International chaperone services
International chaperone services
I'm sure this has come up before but can't find anything relevant on a quick search so:
We're happily settled in to rural British life in the Lake District and would rather not go back to Cambodia for the foreseeable future even for a quick visit. However, my wife obviously needs to see her parents every now and then, so we're having the immigration firm we successfully used for my wife look in to the possibility of getting them tourist visas to come and see us.
Hypothetically, even if we get them visas to come and visit, we'd still have the issue that her parents don't speak any English and have never flown before. I'm trying to work out how we'd get them here safely. I'm wondering if anyone reading this has been through this situation before and found a solution that doesn't involve flying all the way there just to pick them up. Are there any professional paid chaperone services or something like that to get them safely escorted here and back? Internet searches only seem to bring up things related to kids traveling without their parents which isn't relevant to our situation. TIA.
We're happily settled in to rural British life in the Lake District and would rather not go back to Cambodia for the foreseeable future even for a quick visit. However, my wife obviously needs to see her parents every now and then, so we're having the immigration firm we successfully used for my wife look in to the possibility of getting them tourist visas to come and see us.
Hypothetically, even if we get them visas to come and visit, we'd still have the issue that her parents don't speak any English and have never flown before. I'm trying to work out how we'd get them here safely. I'm wondering if anyone reading this has been through this situation before and found a solution that doesn't involve flying all the way there just to pick them up. Are there any professional paid chaperone services or something like that to get them safely escorted here and back? Internet searches only seem to bring up things related to kids traveling without their parents which isn't relevant to our situation. TIA.
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Pseudonomdeplume
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Re: International chaperone services
I have a contact. I'm on the case, meeting tonight. I will PM you if need be. Standby.
Scent from Dan's Durians & Perfumierie
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rogerrabbit
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Re: International chaperone services
Most airlines offer assistance service for elderly people too. For example Turkish Airlines https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-ie/a ... o-need-it/
Re: International chaperone services
There was a post on here yesterday I believe, where someone was offering to pay half the plane ticket of someone returning to the UK (was it the UK? I forget and am too lazy to look) in return for escorting some animals (dogs? or cats? Again, can't remember, not arsed enough to look) but this seems like a similar situation - no offense, I'm not equating your in-laws to animals, just the situation.
Perhaps you could ask on some of the FB groups if anyone is planning to return to the UK in the near future and if they'd be willing to take care of your in-laws at the same time, and offer them half the cost of the air fare in return? Just insist that the person speaks enough Khmer to be of use.
Just an idea off the top of my head.
Perhaps you could ask on some of the FB groups if anyone is planning to return to the UK in the near future and if they'd be willing to take care of your in-laws at the same time, and offer them half the cost of the air fare in return? Just insist that the person speaks enough Khmer to be of use.
Just an idea off the top of my head.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never allow the dumb ones to lead the pack.
Re: International chaperone services
Thank youPseudonomdeplume wrote: ↑Sun Aug 15, 2021 9:43 pm I have a contact. I'm on the case, meeting tonight. I will PM you if need be. Standby.
I'll look into it, thank you. The issue would be finding someone who speaks good enough Khmer and timing it so they can do the return leg of the trip too. I'd happily cover the entirety of the air fare both ways but would need to be certain that they'd follow through.xandreu wrote: ↑Sun Aug 15, 2021 10:02 pm Perhaps you could ask on some of the FB groups if anyone is planning to return to the UK in the near future and if they'd be willing to take care of your in-laws at the same time, and offer them half the cost of the air fare in return? Just insist that the person speaks enough Khmer to be of use.
Just an idea off the top of my head.
Again though, we don't have the visas for them yet so this is all hypothetical at the moment
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Freightdog
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Re: International chaperone services
I’ve come across this in the past.
People of all backgrounds find themselves travelling for a first time. It’s largely down to the mindset of that person that determines how successful they are. It can be a daunting experience, or an adventure. I’ve seen people with nil literacy or second language skills make it all the way across 2 continents with just a little apprehension, and equally have seen educated people meltdown at the vastness of an international terminal.
(Unofficially, as I’m not offering any actual advice, just anecdotal experience) The passenger(S) carry a letter, explaining their circumstances and language issues, health issues if any. They keep it together with all their travel documents, and present it all at check in, transit, to the senior cabin crew/purser, etc. In some cases, hopefully the airline have been made properly aware, and staff may well be tasked with assisting, being handed over personally from one ‘chaperone’ to the next, without having a travel companion.
Talk to the airline, and get their input. The less connections, the better, which might make Singapore airlines a good choice.
The best results would be where the same airline has that traveller from start to finish, which in COVID times may be an issue with code shares and transit quarantines. If you can manage to finance a business class ticket with the right airline, they’d likely never have to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar terminal.
Clear concise instructions. No drama, or any personal apprehensions to you and your partner that might overwhelm them.
People of all backgrounds find themselves travelling for a first time. It’s largely down to the mindset of that person that determines how successful they are. It can be a daunting experience, or an adventure. I’ve seen people with nil literacy or second language skills make it all the way across 2 continents with just a little apprehension, and equally have seen educated people meltdown at the vastness of an international terminal.
(Unofficially, as I’m not offering any actual advice, just anecdotal experience) The passenger(S) carry a letter, explaining their circumstances and language issues, health issues if any. They keep it together with all their travel documents, and present it all at check in, transit, to the senior cabin crew/purser, etc. In some cases, hopefully the airline have been made properly aware, and staff may well be tasked with assisting, being handed over personally from one ‘chaperone’ to the next, without having a travel companion.
Talk to the airline, and get their input. The less connections, the better, which might make Singapore airlines a good choice.
The best results would be where the same airline has that traveller from start to finish, which in COVID times may be an issue with code shares and transit quarantines. If you can manage to finance a business class ticket with the right airline, they’d likely never have to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar terminal.
Clear concise instructions. No drama, or any personal apprehensions to you and your partner that might overwhelm them.
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Pseudonomdeplume
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Re: International chaperone services
The Lake District, you say... 
That would be a summer trip, then? I might even be able to clear some space in the diary, myself (wonder where you buy those). Best left to the pros; my Khmer is a bit wanting, and I don't pronounce either of my words correctly.
I have just ninja-ed my way home from the Minder's abode (currently enjoying nightly curfews), within sanctioned hours. I explained the plans were incipient, at this point, and showed him your post. I will send you his details for correspondence, should you decide to proceed.
Scent from Dan's Durians & Perfumierie
Re: International chaperone services
In 2018 my landlord's wife visited their son doing a master's degree in Melbourne. I was involved because the visa application had to be lodged online which they found too complicated to do. Never before in my life did I feel so spoiled. For helping them complete the forms, they ordered prawns from Takeo and cooked them steamed and curry-style. Khmers can be quite grateful for the things we take for granted. Then she had to go to VFS Global at Monivong Rd for biometrics.
The visa was granted (initially for the exact duration of her itinerary and ticket). She was so nervous as she can neither speak nor read English. Now, how they did the assisting bit was they approached Khmers during check-in at the airport, struck a conversation and within minutes, they were family and she was no longer alone during the flight to Singapore, transit at Changi up until her midnight flight to Melbourne, even helped her with completing the Custom's arrival form. Singapore Airlines were also quite helpful. All in all, it worked out well. The son was at arrivals at MEL to meet her and thank everyone.
2019 she went again and this time she was granted a longer visa, probably on account of proof she returned to Cambodia after that first trip.
It's best of course to plan ahead as there is no guarantee that you will meet someone at the airport also flying to the UK who is willing to assist and this at a time when hardly anyone is flying.
The visa was granted (initially for the exact duration of her itinerary and ticket). She was so nervous as she can neither speak nor read English. Now, how they did the assisting bit was they approached Khmers during check-in at the airport, struck a conversation and within minutes, they were family and she was no longer alone during the flight to Singapore, transit at Changi up until her midnight flight to Melbourne, even helped her with completing the Custom's arrival form. Singapore Airlines were also quite helpful. All in all, it worked out well. The son was at arrivals at MEL to meet her and thank everyone.
2019 she went again and this time she was granted a longer visa, probably on account of proof she returned to Cambodia after that first trip.
It's best of course to plan ahead as there is no guarantee that you will meet someone at the airport also flying to the UK who is willing to assist and this at a time when hardly anyone is flying.
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