Best Seat on Airplane?

[AckermanPartyof6]

Hello,

We are going to WDW for our first time and first flight as a family in July. Two of our kiddos have special needs: ADHD and Autism. We are flying southwest where we will have some choice in regards to seating.

What is the best spot?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As a person without special needs children, my suggestion would be the front (bulkhead) row. That way if they do any kicking it will be the wall in front of them and not the passenger in the seat ahead of them.

 

[jking6]

Its nice to fly with SWA we just flew that a few weeks ago. Only problem with the front seat is those in a wheelchair will be loaded first and may take up those seats. I would either sit closer to the front or back which would make bathroom stops easier.
If people looking at them is an issue (I know it affects some kids) I may choose the back a not as many people will use that restroom.
Have a great magical trip. Make sure you get a GAC card which will help you at the parks.

 

[SueM in MN]

Its nice to fly with SWA we just flew that a few weeks ago. Only problem with the front seat is those in a wheelchair will be loaded first and may take up those seats. I would either sit closer to the front or back which would make bathroom stops easier.
If people looking at them is an issue (I know it affects some kids) I may choose the back a not as many people will use that restroom.
Have a great magical trip. Make sure you get a GAC card which will help you at the parks.

There is more information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.

 

[seethruguy]

The best set up for the 4 of us is 2 seats in one row and the 2 seats behind them. DD who has Down Syndrome and falls on the spectrum is seat kicker especially when she is excited. She sits in the back seat next to the window she can't just get up and wander and she kicks my or DWs seat instead of someone elses.

 

[videogal1]

Its nice to fly with SWA we just flew that a few weeks ago. Only problem with the front seat is those in a wheelchair will be loaded first and may take up those seats.

...or those with service dogs, which could really be a distraction.

 

[KPeveler]

The front row will not allow you to have access to your carry on items during taxi, take off, and landing (which adds up to an hour on the flight, if not more). There is no "under seat" on a southwest flight in the bulkhead row, so

Make sure you ask to board with the pre-boards. Families no longer board first on southwest. First comes people with disabilities (and sometimes they enforce the rule which says only one person can accompany the person with the disability - if this is going to be a problem for your autistic child, speak to the agent at the gate), then group A, then families, then groups B and C.

Honestly I suggest sitting in the back of the plane - easy access to carry on items, and it is easier to get to the bathroom. You are not allowed to wait in the front of the plane for the bathroom, which means there is sometimes a bit of a competition when people try to get to it. In the back, people can wait (though it may annoy flight attendants).

If you can have the child most likely to kick to sit behind a family member, that may also be a good idea.

I sit up front, but it is not uncommon for the people in the front rows to be people with mobility disabilities, service dogs, and the elderly. Without being prejudiced or anything, my experience has told me that the elderly are less likely to be comfortable with or tolerant of behavioural differences or disabilities.

When I could still walk, I would sit toward the back, behind the wings. Now I require the bulkhead row, so I am up front.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

If you are not planning on boarding last and reducing the time they have to be in a convined space that way; totally in the back!

For the kicking problem you could have an adult in your party sit in front of them possibly. I'ld go for the back as the bulkhead can give a feeling of being even more cramped in. The wall right in front of you does that to many people. It depends on how your kids react but I've seen that being a problem for some with these needs. The back would come with one huge benefit; not having 100+ people walking past your seat/row to get to their seat. It feels very crowded, make quite an amount of noice (lots of talking, yelling, kids having meltdown, suitcases bumping, overhead compartments being closed and opened), people will knock into your seat with their body or suitcase, it's just basic chaos pushed into one small piece of floorspace. All of those factors alone can be enough to trigger a melt down etc.

Oh and a nice one; bulkhead seats in the isle come with the risk of being hit by someones carry on. "Prefferably" just an arm or something, but heads being hit is also a risk. It's amazing how many people have no proper control over there carry ons. If you do go that route; do not have the kids sit in the aisle seat during boarding or deplaning!!

In the back on the other hand, people will be coming closer towards you if the are sitting in that area, but you will not be swamped with people all around you standing, pushing, talking etc. Only those designated to be there, will tend to be there. In the front, you will see each and every one person on that flight esp. when preboarding.


I don't have ADHD or autism, but if I could have, I would've gone for the back without a doubt! I use a wheelchair and preboard using an aislechair. Preboarding is less hassle for me as boarding last and I can only fly when sitting in certain bulkheadseats. I need to be carefull as I can get a sensory-overload and want to melt down (can keep up the social desired behavior but do melt down on the inside). I can tell you; it never fails me for the boarding of a flight to cause me to overload. Deplaning is the same, if not worse as people are even louder by then. Combine that with any bumping of my seat or me to cause me serious pain and it's no picknick during boarding or deplaning. . By now I can only fly business, which on some flights means you will only have to deal with business passengers boarding via the area my bulkheadseat is in. An amazing difference in sensory information and even that sometimes is challenging.

 

[krisnme]

I personally vote for the front of the plane with my DS. he has flown often, starting at 7weeks old!. we have never had a kicking problem but odors and noise are a big problem. we pre-board, try to get the 2nd or 3rd row. it is close to the front restroom,and I can watch him easily when he has to go without having to leave my seat and embarrass him (he is 19) it is easier to get flight attendants attention if we need anything and we can get off quickly when we land and avoid the crowd. the engine noise seems to be much less in the front, and that is one of his issues. it does seem that the airflow in the plane is front to back and he tends to notice odors less in the front of the plane. I think you just need to trust that you know your child. hope for the best, but plan for the meltdown! have a good trip.