Southwest Airlines hosts first mock travel day for families with Autism Moms of Kona

From toddlers to teens, about 10 keiki and their parents walked through West Hawai‘i’s Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport Thursday afternoon to catch their Southwest flight to Kona.

Those families boarding Flight 143 were members of the Facebook group Autism Moms of Kona. And this mock travel day was meant as a fun activity to help children with autism get more comfortable with the process of going through the airport — starting from the ticket counter, to going through security, and agriculture to boarding a plane and ending at baggage claim.

“Just in general it’s anxiety-ridden, let alone having to go through all these other hoops and having a child that struggles with things that are different or unusual,” said Tia Banks, customer service agent with Southwest Airlines. “So we’re doing anything that makes it easier for our families.”

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those on the spectrum often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.

While these mock flights happen often on the mainland, this was the first time Southwest held an event in Kona. And just like a real trip to the airport, all families got their boarding passes and went through security, placing bags, phones and keys in bins to be scanned.

They were reminded to remove their shoes as well before walking through the metal detector.

Once through security, families continued their journey to gate 4 for Flight 143.

Trudy Palik and her partner Brendonn Vaiula were among the parents who brought their children along for the afternoon “plane ride.”

Palik travels with her 3-year-old son BJ, who has autism, regularly as he has doctor appointments once a month in Honolulu. She explained traveling with her son is hard as he gets scared with all the people.

“I think it’s too many faces,” she said.

Normally Palik travels with BJ alone, but on Thursday, Vaiula was there to experience flying with their son. Normally in a stroller, Vaiula tailed BJ around the airport gate as he wandered about.

When it was time to board, the 3-year-old was nervous, but he walked out to the plane calmly with his parents.

“He is more comfortable because his dad is here,” Palik said.

Jessica McCullum, founder of the Facebook group Autism Moms of Kona, was also there with her children. She carried Josephine, 2, who is on the autism spectrum.

While she is not new to taking her kids on planes, it’s never easy as the process of getting through the airport can be challenging with children who are sensitive to crowds, lights and noises.

“Waiting in long lines can cause a meltdown,” McCullum said.

McCullum was looking forward to this experience so she could communicate with the airline about the needs she and other parents with children on the spectrum have when they travel.

“A lot of these kids are picky eaters,” McCullum said, adding a lot of times parents are told to throw their snacks away.

This leaves them, McCullum said, hungry with no calm space to retreat to.

Once the plane was ready, the Southwest crew welcomed families through the gate and walked them to the 737-800 aircraft. Three flight attendants and a pilot volunteered their time to give families the authentic experience of flying on an airplane.

Once seated, volunteer flight attendants went through the safety briefing going over instructions on how to buckle the seatbelt, how to use the oxygen mask if there is a loss in cabin pressure and how to inflate the life jacket, stowed beneath the seat, in the event of a water landing.

Served drinks and snacks, keiki also got a peek inside the cockpit where the pilot allowed them to push buttons and where the captain’s hat.

As the plane prepared for “landing,” one of the children got on the intercom saying: “We’ll be on the ground in 10 minutes. Thank you for flying Southwest Airlines.”

Before deplaning, staff with Southwest informed families of the program TSA Cares, which ensures families traveling with children with needs, have an escort through the traveling process, from check-in to boarding.

After “returning” to Kona, the families deplaned and collected their draw-string Southwest Airlines backpacks from the baggage claim carousel.

McCullum said the experience was awesome. “No meltdowns!”

A newer member of the Autism Moms of Kona group, Tisha Delima participated in the flight with her 3-year-old daughter Melia.

Delima said Melia has been identified as on the spectrum and they have an upcoming doctor’s appointment in Honolulu. Melia hasn’t been diagnosed.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity to get tips and have a fun outing,” Delima said.

Delima said the mock flight was good practice in not getting overwhelmed by the process.

Banks hopes the program grows so the airline can offer these experiences once or twice a year.