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.

Eh?

If he struggles with queuing, it might be an idea to avoid airports that use transfer buses from the terminal to the plane. I'm not sure if special assistance bypasses them (i know passengers with mobility issues use a special lift) but the buses are crowded and a lot of waiting around.

I think the poster was referring to the fact that respite care is rarer than hen’s teeth.

I get that respite is difficult to get but I do know friends who have it so I mentioned it. I didn't expect to be patronised but you live and learn.

We have fought and fought for funding for some respite care for our disabled child. We were finally granted 3 hours, one day a month.

Sorry @MyGhastIsFlabbered it was meant to be funny. Most SEN parents are unable to obtain respite from stretched/bankrupt LA’s despite (in some cases) extremely challenging circumstances. I would expect the likelihood of respite so that a family holiday can take place to be absolutely zero.

Yeah respite here is like gold dust.

Apology accepted. I'm probably prickly because I haven't slept properly. I've never had to apply for respite care thankfully, but my friends have managed to go away whilst their son is in respite care. I guess it depends on where you live.

Anyway this is derailing the thread so I'll shut up now.

I also take their shoes off once on the plane so minimise worry over kicking. And meant to say definitely use the disabled toilets at the airport. And definitely ignore anyone saying dont do it, they might love it and once they've done it once it will be easier in future. Duty free in the big airports are wild (including Dublin and Palma) so if you can avoid going through them through sunflower assistance thats worth considering. Small airports are fine.

I honestly wouldn't do it. It was awful flying with young NT children- plus they hated the heat.

We were UK only until they were about 7 or 8 and could understand. An overseas holiday isn't worth the stress.

It has 100% been worth the stress for us. The excitement when my autistic son is told he’s going on holiday and the fantastic time he has is worth the stress of the travel, which is such a small part of the whole thing.

Same.

Also, my DS loves recounting where he has been and how many countries he has been to. It's become a bit of a soothing for him when he gets stressed about school or other things. Plus looking through our 'memory books' where we put things like plane tickets and bus tickets and postcards. He was a bit anxious about a trip to London his class was taking but he kept saying ; ;I have been to 13 countries. i have been to - Finnish Lapland; Spain; Greece; Cyprus; France...I will be okay going to London... '

@FrustratedandBemused. I think the difference is that mine didn't enjoy the holidays either. Too hot (in early May), didn't like the food and of course were ill so we had to get doctors (Skiathos and Tunisia). Holidays in Wales, Cornwall, Devon and Northumberland were much more successful.

Yes, but we can’t tell the OP that it won’t be worth it for her and her children as it absolutely might be. I’m really glad we gave it a go, despite the anticipated challenges, as it turns out that Spain is my son’s ‘happy place’.