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Flying alone for the first time

leaffrog24

Hi, 

This is my first post. I'm due to fly to see my gran in early April from one of the UK's main (I'd say top 3) airports to Scotland. So only about an hour but I've never flown alone before. I'm 24 years old. I wanted to ask on Facebook for advice but I'm finding even the groups I'm in for autistic adults are being taken over by parents of autistic children which is fine but I just want advice from an autistic person.

I've flown before with my parents, a few times as a child and only twice as an adult. I can remember the some things like, small liquids only and in a clear bag, but other things I was just following the lead of my parents and I'm just so nervous. It's all I think about.

I've got my ear defenders ready as I find the airport and airplane to be very overwhelming, I'm worried about sensory overload and how to cope. I don't like the sounds and the smells but I least I previously had my parents to help me through which now I don't. I can't remember if I'm supposed to put my electronics in the trays or not. I can't remember if I'm supposed to take my shoes off or my coat and jumper off. What should I wear?

I just wondered if anyone had some advice from autistic adult to autistic adult? I've tried googling but struggling to find things specific to the UK or not aimed at children. What are some things to remember? Can I ask for help at the airport and who can I ask? What should I do/what shouldn't I do? 

Or does anyone know of any guides that might help?

Thank you so much for reading 

  • You can get assistance in the airports, they have special help desks but I think you’re meant to book in advance via your airline to make sure that someone is ready to help you otherwise there may be a wait for someone to be free. Sunflower lanyards should be very well recognised as well. I haven’t flown since before the pandemic so I’m not sure what the process is anymore, when I last flew electronics, coats and belts went in the tray separately to the cabin bag. The liquids needed to be less than 100ml in a container which holds 100ml or less in a clear bag, I think the bag had to be a certain size as well but was available at the airport. I usually carry a reusable water bottle everywhere but I end up leaving a trail of disposables when I’m travelling because they have to be binned at certain points, so annoying

  • I left the baggage reclaim area prematurely, first time I flew. Took three hours to sort out security. However, my follow up flight was the following morning. Heading to Stansted, then Poitiers.