ASD help at airport for holiday

[flowwithit]

Have you ever had help from the airlines with travel in airports and what kind of help did you get? Just asking because my ds has found some aspects difficult and I wondered if there was anything we could do to help him more.

We flew with EasyJet last year and we informed them at the time of booking that we were traveling with a child with ASD. We were given the same treatment as other people flying with young children ie allowed to board before the mad rush to get seats. it was very helpful as DS2 was very anxious as it is.

We also got in touch with the airport duty manager (at EasyJets advice) and they said if needed they would get us boarded before everyone else. I called them on the day and they said the flight as not too busy so there was no need.

Can you do this in other countries? It's always the way back that is stressful for us as ds is always very strung out by that point. We are travelling to France in a few months and I m already dreading the flight back.

US immigration and airport security were brilliant with DS last year. I literally collared a uniform as there was a huge queue to say that he had ASD and couldn't cope with lines. No problem, we were all rushed through ahead of all the other travellers. I said that I had a doctors letter, and was told that they could see his disability and it was a pleasure to help us with our journey!
I thought that they would be horrendous! They couldn't have been more helpful. Early on to the plane, and we were the last off but they escorted us to immigration so we didn't have to queue.

Thank you for your replies.
My Ds is 12 yrs and is dx ASD HF.
I am torn between letting him experience the real world queues ect and helping him with coping strategies at the time and getting help to make things easier for him and us as its very stressful.
I worry that if we help too much or avoid all the situations he will never learn how to cope.

I would take all the help you can get - the airport is only the start of the journey, he'll have to deal with being on the plane and whatever happens when you get off as well.

Yes I was wondering if I was just making things really difficult by choice when I could ask for a bit of help.
He often seems to cope ok and i think its going well then he suddenly panics and I wish I'd made things easier for him.