As you become a very seasoned senior, it’s inevitable that your physical condition will require assistance when you travel.

Gone will be those days of running through airports to get from sidewalk to board your flight. Even if you can still walk unaided, the distances will become just too much to handle on foot. You’ll then opt to use a wheelchair to help getting to and from your flights in comfort and on schedule.  

When you’ll need that wheelchair on your travels, here are suggestions on how to make your air journey more comfortable and less troublesome.

Book In Advance: Schedule a wheelchair to be at the airport entrance when you arrive for your flight. An employee then takes over and makes sure you get to security. Even when the area is crowded, your wheelchair may get you through the departing flight gate with priority boarding. 

When planning this year’s travel schedule, you can expect to pay more for airfares, gasoline, dining and hotel rooms than you did last year. However, there are places in the world where you can enjoy at least part of your visit absolutely free. Here are a few.

Downtown and the Strip, Las Vegas NV: Gambling is the main industry of Sin City, so to lure you into the casinos, there are many free things to do there. We enjoy strolling around on Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street at night to enjoy all the fun things happening around us. Free shows include the dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio Resort, the downtown Fremont Street Experience and the Volcano in front of the Mirage Hotel.

British Museum, London, England: We’ve spent days there going through the wonderful exhibits, and it was all free. Founded in 1753, it’s the world’s first national public museum. It contains thousands of historic and art examples from Prehistoric Africa, Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, the early Middle East and Renaissance Europe. More than six million people visit  annually.

Booking flights these days means the usual delays, schedule mix-ups, crowded cabins, squeezed seats, security hassles and everything else that often makes air travel difficult. However, there are ways to make long flights more comfortable. Here are some tips.

The simplest solution is to spend a long flight in dreamland. Consider going red-eye and schedule from 10 pm on. It's cheaper, highways and airport lounges are less crowded, security lines are shorter and you usually have better choices for onboard seating.

Airline prices aren't getting lower, and you can expect ever-increasing charges for checked bags. Additionally, because of inevitable delays, retrieving luggage after your flight is always a time-consuming hassle, and yours could fail to arrive at all. So, fly with carry-on bags.

If you're used to traveling with a large suitcase, a carry-on will force you to take less stuff. But, you ask, how can I sail that luxury cruise without loads of the fashionable clothing for dress-up dinners? Or, I’m booked for that trek up the Canadian Rockies, and need outdoor gear that couldn't fit into a carry-on bag.

With those few exceptions, there are ways to avoid luggage costs, losses and carousel delays. Some tips may help.