Wearing a sunflower lanyard at Heathrow enables our colleagues to recognise that you have a hidden disability without you needing to declare it. This allows you to travel independently through the airport whilst knowing that if you need any additional support during your journey, any of our colleagues will be able to support you.
They are free and you can use them over and over again even when you are not at Heathrow. Pick one up from any of our Assistance desks at Heathrow.
We appreciate airports can be overwhelming spaces with many sensory triggers. To support our passengers with non-visible disabilities, Heathrow is currently offering free sensory objects packs in all terminals.
The pack includes; a fidget toy, key ring with mobility and feelings cards. The cards are designed to help communicate with our Heathrow colleagues. The pack is free and can be requested at one of the following locations.
Sensory packs are available from the following areas:
If you use one of our packs, we would appreciate your feedback so we can improve them to suit your needs. Please note we will not ask for your personal details.
Our Flight Ready Programme – Autism offers free airport familiarisation tours to support autistic individuals and their families, to feel more comfortable and confident with the airport experience before travelling.
This initiative takes you through the entire passenger journey, step by step, so you know exactly what to expect if you choose to book a flight one day. From check-in and bag drop, through security screening, and all the way to the departure gates, you’ll experience the process in a calm and supportive environment. We’ll also guide you through the arrivals journey, including immigration and baggage reclaim, so nothing comes as a surprise. This will be followed by a visit to British Airways' Global Learning Academy down the road, where you will get the chance to do a ‘cabin mock-up' exercise to mimic the aircraft experience.
Tours will last up to four hours in Terminal 5, followed by one hour at the Global Learning Academy. We’ll provide complimentary lunch from Pret a Manger.
Run in collaboration with British Airways, these sessions are held up to four time a year, with the next events scheduled for 21st February, 9th May, 8th August and 14th November. Spaces are limited and allocated via a ballot system.
This event is designed for those aged five or over. We request for each neurodivergent participant to be accompanied by only one parent/guardian/carer. To find out more, or to request a place, please email the following details for all participants to HeathrowBAautism@heathrow.com:
Full name
Age
Contact number
Confirmation that all attendees own a valid in-date passport or driver's license.
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