Question on airlines' assistance to elderly passengers.

[greatauntoftriplets]

The sister of a dear friend is terminally ill. He and his other siblings are trying to figure out how to fly their father from the city where he lives to where the sister is. The father is 88 and losing his sight. My friend is unable to accompany his father because of work demands right now -- and time is short.

The problem is that there are no nonstop flights between the two cities -- a change of planes is necessary.

I know someone who recently flew her mother with advanced dementia between Chicago and Washington DC on United Airlines and set up an escort of the kind unaccompanied children receive if the parent arranges it. This involved nonstop flights.

Does anyone here have any experience sending an elderly parent on a trip involving a plane change? Was it a good experience or bad? And what airline would you recommend?

Thanks!