Introduction
We know that flying and traveling through an airport can be a stressful experience. We hope that we can make your journey easier and more enjoyable by providing you with the information you need and the support you require.
We fully appreciate that the assistance provided should be specific to the requirements of the individual and we welcome early notification to ensure we are ready and best prepared to assist. You should always request assistance first with your airline or travel agent and ensure that you book as “DPNA assistance” when asked what help you need. You should also ask the airline or travel agent to add a comment describing the assistance required. This will enable us to better understand how we can help. We encourage you to get in touch with the assistance provider at Aberdeen International Airport in advance of your date of travel. They can be contacted by email; [email protected].
We are able to provide support to people with hidden disabilities including Autism, Dementia, Hearing Loss, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health impairments, anxiety issues etc. and we are working in partnership with the relevant local and national organizations to ensure that the service we provide is both appropriate and beneficial.
A visual journey
To give people an idea of what to expect before they arrive at the airport and a sense of their journey through the airport we have put together the following picture slides.
To assist children in their journey through the airport, we have created the following Airport Experience Guide for Children.
Autism
The airport experience can be particularly daunting for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Queuing, security, announcements, crowds and more can all combine to make it a pretty overwhelming experience for anyone with ASD, but in particular children.
Familiarisation visits
We have worked with many families in recent years to ensure that their journey through the airport goes smoothly. We can organise familiarisation visits of the airport in advance of the actual date of travel. Being able to introduce your child to the environment could go a long way to helping them feel more relaxed in the airport and knowing what to expect. We will be able to advise you on quieter times to travel and more peaceful areas of the airport where you can relax before your flight. We will also explain how we can assist you on the day of travel. Please get in touch with the Duty Manager team by email [email protected], to make the necessary arrangements.
Lanyards
If you or someone you are traveling with have a hidden disability we will be happy to provide you with a sunflower lanyard (and/or card) which will discreetly identify you to airport staff as requiring additional support. Our front line teams including our Security Officers have been trained to recognise these lanyards and cards and offer assistance where required. A sunflower lanyard/card can be requested in advance by contacting the Duty Manager team at [email protected] or at the airport itself from the Assistance desk.
Travelling with additional support needs
Aberdeen International Airport recently helped provide a relaxed tour and familiarisation of the terminal for parents and carers of children with additional support needs.