By Adam Glendon
Through the Air Travel for People on the Spectrum Focus Group, along with testing and tweaking based on my experiences flying, I have come up with procedures that work well when flying WestJet.
I am using WestJet for all my examples because that is all I have flown recently, and the focus group included both flight attendants and the head of Regulatory Affairs from WestJet. I am writing this as autistic adult flying alone, but much of the information will work for families.
Booking the Flight
If you are not already a member of WestJet’s Rewards program, join. Even if you travel infrequently, WestJet links some information about your needs and accommodations to your Rewards number.
When booking online, I recommend booking direct (via the WestJet’s website or App) and not going through a travel website like Expedia. If you do book on a travel website, then after you book go to WestJet’s website and go to the Manage your Flight tab enter your reservation number and double check your details.
If you are traveling to the United States, make sure your passport is up to date. I would also recommend a Nexus Card. (https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/application-demande-eng.html) It currently takes about two months to get and is good for five years. The Nexus Card will expedite going through customs, and will speed up going though security in the US and in some airports in Canada.
Have your reservation number handy and call WestJet Special Needs (1-866-693-7853). Tell them about you or your autistic flying companion, and ask to be seated in the rows for priority medical seating. These are usually rows 7-9, but this can change depending on the aircraft. If there is any other required accommodations that need to be on file, this is where you ask.
For flights within Canada, some airports will offer gate passes. So if you are a caregiver and would like to escort your autistic person, traveling alone, to the gate ask to see if this option is available to you during your call.
Here is WestJet’s normal list of possible accommodations. https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/special-needs/assistance-services
Here is WestJet’s blurb on recommendations for autism. (Disclosure: I helped edit this document.) https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/special-needs/non-visible-disabilities
I would recommend, at some point, getting the WestJet Medical information Form filled out. (https://www.westjet.com/assets/wj-web/documents/en/travel-info/special-needs/accessible/MDIF-EN-Final.pdf) This will save time, as you will not need to call Special Needs each time. It is the official way to request noise canceling headphones throughout the flight. (more on that later) This form is also the one to fill out if your autistic flyer requires an attendant to join them on the flight.
Before the Flight
A week before the flight, go to WestJet’s website or App and then Manage your Flight. Confirm that the flight time has not changed, and make sure all required information is entered including your passport info if leaving Canada.
Twenty-four hours before departure, check-in online or on smartphone, and confirm seat and other details.
At this time, also confirm all of the things needed for your coping strategy are charged and ready to go, if not already packed in your carry on bag. Do not forget quiet fidget toys or stress relievers.
The Day of the Flight
There are two options here. Arrive early (at least 2 hours but no more than 3 hours before if you have checked baggage) and find a quiet corner, after security, to decompress before going to the gate. If the waiting at the airport gets you anxious, arrive at the airport a minimum of 45 minuets before the flight (or 60 minutes for International flights) if you have checked baggage or would like to be escorted to the gates.
You can then ask to be escorted to the gate by a WestJet employee (or White Hatter in Calgary). This expedites security and will give you an ally if are unsure of requests or procedures during the screening process.
Boarding the Plane
Pre-boarding is allowed, I like to talk to the gate agent beforehand, as they will usually come and get me before they even announce that pre-boarding has started over the PA system. Sometimes you may have to say that you have autism when they ask for pre-boarding as they want to stop people from cheating the boarding system.
Noise Cancelling Headphones. Transport Canada regulations state you are not allowed to wear noise cancelling headphones during the safety briefing, taxiing, take off and landing. If you have not filled out the medical information form, ask to talk to the head flight attendant while you are boarding. Then ask for permission to wear the headphones throughout the flight. You should also ask for one-on-one safety briefing before the plane gets too noisy and crowded. Except for giving you the one-on-one safety briefing, they do not have to accommodate your wearing noise canceling headphones throughout the whole flight. However, on all the WestJet flights I was on before I filled out WestJet’s medical form they let me wear the headphones once I had the personalized safety briefing.
Make sure anything you want easy access to during the flight is stored under the seat in front of you. Settle in and relax. (I prefer window seats so I do not need to get up to let anyone sit.)
Arriving at Your Destination
I recommend waiting in you seat after the plane lands. I stay seated until just about everyone is off just so it is less crowded. If you have checked baggage, in most instances you will still get there before it comes out. If you would like to be escorted out of the secured area and to the baggage claim area, someone will help you once everyone else has deplaned.
Other Useful Notes
I use an App on my iPhone. Aumi by Ethan Shallcross https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/aumi/id1454283852 (Android version https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ethan.aumi&hl=en_US). It has many useful features for those on the spectrum, but what I use it for when traveling is to have scripts ready to show people to explain issues at the places where you need to talk. I have been overwhelmed and have had issues talking, and this has come in handy so I can quickly get my point across and not progress to a meltdown.
Here are some of the scripts I use:
- I am autistic. Can you help me check my bag in? I also need an escort to help me to get through security and to my gate.
- I am autistic. I require extra time to get settled in my seat, and need to talk to the flight attendant before it gets crowded.
- I need to wear my noise canceling headphones through the flight. I am a regular flyer, but if you are still required to give the safety briefing, can you please give it to me one on one now, before it gets too noisy and crowded.
The air travel experience for autism is improving. However, there is still more the airlines, airports, and airport security can do to minimize the stress and anxiety we face traveling.