I just booked our tickets to Southern California – Disneyland, here we come! I’ve flown many times with Veronica, it’s much like flying with any other kid. No matter what airline, when they call for those needing extra time to board, we go ahead and take her in her push chair through the gate to the door of the plane, then install her car seat and buckle her in. They check her push chair for us and, voila! when we arrive it’s there waiting for us. The rest is all about in-flight entertainment; books, toys, snacks. Oh and gum, she’s loves to chew gum and that keeps her ears from bothering her.

As I went through the process to book our flight, I began to have some questions. The program online wouldn’t select assigned seats on the destination flight, and the only seats available on the return flight were in the back of the plane. I envisioned me, carrying Veronica, and Todd, carrying her large car seat, trying to get to our seats in the back of the plane, inadvertently hitting people with her car seat…it didn’t seem like a good solution. I gave Alaska Airlines a call, the agent told me to pick random seat assignments and complete the online transaction, then call back and they’d take care of it. When I called back the agent quickly assigned us seats all together in the front of the plane. Easy. I asked about traveling with a wheelchair, what if I had to bring our big, non-foldable, heavy chair? Were there any restrictions? It seems like there’s always an extra charge for everything, and the airlines are becoming less accommodating, but the agent verified that there were no charges or restrictions on wheelchair type. Also, she asked how Alaska Airlines could help us. She said that sometimes people just need a wheelchair to get through the concourse out to the gate, in these cases the airlines will have a wheelchair waiting at the ticket counter for you.

Your special needs kid is unique; his or her needs, medications, tolerances, positioning, equipment. There are solutions, and I have found most airlines to be very willing to work with you. Call ahead, ask your questions, allow extra time for boarding and don’t worry about any comments from grumpy people. This is your adventure, enjoy it.