travelling by air with autistic non-mask wearing child!

[mudlarks]

We're booked onto a flight to Portugal to visit my parents, who live there and whom we haven't seen in 2 years now. It took a lot of dithering and agonising to get this far and the pre-flight Stuff is fairly stressy - but I've booked three of us LFTs (Portugal will accept lateral flows as well as PCRs), I'm onto the Day 2 tests, I know where to get the return-to-UK tests from when there - but then, having booked all this and flights, I realised belatedly that DS2 (10) who is under the age for being tested to enter the country, is either going to have to wear a mask in the plane and airport of the destination, or have some sort of official exemption. I don't think a sunflower lanyard will cut it.

We've got used, I suppose, to being in the UK where there's a relatively old cut-off for kids not having to wear masks. In most EU countries, I think the age at which you need to use a mask starts much earlier. For Portugal, it's 6 and the same goes for TAP, the national airline we're flying. I just rang TAP and after checking with someone, the woman I spoke to said either we have to fill out their very generic, medical form and get a doctor to fill part of it out (ASD isn't a medical condition, this form is clearly pre-Covid and is very much about short-term and physical conditions, but I suppose there's a space where a sympathetic doctor would be able to record that his ASD made it impossible for him to wear a mask) OR get a doctor to write a statement saying he is autistic and his disability means he can't wear a mask. I will get onto it tomorrow but I know GPs are increasingly likely to refuse letters and statements like this. I mean, I know they might charge and that's fine. I'm just worried they'll refuse to write one at all.

(Please don't bother telling me that yes he CAN wear a mask! Believe me, we've tried everything the last 18 months. I will continue trying and will try on the flight but he will not tolerate it for more than a second, unless a miracle is wrought.)

Just wondered if anyone else had had the temerity to travel with a child with LD who will not tolerate a mask, and, well, how you've got on.

We flew recently in similar circumstances except our son is a little younger so less likely to be questioned for lack of mask (although was also supposed to wear it).

What you need to do is to call up the airline in advance and make sure that he has the DPNA code added to his booking. I also carried a copy of his diagnosis for good measure. That way if it does come up you can just explain to the staff that his condition is already noted on the booking.

https://travelbulletin.co.uk/news-mainmenu/use-of-dpna-ssr-code-for-disabled-passengers-up-by-89

Good luck, my own daughter has very severe physical and intellectual disabilities but luckily does (reluctantly) wear a mask. I live in Portugal and it is quite strict here and while waiting for Special Assistance at Faro airport I did see another British family with a very clearly disabled adult daughter being told she needed to wear a mask because whatever paper they produced wasn’t up to scratch. It must have been a nightmare. I didn’t see what happened as we moved on.

The airport will be your biggest issue I think, tourist orientated business are less likely to challenge you. We have been asked for evidence of double vaccination unordered to sit inside restaurants lately.

Assuming your DS has a diagnosis of autism, I can’t see your GP refusing to write a letter. Just make sure the letter gives your son’s name and date of birth so they can check it against his passport.

Just a bit of warning. I have no idea what the rules are in Portugal, but in my country kids wear masks just like the adults. Exemptions don’t work the same way as they do in the UK either.

Just realized I wasn’t clear. Check your destination rules too. It might not just be the plane you need to worry about.

Oh no. I really hope you can get something sorted out.

I'd try ringing TAP again & see if someone else there can be more helpful.

I know you say you've 'tried everything' but have you tried a combination of lightweight disposable mask/letting him draw something on it/bribery & seeing grandparents?

Best of luck

Thanks Sofia - shamefully I'd never even heard of the DPNA code before (it's never been an issue, he's worn a sunflower lanyard the last few years and I sometimes ask at pinch points if we can be expedited because of his disability - it's never been refused yet). I have to get back to our friendly independent travel agent tomorrow anyway (the flight we booked has actually been cancelled, we've been bumped onto another one, I need to verbally confirm it with her) so I will make sure that's on his booking.

WithLove thanks, that's sobering but useful! We won't be eating indoors if I can avoid it anyway (dammit, I generally prefer indoors in summer in Portugal because it's HOT) to avoid extra risk and I know there are currently policies about peak times and indoors. Not really an issue for us though, if we eat out we'll be doing midweek lunches outside. DH and I do have our NHS app to show our double-jabbed status - from what I've read, that works ok in EU countries now.

We won't be going to any tourist oriented businesses, our aim is to spend time with my parents and go to the local beaches where I understand we have to wear a mask to cross the sand to somewhere. We go to quite quiet beaches (even in August) near Lisbon and I'm hoping his lack of mask won't be an issue, but will obviously have to whip out the GP's letter if needs be.

Wolframhart I know a bit about local rules and have family 'on the ground' there too, so they can give me more idea about what's needed.