Airplane Travel Tips for Kids with Disabilities

For kids with disabilities and their families, air travel can be especially challenging. With the help of Team Undivided parents, we’ve crowdsourced some tips to help make airplane travel easier. If you have advice of your own to share, please let us know so we can add it!

Request disability assistance

• Make sure your online reservation includes any additional needs like wheelchair assistance or dietary restrictions.

• Make sure everyone flying with you has their own photo ID. Starting May 2025, every passenger needs a REAL ID, which is a driver’s license, permit, or identification card marked with a star for federal identification. Recipients of SSI are eligible for free or low-cost photo IDs from the DMV.

• Request assistance from TSA Cares two weeks prior to your travel; they can meet you curbside and escort you to your gate (including streamlined TSA checkpoints). They also provide cart service so that you can more easily reach accessible bathrooms and other areas farther from your gate.

• If you don't use TSA Cares, consider applying for TSA PreCheck, which allows passengers to keep their shoes/belts/jackets on and access shorter lines. It’s $85 per person ($70 for online renewal), but that covers five years of priority lines at airports around the country.

• Some airports have free sunflower lanyards available for travelers to signify that they have hidden disabilities and may need extra support, such as going through ADA lines at security.

Prime your child for flying

• Check out realistic acclimation programs that simulate the flying experience, such as Open Sky for Autism or Wings for All.

• Days before your trip, start reading Social Stories about traveling in an airplane, taking vacations, going through security, etc. Watch videos that take place on airplanes or in hotels.

Prepare for sensory needs

• If you can, make sure your kiddo gets some physical exercise beforehand so they’ll be tired enough to sleep on the flight. Some parents book "red-eye" flights for a quieter environment both in the airport and on the plane that makes sleeping easier.

• Some airports have sensory rooms, but it may not be in your terminal, so it's worth looking in advance.

• Check out airline clubs and lounges, which often have kids' rooms with cartoons, games, and soundproofing if you need a place to relax in between going through security and boarding.

• When you get to your gate, request pre-boarding so that your family can get settled.

Here are recommendations for items to pack in your carry-on:

• Activities! Tablet, coloring or sticker books, sensory toys/fidgets, chewies, etc.
• Comfortable headphones, noise-canceling headphones, or ear plugs
• More snacks than you think you need! You might want to hold the snacks until take-off and landing so the chewing/swallowing helps small or sensitive ears. It's also helpful to bring your own snacks in case the airline-provided snacks aren't safe for your child's dietary restrictions.
• A small blanket in case your kiddo needs to “hide” in the seat or if you need a shield to change them behind. It’s also helpful if you want a clean area for a little one to play on the ground at the airport.
• A change of clothes for everyone in a carry-on, including extra diapers if needed
• Multiple face masks, especially if you have an immunocompromised kiddo (a portable fan or air purifier can also be good here)
• Baby wipes and Ziploc bags
• Water and any medication stored under your seat, not in the overhead compartment

Plan as though you know the plane will be delayed and your bags will be lost: Make sure you have what you need — plus a little extra.

TSA tips

• Keep medicine in your carry-on bag, and make sure it’s labeled so that there’s no question what it is.

• If you have liquid medicine in a container bigger than 3.4 ounces, tell a TSA agent at the start of screening. You’re allowed to bring ice packs to keep it cool. (Remember that formula, breast milk, and juice are allowed in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces — just keep them separate from other liquids that have to comply with the 3.4 rule.)

• Emily Ladau, disability advocate, recommends taking care when you pack your carry-on with items that could potentially get flagged by TSA. She advises packing any medical devices, medications, mobility device maintenance tools, weighted sensory items, etc. near the very top of your bag so that they are easy to access if TSA performs an inspection.

• Even if your child is not a regular wheelchair user, you can ask for wheelchair assistance through TSA and up to the plane to save their energy.

• You have the right to opt out of biometric/facial recognition at TSA. You also have the right to request a same-gender assistant if TSA requires a patdown.

If you have questions, contact the TSA Cares helpline at (855) 787-2227 about 72 hours prior to your flight.

Anything that can cause inflammation in the ears or nose can make flying difficult. Longtime flight attendant Jason Brock recommends speaking to your child’s doctor before travel to discuss any medical issues or concerns that travel may aggravate. For example, many children have trouble clearing their ears on the ascent and descent. Your doctor may recommend your child preemptively take a decongestant and may advise having a fast-acting nasal spray available to clear their ears rapidly, if needed. If your child has a lot of environmental allergies, be sure to carry antihistamines as well. You may want to dress your child in compression socks to help with elevation changes during the flight.

Make a plan for toilet use during the flight. If your kid uses a special toilet seat, pack it and any wipes, diapers/inserts, extra clothes, etc. into a backpack that you can easily hang on the door and out of the way in that tiny airplane bathroom.

Take advantage of pre-boarding and talk to the flight attendants about your child, loud sounds, behaviors, medical issues, etc. before others get on the plane. Ask about accommodations such as boarding the plane before other passengers to help your child get acclimated or getting seated in a quiet area. (Note that airlines are typically required to allow families traveling with disabled passengers and/or small children to board first.) Airline policies and procedures typically don't take into account passengers with sensory needs, so it can help to have a conversation with the flight attendants before takeoff.

Parent Kelley Coleman suggests writing a note and handing it to the flight attendants to read aloud to passengers. Here’s what she shares:

We want to welcome all of our passengers, especially the children on board, one of whom is a very enthusiastic little man with special needs. He might express his enthusiasm with noises that sound like loud screams, but not to worry — he’s just excited to reach our destination, just like everyone here. Thank you for your understanding and enjoy the flight.

“I thank people for their understanding rather than apologizing for my child,” Coleman says. “I never want him to feel like his disability is anything to be ashamed of. We celebrate him and do our best to welcome everyone else to his very loud and exuberant party.”

Another parent shares that she invites her child to wear a shirt that says, “Please be patient, I have autism,” which the family finds helpful.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines are only required to accept service dogs that have been trained to perform tasks for an individual with an ADA-recognized disability. (You can learn more about the difference between service animals and other types of support animals in our service dog article.)

It's common for airlines to ask for documentation about the animal's health, so be sure to do your research about what your airline requires. For the full list of federal guidelines and tips for traveling with a service animal, see this page on transportation.gov.

Want more tips on flying with a service dog? Whether you’re preparing for your first flight with your service dog or you’re a pro, we’ve gathered some handy tips for before, during, and after your flight from Meg Keough. Meg has had her service dog Kristin since August 2022 for her son Jackson, who has a diagnosis of autism. Read our article Tips for Flying With a Service Dog for all of Meg’s tips, including filling out a DOT form, what to pack, and more. We also have the full Undivided Conversation with Meg, so if you prefer to watch and listen, catch that here!

Unfortunately, airlines commonly mishandle or damage wheelchairs — about 20 wheelchairs per day! The actual number is likely even higher because people under-report small damages that they don't see until they get home. Here are tips from disability advocates and wheelchair users Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson and Rosemary McDonnell-Horita for protecting your child's mobility device:

• Create a printout of instructions for safely handling your child's equipment (how to lock, what not to remove, where not to pull, etc) and attach it to the equipment. Use bright, bold, clear language and photos if possible. Include your contact information.

• Attach a tracker such as an AirTag to the equipment so you always know where it is.

• Keep parts that could easily come off in your carry-on bag. Some families take the joystick of a power chair off so that it can't be driven. Some airlines require you to remove lithium batteries from mobility devices and carry them onto the plane separately, so double-check with your airline.

• Ask to speak directly to the airport personnel who will be handling the equipment about how to handle it safely. You may want to take photos or video at the gate before you hand off your equipment to crew members.

• You can put your child's wheelchair seat or back mold on top of their airplane seat to make it more comfortable and supportive. Request a seatbelt extender if needed.

• The flight crew members are likely to make assumptions about about your child's capabilities and support needs, so communicate clearly with them, such as if your child needs assistance with transferring from an aisle chair to their seat. Hernandez-Wilson says, "I don't let anyone rush me because that's how injuries happen."

If the airline damages your equipment

If any of your equipment gets damaged, file a report with the airline before you leave the airport. Immediately after you discover damage, talk to a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) at the airport.

Hernandez-Wilson emphasizes making sure your family's needs are met before leaving the airport, such as if you need a replacement device because the damage was so significant. Make sure the loaner device is safe and fits your child. She says, "Do not accept a mobility device that doesn't meet your needs, even if that means waiting longer. Clearly articulate what you need and do not accept less. Hold your ground kindly but firmly." Airport personnel may not understand that an inappropriate device is a health and safety issue.

You and your kiddos have a right to be treated with dignity and respect!

• Know your rights under the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. It states that airlines can’t refuse transportation or other services because of a passenger’s disability, resulting appearance, or involuntary behavior.
• Airlines also can’t require passengers with disabilities to accept special services or restrictions that don’t apply to other passengers.

You have a right to knowledge!

• If requested, you must be provided with disability-specific information about the aircraft you’re flying, including any limitations it may have.
• If you or your kiddos have any communication needs, make sure you express it to airline personnel. Personnel must be trained to use the most common methods for communicating with individuals who are blind, Deaf, or hard of hearing that are readily available, such as writing notes.

You have a right to have assistive devices and medications! This means:

• You have the right to bring on board any medical devices and/or a personal amount of medication that you need.
• Assistive devices won’t count against your carry-on limit.
• Airlines must provide for the checking and timely return of assistive devices at the gate.

You have a right to accessible seating and aircraft features. This includes:

• A movable aisle armrest, a bulkhead seat, greater leg room, and an adjoining seat for a companion
• Priority stowage space for wheelchairs
• At least one accessible lavatory, if the aircraft has more than one aisle
• An onboard wheelchair, if requested

You have the right to have your complaints handled quickly! Here are the steps:

• If you need to file a report, the airline is required to have a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) available in a timely manner. The CRO should be trained in resolving disability-related issues and be able to resolve disability-related issues on the spot.

• You can also file a complaint with the airline itself or the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Disability Hotline at 1-800-778-4838.

• The airline must respond to your complaint in writing within 30 days. Be mindful that airlines aren’t required to address complaints sent more than 45 days after an incident unless the complaint is referred to the airline by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

If you have any questions about your rights, speak with the airline’s CRO. Airlines must have a CRO available at each airport they serve during all times the airline is operating at that airport.

Rights under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

The legislation aims to rehaul US federal aviation programs, and it also has some big improvements for people with disabilities. The changes are aimed to make flying safer, easier, and more accessible, especially around the use of wheelchairs. Here’s what that means for you and your kiddos:

• Airline workers are required to be trained before assisting passengers boarding with an aisle chair or before storing wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
• Airline websites, apps, and kiosks are required to be accessible.
• Airplane evacuation procedures must be updated to ensure that all passengers can deplane quickly in an emergency.
• People with disabilities have the option to request seating accommodations on an aircraft so that they can be with a companion, have more leg room, or be near a restroom, etc.
• People with disabilities have the option to reserve onboard wheelchairs.
• All medium and large airports will be required to install or maintain at least one universal changing station — designed to allow caregivers to assist people of all sizes who cannot use the restroom independently — in every terminal and to post signage about the location of these changing stations.

Additional rules aimed to make it easier for passengers to obtain quick replacement if an airline mishandles or loses equipment such as a wheelchair; however, the Department of Transportation has delayed implementation of these rules, so compensation policies may vary by airline. We will keep an eye out for updates. Ladau says that delays in rulemaking do not waive airline responsibility to protect devices.