travelling to delhi with autistic child
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
travelling to delhi with autistic child
Hi,
First time posting here. Please ignore if I have missed out any details. If you do need more information let me know.
I'll get to the point: I will be travelling with my 3 year child to Delhi soon via AIR INDIA from London. I am super anxious about the airport environment (security queues and stuff) plus when we arrive, I just don't know what to expect. I did a basic search of the assistance section in Heathrow and they were offering services for hidden disabilities which is kind of good to know but couldn't find anything as such when I looked up the Delhi airport website. To go with that its a 9 hour flight which just gives me the chills. I just don't know what to expect. Have done a lot of searching on the internet but haven't actually seen anything related to hidden disabilities assistance related to India (AIR INDIA or Indian airports).
Has anyone ever made a similar journey with their disabled child via AIR INDIA?
Thanks
First time posting here. Please ignore if I have missed out any details. If you do need more information let me know.
I'll get to the point: I will be travelling with my 3 year child to Delhi soon via AIR INDIA from London. I am super anxious about the airport environment (security queues and stuff) plus when we arrive, I just don't know what to expect. I did a basic search of the assistance section in Heathrow and they were offering services for hidden disabilities which is kind of good to know but couldn't find anything as such when I looked up the Delhi airport website. To go with that its a 9 hour flight which just gives me the chills. I just don't know what to expect. Have done a lot of searching on the internet but haven't actually seen anything related to hidden disabilities assistance related to India (AIR INDIA or Indian airports).
Has anyone ever made a similar journey with their disabled child via AIR INDIA?
Thanks
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Thanks for getting back to me. Was looking for some general advise on travelling with autistic children and specifically if someone has travelled on a long distance flight with an autistic child.
Also, I had read about this DNPA code which helps during travel if a person has some kind of disability but I couldn’t find any information on how I could apply for it.
Cheers
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
there are services available in del like a meet & greet service....they receive you when you exit the plane, take you in an electric buggy to the immigration area, help with your bags at baggage claim & finally escort you to your car or taxi....
#5
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,172
Use 'Allways' iin Delhi, they will take care of you (for a fee) if you need special help. That said the arrival in DEL is rather calm, you have to walk a rather long open walkway to get to immigration and stand in line for a while depending on what nationality you are. Indians are not very sensitive to autistic children in particular but very understanding and accomodating for children.
Take a look at this section for more tips:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children-221/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/disability-travel-224/
Take a look at this section for more tips:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children-221/
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/disability-travel-224/
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
thanks for letting me know
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Amazing! thanks a lot for your help. the links help. On a side note I was looking at the video on the delhi airport website. They give a very good view of what one should expect on arrival. though I am still a bit sceptical on how long the queue in immigration will be, since my family has different passports than me. I am kind of worried that they will ask us to split based on Nationality. Don't wanna leave my wife with 2 very young children.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 9
We have autistic boy too and he is always OK with the flights. It is worse when it comes to queueing in the airports or any other queueing in a crowd. I mean he can vomit or generally feels unwell. So although he behaves OK and looks fully ft - and doesn't need a wheelchair (he would refuse it) - we always book assistance. Just to avoid queues.