Taking Mum and Dad home, or bringing them back to Australia? Here is how to make the long trip easier on everyone.
At a glance: how do I make flying with elderly parents to India easier?
Book early so you can choose good flight times and seats together. Ask for wheelchair assistance at every airport when you book, not on the day. Pick a route with a comfortable stopover, not the tightest connection. Keep medicines, prescriptions and a doctor's letter in hand luggage. Check travel insurance covers their health conditions. And check visas or OCI cards well before you fly. Our Hindi and Punjabi speaking team can arrange all of this in one call.
Why the trip feels harder for older travellers
A flight from Australia to India is a long day, even for healthy young travellers. Most journeys take well over 12 hours door to door, and many include a stop in Asia. For parents in their 70s or 80s, the hard parts are rarely the flight itself. It is the long walks between gates, the queues, the early starts and the worry about missing something.
The good news is that most of this can be planned away. A little effort at the booking stage makes the day itself far calmer, for them and for you.
Your planning checklist, stage by stage
Use this as a simple timeline. Tick things off as you go.
When | What to do |
6 to 10 weeks before | Book flights. Choose daytime departures if possible and a stopover of two hours or more. Request wheelchair help and special meals on the booking. |
4 to 6 weeks before | See the GP. Get a medicine list, repeat prescriptions and a short letter about conditions. Arrange travel insurance. Check visa or OCI. |
1 week before | Confirm assistance with the airline or with us. Pack the hand luggage together. Print copies of tickets and documents. |
Day of travel | Arrive early. Tell the check-in desk about the wheelchair request. Keep water, snacks and medicines within reach. |
On arrival | Wait on board for assistance staff if asked. Have someone ready to meet them outside arrivals. |
8 tips for a smoother flight
1. Request wheelchair assistance when you book
You do not need to be unable to walk to ask for help. Airport assistance covers the long walk to the gate, security and immigration. Requesting it on the booking means staff are expecting your parents at each airport, including the stopover. Tell us if they can manage stairs or not, so the right help is arranged.
2. Choose the stopover carefully
The cheapest route is not always the kindest one. A very short connection means rushing between gates. A very long one means hours of sitting in a terminal. Around two to four hours is often a good balance. We can look at options through different hubs and suggest what suits your parents best.
3. Pick seats that make life easier
An aisle seat makes it easier to stand up, stretch and reach the bathroom without climbing over others. If you are flying with them, sit together. Book as early as you can, as the best seats go first.
4. Keep medicines in hand luggage
Pack all medicines in their original packaging, with the prescriptions and a letter from the GP. Bring a few extra days’ supply in case of delays. Never put important medicines in checked bags.
5. Ask the GP about the long flight
Every person is different. Before booking, ask their doctor whether they are fit to fly, and what they suggest for a long flight, such as compression socks, moving around or timing of medicines.
6. Order special meals
Many airlines offer meals such as vegetarian, Jain or diabetic options when requested in advance. Ask us to add this on the booking so your parents eat food they are comfortable with.
7. Get the right travel insurance
Standard policies may not cover existing medical conditions or travellers over a certain age. Read the policy carefully, declare any conditions, and choose cover that suits them.
8. Check visas and documents early
Parents who are Australian citizens will need an Indian visa or an OCI card to travel to India. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you fly. If parents are Indian citizens visiting you in Australia, check their Australian visa conditions and dates carefully before booking the return. The Australian Government’s Smartraveller page for India is also worth reading before any trip.
If your parents are flying alone
Many of our customers book tickets for parents who travel on their own, either coming to visit in Australia or going home to India. A few extra steps help a lot:
Write it down. Give them a simple printed card with flight numbers, the stopover city and your phone number, in English and in Hindi or Punjabi.
Share the booking with family at both ends. Someone in India and someone in Australia should have the flight details.
Keep their phone charged. Pack a small power bank and charging cable in their hand luggage.
Plan the pick-up. Arrange exactly where family will meet them outside arrivals.
Save our number. Our team is available 24/7 if a flight is delayed or something changes.
What does it cost to take the family home?
Here are some of the “from” fares shown on our website Today. They give a starting point for budgeting a family trip.
Route | From (one way, per person) |
Melbourne to Delhi | from AUD $493.13 |
Sydney to Mumbai | from AUD $563 |
Perth to Cochin (Kochi) | from AUD $610 |
Brisbane to Hyderabad | from AUD $628 |
Fares checked 24 September 2026 on manntravel.com.au. Prices change daily and are not guaranteed.
Paying for several family members at once adds up. PayLite lets you secure the seats with a low deposit and pay the rest in up to 26 weekly instalments on selected refundable fares. Afterpay is also accepted. If a grandchild is studying in Australia, MannPass gives verified students an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India.
Planning to be in Punjab this November? Read our guide to Gurpurab 2026 flights to Amritsar.
Why book your parents' flights with Mann Travel?
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped Australian families travel between Australia and India. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, so your parents can talk to us directly if they want to. We specialise in family and group bookings, and we can add assistance requests, meals and seats in one call. We are on call 24/7, which matters when someone you love is on a long journey.
Want to talk it through first? Contact our team.
Let’s take Mum and Dad home, comfortably.
Search live fares at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our Hindi and Punjabi speaking team on 1300 754 002. We will arrange assistance, meals and seats for you.
frequently asked questions
How do I book wheelchair assistance for my parents?
Ask for it when you book the flights. Mann Travel can add the request to the booking so help is arranged at departure, the stopover and arrival.
Is there a charge for wheelchair assistance at the airport?
Airport assistance is usually provided free by airlines when it is requested in advance. Check with us for your specific airline.
Can elderly parents fly to India on their own?
Yes, many do. Request assistance at every airport, give them a printed card with flight details, and make sure family are ready to meet them.
What is the best stopover length for older travellers?
Around two to four hours often works well. It avoids rushing between gates without long waits in the terminal.
Do my parents need a visa to fly to India from Australia?
If they hold Australian passports, yes. They need an Indian visa or an OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website before booking dates you cannot change.
This guide is general information only, not medical advice. Always check fitness to fly with a doctor. Airline services, fares and availability vary by airline, date and fare type and change daily.
