Hidden Disabilities lanyard

[Brave5]

Not really applicable to your situation as you are traveling together but just be aware that the lanyard doesn't always ensure things go smoothly... This last summer I sent my special needs DS17 to Seattle on his own to meet up with family. We arranged everything from airline assistance to airport assistance and he had is sunflower lanyard. Anyway, he was let off the plane and somehow managed to get through customs/immigration with help from a passenger (who didn't see him after immigration as were in different lines according to my son) and I had a bit of a panic phone call from family members saying they couldn't find him and special assistance said he wasn't on the plane when they went to get him. Lucky he managed to connect to the airport wifi on his ipad and facetimed me saying he was by a bunch of suitcases but none were his... lucky he showed me the signs of where he was and he was united with family. This was obviously the fault of the airline staff who let him off the plane! We did complain as this could have ended so much worse if there was a special needs young person who may not have been able to get on wifi - my DS would never ask for help unless someone asked them if he needed help. It was resolved to my satisfaction, basically a letter of apology, and his return trip went very smoothly

[jomarise]

We were there in October and our 18 year old autistic daughter was still wearing the sunflower lanyard that Gatwick gave us, a MCO worker spotted us straight away and sent us all into a different que, we were through security in under 10 mins (but did have to wait a while for the cases)

[Shooby doo]

Where can you get one? I know for us there was a Link on the Gatwick Airport website, you had the option of the lanyard being sent or you can pick it up. My wife carries a little ID card thing that she can show people (brain injury) so we attached a little plastic holder to ours.
For those that are flying BA, & one of the reasons we choose them, you get to choose your seats for free, it's not so much the "freeness" but that it guarantees that we will be sat together, of the other Airlines that I have contacted they all wanted money
SD

[jomarise]

We emailed HiddenDisability@gatwickairport.com and they posted it out to us.

[Mazascouser]

Thanks everyone I will show her your replies. You have all been very generous with your information.

[discostu]

Great replies and information here thanks to everyone. Cork Airport said they will provide the lanyard for us and I presume it will be recognised in Manchester though in fairness she is normally very good. Orlando might be a challenge but you guys have kind of put my mind at rest

[Holidaylover19]

I found the lanyard very useful in Gatwick, not so much at MCO where special assistance can be a bit hit or miss.

[princess-momo]

we had a lanyard for my son when going through Gla>MCO when we got off the plane at MCO we were ushered into a separate queue as soon as they spotted it.

It took maybe 15 minutes? and we were through to baggage claim in no time. We were down at the magical express in around 30-40 minutes...

[discostu]

to be fair and clear the Cork Airport people wanted a letter from our doctor which is fine I think there is always the danger of people abusing it especially when it is a hidden disability

[weeleighluigi]

Originally Posted by discostu

Great replies and information here thanks to everyone. Cork Airport said they will provide the lanyard for us and I presume it will be recognised in Manchester though in fairness she is normally very good. Orlando might be a challenge but you guys have kind of put my mind at rest

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We were told at Glasgow that MCO didn't use the scheme. So we didn't expect anything, however, it was well noticed and we were through security and first on the plane and they were just wonderful. They did notice it, our tickets also had a code on them. They must have got better at it MCO side cos we found them really good.