10 Senior Travel Mistakes to Avoid

A few months ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Thailand with my 70-year-old father and my 73-year-old aunt. Looking back, I should have taken advantage of airline senior traveler assistance or TSA Cares, a free program that connects travelers with Passenger Support Specialists who can assist during airport screening. My dad, who wears an insulin pump, and my aunt, who hadn’t flown internationally since 2004, definitely required some handholding at this point.

Recently, I spoke with a TSA representative, the founder of SkySquad, and a former flight attendant, and I learned that it’s not just my senior relatives who could use a refresher on air travel. Across airports and aircraft, many older passengers encounter—or unintentionally create—the same challenges. Whether you’re a senior preparing to fly or, like me, lucky enough to travel with your elders, here are 10 common mistakes senior travelers make—and, more importantly, how to avoid them with the help of travel essentials like AirTags, water bottles, and more.

Best Travel Essentials for Seniors

Mistake: Losing items in the airport or on the plane

Solution: Invest in trackers

“When deplaning, seniors often forget things,” says Julie Melnick, founder of SkySquad, which assists at the check-in counter all the way to the luggage carousel. For that reason, they should consider investing in trackers to help them locate lost items, whether they’re left in the lavatory or at the gate. One shopper wrote that Apple AirTags “have really helped in cutting back on my parents’ anxiety over misplaced items. You can also share the item’s AirTag location with other family members so they can assist in finding the lost item.”

For seniors with Android devices or who already use Life360 products and services, consider this tracker. It’s so trusted that more than 10,000 were purchased in the last month alone. “It’s super handy, and I’ll be using it for all my trips now,” reads one five-star review left by a traveler who used it to help locate their luggage after the airline misplaced it.

Mistake: Packing medications in checked luggage

Solution: Keep meds in an organized case in your carry-on

When I asked the TSA representative to name three things they wished every senior traveler did, their first answer was to pack medication in carry-on bags instead ofchecked items. Pill organizers like this best-seller make it easy to keep all your medications in one place. And senior travelers with arthritis will appreciate that it has a magnetic closure that’s easier to open and shut. That said, it’s secure. “Even if it gets jostled in my bag or accidentally dropped, it stays shut—no spills,” reads one five-star reviewer.

Mistake: Not packing for the plane cabin’s cold temperatures

Solution: Pack a blanket or a warm outer layer

Older people have a harder time producing, retaining, and circulating body heat. That’s why Melnick advises senior clients to pack a blanket. This popular travel blanket, which many flight attendants personally use, is made of premium microfleece that’s equal parts warm and lightweight. Plus, the carrying case features a luggage sleeve, so it can easily be attached to a wheeled carry-on. It also has a carabiner if you want to clip it to a backpack or purse. And when not in use as a blanket, it doubles as a pillow.

Sheri Penzari, who has worked for United, Delta, and the now-defunct Eastern Air Lines, also recommends dual-purpose dressing. “Wear clothing you can layer and use as a blanket,” says the former flight attendant. For example, this travel wrap, with more than 8,300 five-star ratings, functions as a cardigan, poncho, cape, and shawl. Plus, it’s reversible, so you get two looks for the price of one. And because the fabric is a bamboo-sourced viscose, it’s soft and warm like cashmere, but without the weight. “The quality is outstanding. I felt like I was wearing a $150-300 piece,” recalled one traveler who got it for an overseas flight.

Mistake: Not staying hydrated

Solution: Bring a refillable water bottle

The older we get, the more important it is to stay hydrated as our kidneys become less efficient. “Medications and illnesses can accelerate fluid loss,” adds Melnick, who recommends every senior traveler bring a reusable water bottle. Even more importantly, they need to drink from it. Featuring encouraging reminders to sip throughout your trip, this glass water bottle with a leak-proof lid can be a literal lifesaver. It has nearly 3,500 five-star ratings, and many travelers appreciate that it’s not an oversized Stanley Quencher. “The size is perfect, large enough that I’m not constantly refilling it, but not so bulky that it’s awkward to carry around,” wrote one shopper.

Mistake: Not packing anything to prevent the ears from popping

Solution: Invest in earplugs designed to relieve pressure

There are several physiological reasons why senior travelers are more prone to ear discomfort or “ear popping” on planes. I joke with my dad that it’s because his ears have grown, but really, the main reason is our inner ear’s eustachian tube stiffens and doesn’t do as good a job equalizing pressure. Melnick says gum is always an easy thing to pack, but my dad has become a fan of earplugs like these, which are specifically designed to help regulate pressure. Alpine FlyFit’s earplugs have more than 6,500 five-star ratings. One five-star review left by a flight attendant who struggles with blocked ears reads, “I have also purchased them for my elementary-aged kids, and they have been amazing! No more tears when they fly during allergy season!”

Mistake: Moving too slowly and holding up other travelers

Solution: Travel with a cane that gives you more confidence

If senior travelers are guilty of anything during deplaning, it’s often “being slow,” says Penzari, whose job was always made more difficult when passengers blocked the aisle. Instead of struggling to get your cane from the overhead bin or waiting for a flight attendant to get it from a plane closet for you, consider this folding cane that can fit under the seat in front of you. With nearly 21,000 five-star ratings, it’s currently ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s list of best-sellers. A freestanding cane like this will also make you more confident while walking and standing in lines. “Using it in the narrow aisles of the planes was such a big help,” wrote one senior traveler who was even asked several times where they got it by impressed fellow passengers.

Mistake: Wearing regular socks on long flights

Solution: Treat your feet and ankles to compression socks

My senior dad is a hemophiliac, so his blood doesn’t clot well. But most senior travelers have a higher risk of swelling and suffering from deep vein thrombosis while flying. That’s why doctors recommend they wear compression socks, especially on long-haul flights. While I personally travel with Charmking socks, this pack of three compression socks with 25,800 five-star ratings is a better fit for seniors because they offer even more compression. And while that makes them more difficult to put on, one 72-year-old shopper noted, “Taking them off is equally as hard, but my feet/ankles/legs are not tired or swollen. For me, I dislike the ‘battle, but I win the war’ every time I wear them.”

Mistake: Assuming airlines will have tissues

Solution: Keep Kleenex on hand

While the TSA rep says tissues are one of the most common items seniors leave in their pockets at security, Penzari recommends packing them, since many airlines are running on shoestring budgets. These Kleenex tissue packs can be used for runny noses, watery eyes, and to wipe your mouth. They’re also handy for blotting up spills, cleaning eyeglasses, and can be used as toilet paper if the lavatory runs out. Plus, they’re more hygienic than the handkerchief my grandma always traveled with.

Mistake: Traveling with outdated luggage that is too heavy to lift

Solution: Opt for smaller, lighter carry-ons

All the experts I spoke to said they often watch seniors struggle with their bags. “They carry on luggage that is way too heavy,” a California-based flight attendant of 21 years told me before adding, “Flight attendants are not required to lift bags.” It’s a liability issue. Fortunately, there are lightweight options such as the 8.1-pound Delsey Paris carry-on. Because it’s only 19 inches long (most carry-ons are 20 or 21 inches), senior travelers will be forced to pack less. It’s also made of durable, lightweight polycarbonate. “The hard sides provide great security, as does the convenient and easy-to-use TSA-approved built-in lock,” wrote one senior traveler who also praised its maneuverability.

If you want to go even lighter and are willing to entertain the idea of softside luggage, consider this 19-inch spinner that weighs just 5.3 pounds. Like the Delsey Paris Helium Aero, it’s water-resistant and features four 360-degree wheels. It also expands up to 2 inches and has exterior storage, including a lid pocket and side accessory pocket. “My husband and I are seniors and travel frequently,” wrote one satisfied shopper in their five-star review. “The wheels and handle make this sturdy enough to help me walk through the airport without the support of my cane.”

Mistake: Forgetting how hard airplane seats can be

Solution: Bring a doctor-recommended seat cushion

If you ask my dad, the biggest mistake he made when I took him to Antarctica (which involved an 11-hour flight) a few years ago was not packing a cushion for his bum. Like many seniors, he’s losing his natural cushioning, and his sit bones are starting to bear the brunt of it. Fortunately, he brought a memory foam seat cushion like this one when he traveled to Thailand last October. “He raved about it,” wrote one shopper who bought it for their 60-something-year-old dad to take on a 16-hour flight to Singapore. “He carried it in his carry-on with no problems, and said it made the flight (United, in coach) so much more pleasant.”

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