Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi all
I thought I would start a second thread to report on my most recent journey by air since my diagnosis. This time it was from Birmingham to Brussels and back, with Air Brussels. Unlike last time, I got great communication from the airline from the start and had terrific help in the airports. I have to fight myself all the time, because I feel like I am wasting people's time. But I know that I've done the right thing in accepting the assistance when I arrive at my destination feeling reasonably calm instead of having to spend a day or two recovering from the horrors of the experience. The last time I went to Brussels I had a kind of meltdown and ended up in a terrible state.
Anyway, for those not familiar with it, I am using the Sunflower Lanyard scheme. It's available at most UK airports. Birmingham is no exception: the information is all HERE. For Brussels airlines I had to fill in a special assistance form and send it to them (I guess it's the same for all the airlines) and I wrote AUTISM in the disability listing (as well as hearing loss, in my case).
I am fine once I am seated on the plane, so I got assistance through security and duty free (in fact, we took a back entrance and avoided duty free altogether) and was escorted to the front of the queue for boarding. In security I was given time and space, and also reassurance when it emerged that I'd got a stray tube of toothpaste in my suitcase. I was sure I had removed all my toothpaste, but somehow there was a tube lurking in my wash bag. I was quite perturbed by that, but they were very good about making light of it. When I arrived at Brussels airport I was met off the plane and driven in a van to the arrivals lounge, rather than having to get the bus with the other passengers. That was just great.
The return journey was also great and a nice woman named Gori looked after me and was very understanding. The best moment though was when I couldn't find my way on arrival and a member of staff, obviously spotting my lanyard, came and offered guidance. That really helped a lot and made me feel reassured. I've filled in their questionnaire to reflect all this good stuff, and sent them an email to thank them too.
Hugers
Just got back from sunny Florida.
I used the sunflower lanyard - worked brilliantly - got fast-tracked all the way through security, the lounge, the boarding, getting off the plane, passport control, baggage and to the hire car in Orlando.
The flight was nice - the plane was almost empty so we had plenty of space to spread out and the crew were pre-alerted to me so they knew about my health problems and they did everything they could to make me comfortable.
The lanyard works at Orlando too so 'Johnny from The Bronx' took us all the way from the check-in to the gate. Very civilised.
Great stuff. They really do seem to be getting the hang of the sunflower lanyard scheme.