Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Airline cannot accommodate disabled toddler

130 replies

ChangingTheNarative · 22/08/2023 15:49

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any advice, I don't know if anyone will but it's always worth asking.

My son was diagnosed with a genetic disorder back in March (developmental delay, mild intellectual disability, autism and adhd) and he's currently on the ASD pathway.

We booked the long haul holiday in June and at that time we didn't know anything about his condition really or how it will affect him.

It's clear now he'll need a harness on the plane which the airline can provide but they have to be put on the backseats however they are booked so we can't have them which is fair enough.

We cannot take a forward facing car seat on and he won't fit in a rear facing one as he's the size of a 4 year old so they suggested a specialist restraint which is £3k (we can't pay this) and that's the only way around it.

I'm at a loss and don't really know what to do or what I can suggest to them.

I wanted to try and treat my son as normal as possible and take him on holiday but I'm thinking my only option may be to cancel?

I thought I'd ask here before I cancelled it though in case anyone has any ideas?

Im not sure what exactly but worth asking

Thank you so much.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Rosscameasdoody · 24/08/2023 10:11

londonrach · 22/08/2023 15:57

Can you rebook for when the seats are available. Surely you checked this prior to booking.

The op didn’t have the diagnosis when the holiday was booked.

Rosscameasdoody · 24/08/2023 10:17

Hmm1234 · 24/08/2023 07:51

You think it’s ok to have a child ‘the size of a four years old’ forcibly restrained in aeroplane seat for the sake of a family holiday abroad. Seriously you need to make better decisions and holiday in the UK

What a dreadful thing to say to the mother of a disabled child. Your post clearly demonstrates that you haven’t read the OP’s opening post - which clearly says that they did not know about the disability when the holiday was booked. And you clearly don’t have any experience of this or any other kind of disability, otherwise you’d be familiar with the ways in which different problems present themselves and have to be dealt with, And it’s not ‘forcibly restraining’ him. It’s making sure that he’s safe on the flight.

And seriously, you need to make better decisions before posting crap.

Rosscameasdoody · 24/08/2023 10:20

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 23/08/2023 10:44

Sorry OP, don’t want to labour the point but, as you mentioned you’re new to all this, just reiterating this from viques. Get it in writing, and names/dates of people you speak to, print it out and have it with you (and the legal entitlement CAA guidance on Special Assistance too). Hopefully you won’t have any issues but having been in situations where assistance was arranged only to find it completely missing on the day, I’ve learnt my lesson.

Show quote history

Agree 100%. I’ve had the same experience. I’ve pre -arranged assistance in the past and been left stranded. Hope you have a great holiday OP, and sorry you’ve had a hard time from some on here.

Haugh · 24/08/2023 11:07

I hope you have a lovely holiday with your child. Do join some SN groups, they can be a life saver and a great supporting network. Raising children with SN is very different. Best wishes and my blessing x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page