Airports can be difficult environments for autistic children and adults, anxious travellers and people with other hidden disabilities. Even when you know what is supposed to happen, the combination of queues, security checks, noise, bright lighting, crowds and unfamiliar routines can be overwhelming.
One useful form of preparation is an airport familiarisation visit. These visits allow a traveller to see some or all of the airport journey before the day of a real flight. Depending on the airport, they may be called familiarisation tours, pre-visits, accessibility visits, relaxed tours, Try Before You Fly sessions or familiarisation days.
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This guide covers UK airports that currently advertise or have recently operated familiarisation visits for disabled, autistic or neurodivergent passengers. The exact format varies significantly between airports, so always confirm current availability directly before making travel plans.
What Is an Airport Familiarisation Visit?
An airport familiarisation visit is a chance to experience the airport environment before your actual departure day. The aim is to reduce uncertainty and help the traveller understand what will happen at different stages of the journey.
A visit may include areas such as check-in, bag drop, security, the departure lounge, boarding gates and Assisted Travel facilities. Some airports can take visitors through most of the passenger route, while others offer only landside access or organise special group events on selected dates.
It is important not to promise an autistic child that a familiarisation visit will exactly reproduce the real travel day. Passenger numbers, security procedures, gate locations and airport operations can change. The purpose is to make the environment more familiar, not completely predictable.
UK Airports With Familiarisation Visits
London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport runs its Flight Ready Programme – Autism, offering free familiarisation tours for autistic and neurodivergent people.
Tours take place at Terminal 5 and guide participants through different stages of the airport journey, including check-in and bag drop, security screening, the departure areas and gates, passport control and baggage reclaim. Heathrow also aims to include a cabin mock-up exercise when possible.
The programme currently runs quarterly and places are limited. Rather than simply booking a tour, families apply for places, which are allocated through a ballot system.
You can find upcoming dates and information about applying on Heathrow Airport’s Flight Ready Programme – Autism page.
If you are planning to fly from Heathrow, read our detailed guide to Special Assistance at Heathrow Airport as well. A familiarisation visit can help with preparation, while Special Assistance provides support on the actual travel day.
For a more general overview of airport special assistance, our guide to getting help at the airport breaks it all down.
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport allows passengers with hidden disabilities and additional needs to request a familiarisation tour before travelling.
The airport also provides a social story that can be used to prepare for the airport journey at home. Combining a physical visit with photographs or a social story can be particularly useful for an autistic traveller who benefits from repeatedly reviewing what will happen.
To arrange a tour, contact the airport’s additional-needs team using the details on Edinburgh Airport’s Hidden Disabilities and Additional Needs page.
We also have a full guide to Special Assistance at Edinburgh Airport with more information about hidden-disability support and what to expect on travel day.
Glasgow Airport
Glasgow Airport offers pre-visits for autistic passengers who have not travelled before and are particularly concerned about the airport experience.
The airport recommends arranging the visit for a time when the terminal is quieter. This allows the passenger to experience the passenger route before their actual journey and become more familiar with what will happen.
Pre-visits can be arranged through Glasgow Airport’s Assisted Travel service provider. Contact information and a visual guide to the airport journey are available on Glasgow Airport’s Travelling With Autism page.
We also have a guide to the airport special assistance available at Glasgow Airport and more about using the Sunflower Lanyard at Glasgow Airport.
East Midlands Airport
East Midlands Airport runs Try Before You Fly visits throughout the year for passengers who would benefit from becoming familiar with the airport before travelling.
Tours last around an hour and can be personalised around the areas of the airport that the passenger particularly wants to experience. The airport says these visits are popular with autistic and neurodivergent passengers as well as people who are newly disabled or unfamiliar with airport assistance.
The tours are free, although only a limited number are available each year. Participants cannot access aircraft or areas that are not normally available to passengers.
You can find the email address for enquiring about availability on East Midlands Airport’s Try Before You Fly and Requesting Assistance page.
Belfast City Airport
Belfast City Airport runs Autism in the Air familiarisation events in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast.
The programme gives autistic people and their families an opportunity to experience the airport environment before travelling. Participants can become familiar with stages such as security and spending time in the departure lounge without the pressure of needing to catch a flight.
Belfast City Airport holds several Autism in the Air events each year.
The airport has previously run a special version of the programme that included a flight, but this should not be expected as part of a normal familiarisation session. The airport states that standard sessions focus on the airport experience rather than taking a flight.
Find information about the programme, preparation videos and other resources on Belfast City Airport’s Travelling With Autism page.
We have a guide that details the special assistance services at Belfast City Airport to help you prepare before your next flight from Belfast.
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport says that familiarisation visits before travel will be considered on request.
This means a visit is not automatically guaranteed, but passengers who feel that seeing the airport beforehand would help can contact the airport to discuss whether one can be arranged.
You can find the email address for requesting a familiarisation visit on Belfast International Airport’s Disabled Passengers page.
If Northern Ireland is part of your trip, our Northern Ireland with autistic children guide can help with wider destination planning.
Exeter Airport
Exeter Airport allows autistic passengers to book a guided familiarisation tour tailored to their individual needs before flying.
The airport asks passengers to make contact at least two weeks before their day of travel to arrange the service.
Exeter Airport also provides a Quiet Room for passengers who find the unfamiliar or potentially overwhelming airport environment difficult.
Contact details for arranging a visit are available on Exeter Airport’s Disability Advice and Special Assistance page where you can also do a virtual tour of the airport.
Aberdeen International Airport
Aberdeen International Airport can organise familiarisation visits before a passenger’s actual date of travel. The airport particularly recommends these for autistic children, explaining that being introduced to the airport environment beforehand can help them understand what to expect.
During the planning process, airport staff can also advise families about quieter times and more peaceful areas of the airport that may be useful on the actual travel day.
Find information about arranging a visit on Aberdeen Airport’s Travelling With Additional Support Needs page.
Aberdeen Airport also have a couple of visual guides to help autistic passengers become familiar with Aberdeen Airport specifically, including a picture slide booklet (available on the page linked above) and a guide for autistic children called The Airport Experience.
Southampton Airport
Southampton Airport regularly facilitates individual accessibility and familiarisation visits, including visits specifically for autistic children, teenagers and adults. The airport’s accessibility records show numerous recent examples of families visiting before a planned flight. Visits can introduce passengers to areas such as check-in, security, departures and arrivals.
Some individually tailored visits have included additional experiences such as going airside, seeing aircraft, practising boarding or visiting other parts of the airport. These should not be assumed to form part of every visit, as what is possible will depend on operational circumstances and the individual arrangement.
Southampton’s current records show that these visits have continued throughout 2026, including visits designed specifically to build confidence before a person’s first flight.
You can read about the airport’s familiarisation and accessibility work on Southampton Airport’s PRM Consultation and Events page.
Cornwall Airport Newquay
Cornwall Airport Newquay offers familiarisation tours for disabled passengers and specifically states that these can include private requests from families and small groups. Previous visits have included autistic young people and passengers with anxiety who were preparing to fly later in the year.
The airport has also held larger familiarisation days where passengers requiring assistance could experience the airport terminal and, on some occasions, access an aircraft.
Families interested in arranging a visit can find contact details on Cornwall Airport Newquay’s Accessibility page.
UK Airports That Run Familiarisation Events
The following airports have run dedicated accessibility familiarisation events, but these are run slightly differently from the airports above. Their published information does not currently promise that an individual family can arrange a private familiarisation visit whenever they need one. It is more likely that they will organise a one-off type of event that anyone can attend.
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport has run dedicated Accessibility Familiarisation Days for passengers with visible and hidden disabilities.
During its published familiarisation event, participants experienced different stages of the passenger journey including check-in, security, the departure lounge and other airport facilities. Participants were also able to board an easyJet aircraft and speak with cabin crew.
These are organised events rather than a permanently advertised individually bookable tour, so families should contact the airport to ask whether another event is planned rather than assuming a visit can be arranged on demand.
You can read about the programme on London Luton Airport’s Accessibility Familiarisation Day page.
What About Other UK Airports?
Not every UK airport that provides good support for autistic or disabled passengers currently advertises a passenger familiarisation visit.
For example, Birmingham Airport provides autism-specific preparation information and has been expanding its neurodiversity support, but its current passenger information directs autistic travellers towards its familiarisation booklet rather than advertising a bookable airport familiarisation visit.
Leeds Bradford Airport has provided guided airport tours for disability organisations and families and works with Tryb4uFly, but its current information does not clearly advertise individual airport familiarisation visits that any passenger can request.
Newcastle International Airport also provides useful autism resources, including its Airport Autism Passport and social story, but I could not find a current passenger-facing service offering individually bookable familiarisation visits.
Individual Visits and Scheduled Events Are Not the Same
One of the most important things to understand is that “familiarisation visit” can mean different things at different UK airports.
- Individual pre-visits are arranged directly with the airport for one passenger or family.
- Try Before You Fly events take place on selected dates and may involve a small group.
- Accessibility familiarisation days may be larger organised events and are not necessarily available throughout the year.
- Autism-specific programmes may have their own eligibility, booking system or schedule.
Always ask how the airport’s current programme works before booking travel around it.
What Happens During an Airport Familiarisation Visit?
No two visits are identical. What you can see depends on security restrictions, staff availability and the type of programme being offered. It may also depend on what you, or others participating, ask to see or experience on the day.
An airort familiarisation visit may include some of the following:
- Entering the terminal and finding the correct check-in area.
- Seeing where bags are dropped off.
- Learning what happens at airport security.
- Seeing the Assisted Travel reception or waiting area.
- Walking through the departure lounge.
- Looking at gate areas and flight information screens.
- Discussing quiet spaces or sensory rooms.
- Meeting airport staff and asking questions about the real travel day.
Aircraft access is much less common and should never be assumed. Even if an airport has included an aircraft during a previous event, that does not mean it will be possible during your visit. There are some airports which include boarding an aircraft but these are not as common in the United Kingdom.
How Familiarisation Visits Can Help Autistic Travellers
For many autistic travellers, the biggest difficulty is uncertainty. A familiarisation visit replaces some of that uncertainty with real information. It can help a traveller learn where they will go, what staff uniforms look like, what the security area feels like and which parts of the airport are likely to be noisy or crowded.
For parents and carers, the visit can be useful for identifying potential problems before travel day. You may notice that the security area is the biggest sensory challenge, that a particular waiting space works well or that your child needs more preparation for putting belongings into trays.
My guide to airport Special Assistance for hidden disabilities explains the wider support that may be available for autistic, ADHD and other disabled travellers.
How to Make a Familiarisation Visit More Useful
Try to use the visit as a chance to gather information rather than as a test of whether the traveller can cope with flying.
- Ask what the visit includes before you arrive. This prevents you from promising access to areas that cannot be visited.
- Use consistent language. If you call it “security” during the visit, use the same word when preparing at home.
- Ask before taking photographs. If photography is allowed, pictures can help you make a personalised visual sequence afterwards.
- Notice sensory triggers. Pay attention to lighting, announcements, hand dryers, queues, smells and crowding.
- Identify calmer areas. Ask where you could go if the traveller becomes overwhelmed on the real travel day.
- Practise flexibility. Explain that the airport may be busier and the gate may be different when you actually fly.
Questions to Ask When Booking a Familiarisation Visit
- Is the visit available for individual families, or only on specific event dates?
- How far in advance should we book?
- Which parts of the airport can we visit?
- Will we go through security or only see the entrance to security?
- How long does the visit usually take?
- Can siblings or other family members attend?
- Can we take photographs for personal visual preparation?
- Is there parking support or a recommended meeting point?
- What identification do we need to bring?
- Can staff explain what Special Assistance will look like on the actual travel day?
UK Airport Familiarisation Visit FAQs
Which UK Airports Offer Autism Familiarisation Visits?
Current airport information confirms familiarisation programmes, pre-visits or accessibility visits at airports including Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Midlands, Belfast City, Belfast International, Exeter, Aberdeen and Southampton.
Are Airport Familiarisation Visits Free?
Some airports explicitly state that their familiarisation programme is free, including Heathrow’s Flight Ready Programme and East Midlands Airport’s Try Before You Fly events. Where an airport does not clearly state a cost, ask when booking rather than assuming.
Do You Need an Autism Diagnosis to Book a Visit?
Requirements vary. Some programmes are specifically described as autism-focused, while others are open to passengers with a range of disabilities or additional needs. Contact the airport and explain the practical reason a pre-visit would help.
Can You Go Through Airport Security During a Familiarisation Visit?
Sometimes. Several airport programmes include security as part of the familiarisation process, but access depends on the airport, the event and security restrictions. Confirm exactly what will happen before you attend.
Can You Board a Plane During a Familiarisation Visit?
Usually not. Some special accessibility events have included an aircraft, but this is not a standard part of most familiarisation visits. Do not tell a child they will board an aircraft unless the airport has specifically confirmed it for your session.
How Far in Advance Should I Arrange a Familiarisation Visit?
Arrange it as early as practical. Some airports need advance notice and some run only a limited number of sessions. Exeter, for example, currently asks passengers to make contact at least two weeks before travel. Other airports may have different requirements.
A familiarisation visit will not remove every unpredictable part of flying, but it can make the airport much less unknown. For an autistic traveller who benefits from seeing a place before experiencing it under pressure, that preparation can be extremely valuable. Combine the visit with visual preparation, realistic expectations and any Special Assistance you need on the day.
Continue Planning Your UK Airport Journey
- Read my guide to airport Special Assistance for hidden disabilities.
- Find out about the different types of help available at airports for disabled travellers.
- Learn how the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard works.
- If you are flying from London, use my Heathrow Airport Special Assistance guide.
- If you are flying from Scotland, read my Edinburgh Airport Special Assistance guide.
- Browse my wider airport assistance and disabled facilities guides for airports around the world.
Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family.
- Learn everything you need to know about travelling with an autistic child.
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable.
- Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children.
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps.
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling.
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world.
- Find a toilet anywhere with this app.
- Turn trips into adventures with these map-based games for travellers.
Continue Planning Your Accessible Travels Using Our Guides
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