“Think of all the joy you’ll find, when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye. You can fly!” -Peter Pan
Flying Through Airport Security
A Blog Series on Traveling With My Son With Special Needs
By:BethAnn Hefner
For years, I worried about taking my son to Disney. I worried about everything possible related to travel. Will he get upset going through the metal detectors? The jetway looks strange. Will he even go down that little hallway? If he actually gets on the airplane, what if his ears hurt and he freaks out? Will we be the next family on the news talking about how we got kicked off the plane? What if he hated the ride to Orlando and then refused to get on a plane back to home? I needed to get over my fear and make plans to get our whole family there.
I am an over-planner. About a year before our trip, I looked into programs for assistance with the Transportation Security Agency (TSA). I can’t tell you how comforting it was when I found out about the Passenger Support Program through TSA Cares. Now, a year out from the trip is entirely too early to call and set up the process so I had to wait until 72 hours before the trip to set the plan into motion.
When the long-awaited day arrived, I called the TSA number provided on the website and got through to a representative within a few phone prompts. The agent was more than happy to help! She asked basic questions about my son and about our flights. For the day of our departure, she directed me to call the local TSA office after we checked our bags to alert them that we were in the building. She told me that a Passenger Support Specialist would meet us and help get my family through security. I received a confirmation email within a few minutes of hanging up, but I was still skeptical. Would it be as easy as she made it seem?
On the day of our trip, we got to the airport in record time and made our way to check our luggage. I called the phone number that was provided to me and a TSA agent promptly picked up. The gentleman told me that our Passenger Support Specialist would meet us at the elevators near the security checkpoint within a few minutes. (Still skeptical that this was all working out to well.)
The agent met us, introduced herself, and whisked us away to security. She got my son through first and made sure he didn’t have to go through the large, very scary looking, scanner. We got through security in literally 5 minutes. My son was unfazed by everything! The next thing we knew, we were at our gate and my kids were happily eating french fries while they watched the planes on the tarmac. One worry down, about 10 more to go!
I highly recommend using the TSA PAssenger Support Program. For information to help you with your trip, visit their site at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support
Email me at BethAnn@101dreamvacations.com or connect with me on my FaceBook page, 101 Dream Vacations by BethAnn. I can’t wait to help you plan your magical getaway.
Flying Through Airport Security
Flying Through Airport Security