Published on 12, July, 2020
I am having to fly independently for the first time in February. I don't mind planes but I find airports really difficult, they're noisy, involve lots of unexpected change, and I have to try and stay cognizant enough to communicate with members of staff, while also being unaware enough that I don't have a meltdown. And as it will be just me, I have to keep a level of awareness up at all times.
I'm interested to hear other peoples tips and tricks for this. I'm flying from London Stansted, their website gives me to understand that there is a quiet area in departures. Anyone know what this is like? I can't find any pictures of it which is annoying because for Eurostar they have a set of videos leading you through all the stages which I found really helpful. Is it worth booking assistance when I'm not sure I really need it? What can assistance do? Has anyone used them for autism?
Looking forward to hearing peoples experiences
Hi, I mostly fly from Stansted now. I also find flying and airports stressful. I’m not sure if this helps but for me Stansted is actually one of the airports that I find relatively easy to navigate and manage. I never checked if there is a sensory room though. Once you get through security there is a large area with shops and cafes- it’s a bit like walking through a big corridor then it opens up to a larger area with a lot of seats in middle and shops around it. There is also a gallery. Near the seats there are boards that will display your gate shortly before your flight, so there tend to be quite a lot of people on the seats. I tend to walk around a bit while I wait- not sure if this would be something that might help? It might also be quieter in one of the cafes. Then in terms of the gates I can’t give much detail as it will depend on the exact gate. Not sure if any of this is helpful but I do find Stansted better than other airports. Also it should be quite straightforward to get to the airport by train. :) have a good trip!!