Flying with Autism: Which Airline Seat is Best?

When we first started flying with my son who has autism, I booked any airplane seats I could find, so long as they were close to one another.

I quickly realized that was a mistake.

Like many parents of kids with sensitivity challenges, I  underestimated the importance of choosing the right seat for our son with autism. Whenever we sat in unsuitable airplane seats, our son whined or had a meltdown. That, in turn, stressed everyone around him — family members, fellow passengers, even crew members.

I’m pretty sure some of you have had similar experiences.

The good news is my son rarely melts down on planes now, even on long transatlantic flights. Why? A big reason is that I  learned to choose the airplane seats that best accommodate our son’s sensitivities.

Here’s my analysis of each airplane seat and why it works (or doesn’t) for people flying with autism.

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Bulk Row Seating

Many passengers regard bulkhead airplane seats as the ideal spot for travelers with disabilities.

And they’re right. It is!

When we fly, we usually request bulk seating because:

• It provides the most leg room.
• Since there is no passenger in front of us, when my son stimms, he does not disturb other passengers.
• He can get up without having to ask other people to move.
• There is less waiting — we typically get served food first and we can deplane faster.

Downsides of Bulk Row Seats for Autism

• Minimal storage space so just about everything needs to go in the overhead bin and is unavailable until the plane hits cruising altitude.
• The trays and entertainment equipment can be cumbersome to use.
• The armrests between the seats don’t move up.
• On some aircraft, the bulk seats are close to the lavatories, which can be a challenge for those who are smell-sensitive.

Aisle Seating

The significant advantages of aisle seats include:

• More space to stretch out.
• No need to ask others to move if you have to get up to walk around or use the bathroom.
• You can stand up as soon as the seatbelt light goes off.

Downsides of Aisle Seats for Autism

• When the crew comes through with the drink or food carts, you have to make sure your arms and legs clear the aisle entirely.
• You have to get up every time passengers sitting in the window or middle seats want to get up.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The airplane seat on the aisle is most suitable for older kids who may require additional personal space or need to get up and walk around frequently.

Window Seating

Window seats can be the right place for people with autism, especially on shorter flights during the day. The advantages of window seats:

• If you want to sleep, the window or wall of the plane helps support your head.
• You only have to deal with one fellow passenger — or none if you get lucky and the middle seat is empty.
• It can occupy kids who like to look out the window — provided you’re flying during the day.

Downsides of Window Seats for Autism

• The window seat passenger gets served food last in the row.
• You need to ask two people to move every time you need a restroom break.

Middle Seats

Here, it’s all downsides:

• The constant battle over the armrest
• The need to ask the person on the aisle to move every time you need to get up.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Avoid booking this seat unless it is a bulk middle seat or you are traveling with a youngster who can tolerate sitting in a confined seat.

Airplane Seats Near Emergency Exit

The airplane seats near the emergency exits are some of the most coveted because they come with the most leg room. However, young kids and people with a disability are not allowed to sit in these seats since they can’t effectively assist fellow passengers in case of emergency.

So you likely won’t be sitting in these comfy seats with all that legroom. Here, we’ll console you with the reminder that even exit row seats have one disadvantage: The area can be colder on transatlantic or transpacific flights. If you opt to sit in those seats, wear heavier clothing and bring a blanket.

Airplane Seats Near the Galley

Sitting next to the galley has its pros and cons.

The pros are:

• Proximity to snacks and drinks on long-haul flights, which can be helpful with younger kids.
• You’ll be closer to the crew should you require additional help with anything.

Downsides of Seats Near the Galley

• Smell-sensitive people with autism can have a problem with the pungent smell of food cooking.
• It’s a heavy traffic area with crew and passengers coming and going at all times.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Passengers with smell or noise sensitivities should not sit near the galley.

Seats Near the Plane’s Lavatories

These are among the least desirable seats for people flying with autism. Parents with kids that have smell or noise sensitivities need to avoid booking these seats because:

• The smells can be disturbing.
• People tend to congregate near the restrooms to wait their turn in the lav and may inadvertently touch passengers sitting nearby.

The One Upside of Seats Near the Restroom

This is the ideal spot for travelers suffering from any digestive problems such as IBS, as it provides fast access to the restroom.

Last Row Seating

The very last row has significant downsides:

• Sitting next to the restroom, galley or both, with all of the smells that come with those locations.
• The seatbacks do not recline.
• You’ll be the last one off the plane and you might wait 15 minutes or more to deplane

The One Possible Upside to Last Row Seating

In the event the flight isn’t full, the last row seats are the ones most likely to be left open. So you might find an empty seat next to you, giving you more room to stretch out. This may not seem like much on a short flight, but it is quite the prize on long-haul flights.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Unless you have no other choice, you should avoid booking this row altogether.