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Autism support at UK airports, compared
Airports can be one of the hardest parts of a trip: queues, noise, security and waiting. Most UK airports now offer help, but what's on offer varies a lot. This table shows what each airport says on its own website. Click an airport for the details of each and the source.
The basics at almost every airport
- Book assistance through your airline or tour operator, ideally at least 48 hours before you fly.
- Ask for a lanyard or card that lets staff know you may need extra time or support.
- Look at photos or a visual guide of the airport together before the day.
These are general points; each airport's page has its own rules.
| Airport | Lanyard | Pre-booked help | Quiet space | Quieter route | Practice visit | Visual guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen International Airport Scotland | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Belfast International Airport Northern Ireland | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Birmingham Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Bournemouth Airport England | No official scheme | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
| Bristol Airport England | Own lanyard | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| East Midlands Airport England | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
| Edinburgh Airport Scotland | Sunflower | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Exeter Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Gatwick Airport England | Own lanyard | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| George Best Belfast City Airport Northern Ireland | Own lanyard | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Glasgow Airport Scotland | Own lanyard | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Glasgow Prestwick Airport Scotland | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
| Heathrow Airport England | Sunflower | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Inverness Airport Scotland | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Jersey Airport Jersey (Crown Dependency) | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Leeds Bradford Airport England | Own lanyard | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport England | Sunflower | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| London Luton Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| London Stansted Airport England | Sunflower | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Manchester Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Newcastle International Airport England | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Norwich Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Southampton Airport England | Sunflower | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Teesside International Airport England | Sunflower | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
"Not stated" means the airport's page doesn't mention it. It may still be available, so ask the assistance team.