Bringing your parents to India from abroad is a different journey from the one you make yourself. You may be comfortable with a long-haul flight and a crowded arrival hall, but they may be tired after fifteen hours, unsure about the language of the signs, and anxious about walking long distances. A little preparation at both ends turns the arrival from the hardest part of the trip into a manageable one.
This guide is for families living abroad, including NRIs and OCI holders, who are bringing or sending older parents to India. It covers assistance on the flight and at the airport, the paperwork at immigration, medicines, and the first 24 to 48 hours. Rules and airline policies change, so confirm details with your airline and the relevant official site before travelling.
Request help when you book
Special assistance is arranged by the airline, not by the airport, so ask at the time of booking or as early as the airline allows. Use the airline's website, app or reservations desk, and confirm that the request appears in the booking. Airlines commonly use three standard wheelchair codes:
- WCHR: the passenger can walk short distances and climb stairs but needs a wheelchair for long distances such as the terminal or the gate.
- WCHS: the passenger cannot climb stairs, but can walk to and from the seat.
- WCHC: the passenger cannot walk and needs help all the way to the seat.
Choose honestly. Many older passengers who "can walk" are still best served by WCHR, because Indian terminals are large and queues are long. Ask the airline whether a fee applies to you, as recent changes to the rules from India's civil aviation regulator allow airlines to charge an assistance fee to passengers who are not persons with disability or reduced mobility, while they must show that fee on their websites. Ask also about the minimum time they want you to report before departure, and book connecting flights with generous gaps because the chair may need to be re-booked at each stop.
Write the request into your parents' trip folder, along with a printed copy of the booking and the airline's helpline number.
What happens at the airport
The airline arranges the chair, an attendant and a way to reach the aircraft. On arrival in India, the assistant meets your parent at the aircraft door and takes them through the arrival process. The big airports in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are all large, modern terminals with long walks between the aircraft and immigration, so the assistance is very useful.
What to expect, in general terms:
- The attendant usually takes the passenger directly to immigration, often through a priority or assisted lane, but queues may still apply.
- After immigration, the attendant helps with the baggage belt. Porters are available, and trolleys are free to use in most airports. Agree on the arrangement with the attendant first, and tip according to the airline's or airport's published guidance, if any.
- Airports have pre-paid taxi counters and app-cab pick-up points. In Delhi and Mumbai, the pick-up zones may be a short walk or a shuttle from the terminal exit, so ask the attendant to take your parent all the way to the vehicle.
- Hotel or family pick-ups are often easier. Share the flight number, the terminal, the name on the placard and a mobile number with the person who is receiving them.
Check each airport's own website for the current facilities, because terminals are renumbered and moved between airlines. The airports of Delhi (DIAL), Mumbai (CSMIA) and Bengaluru (BIAL) publish passenger guides on their official sites.
Immigration and customs
The correct counter depends on the passport:
- Foreign passport holders go to the foreign passport or e-Visa counter. They need a valid visa authorisation and, for most foreign passport holders, the online e-Arrival card submitted before landing. Check boi.gov.in for the latest rule.
- OCI cardholders travel on a foreign passport with an OCI card, and use the foreign passport counters unless the airport has a dedicated lane. They carry both documents.
- Indian passport holders use the Indian passport counters.
Parents who are not used to digital forms often need help with the e-Arrival card. Complete it for them at home within the window and save the QR code on your phone and on paper. Customs is straightforward for ordinary baggage. Declare high-value electronics or large cash amounts as the rules require, and keep gifts for relatives modest.
Medicines in hand luggage
Medicines are the one item you should never put in checked baggage.
- Pack enough for the full stay plus a few extra days, in the original labelled packaging.
- Carry a doctor's letter or prescription listing each medicine by its generic name and dose.
- Keep insulin, injectables and any controlled substances together with a letter from the prescriber. Controlled medicines can have special rules, so check with the Indian consulate or the airline before you travel.
- Pack a printed list of conditions, allergies and the name and number of the family doctor.
- Bring spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries and any mobility aid such as a folding cane.
Jet lag and the first 24 to 48 hours
Older travellers feel jet lag more strongly, and the Indian time zone can be a difficult shift for visitors from North America. A gentle plan makes the first two days easier.
- On arrival day, do almost nothing. Get to the room, eat something simple and rest.
- Keep to daylight for a short walk or sit outside to reset the body clock. Avoid long naps in the afternoon.
- Drink plenty of water and go light on rich food on the first night.
- Do not schedule a long drive, a temple visit or a family function on the first day.
- Keep the next day's plan open, and confirm a nearby clinic or hospital the family can reach if needed.
Choosing a first-night hotel
If your parents land late at night or after an overnight flight, a hotel close to the airport is often better than a long road transfer into the city or to a home elsewhere. Look for:
- A short, predictable transfer, ideally arranged by the hotel.
- A lift, a ground-floor room or a room near the lift, and a bathroom with grab rails.
- A 24-hour front desk and a kitchen that can send up simple meals.
- Flexible check-in, so the room is ready when they arrive.
Read recent guest reviews on accessibility, and call the hotel to confirm anything essential. A night of proper sleep before the next leg is worth the cost.
How Raahzo can help
If you are organising this from abroad, Raahzo's arrival support and [concierge](/concierge) can help you plan the first day: choosing the first-night stay, arranging a pick-up, and building a gentle first week. Read [Plan from abroad](/plan-from-abroad) for how it works and what to prepare, and [Plan for parents](/plan-for-parents) for pacing the rest of the trip. Please confirm the details of any service directly with the team when you ask for it.
A last checklist
- Wheelchair request confirmed with the airline.
- Passports, visas or OCI cards, and e-Arrival QR codes saved.
- Medicines, prescriptions and doctor's letter in hand luggage.
- Pick-up arranged, with names, numbers and flight details shared.
- Hotel booked for the first night, with flexible check-in.
- A calm first day, with nothing planned.
Last updated 19 October 2026.