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Autism awareness amongst airline crew

NAS65650

Hello everyone,

I am planning on taking a short flight with my autistic son and wanted to know which airlines' staff are best trained in case of a "meltdown". Anyone have experience on Ryanair or Norwegian?

Thank you 

  • Use the sunflower lanyard - it's excellent.      Special assistance will often walk you through the VIP security line if you get there early so they are not too busy to assist you.    Book a VIP lounge - it gets you into a quiet comfortable area away from the noise of the departure lounges.     They usually overlook the apron so there's lots to see from the windows.

    Is your son into planes?     If so, you can completely avoid any meltdowns by telling him exactly what is going to happen on the plane,    Tell him that as he's so important, they let him on the plane first.     A flight attendant will be manning each door (to stop nutters opening them) - introduce your son - explain it's his first flight - mention his autism - they will do everything possible to assist you - they want to avoid any meltdowns during the flight.

    Get him to count all the seats.   Get him to guess what all the noises are - like the engines starting, wheels going up, flaps extending and retracting etc.   If the flight is long enough for a meal, buy some of your own food at the airport so if he doesn't like what's provided, you have alternatives.

    Get him to guess if the plane is going up or down.    Take a few sweets to help with the descent phase ear pressure pain.     If you have a window seat, there's lots to see on take-off & landing.

    Take paper & pens to entertain him - lots of puzzles to do.     If you speak to the airline, they might provide a personal DVD player for him to use.

    They all want to help you to make a positive experience - just ask.

  • in reply to NAS65650

    No kids myself so I can only comment as an autistic adult, but I would second Raindrop's recommendation of BA. If you request special assistance when you book, they can pre-book seats for you and also discreetly mark your boarding pass so that you can pre-board if, like me, your son is likely to freak out in the crush of people waiting to board.

    I have also used a sunflower lanyard and would recommend it.

  • in reply to NAS65650

    We flew B A and they were amazing  . They even invited our son into the cockpit!

  • Either Lutin or Stansted. Yes the lanyard system has wide acceptance at airports which is a brilliant development. Im more concerned about on board and if the cabin crew themselves have awareness training. 

  • Where are you flying from ? The sunflower lanyard work really well at airports.