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Sunflower lanyard

Stewart

I'm flying for the first time since my diagnosis and found this on the airport website https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/help/assisted-travel/non-visible-disabilities/ I'd never heard of sunflower lanyard before. I'll be on my own so it seems like a good idea for me to get one to deal with the buzz and business of the airport especially being able to use the fast lane at security. I thought the assistance point was for people with physical disabilities before reading that. However I'm a bit wary of asking for the lanyard, what am I supposed to say without feeling guilty/self-conscious? I wondered if anyone else had used the lanyard and what their experience was?

Parents

  • You can ask for the loan of a lanyard at the desk. I bought my own online. I have used it at Manchester airport and it took about a quarter of the usual time in queuing for the security check, as you use a separate, shorter, queue. Well worth it, in my opinion. In my experience you just have to say that you have a non-obvious disability, no flourishing of diagnoses is required. I did say that I was in fact autistic.

  • in reply to Martin

    Thanks Martin. I'll test it tomorrow then. So do you just walk through the fast lane or do you have have to engage with someone from security first ?

  • in reply to Stewart

    It's worth being aware that you won't necessarily be directed to a faster channel due to wearing the lanyard.

    Manchester Airport recently changed its policy for lanyard wearers (as reflected in the page that you linked to).

    Whether due to initial confusion among staff or perhaps an even tighter original new policy, an autistic lady was recently denied access to it.

    The airport now says: 

    "The Sunflower lanyard now offers access to all lanes at departure security, in addition to our Family and Assisted Travel lane.

    All channels at departure security offer next-generation security screening, offering a quicker, quieter and more customer-friendly process for all passengers. Security colleagues have hidden disability awareness training and will assist you with any questions that you may have while passing through the security process."

    Manchester Evening News - Manchester Airport’s message to passengers wearing sunflower lanyard

  • in reply to Bunny

    That's terrible, I feel stressed out and panicky just reading about Ellie, probably best to cope as best I can without it I don't want any confrontation

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