Airlines!

[Leiservampir]

Easyjet have started flying from Gothenburg (near me) to Gatwick, and I'm planning to fly to England with my fiance and best friend (Who has ADHD) just after christmas.
I used to fly with SAS, and I know they're good for accomodating people with Autism/ADHD, as you just let them know and they sort everything out so that you're not like "AAAAARGH! MELTDOWN!" in the middle of the airport. (I think they have trained people?)
Anyway, I've only ever flown with them and Airlingus (To Ireland haha), and never with Easyjet.
So I was wondering, has anyone here flown with them?
What was it like?
Did you notify them of your autism, and if so, what did they do?
I usually fly alone, which is why I have help, and I don't think I'd need help while going with my friend/fiance, but I'm thinking incase anything happens, I'd feel better if someone who works for them knows about my autism/his ADHD so I don't feel completely lost, you get me? I'm thinking in case of emergency, they'll know there are two people on the plane who are gonna freak out haha.

I just don't know if it's worth telling them or if they're gonna be like "yeahhhhh..what?"

 

[Droopy]

I used to fly with SAS, and I know they're good for accomodating people with Autism/ADHD, as you just let them know and they sort everything out so that you're not like "AAAAARGH!

What exactly do they do for you?

 

[Leiservampir]

Well, I usually fly alone, so they have someone to take me onboard and then off at the other side so I don't get lost in Heathrow (Which is standard for under 18's travelling alone) but they also let me know what's going on the whole time, so:
- When I go through the big door thingies, if it beeps, instead of being manhandled, they say things like "You need to take off anything metal because it sets off the alarm" and if it doesn't work and they come at me with the hand scanner they said, like, "I'm just going to run this over the air around your body, so you need to stand like this (shows). Tell me if it's uncomfortable" and **** like that.
- They show me where to sit before goin on the plain, and say like "I'm going over here, if you need anything talk to this person and they will help you" and then introduce the person so I don't have to go up to a stranger.
- They let me go on the plane before everyone else and help me find my seat so I don't get all embarassed and worked up about it in front of all the other passengers.
- They have someone waiting for me at the other end, just outside the plane's door, who then takes me through all the procedures at the other end. This person does the whole security thing, waits for me while I get my bag and then takes me to my uncle/mum/whoever's picking me up at the other end

They usually make sure it's the same person the whole way on either side, so it's not like, one person who shows me to the waiting room, andther who takes me to the plain etc, it's the same person from check in till boarding, and then from disembarking to leaving the airport, and they make sure that I know exactly what is going on the whole way, why they're doing this that and the other.
Also, if the plane's canceled/delayed, they come and tell me personally and explain exactly what's happening aqnd how things will go from there (Although flights have never been canceled yet in my experience, only delayed)

The only thing is, the company I usually fly with, SAS, are like British Airways in that they're not a budget airline, they're a "proper" one, whereas Easyjet are like Ryanair but less pikey, which is why I'm not sure what will happen, if anything.

 

[Droopy]

I never knew airlines had specialist staff to do stuff like that. The whole process sounds rather helpful and thoughtful. I would say you should notify them of your Autism and see what happens. If they don't do anything then at least you notified them anyway. If they do something then great.

 

[Leiservampir]

haha me neither, but apparently the more expensive ones do!

Yeah, true. Better to do it and get nothing that miss out on something helpful, I guess.

 

[danielsm]

did jou tell them? if so, what happened?

 

[Simply a Bibliophile]

Being undiagnosed, I've never had the option of telling any airline about it. I don't even know if airlines in America do that sort of thing.

I'm an under-18 often flying into major airports by myself but I've never had any problems, probably because I've gotten quite good at being mellow in public places. I've never been manhandled (ha ha) by the TSA but if I knew it was coming I'd be uncomfortable but wouldn't have a meltdown. Because lots of people on the spectrum like routines and get anxious if they can't have their routines fixed, I understand why it's important to have someone come and explain to you that the flight has been delayed.

According to my mum, up until I was about four, planes and takeoff noises used to make me scream.

 

[Spinning Compass]

I didn't fly for many years because I was afraid of having a meltdown. I am terrified of heights and I was afraid of what would happen if I looked out the window at 30,000 feet and decided I really, really, really didn't want to be up there. I didn't know anyone to ask either.

Anyway there was an event I wanted to go to and the only way I could get there was to fly so I took a deep breath and got on the plane. It was a short flight (about an hour) so I figured I could at least tough it out that long (as opposed to several hours). I ended up getting hooked on flying. My only problem now is I can't afford to!

I never told anyone at the airlines about being on the spectrum. But then I've functioned pretty well in NT society for quite a long time and have learned to control my self in public (private is another thing).

 

[ravendragonwing]

Having just recently flown from London to Seattle alone, it can get frustrating very fast.
British Airlines allowed me to pick my seat before my flight without paying the 30 quid price
Other airlines here in the states (Alaska being the one I just flew on) allow me to board first (I hate not having my bags near me) and if I am feeling weird, I will let the attendant know that I am autistic and they are really good about getting me anything I need.
I also need an aisle or window seat, unless I am flying with someone, and I call the airline and let them know, they allow me to pick my seat.
I also had an incident with a TSA agent in London (are they called TSA?) and when I got to a supervisor and told him, I was allowed to calm down and then I could comply with what they asked....they told me to take my computer out of the bag, but here in the US I have a special laptop bag and I do not have to do that here, so I was trying to process his request and he started to yell at me.
I have not found any airline who would not help, as long as you let them know.
I find flying very relaxing and only really have problems when I have to sit in the middle and the people next to me practically sit on top of me, or one time this guy stuck his stuff on the floor and put his feet on my side!!! Or when they want the armrest up.
Hope you do OK on your flight, sounds like you have people with you, so it should be ok.