Flying With A Disabled Child

When searching for a disability friendly airline, you'll want to consider several factors. Here are some things to look into:

• The best airlines for disabilities.
• Airlines that offer extra legroom.
• Airlines with good cancellation policies.
• Airlines with low cancellation rates.
• Airlines that are part of the sunflower lanyard scheme.
• Airlines that offer priority boarding to disabled passengers.
• Airlines with beds.
• Airlines that offer special assistance.

Paralysis refers to being unable to make voluntary muscle movements, such as moving your arms or legs. This occurs when someone's nerves aren't able to send signals to a specific muscle.

Someone can be born with paralysis, develop it due to illnesses, or it can be caused by a traumatic injury. If your child has paralysis, a wheelchair can make their airport experience considerably more manageable.

Most airports offer free assistance to wheelchair users. This includes providing wheelchairs to help your child get through security and boarding.

Many airports will have a limited number of wheelchairs available, so it's best to inform the airport beforehand.

If your child would prefer to bring their own wheelchair, then they can use it up to the departure gate. If the wheelchair can collapse into itself, it may be stored in the overhead locker. However, in most cases, it will be placed with your checked-in luggage without counting towards your baggage total.

When it comes to getting on the plane, your child will be lifted securely onto the aircraft with the assistance of an aisle chair. These chairs are completely safe and are used to board the plane and to transport your child to the toilet if needed.

Sensory disabilities impact one or more of the five senses and can change the way someone perceives the world around them. Because of this, experiences like being at the airport, an environment that's so busy, can be very stressful.

If your child is blind, you can request additional assistance to help them navigate the airport. This is especially helpful if they're travelling alone. Many airports have large-print signs to enable individuals with partial sight to see. Some will have signs in braille to provide further support.

Airports are also improving their accessibility towards people with hearing impairments. Airports often rely on audible announcements which puts your child at risk of missing vital information if they can't hear. To deal with this, many airports have assistance desks, where (in some cases) staff members are trained in sign language.

Many airports also have something called the hearing loop. This produces electromagnetic signals that hearing aids with t-coils use. This helps users hear more clearly and limits the presence of conflicting background noise.

If your child would value the support of an assistant when navigating the airport, contact us at Alternative Airlines, and we'll inform the airline for you.

If your child has autism, there are different factors to consider when travelling. Although the symptoms of autism may vary, many will experience a heightened sensory awareness. If this gets too intense, it can lead to a sensory overload and then a meltdown. Airlines tend to have a high level of sensory input, which can be very difficult to deal with. However, airlines are working to make this more manageable.

Many airports have taken measures to make their autistic passengers more comfortable. This includes having quiet rooms or routes, so your child doesn't have wait in a big crowd, or offering priority boarding, helping them settle into the plane first.

Because autism is a hidden disability, it can make it harder for people to receive the assistance they may need. Thankfully, in 2016, London Gatwick Airport (LGW) found a discrete yet effective way of solving this.

Their sunflower lanyards are designed to inform airline staff that the wearer has autism and, therefore, may require additional support during the travel process. Today, around 280 airports and 18 airlines worldwide are a part of this scheme.

It's always a good idea to get travel insurance, no matter who you are or where you're flying to. However, if you're travelling with a disabled child, this is all the more essential.

You can get flight insurance at Alternative Airlines, enabling you to get a refund for multiple reasons. Please read our page for further details on what you are/aren't entitled to.

It's also wise to purchase travel insurance that covers more general things for while you're abroad. This way, if something happens and you have to take your child to the hospital, you'll be able to do so without a hefty bill. It also means that if a vital item gets damaged, like your child's wheelchair, you'll receive compensation.