Air travel and autism

During the holidays, many choose to fly to go on vacation or to visit relatives. This can be stressful for the child/teenager/adult on the autism spectrum. The best way to handle this stress is to prepare beforehand and seek out the disability services provided by the airlines.

As a family, we started flying when the kids were very young. I think this was really helpful in the long run to introduce the kids to the concept and provide familiarity. We would pack a carry on bag with lots of toys either for teething or later fidgeting and stock up on snacks in the airport before boarding. It is also helpful to have earbuds or noise blocking headphones for those sensitive to noises.

I also found that reserving non-stop flights further reduced unnecessary added stress. We did do a couple trips with flight changes and it was stressful even for the parents since you have the stress of catching the next flight, having to navigate through the airport between flights and go through with additional boarding protocol. If it’s stressful for the parents, it’s going to be stressful for the kids.

Choosing an airline that offers self-checkin kiosks in place of waiting in a line is a definite must and alerting airport personnel of the disability when entering TSA screening can deter a lot of anguish. Also, arriving to the airport early prevents a lot of headaches for anyone.

Once you’ve made it to your boarding gate, we always alert the personnel at the desk that we are traveling with kids on the autism spectrum and we would like to be included in the early boarding group. We have never had a problem but they only allow one parent to early board per individual with autism. Since we have two kids with autism, we are able to early board as a family. This also gives us the advantage of choosing seating arrangements if the seats are unassigned.

I highly recommend traveling with electronics and that will keep the kids engaged such as iPads or iPhones. Having to sit for a lengthy period of time can be agitating and the electronics keep them entertained. Also earbuds are helpful if they have the option to listen to music or watch a movie/tv show.

Before the trip, I recommend discussing the itinerary and reviewing the number of days, the airline name and length of flight, and if there are any extra offerings during flight such as snack boxes, an individual LCD screen per passenger, etc. For younger children, putting together a social story may be helpful.

The air pressure in the cabin during takeoff and landing can be bothersome as I find it uncomfortable myself. I know to swallow several times to alleviate the pressure in the ears but kids may have trouble with this. A good remedy is to have a drink or bottle handy during this time or chewing gum/lollipop.

Dressing comfortably and bringing extra clothing layers or a blanket is also a good idea as the temp may be cool onboard. A blanket may also serve well as a sensory piece.

After de-boarding the plane and having to fetch checked in baggage, it could be helpful to create the wait for baggage a game. Have the child participate in watching the baggage pass and locate the correct baggage.

My eldest likes cars so taking an Uber from the airport has been a thrill for him the past few years. He looks forward to seeing what make and model of car arrives and then having the opportunity to ride in the car. He has the same reaction if it’s a rental car. Just riding in a car that’s different/“new” is a thrill. The trip from the airport to our final destination, however, can be stressful if there is traffic. My eldest expresses anxiety if stuck in traffic and is most at ease as long as the car is moving and making progress.

I hope some of these air travel tips help with your travel plans. Since every child is different and at a different developmental stage, planning ahead is helpful to your own individual agenda. Also, seeking out disability services from the airline/airport can further reduce unnecessary conflict/confusion with airport personnel.

We wish you the best with your future air travel plans!