Flying on the Spectrum | Air Travel with Autism (Tips)

[@allisoncvsgfsgsgfddfh]

Thank you for this! I’ve been looking around and most videos i find are just moms complaining about how to “lessen the burden” of having their autistic child on a flight. It’s exhausting lol

[@WoodshedTheory]

yikes - asd moms are a certain breed - not all bad just a lot.

[@enfieldjohn101]

Good point! Those videos only make me feel worse about myself. I already feel like a burden to my family and friends without having to watch those videos.

[@withheldformyprotection5518]

Tips for those flying out of Denver. 1) There is a security station on the bridge to A-Concourse which has two linear lines, so you don’t get stuck in the zig-zag lines at the main terminal security stations surrounded by a sea of people. The lines are generally shorter, because most people do not know this station exists, and quicker to get through the security theater. 2) While there are no quiet/sensory-friendly rooms on the concourses, there is an upper level on each concourse (between gates and club level) away from the gates and businesses and the crowds where one can feel less overstimulated. 3) If you have airline status, use the club level. Some airlines will offer entry for a fee (kinda pricey). These are like quiet rooms with food, comfy chairs, and better/more private bathrooms. I’ve had to learn these tricks, because being overstimulated before boarding makes an in-flight meltdown more likely. 90% of my lifetime meltdowns have occurred during flights or in airports. Starting the flight calm makes the whole experience better.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Thanks for sharing this I know someone will find it helpful

[@enfieldjohn101]

Good tips! Thanks! Sometimes, I have to connect in Denver. Another tip I'd add to this excellent one is that some airports like LAS and LAX have family bathrooms. They are intended for families with little kids, especially to change diapers and such, but when they aren't busy and I find one where there aren't any families around (I tend to subconsciously search for the quietest, least crowded parts of places whenever I have to wait) I'll go in there for a few minutes, even if I don't really need to use the bathroom, just to decompress. It really helps.

[@carlillingworth88]

I don't enjoy the airport experience, but I actually love the experience of flying especially taking off and the g-force experience. I also love planes. However I do feel exhausted afterwards, particularly on longer flights. The longest flight I've been on was 7hours. But on the back of the seat in front of me was a flight monitor that told me my altitude, how long we'd been flying, how long was left, a map of the route and where we were and the outside air temperature. I spent the majority of the flight fixated on this and found it really fascinating. It made the experience go much quicker. However I do find it difficult when waiting around and don't know what to do with myself. I don't want to get to absorbed in anything whilst I wait and lose track of time, but I also don't like time pressure and stress so I have to get there mega early and then I just sit around all fidgety and awkward. Although watching the planes going in and out is therapeutic, especially if you can see the runway from the terminal and actually watch them take off.

[@nunyerbizness9598]

This is pretty much my take on flying as well.

[@WoodshedTheory]

I wish I could do better with takeoff and landing - I mean I am so much better than when I was younger I used to like grab other people’s knees on accident 😅

[@WoodshedTheory]

That’s good!

[@carlillingworth88]

I'm quite a sensory seeking autistic in many aspects; it helps distract me from other unwanted input and I usually have plenty of time to gear myself up for it. But I do still get overstimulated in certain environments.

[@MrsBifflechips]

:O Are you my air travel twin? Lol! I love take-off and landing and always try to get a window seat if I can (I also find it hard to sit the way the seats are designed for - facing forward with feet on the floor - and it's a lot easier for me to get comfy if I'm in the window seat). If I'm not in a window seat, I'm sitting there exploding inside trying not to lean over the poor stranger who's just trying to have a normal flight. And I agree that the actual airport experience is less nice. Security gives me particular anxiety. But usually I travel with people who have a concept of time and are able to both read a book and keep an ear out for announcements.

[@madberry]

It always helps when you get to fly to something fun. Before my diagnosis I attributed having to sleep for one or more days after getting there or back to yet-lag. Now I would definitely say it was burnout.

[@WoodshedTheory]

OH Berry I never thought of it like this before. Yes it probably is burnout! Thanks for mentioning this

[@abbystephens9766]

I have high functioning Aspergers and airports are a nightmare for me.

[@WoodshedTheory]

I know lots of asd people struggle with this.

[@tirzahroseroot]

Ugh! I’m just trying to get tips on how to fly by myself! I don’t need to hear about a dying baby raccoon as a major animal lover! This does help though

[@WoodshedTheory]

Sorry about that

[@kimberlyrodriguez8479]

Love this video. I really appreciate it and you gave out a lot of information. I feel like I'm getting called out whenever you talk about your habits, anxiety, and all that stuff related to Autism. 🙃 I'm not official diagnosed yet but at this point in my research (been looking into it for almost a year now) there's no denying that I'm Autistic (with ASD-1) as well.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Hi Kimberly, happy to have you here for any part of your journey.

[@enfieldjohn101]

As an ASD person myself, I had to listen to this video with the screen on my desktop PC scrolled up so that I couldn't see the video, only hear it. I tried to watch it for a bit, but for some reason, I felt like you were invading my personal space the way that you were so close to the camera. Weird, but that's how the video made me feel. Some great tips here! I'll try them next time I have to fly. I say 'have' to because I have never enjoyed flying. The experience of being up high, any higher than say the top step of a step stool, has always been scary, so being in a plane, I can't stand to look out the window and any turbulence just drives me nuts. I also can't stand being in big, noisy, smelly, crowds of obnoxious people. There's nothing about flying that I enjoy. I still fly with my wife though. I have tried taking a car or bus instead, but my lower back and hips hurt so much that we have to stop so often to take breaks that ground trips take forever. I also get scared sometimes by traffic. I often feel like we're on the verge of having an accident, even when we are driving around our own town. Sometimes, I have to just close my eyes and try to relax. Not while driving of course :) Although I rarely drive because it is so stressful and scary. Thank God she's understanding. Partly because she loves me and partly because she's a special education teacher who currently teaches kindergarten through fifth grade autistic kids. So, she understands ASD better than a lot of spouses do. I try to fly, or go on long trips at all, as seldom as possible. About once a year or less. Some say that I should travel more because maybe I'd get used to it, but they don't understand how difficult, sometimes even painful it is. Another tip that I'd add would be to wear earplugs in noisy, crowded places like airports, airplanes, busses, restaurants etc. Not ones that block out all sound, just ones that reduce the volume. I found some on amazon that do that. They are rubbery and fairly comfortable too. Also they are a sort of translucent black color rather than day glo colors like safety ear plugs often are, so most people don't notice them. If they do, they assume I'm wearing hearing aides or wireless earbuds. Thanks for these great tips!

[@WoodshedTheory]

sorry if the video was overwhelming

[@alisonbarlow7836]

One thing I started doing is printing my boarding passes. While having them on my phone is fine, in case my phone dies or something, I like to print one out as well.

[@passaggioalivello]

Poor raccoon. I don't like planes, I feel like in a trap because I can't get out of there. And also they pollutes a lot. I rather travel by train, it's less stressful.

[@nunyerbizness9598]

Yes, feeling trapped, especially near so many people is very stressful. I'm not sure I could fly today knowing how many people are freaking out on planes and in airports.

[@passaggioalivello]

@@nunyerbizness9598 Agree. At least on a train, or bus, we can leave whenever we want.

[@WoodshedTheory]

I was actually kind of bummed I didn’t get to see a mask Karen in the wild…

[@WoodshedTheory]

Yes - being stuck with no way off is… super fun and I love it 🤣

[@brianfoster4434]

An autistic person does not simply "follow the signs" in an airport :) -- one of my special interests is traveling. I love the planning. I watch KZbin videos about the airports, so I feel like I've been there before. I always arrive super early. One accommodation I have recently made is TSA Pre-check. I also try to use the premium cabin in the airplane. I'm lucky that I can afford that.

[@sarahleony]

I just typed a huge comment and then clicked something accidentally and it’s gone. FML I recommend spending money on a big bottle of water once you get past security, or keep an empty bottle through security and fill it at a fountain at the gate. I otherwise stress about depending on the flight attendants for water and the stupid little open cups. Same with food and snacks, just bring your own so you k is what it is and that it’s available at your leisure. Now with a diagnosis I will be sure to bring noise canceling headphones and maybe a fidget toy next time. I’m married to a veteran and pilot so we almost exclusively fly “space available” i.e. don’t have guaranteed seats on whichever flight we hope to get on. Extremely stressful, do not recommend aside from obviously huge money savings. At this point, traveling solo with a regular booked flight is super easy to me but 98% of the time I’m on my own with two young kids, tons of luggage and no guaranteed seats on the plane..

[@sarahleony]

Oh PS I’m a German expat in the US so we are talking 8-10 hr flights across the pond.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Gosh that sounds stressful, glad you are finding ways to make it less so - I’ve only spent one night in Germany and I was super ill the whole time - need to make a video about that. Love to go back and redeem Germany!

[@WoodshedTheory]

Also that sucks about typing a long comment I hate when that happens

[@rowanb6475]

I'm going on a trip with my mom this year and we are only bringing carry-ons. Do you have any tips for packing because not having access to things I normally do is stressing me out.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Well I would check to see what is available where you are staying - for examples if they have towels and a hairdryer you don’t need to waste the space. I also try to pack things I can use or wear more than once

[@medicineairplane]

they can fly?

[@WoodshedTheory]

oh yes but only when no one is looking

[@forgivenonce]

I have not seen you in person since Dec 2019....makes me sad.

[@WoodshedTheory]

Can’t wait to see you soon

[@greysonsmith2130]

Today is the day i fly for 6+ hours

[@WoodshedTheory]

You got this!

[@greysonsmith2130]

@@WoodshedTheory went fairly well still very jet lagged

[@WoodshedTheory]

Hope you feel better soon jet lag sucks

[@greysonsmith2130]

@@WoodshedTheory feeling better today plus i get to swim in the pool (pools help me destress)