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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Are Easyjet ASD Friendly?

12 replies

waitingforgodot · 05/04/2010 11:18

Looking at flights just now and Easyjet are slighter cheaper. I hate the queuing up like cattle to get on the plane and thats without DS. Have any of you had a positive experience with them? TIA

OP posts:

nikos · 05/04/2010 11:41

Ours was ok but then ds was under 5 so we had early boarding as one of our children was under 5.
Might be worth asking them if your ds can board early or you can pay for early boarding. Yes the rugby scrum to board is awful (why people think it is ok to push children out the way to get on quicker is beyond me ) but it doesn't last long and the flights are so much cheaper.
What is your particular concern? Does your ds hate crowds?

Original poster

waitingforgodot · 05/04/2010 11:51

My Ds is only 3 so do we automatically get on first?
He gets a bit of sensory overload in airports anyway so we tend to hang off and get on the plane last as he has trouble sitting still! This is why I prefer an allocated seat as then its not a problem.

I just dont like the Easyjet system but then it is so much cheaper.

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vjg13 · 05/04/2010 12:08

I have never used Easyjet but have loads of bad reports from friends about how awful it is with kids. Same also with Ryan Air. We use Jet2 which is cheap and you can prebook your seats on the website. I would rather pay a bit extra for that.

TotalChaos · 05/04/2010 12:16

In general I find both Easyjet and Ryanair somewhat lacking in the customer service department, with Easyjet being slightly better. Having said that, I've never had problems getting seated with DS on Easyjet or Ryanair (as I get claustrophobic in queues so usually get on the plane last). I usually fly out of Liverpool though, which is a piddling little airport which makes things easier.

HelensMelons · 05/04/2010 12:24

Flew out with easyjet last year - no frills as you know but when we checked in we explained that ds2 was on the spectrum and we got early boarding - we still had to queue, albeit a smaller queue but it was fine and quite exciting. I also did a social story board which I read to ds before, etc and I think that helped too.

Original poster

waitingforgodot · 05/04/2010 12:48

vjg13
we have flown with jet2 and they were fine but a bit more expensive than Easyjet.
Am still undecided!
Thanks for your replies. HelensMelons-daft question but what is a social story board. I was going to put lots of photos into a small book relating to different aspects of the trip. Is this similar to a social story?

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HelensMelons · 05/04/2010 13:04

Yes, I did it a bit like they do in ds's school. First we will.... then ....., it will be very busy and noisy,...., we will have to stand in a line and queue, it could be boring etc. Finishing off with 'it will be ok'.

It was our first time as a family going away, flying, etc and I was extremely nervous but actually he was fine - he had his own bag on the plane full of things that he likes to do/play/draw and his special blanket as well. It was grand x

Original poster

waitingforgodot · 05/04/2010 13:29

thats great!
DS has flown quite a bit but last year on the flight home he was a bit of a nightmare. He wouldnt stay in his seat. The Easyjet flights are at night so if I could persuade him to sleep on the flight....

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SMacK · 06/04/2010 15:25

I'm in exactly the same position. Like to get on the plane last not first as it reduces by at least 30mins the time required for the children to sit still. Stupidly booked Easyjet for a spring hol and wondering what on earth I have done. I'm thinking perhaps DH going on first and reserving the seats but they 'don't allow that', - still I understand that it is against Health and Safety to have children seperated from their parents.

Dunno what we will do. Perhaps present dx letter at check in and ask them. In the worst case scenario, I'll just let my kids be a royal pita until we get our own way. Let them run up and down the isles with chocolatey hands or something.

Shaz10 · 06/04/2010 15:29

I remember an episode of Airline where a family with a boy with ASD went to the airport a day or so before and got to speak to the pilot. Now they may have just been doing it for the TV but it made me think that they knew what they were doing.

r3dh3d · 06/04/2010 16:13

The thing I find with air travel - whatever the airline, the conversation you have with the nice Customer Services person in the call centre in the arse end of nowhere will never make it back to the checkin staff or the gate. You may still be met with a "computer says no" attitude when you turn up. Not so bad if you're flying BA, where it is quite possible to jump up and down and demand that they open a disabled checkin especially for you or you will make a scene(yes, I have done this. And they did). Bit harder with Easyjet where checkin consists of one harassed bloke with a sheet of computer printout and a highlight pen.

In an ideal world, I'd try to track down someone travelling via Easyjet out of that airport in the next few weeks, and get them to have a word with the local staff and see what the process is in practice, and what you need to say, and who to.

Original poster

waitingforgodot · 06/04/2010 18:26

We are travelling with the in laws so I thought I could send them on the plane first and get them to keep seats for us. I flew Easyjet last weekend and saw people doing this. No-one seemed to bother but if anything is said then I could show the dx letter. Do you think that would work?

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