Travelers with disabilities learn what it feels like to fly – without leaving LAX
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Alaska Airlines flight attendants cheer as Abril Garcia deplanes a 737 following the “Ability to Fly” event Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Los Angeles International Airport. (Ingrid Barrentine)
Photography and story by Ingrid Barrentine
The Gaspar family of five has big travel dreams: Washington, D.C. Colorado. Disney World! But for years, just getting on an airplane seemed almost impossible.
Karen Gaspar worried the bustle and noise of an airport might overwhelm her 10-year-old son. “Karlo has sensory-processing and mobility challenges. When we have a new situation, he can have meltdowns,” she says. “It’s hard on him. It’s hard on the family, and It’s not pleasant for other people on the plane.”
This June, the Los Angeles family had the chance to try out flying – without the expense of buying a ticket, without worrying about disrupting a flight, without even leaving the ground. The Gaspars were among 71 individuals with disabilities and their families who participated in the “Ability to Fly” event at Los Angeles International Airport – the first collaboration between Alaska Airlines and Los Angeles World Airports to help travelers with disabilities experience how a commercial flight feels before going on an actual trip.
Families went through the major steps in airport travel: check-in, security screening and the boarding process. Once they were aboard Alaska’s “Toy Story 4”-themed 737, the plane taxied to LAX’s remote gates to simulate taxiing for takeoff, and then returned to the gate. The pilot, Capt. Rick Russek, volunteered for the event because his 12-year-old nephew has autism. “I’ve been with him a lot at a young age and I know the things that could be scary for him,” he says.
For the Gaspars, the event made Disney World feel just a little closer. “People have been answering his questions, and he’s been getting special attention,” Karlo’s mom says. “So far, he loves it!”
“These events are intended to help alleviate the anxiety commonly associated with air travel for individuals with disabilities and their families,” says Ray Prentice, Alaska’s Director of Customer Advocacy. Alaska participates in four to five similar events each year at airports around the country. “There are great benefits to Alaska as well,” he says. “Our volunteers become disability advocates for life, after attending a single event.”
A few families shared their stories as they embarked on their travel adventure:
The Jaronczyk family: “They explained everything to him”
Elyse and Evan Jaronczyk learned about “Ability to Fly” through a Facebook group and brought their 5-year-old son Emmitt, who has a sensory-processing disorder, and his 2-year-old brother, Easton.
Can you tell a little about what Emmitt’s experience is?
Elyse: “We have a lot of issues with sensory sound and noise. It could feel like a full-on meltdown. With kids on the spectrum, you don’t know why they’re going to freak out, and it’s good to know that he is calm about this. I think how they treated us VIP-like was nice because they explained everything to him, and he knew what was happening. Now that he knows this and has a memory of it, we’re comfortable to come back and fly.”
The Livio family: “I think I was more nervous than she was”
Keith and Elin Livio of Torrance, California, travel frequently and had been searching for a program to help their 9-year-old daughter, Kahlen, experience air travel so she can join them on longer trips. Through Kahlen’s therapy for autism, they learned about “Ability to Fly.”
Has Kahlen flown before?
Elin: “This is the first time we actually got her into the airport. Before, we could not even drive in because of her fear of new situations. She gets terrified if you don’t give her a story, like ‘Where are you going?’ This time, we said ‘We’re going to go on an adventure.’ We’ve been talking to her for days. We’re very impressed; she’s just doing very well. I was nervous about how she was going to react with the TSA check-in – and keeping her with us because she likes to wander off. They were very kind and it was so easy. I think I was more nervous than she was. I think we’re ready to actually fly.”
Where would you like to go?
Elin: “Hawaii! She loves the beach. And maybe Florida because she wants to go to Disney World.”
Keith: “That’s the fear – the risk of paying thousands of dollars for an entire trip and then at the end of the day, if she has a meltdown, we’d have to back out. So that’s why being here helped, to go through the motions.”
Elin: “My fear is that she’s going to melt down in an airplane and what am I going to do? How is the staff going to react? If she does, I want to make sure she’s safe and people around understand, ‘OK, this is what’s going on.’ Those are the kinds of fears I have, but everyone here is very well-trained.”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES:
More scenes from “Ability to Fly”
Comments
It always make me feel extremely proud to work for Alaska Airlines when I hear stories like this and all the good things we do. Alaska is truly a great place to work!!!
Is there a single place where we could see all of these upcoming events across the country? I’d love to be able to share this info, but I’m not keen on when/where these events are going to be held.
Answer from Ray Prentice, Alaska’s Director of Customer Advocacy:
Alaska Airlines partners with a number of organizations across the country on similar “Ability to Fly” events, and those groups work within their communities to invite participants. We don’t have a set schedule of events for Fall but interested people can follow these sites:
The Arc and the Autism Society of Oregon .
Love this!
That is a great idea as there is a lot of families that would not fly.
Our autistic son Logan was fortunate enough to participate in the Learn to Fly Program hosted by Alaska Airlines, Los Angeles World Airports, and the TSA. This simulated flight experience was the experience of a lifetime for our 14 year old severely autistic son. From start to finish we were treated with the utmost professionalism, kindness and care. When we first walked through the doors at terminal six there were Alaska Airlines staff greeting us and escorting us to the ticket counter. We were able to check in with ease, treated like VIP’s, and then escorted by Alaska Airlines staff (as well as TSA) to and through security. The TSA staff were absolutely wonderful with helping Logan through security and took the time to talk to him and explain what was going on as he went through the screening process. We were then escorted to our gate where we were consistently updated on the chain of events to follow. Not long after that, the gate agents, cabin crew, pilot and co-pilot took the time to greet everyone, learn a little about each VIP and family, as well as putting all of us at ease. As part of this experience, we knew that we would board the aircraft and most likely go through flight pre-check, but we were so very happily surprised to find out that Logan would also get to experience his first ride on an airplane around the LAX tarmac. I cannot begin to tell you how very special that was. I knew Logan was extremely happy and ready to go as during the tarmac taxi he kept saying faster, faster, faster, up, up, up. Being parents of an autistic child we have faced many challenges and on this day Alaska Airlines, Los Angeles World Airports and the TSA made sure there were none. Your organizations truly put tears of joy in our eyes and extreme love in our hearts knowing the experience that you had afforded our son. Traveling by air with Logan is something that we have always hoped and wished for, but with Logan’s extreme anxiety and other physical limitations, we never thought it would be possible. With this Learn to Fly Program experience, I am so very proud to say that Logan is “Ready to Fly” for the first time. Again I cannot say enough about the true professionalism, kindness, and care that all of the Alaska Airlines crew & staff, LAX World Airports, and the TSA provided us during this event as it was truly world class. Please pass on our sincerest gratitude to the entire Alaska Airlines Organization for providing this opportunity not only to my son and family, but to all of the special needs individuals and families that were so very fortunate to participate. Thank you and kind regards.
Ray Prentice, Alaska’s Director of Customer Advocacy, replies: “We are so thrilled to help your family, and especially Logan, gain the confidence to fly! Thank you so much for sharing and we will be sure to share your story with the Alaska family!”
What a neat thing Alaska Airlines is doing giving these wonderful people with disability to have this opportunity. Makes me want to always fly Alaska Airlines.
This is terrific. Much needed. Thank you!
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