Long haul tips and autistic child

[Emilyjayne9421]

We are flying long haul next weekend, around 14 hours altogether. Myself, husband, and three kids ages 6, 7 and 12. Our 6 year old is autistic and I’m starting to worry about how he’ll handle it. Any tips? They have tablets, colouring books and pens. I’ve seen the sunflower lanyards to make airport staff aware they may need some support but I’m in two minds whether to get one. Any tips would be appreciated please. We will be taking plenty of snacks and drinks.

It really depends on your child's needs. Autism is such a huge spectrum. Mine wouldn't use the toilet, in fact he refuses to use any public toilets full stop. Not much I can do about that though. Although to add to that - he didn't like the motion of the plane and refused to leave his seat as he didn't like to walk along the plane.
The only other issue was airplane food - he hated it so I would advise tons of safe snacks, maybe even a packed lunch/dinner to eat.
Otherwise I didn't have any other issues with my ds who flew long haul aged 9 and 13. As I said, he refused to leave his seat and he was very happy with the inflight entertainment so 9hours.

Will vary by child but that sounds fine - my asd child loves flights so much he asked if he could go on a 2 week non stop flight - its the entertainment system, food and drink and air hostesses who give blankets, he used to take teddy with him at that age. We didn't do lanyards but I would pay for allocated seats and priority boarding. Also tend to seat adults in between kids to stop squabbles. He's the opposite on toilets, loves a toilet and at that age used to sing in them at the top of his voice and go in multiple times. My NT DD did get ear ache from descent so worth thinking about how to avoid that.

Use children’s sleep spray/balm/drops and/or calming tablets/spray. We’ve used Genexa Kids Calm Keeper.
If he benefits from a weighted blanket, then take that. If he benefits from ear defenders, take those.
What time is the flight? If it’s a red eye, then replicate his night time routine as much as possible - bedtime story, pyjamas, teeth brushing, use a particular cup he drinks out of etc…

Also, we stocked up on new sensory/fidget toys: putty, spinners, fidget cubes, play foam etc…

Loads of snacks and little packages of things to open. Like stickers and small toys. We did cheerio necklaces one flight. Then they can eat them. Loads of films downloaded. Lollipops for helping equalise ears. Spare calpol and ibuprofen

Has he been on a plane before? If not, use YT videos of all elements of the flight, from boarding and taking off to getting food served etc... to prepare him.