I do know many of us would like to bring our old folks to Canada to give them an exposure to our life here, their grand children, our success and give them a much needed break from the routine back home.

In this rush we tend to forget one thing that is their physical condition. As we are far away our folks do not share their real physical/medical condition so that they do not scare us.

The following information which I'm sharing with you is from a credible source and I do not have any printed or weblink to give you evidence. It has been reported that in the last few months there have been a few deaths of elders on major airlines coming from India to Toronto.This is in particular in the non-stop flights where they have to travel continuously 13 to 14 hours without a break. We want them to travel without any inconvinience like transfer/ re-check in and hence we book them on these non-stop flights. But many a times as they are travelling for the first time and without a break it puts lot of strain on their body.

My source reports that there have been atleast 5 deaths on Delta Airlines from India-Canada flights. It is also reported that now a days they are asking for a medical certificate for seniors over 65.

I trust this source, but I would like you all to verify this information independantly.

But I strongly suggest that for their first trip atleast we should try to book them on shorter flights if they are not fit enough and we should try to accompany them one way atleast.

Hope this information is useful to some one !.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

While the context is important in the sense that travel from India is ridiculously strenous and is important to take precautions to stretch and relax, I am not sure few things are right:

I don't think Delta Airlines flies to Canada direct from India. Delta is a US airline. Also, most flights have a European stopover (if over Atlantic). That gives a possible break to relax, although not all that helpful. Even Air India stops in London or Frankfurt for cleaning and refueling.

There was a proposal of 14 hr non-stop flights from Delhi to Newark, NJ (Continental and Jet Airways), but I think that hasn't materialized. Now, folks in my company fly to Korea which is a 15 hr non-stop from Detroit to Tokyo (Narita Intl) and another 3 hrs from Tokyo to Seoul. Fortunately, we get to fly business or first class.

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Dimple2001

I thought Air Canada was flying from Toronto to New Delhi nonstop. Did they cancel it? Hope so. 18 hrs is too long to be in air at a stretch. Not much space to walk around.

DIO

Delta has started non stop flight from US to Mumbai. The flight goes from Atlanta to New York to Bombay. No stop over in Europe either way.

Other airlines have been offering this for some time (United from Chicago, Continental from Newark) but they flew direct only to New Delhi. Delta is the first to go to Bombay.

Quote:

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Originally posted by desi in ottawa

I thought Air Canada was flying from Toronto to New Delhi nonstop. Did they cancel it? Hope so. 18 hrs is too long to be in air at a stretch. Not much space to walk around.

DIO

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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...

A really nice topic to start discussion on.

Before anything else - Air Canada did offer a non-stop flight till late last year but stopped it. My wife had flown last summer on it.

Continental has a flight from Newark to Delhi - non stop, and one of the best flights that I have taken in my life (and I have flown reasonably enough to make that statement). I was very skeptical initially - but I would now prefer that flight over others. On my return I had a terrible condition with my knee (sort of a fracture), but I had a very comfortable flight since it gives lots of leg space, even for a fatso like me!

In my view, if the parents are capable, only then they should travel alone. Flights throught Europe are best for them since it breaks their journey into almost equal halfs. For those parents who are travelling abroad for the first time, and might have problem in understanding English, the children should make it a point to accompany them, no matter what. An extra ticket can never be more expensive than the trouble and physical agony the parents might have to face, and mental stress is unmeasureable. If they have a pleasent flight, they would like to visit the children again........but a bad experience will always be a big deterrant for future visits.

Chandresh

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Chandresh

Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!

Quote:

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Originally posted by chandresh

Continental has a flight from Newark to Delhi - non stop, and one of the best flights that I have taken in my life (and I have flown reasonably enough to make that statement). I was very skeptical initially - but I would now prefer that flight over others. On my return I had a terrible condition with my knee (sort of a fracture), but I had a very comfortable flight since it gives lots of leg space, even for a fatso like me!
Chandresh

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.