has done this (for a single business meeting and signing he HAD to attend).
He had 2 nights in a good hotel. People were amazed that it was possible to fly to Australia “for the weekend” (it was during the week, really).
Get the shortest flight you can, and pay the extra if you can, to make the trip as stress free and as smooth as possible. Taxis where appropriate, decent accommodation, melatonin tablets if you can get them, taken on the plane may help with sleep.
Try and do at least one half day doing something enjoyable and touristy if you can, even though you are there for a very short time, make it count! You can’t spend 24/7 with your relative

I don’t think emigration would have any issue with “I’m accompanying my elderly relative, who’s visiting family for a few weeks, but I need to fly back, it’s just a quick hello, goodbye trip for me...”

Assuming here, you mean fly U.K.-Australia)!

Sounds like a wonderful thing to do for your uncle, and I’m sure immigration would understand the reasons perfectly.

It would be a very kind thing to do. Is there any chance he could go a smidge earlier so that you could stretch it a few more days? Our company flew a bloke over for an interview, I think he was here less than two days and he coped ok with it if that means anything!

You are looking at longer than two days really because with the time difference it takes the best part of two days to fly there with the same going back. Do not go back coach if at all possible but try premium economy. You will need an electronic visa for Australia but I do not think immigration would see you travelling with your elderly uncle for a couple of days an immigration issue.

I would ensure beforehand that he is fit to fly medically and with his travel insurance being the best possible.

Could you fly the first part with your uncle, help ensure he’s on the plane for the second part (assuming he’s having a one stop flight) and then you come back? That way you’d still be able to ensure he’s ok, you’d have less of a flight (cost/jet lag)

Last year I was living in Singapore and I flew back to London for a one day training course.

I took a direct flight to reduce the actual traveling time rather than my usual route through Dubai

I left Thursday morning, (daytime flight and worked on the flight, so it felt like a working day), 13 hour flight, but with time difference landed thurs afternoon at LHR. Did the social before the course Thursday evening, got a full nights sleep, course all day Friday, left Saturday morning, arrived back in Singapore Sunday morning.

Economy both ways.
Wouldn't want to do it every week but doable

Thanks everyone - that's really helpful.

It would be two days in Australia not travelling, staying with my cousin and his family. I know it would be almost two days travel each side of it - I'd be away for five days altogether. I have to time it to fit in with his already booked flight, and for me to get back and recover in time for Christmas Day.

His insurance is almost half the cost of the flight - he's well covered.

I have considered just doing the first leg of the flight, but the second half is much longer so it's probably better he's accompanied on that one. I don't mind economy - couple of books, no distractions and I'm happy but maybe after flying out business my attitude might be changed forever!

I don't think it's a crazy plan but you might struggle with economy after business class 😁 DH and I did Sydney to Dallas return a few months back so 16 hour flights. We did business out (upgraded with air miles), economy home (no option to upgrade). What a difference! There is not usually a big difference in price between business one way only and business return. I don't tend to use travel agents but maybe try one to see if they can get you a good deal?

I would only do it flying business both ways - IME it makes a MASSIVE difference to how you feel when you arrive. As you would be doing it for your Uncle's benefit could he help you with the air fare??

Actually I think you can think about it differently. I do this flight twice a year, to visit a very elderly relative.

Talk in more depth with your uncle. Actually go over the whole ‘flight experience’, door to door, with him. You’ll likely zero in on what bits specifically he’s concerned about. It may be quite solvable without you being at his elbow.

Frankly, while he’s on the plane, especially the longer leg, he couldn’t be more looked after than in business class. It’s quite infantilising! The only issue you’d need to be there for is toileting, if he has trouble with that.

It’s more likely that he’d need help with the checking in, transferring and immigration checks (lifting hand luggage, taking off shoes, having correct documents to hand). You can then explore what options different airlines have for assistance. I know the middle eastern airports/airlines are getting into different ‘concierge’ type (paid) services. If you ask for a wheelchair service, surely they assist with docs & luggage?

Also, given that he’ll likely be fine once in the air, could you pay someone to travel economy with him, on the same flight? You then let the flight crew know he has an assistant in the plane. A bit like when those parents travel in a higher class than their kids- hope for the best, but be at hand if needed. It’d be a great deal for someone- a one-way free trip to Oz! Advertise where aussies hang out in London, there’ll be heaps heading home for summer/Xmas.

I don’t think you’ll need your original (well meant but crazy) plan!

One more tip- I’ve been surprised to find how far I’m expected to walk in airports, on recent trips. I don’t mind, but I think that older people or those with mobility/breathing issues would struggle. And let’s add ‘out of service’ escalators, walking down steep portable steps off the plane and stepping onto high-floor buses on the tarmac as other hazards.

It’s ironic how on long-haul business club trips they swing you from ‘don’t move a muscle’ service to ‘wtf am I supposed to do now??’ service. Several times. They don’t seem to ‘join up’ the bits between Lounges and sitting in your seat on the plane (both of which are sooooo lovely!).

Definitely explore wheelchair service for him, to avoid these issues. Even if he can walk perfectly well.

*business class, not business club. It’s not 1950!

Thanks, Skittles. I think it's the boredom. He was upgraded to First a few years back and hated it. Apparently in First they have little individual cabins - he says it was like sitting in a box! He now refuses upgrades.

You're right about the service. He gets collected at his door, the chauffeur collects the luggage from the hallway, and he's escorted into the express security. We all offer to take him to the airport but insists that he prefers the airline limo!

Business class both ways would be lovely Gin and Toes - but looks like it would be double the (business out, economy back) fare.

Think I might go for it. My cousins have young families. Mine are grown up. Logistically, it would be easy for me and I think it would be a nice experience. We enjoy each other's company. Just have to broach spending some of our new kitchen money on business flights with DH....

If you can, then I would, it's a lovely thing for you to offer to do.

We've recently flown to Oz - with BA London to Sydney it was a 12 hour something flight to Singapore then a 7 hour something flight to Sydney. We just went economy due to cost, perfectly big enough for children, I am 5 foot 6 and thin and it was pushing it on size for sleeping for me - sitting was fine. I also got very swollen ankles so make sure you take DVT precautions thought might just be me and wasn't DVT just swelling. The other classes looked much nicer but the prices were so much more - in the thousands for all of us. Even in economy there's loads of help available and you can pre register for help but it would be a lovely thing to do.

One thing we did that was lovely was go to Featherdale after the flight (need a hire car and to have slept enough) and did their breakfast with a koala and fed the pademelons. Got there at 8am and had place to ourselves and it includes entry. We also had a quick look at Harbour Bridge and Opera House that day. Immigration were very laid back, didn't even check we had visas or the cards you have to fill in, presume you know you need a visa, ours came back instantly and they are free. We did a whale watching cruise on second day where saw dolphins, seals and whales, that season will be over then but you can still have a very nice time in a couple of days. Flights in business class didn't look bad, in economy its not great but its do able and we would do it again when/if had the money. I think you can also do breakfast with koala at Wildlife Sydney if you prefer to stay in Sydney.

It's a lovely thing for you to do OP, but in all honesty I wouldn't do it and I don't think it's necessary. He's flying business class and if the airline is alerted in advance that he's an elderly passenger flying on his own and will need some extra attention (or to be escorted to the gate, met on arrival, etc), then that can be arranged without any fuss. I've had elderly family members fly on their own many times, even my registered blind great-aunt, and as long as the airline knows in advance then they provide really good care to those passengers who need it. If you WANT to go, that's one thing, but you honestly don't NEED to go. Just make sure you've spoken to the airline and all the support is in place.