American Airlines is offering “practice” flights for families who have children with autism or anxiety. Just about every family right now feels like they need a vacation, a chance to get away. Family vacations are great, and there are so many benefits to packing up the family and going on an adventure, but it can be incredibly stressful. Managing children in an airport, on a plane, and with all that encompasses travel can be enough to make mom want to rethink her plans. Children who have autism, or are just extremely nervous about flying, can have some extra challenges that need to be addressed.
According to Scary Mommy, American Airlines wants to help with that by offering practice flights for children with autism and/or anxiety. The company’s press release on their popular program can be read in full here, and it may be something mom wants to take advantage of.
The program was originally launched in 2014, and it is called It’s Cool To Fly With American Airlines, but it has been on pause due to the pandemic. However, it is up and running now and there is already a waitlist, showing how popular an experience like this is.
The whole program gives families the chance to go through a test flight, and they left no detail out. Families will go through security, walk to the gate, board the plane, and then the plane with a taxi around the airport. The children will get to experience hearing the plane and feeling how it moves before they take off.
This is a great way to give a child an idea of what is coming, as the fear of the unknown can be what drives anxious behavior. It can also help ease any worries that parents may have and give them an idea of what to expect.
Bruce Sickler is the one who runs the program, and he said that while it was designed to help children with autism, they will not turn away from anyone who needs help. It doesn’t matter their age, or their diagnosis, if someone…