Can you visit an airport (Newcastle) prior to travel?

[Acunningruse]

We are due to fly from Newcastle airport this summer. DS age 9 has never been to an airport, or flown on an aeroplane, and is currently experiencing anxiety around new places and new experiences. We are working with school and GP but there is no formal diagnosis.

I am wondering whether its possible to visit an airport prior to travelling, ie, to just see what its like and possibly get a coffee? Its so long since I have flown, and so much has changed post-covid, that I'm not sure what's allowed. Does anyone have any experience of a similar situation?

Thanks

I'm from Newcastle.
You can certainly go in!
Have a look at the check in's, theres somewhere to get a coffee downstairs.

I've attached link for you which you may find helpful.

www.newcastleairport.com/passenger-assistance/hidden-disabilities/

You can go into land side departures, wander round, have a snack and see how people go round. I don't know Newcastle airport so well, but at Birmingham if you choose the right car park you can see all the planes from there, but you can't see them from within the terminal. The visual guide on Newcastles website looks very good for the whole process

Of course you can visit. Obviously you won't get past security and there might not be a huge amount going on before security, but there's nothing to stop you getting there and having a wander around and a coffee, most airports have cafes before security.

My tips would be to check the parking situation if you're driving there. Some car parks are very expensive unless you prebook, even if only staying for an hour or two, but some airports have 'drop off' areas where you might get an hour for free, which might be enough if it's quite close to the terminal. Or possibly, does the Metro go there? I think Newcastle is quite small? So might have a park and walk option.

Also, many airports have viewing areas somewhere on the boundary, where you'll get a good view of the runway from outside the fence. This often coincides with a cafe or pub that is popular amongst plane spotters that people will go and watch the planes even when not flying.

You sure can, except obviously only land side - you can visit the terminal. Some airports used to have viewing galleries which was wonderful, you could watch take offs and landings. No longer allowed these days.
If he’s anxious your son might be a bit rattled by how crowded the terminal is and how frazzled some people are! You can reassure him by saying airports are busy places, a lot of people want to fly, and sometimes people are in a rush!
It might also be worth explaining (or showing him online) how airports work - checking in, baggage handling, security, boarding, aircraft movements etc.
I think taking him in advance is a lovely idea. I hope he enjoys his flight!

Thank you so much for all this valuable advice, I am welling up reading it! The thought of us going on holiday together is so exciting but it will be daunting and possibly stressful for him at the same time. These comments are so, so helpful- thank you. Yes the parking!! I will need to check that out or a quick coffee could end up being very expensive indeed!!

It might also be worth looking on youtube and seeing if there are any videos giving a guide for going through security etc. That might also help ease his worries

It may be also buying the I spy at the airport book - www.amazon.co.uk/Airport-Activity-Collins-Michelin-Guides/dp/0008392889/ - I think there is a general one and an activity one - for the actual holiday journey. We found that being involved with finding things/ observing the airport gave a focus and reduced anxiety when we were waiting.

I used to have a very tight bus connection at our local airport. On the (annoyingly frequent!) occasions one was late so I missed the other I'd go and wait in the terminal with a coffee or something. I quite enjoyed it really, airports are great for people watching! Hope it helps with your son's anxiety and you all have a fab holiday :)

If you can, try and have a wander around arrivals too.
I've just been to collect dc (not Newcastle though) and the atmosphere was lovely - lots to see and generally people are happy and relaxed.

Most airports do a visual guide. This is Newcastles - I hope the link works www.newcastleairport.com/media/1483/my-airport-journey.pdf

Obviously you won't be able to go through security before you fly which could be the stressful part of the process at the moment for your ds (long queues, shouting, crowds, bag and body searches).

I'd recommend your ds wears a sunflower lanyard when you go as it alerts the staff to the fact he might find it difficult. They'll try to whisk him through.

Your poor boy. Could you draw him a really simple high level flowchart of the stages? Leave bags, security, lunch in cafe etc. Something in child friendly words that he can understand the process and know what's happening. So you could have it in the airport and say this is where we will leave our bags (step 1).dunno, just a thought.

You can visit for sure. There's a video on YouTube made by a man for his autistic son that walks you through going on a plane. From memory he talks about the noises you'll hear and what to do on the plane too.

You can role play the journey and what happens at each stage of the airport.

Might be worth checking in with the airport too. They might be able to do a dummy run for you like they do for people with a fear of flying.

Yes you can freely go into the landslide terminal at Newcastle airport. If you go on google maps you can also view street view inside the terminal

Have a read of this too re obtaining a hidden disabilities lanyard for your son
www.newcastleairport.com/passenger-assistance/hidden-disabilities/

There is no friendlier airport in the whole world than Newcastle airport.

I used to go to Newcastle airport every weekend in the mid to late 70s with my brother. Used to go on the roof to watch the planes. There were hardly any in those days. Of course you can't do that now. My brother is now a performance engineer at Heathrow so it obviously paid off! I still love planes too

You can have a cuppa at Greggs or ?Starbucks landside although beyond that and WHSmiths there isn’t much else there beyond check in desks. Parking is wildly expensive and you’ll pay about £15 for an hour although bizarrely the cheapest place for up to an hour is the drop off car park. Short stay 1 and short stay 2 are more expensive. Or you could get the metro in if that would work for your son.

good luck, it’s a lovely airport and the staff have always been great with my nephew who loves going on holiday bit melts down at the airport every single time.

With DS (ASD diagnosis and, at the time extreme anxiety), I bought two tickets for the cheapest Ryanair flight I could find so took him airside for £20. When we were finished, I went back to the Ryanair gates and let them know we wouldn't be flying. Got to go through the electronic ticket gate, through security and have a wee look at the boards to work out where the flight would go from and walk over there to take a look.

Feels like overkill in retrospect but at the time the possibility of meltdown-stops-holiday was enough to make me feel it was worth the cash.

I know this is a bit weird but how about buying two very cheap tickets with Ryan air or easy jet. Book them for the day you want to visit and then you'll be able to go through security if he's able to and see all the restaurants and shops etc. then just go home.

Newcastle airport is on the Tyne and Wear Metro network, so could travel there on the metro to avoid parking and make a bit more of a trip of it (can park car at one of the other metro stations in a commuter car park or residential street).

This is actually quite a good idea

I suppose it isn't that weird to buy a ticket and not fly, as long as they'll let you out of the airport without getting on the flight

But I can see that Ryanair are selling Newcastle to Wroclaw, Poland tickets on any Sunday in June for £7.99 each, so not even £20.

Cheaper than the cinema or a theme park for an afternoon out.