Tap AAC

Airport and airplane visual schedule: free printable

An airport visual schedule shows a child, in pictures, what happens on a trip by plane: the airport, check my bag, security check, wait at the gate, get on the plane, seat belt on, up in the sky, and we’re here! This free PDF has those eight steps, a board for the flight with words like my ears hurt, headphones and How much longer?, and a travel bag list with pictures to tick as you pack.

Download the free PDF US Letter, 3 pages, 1,687 KB

Printing on A4 paper? Download the A4 PDF (3 pages, 1,688 KB). Or pick one page shape for every page:

Portrait (tall page, 3 pages): US Letter PDF (1,687 KB) · A4 PDF (1,688 KB)

Landscape (wide page, 3 pages): US Letter PDF (1,689 KB) · A4 PDF (1,689 KB)

Printable airport visual schedule: eight numbered pictures with arrows: the airport, check my bag, security check, wait at the gate, get on the plane, seat belt on, up in the sky and we’re here!
Page 1: the eight steps of a plane trip, printed sideways.

Edit this board in the free board maker: change the words and pictures, then print.

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Who it’s for

Children flying for the first time, or who found the last flight hard: the crowds, the lines, the waiting, the noise, the strange feeling in the ears, and a long time strapped into a seat. It suits children who use pictures to know what comes next and children who don’t speak or don’t speak much. Teens and adults can use the plane board on their own.

How to use it

  1. Start a few days before. Go through the eight steps calmly, once a day. Look at photos of your airport together, if you can find some.
  2. Pack together with page 3. Point to each picture, find the thing, and tick the box. Packing their own bag gives a child a job and a say.
  3. Practice the hard parts at home: walking through a doorway “scanner”, sitting with a belt on for the length of a cartoon, pointing to my ears hurt on the board.
  4. Hold page 1 on the day. Point to each step as it happens, and to the next one before it starts: “Next, wait at the gate.”
  5. Keep page 2 on the tray table during the flight, and model the words. Point to How much longer? and answer it: “Two more cartoons.”

The security check

At airport security, bags, coats and sometimes shoes go in a bin and through a scanner, and each person walks through a scanner or is checked by an officer. A talker or tablet may have to go through on its own, like other electronics. Tell the officer it’s how your child talks, and ask to keep it in sight. Carry the paper board through security in your hand, so your child still has words while the talker is in the bin. Rules differ from airport to airport and country to country, so check before you travel.

On the plane communication board. I need: a drink, a snack, bathroom, my ears hurt, headphones, blanket, chew, stretch, help, wait, more and all done. Things to do: look out the window, read, color, music, a movie and sleep. I feel: excited, scared, bored, tired, sick and okay. Ask: How much longer? Are we there yet? What’s that noise? When do we land? Can I get up? Where are we going?
Page 2: words for the flight.

Ears, and the long sit

Ears can feel blocked or sore as the plane goes up and comes down. Swallowing helps some people, so save a drink, a snack or something to chew for those moments, and teach my ears hurt before the trip. If your child has ear problems, ask the doctor before you fly.

For the long sit, plan short things to do and keep them on the board: a movie, music, coloring, a look out of the window, a stretch in the seat. Ask the airline before you travel what help it offers families, such as boarding early.

My travel bag: a packing list of 16 pictures, each with a box to tick: backpack, my talker, my board, tablet, charger, headphones, snacks, water bottle, teddy, blanket, book, crayons, medicine, glasses, wipes and jacket, with lines for where we’re going and who is going.
Page 3: a travel bag list to pack together.
What it can look like

Noah is five, and he’s flying to see his grandma. For a week, he and his mom read the schedule at bedtime, and he packs his own bag with page 3, ticking my talker, headphones and teddy. At security, his talker goes in the bin and Noah holds the paper board. At the gate, his mom points to get on the plane: “That’s next.” As the plane climbs, Noah points to my ears hurt, and she hands him his drink. Two hours in, he points to How much longer? “One more movie,” she says, and points to a movie.

What’s on the PDF

Airport steps

I need

Things to do

I feel

Ask

My travel bag

Printing tips

More free boards

See all free printable boards

Need a different board? Make your own with the free AAC board maker.

Making a schedule? Use the free visual schedule maker: routines ready to open and change.

These boards and guides are general information, not therapy or medical advice, and they don’t replace a speech therapist. A speech therapist who knows the person can help choose the right words, pictures and layout. The boards are free to print and share; please don’t sell them (terms of use). Questions about the boards? Email support@lmnoplabs.fun.