Air travel with SEN child - recommendations

[Puttingoutfireswithgasoline]

Does anyone have experience of flying with children with additional needs? Any recommendations for short flight holiday destinations?
DS is none verbal, really not keen on people and waiting anywhere is a fairly difficult challenge. Sensory needs too… Just to give an idea of need he learns in a specialist setting and always has 121.
I am thinking it’s probably not a good idea but wondered if anyone might have recommendations, ideas or experiences they could share.

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen and a massive stress, mainly for you, and for the other passengers.
Is this an absolute necessity? Not only the plane ride but the whole holiday and newness (temperature, setting, routine, food etc) sound totally beyond the reach of your child.

Following as I want to take my asd dd (5) abroad in the eu this year too x

Do you have a destination in mind that requires a flight? Would eurostar or other train journey be an option to still be able to walk about?

@@Notgivenuphope no, not a necessity. Trying to balance the needs of the whole family and go away together rather than one parent and DS staying behind or none of the DCs experiencing travel.

Would it help to play planes before hand alot so they know what to expect etc,set your chairs up and play it a lot,that's what I've always done before flights.and reading the kids books with them like topsy and tim /buff and chip go on a plane that kind of thing if they like stories.id take a device with all their favourite shows downloaded and favourite snacks that take a while to eat,raisins,popcorn etc and sweets for when their ears pop and a drink to suck.stickers if they like stickers or other activities that hold their attention when sitting.and give them movement breaks whenever you can,walk to toilet etc and run them alot beforehand.all fidget toys they can use.even toys like playdo.seat on inside by window and book a seat where you think they will be most comfortable (back may be easier for disembarking but may see alot of people but definitely not middle as that's the longest wait to get off.when waiting in line engage in a fun game like the bean game or jumping etc. have a sunflower lanyard so staff knows to help you.it will be ok just alot of work.

I wouldn't do unless I really had to.

@JC03745 we had planned on Lalandia in Billund but Ryanair have stopped direct flights from March due to change in taxes or something similar.
That would have been ideal as there is a direct flight from Manchester/Edinburgh but not available now.
There are flights from Heathrow direct but that’s a good 5 hours from us and the price was over double….

I wondered if someone might have experience or a flight/holiday direct and short etc. Big ask!

And ear defenders if that helps them,just all the things that help them generally.

@tonyhawks23 thank you!

Going from a small airport and too a small airport also really helps and if you can you can also do the flight yourself beforehand so you can recky it,know where things are etc,or maybe you can do airport walk throughs online for yourself and with them.they may love it if you can offset the waiting etc.

@tonyhawks23 I did think of maybe an internal uk flight as a trial as some are only 40 mins or so, help him get used to it.
He has full understanding of what we say, just not the ability to communicate or necessarily engage with what we are saying. If you know what I mean.

And take sanitiser/wet wipes so you dont get stressed if/when they are rolling around on the floor?tag team the otherside-one waits for the bags while the other takes the kids to the toilet/a run around,anything to minimise the waiting.

Northern irelands a cool holiday with very short flight,Belfast city is lovely small airport,Belfast international (and Dublin)are huge and I think size makes a difference.newquay airport also tiny. Further afield mallorca is good short flight but is a big airport.

@tonyhawks23 have you found any particular airlines more or less friendly with disabilities?

We fly twice a year with our non verbal, autistic DS. I think it helps that we’ve done it since he was a baby (we have family abroad) so it’s always been part of his life.
We fly from a smaller, quietish airport and aim for a late evening flight as it’s usually less busy. We’ve booked airport assistance before to get through security without queues… we don’t always bother but the option is there. Favourite programme downloaded on to the iPad for the flight, plus ear defenders. We take a lunchbox of favourite snacks too. Our flight is 2.5 hours and I wouldn’t want to do any longer.
DS quite enjoys it! He’s never been disruptive or distressed on the flight.

I haven't noticed a difference I think most airlines are helpful and know the sunflowers these days.

I think you can be given a wheelchair for him as well x

Lots of airports have extra support in place. Manchester has a good reputation.
We weren’t able to travel abroad as a family when our daughter was young but that was due to her restricted diet.
This document might help

www.airport-parking-shop.co.uk/blog/uk-airports-need-step-assistance-autism/

I’ve always found Jet2 to be very good. Book special assistance and they will help you check in and get through security so very little wait. You can either board first or wait till the end. Take favourite snacks and toys, ear defenders and something to suck during takeoff and landing (drink, sweet, dummy) to help with ear discomfort. Load up an iPad with favourite shows or take sticker books or other small toys.

You can write a social story about going on holiday, role play at home, etc.

i found villas or self catering easiest when kids were young. Take some home comfort snacks with you. Stick on blackout blinds for windows to help with sleep.

our first few holidays abroad were off season (October) as it was quieter and cooler.

A lot of airports have social stories available now too. Emirates have just done an intensive training programme for all their staff on autism and looks like they are really trying:
www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-set-to-become-the-worlds-first-autism-certified-airline/

DC has much lower support needs but we travel a lot. Ear defenders, sunflower lanyard (book assistance if you need it), snacks, keep moving in the terminal. Tablet with more shows than you think you need downloaded. If you can, do a twilight bag drop so you cut out one queue on the day. Duty free is another sensory assault, you might be able to be walked around it if you sort it out first. I'd also develop a thick skin (like you would if flying with a baby) and don't worry about other passengers if there is noise or stimming. It's public transport, you're the public and have every right to travel.

I honestly don't think Eurostar is loads better, yes you can walk around more but you still have to do security and the departure areas are always rammed on both sides of the channel

I can vouch for the AirPods Max coupled with the Airfly bluetooth link being absolutely game changing for removing excess sounds on a flight. You can start watching a movie completely in your own sound environment as soon as the entertainment is turned on.

For airports, get special assistance. Be sure to explain exactly what you need. Most want to seat us first and have us wait at the front of a queue. This is too much for my dc, too many people surrounding them and pressure to transition. t's better for us if we wait behind and are last to board and depart from the plane. If you haven't already have sunflower lanyards at the ready. Many airports now have a sunflower lounge, it's quiet and much more pleasant for people/DC with sen. Just know that unfortunately most don't have departure screens so someone will have to routinely check on that in the main area.

As for destination, do you require any specific dietary requirements? Look for places where you can access foods the child will eat. If your DC has sensory issues with food and a severely limited diet you can get a drs note for baggage allowance to transport. Obviously usual restrictions apply.

Personally I would always go self catering and housed over a hotel. It's easier to create a routine and make things familiar for the dc. It does mean same shit different place but hopefully in better weather. Also means more time for shut downs and a larger safe space within many transitions. We do take bedding with us to make things more familiar at night times and follow the usual structure of our days.

For preparing, the usual shows, social stories, play therapy, books. Maybe visuals and a now and then for travel if you use them. Comfort objects and sensory toys/aids. Keep clothing, toys and any media for travel usual.

...I'm tired but might be back with more suggestions other people have already mentioned. We travel each year to our home country and it's been a learning process of how to make it work, 8 years in we are almost there 😅

I have no advice, but just think you need to manage expectations about waiting times.

There is a lot of waiting around at airports, especially if there is a flight delay.

The smallest airport we flew from was Humberside. It is tiny and is mainly used by helicopters flying employees to and from the oil rigs. You can fly to Jersey and a few other destinations from there.

Thanks all, some really good tips!

Is a cruise an option instead? Friend always does this with her child as once on board the routine can be fixed and the cabin a safe space to get back to quickly if needed.