A travel companion for elderly parents flying alone
Your mother is flying to visit you for the first time. She has a connection in an airport she's never seen, the announcements are in a language she doesn't speak, and you'll be asleep on the other side of the world while she finds her gate. HelpMeToFly finds someone on the same flight who can look out for her.
Why families ask for a travel companion
Every year, thousands of parents and grandparents fly alone to visit children who live abroad. Many of them are flying for the first time, or the first time in years. Paid escort services exist, but they can cost thousands. Asking around in WhatsApp groups sometimes works, but it's hit and miss, and you never quite know who you're talking to.
Meanwhile, there's very often someone on that same flight who would gladly help: a student going back after the holidays, a professional flying home, a family travelling the same route. HelpMeToFly helps you find each other.
What a helper can do
- Walk with your parent to the right gate, and keep an eye out at boarding.
- Stay together through a connecting flight, from one terminal to the next.
- Explain an announcement, or speak to the desk, in a language your parent understands.
- Help find the right baggage belt, and walk out together to where you're waiting.
- Be a reassuring message on your phone: “We've landed, she's with me.”
How it works
- Create a free account with your name, email and mobile number.
- Add your parent's journey: the route, the date, the flight number if you have it, and the help they'd like.
- See travellers going the same way on the same or a nearby date, and ask one of them for help. Travellers can also find your request and offer.
- Once you both say yes, a private chat opens and you can see each other's phone number for the day itself.
- We recommend a short video call before the flight, so your parent knows whose face to look for.
Still choosing a flight? Browse helpers already flying your route and book the same one.
Safety, always
Your parent's phone number stays private until you've agreed on a helper. Chat opens only after help is agreed, and our team can review it. You can report or block anyone at any time. Helpers never carry parcels or goods for anyone, and there are no payments. Read our full safety guidance.
Travel companion for parents: questions families ask
Is it really free?
Yes. HelpMeToFly has no fees and no payments of any kind. Helpers are travellers who are flying anyway and give their time freely.
Does a helper replace the airline's wheelchair or assistance service?
No. If your parent needs a wheelchair or special assistance, book it with the airline as usual. A helper is a friendly face alongside that, not a replacement for it.
Who sees my parent's details?
Travellers on the same route see the journey and the kind of help needed. Phone numbers are shown only to the one person you both agree to, and only after you've both said yes.
Can I post a request for someone else?
Yes. Most requests come from sons, daughters and grandchildren asking for a parent or grandparent. You stay in charge of the request and the chat.
What if no one is on the same flight yet?
Post the journey anyway. Travellers who add the same route later can find it and offer to help, and we'll email you when they do. Sharing the request in your community groups helps too.