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Social stories · Out and about · ages 5–9 · 2-minute read

Going on a plane: an airport social story

Airports are big, busy and loud. This story goes through the day in order, from check-in to landing.

The story

Read it aloud together, one card at a time. Point to the pictures and let your child read the last card.

  1. We are going on a trip by plane. First we go to the airport. It is big and busy.

  2. Our big bags get a label. They travel under the plane, and we get them back at the end.

  3. At security, my small bag goes through a machine. I walk through a special door and listen to the officer.

  4. We wait at the gate. I can have a snack, use the toilet or play a quiet game.

  5. On the plane, I find my seat and fasten my seatbelt. Click!

  6. The engines get loud and the plane goes fast, then up into the sky.

  7. My ears might feel funny. I can swallow, sip water or chew.

  8. During the flight, I can watch, draw or listen with headphones. Sometimes it feels a bit bumpy, like a car on a bumpy road.

  9. When we land, we wait for our turn to get off and collect our bags. We are there!

My calm plan

Pick one or two before the day, and practise them at home.

  • 🎧 Headphones on
  • 💧 Sip and swallow
  • 🧸 Hold my toy
  • 🗺️ Check the map

Personalised social cartoon

Want this story with your child as the hero?

Cala Luna created personalised social cartoons: the social-story method, as a cartoon starring your child. Two minutes, their name, a hero who looks like them, and this exact moment, one small step at a time.

$12.99 · ready in 24 hours · checked by a person

Mila, a young lynx in a red headband and striped T-shirt

How to use this story (for grown-ups)

  • Watch airport and flight videos together, and play "security" at home: bags on the table, walk through a doorway, wait for the "officer" to wave you on.
  • Tell the airline and airport about your child's needs before you fly. Many airports offer assistance, quiet rooms and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard.
  • Pack a small kit: headphones, a comfort item, safe snacks and a few new activities to hand out one at a time.
  • Explain that delays can happen and what you will do if they do, rather than promising exact times.

Why these steps: what 30 years of research says about social stories.

Words that help

  • Try saying: "Sometimes planes are late. If that happens, we will wait and play our game."Instead of: "We will leave at exactly ten o'clock."
  • Try saying: "Seatbelt on while the light is on."Instead of: "Don't move!"

Questions parents ask

How can I help with ear pain on take-off and landing?

Swallowing helps: sipping a drink, sucking a sweet or chewing. Start just before take-off and again as the plane begins to come down.

What if my child cannot cope with the security queue?

Ask the airport in advance about assistance or a family lane. Practising the steps at home and wearing headphones in the queue also help many children.

We read the best free examples and guidance we could find, then wrote a shorter, simpler version in our own words: Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect): supporting autistic children for air travel (PDF); Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: travel tips for flying. Not medical advice; if you are worried about your child, talk to their school or doctor.