Flying with a Special Needs Child

By
Heather
Published: August 18, 2009Posted in: Plane, TravelTags: , , ,
Flying with a Special Needs Child

181My son and I recently completed a cross country airplane trip from Florida to California and back. On this trip I used much advice that I received from friends, family, teachers and online. We followed much of the advice, some helped and some did not of course, and we also learned along the way.

  1. Planning your flight - We took two direct flights to minimize the stress of layovers and changing planes. I soon realized that 5 hours was a long time for a child to sit in their seat, so a layover might be nice on future trips. We also loved the redeye. My son fell asleep while still on the runway and slept the entire trip.
  2. Don’t take carry ons - To save money, we did not check our luggage. The first trip through security we each had a book bag, rolling suitcase, plus electronics and my purse. The rush and stress of the security check point almost pushed him into a meltdown. On the way back, I checked our luggage and placed all liquids and most electronics in it. We boarded the plane with just our book bags.
  3. Take a book bag - For your traveler you will want to pack a book bag especially for them with items to keep them comfortable and busy. When you board the plane put it under the seat in front of you and not the overhead compartment. By placing it under the seat you will be able to reach the bag at anytime after take off and before landing.
  4. Chose seats carefully - We preferred sitting near the back of the plane. This was close to the bathroom and away from commotion. Also I had my son stay seated playing a game why everyone disembarked the plane and then we got off so he did not have to deal with the crowd or pushing.
  5. Relax - If you are stressed your little traveler will be stressed as well. Relax, go with the flow and enjoy the adventure.
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About the Author

Heather is mother to a 10 year old son with autism. They live in the Southwest Florida area and travel around the state on numerous adventures.