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Parents learn to check in with their children at the Breeze Airways gate during the Autism Flies mock boarding exercise at Provo Airport on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Employees and staff from Breeze Airways, Provo Airport and Autism Double-Checked along with Cosmo the Cougar pose for a photo with an Autism Double-Checked certification plaque Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman speaks to the crowd during a press conference at Provo Airport ahead of the Autism Flies mock boarding event Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

Curtis Booker, Daily Herald

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Traveling by air comes with its own set of challenges, even for the most frequent flier. For those with autism, getting on an airplane only intensifies the stress.

The anxiety of flying is part of why 35-year-old Allison Wilkes had never boarded an airplane, but it’s an experience she longed for.

Wilkes was diagnosed with autism when she was 3. Along with post 9-11 terror attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, that added to the reasons she’s been afraid to fly.

“I’ve watched my siblings and I’ve watched people come and go on airplanes before, and so I know how these things work. It’s just that I’ve never boarded a plane before,” Wilkes told the Daily Herald.

In her mid-30s now, the Orem resident has an opportunity to give it a try.

On Tuesday, Breeze Airways and the Provo Airport hosted a mock boarding event to help ease the stress for travelers with autism.

Wilkes along with a group of autistic passengers ranging from adults to children experienced getting on an airplane for the very first time.

As boarding time approached, Wilkes was still feeling a bit of anxiety but didn’t let it deter her. “I had this opportunity, I just took it, went for it, because I’ve never had this experience before and I want to try this,” she said.

Breeze was recently certified as the first domestic commercial U.S. airline carrier with Autism Double-Checked. The organization provides autism awareness training and certification to airlines and hotels on how to accommodate the autistic community.

Their “Autism Flies” events hosted at airports throughout the country give those on the autism spectrum a comfortable experience of navigating the boarding process.

Alan Day is the co-founder of Autism Double-Checked. He has a son with autism spectrum disorder so he knows firsthand the impact that having an autistic child has on family vacations.

“People with autism are into fixed routines, and it can be difficult to do new things,” Day said. “Airports are daunting for somebody who doesn’t have any neurological challenges. Put those two together, the airport can be a horrible experience for somebody with autism.”

Aside from the changes in routine, the unpredictability, crowds, new noises and sights all add to challenging experiences for people on the spectrum and their families, according to Autism Speaks.

Travis and Lindsey Hoki of Pleasant Grove have never been able to fly with their two children, including a 3-year-old with autism. Tuesday’s mock boarding process gives them hope that one day they could possibly take a family vacation on an airplane.

“Our youngest with autism, he’s very stimulus seeking, and so he’s very loud. This is a good thing to where we’re not disturbing others,” Travis Hoki explained. “It’s more of us being too loud for people around us, versus some other people with autism (who) might be overwhelmed, overstimulated themselves.”

Both parents agreed that it’s comforting to be in a scenario alongside people with similar circumstances.

“So if our kid is (being) difficult on the plane, we have a little more understanding. And so it’s a good kind of trial to see how that goes for us,” Lindsey Hoki said.

The mock boarding encompassed what a normal flight would entail from the ticket counter and going through the Transportation Security Administration line to actually boarding the aircraft. On the plane, guests were greeted and afforded flight accommodations by the certified Breeze Airways staff.

To help children feel even more comfortable about flying, Brigham Young University’s Cosmo the Cougar was on hand, creating a fun and enjoyable environment.

Leaders from the airline expressed their commitment to providing an inclusive experience and support for adults and children with autism. Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey said one of the most exciting parts of the exercise is having an opportunity to meet and interact with families.

“My favorite comment that I heard at the last event that we did was, ‘Next time we’re going to do this for real, right?’ That was what one of the moms said to one of the kids. It’s just an amazing thing to be a part of,” he said.

As for Wilkes, she’s hoping that the mock boarding event also will help her and others on the autism spectrum cope with anxiety about flying.

“When you have those coping skills, they can be able to travel a lot easier and have more fun doing it,” she said.

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