Basic Itinerary for Flight to Denmark
 

Hi,

In April of this year, I will be flying to Denmark and staying for three weeks. I live in Chicago. I have no anxiety whatsoever concerning the Danish culture, the language, or any related things. I do, however, have massive anxiety about getting myself through the airports, because I am a sight impaired individual. Things like "What if I miss a crucial sign at the airport?" are running through my mind all the time.
In general I am not good at "landmarking"-- that is, navigating large areas by means of making mental notes of large or brightly-colored objects.
Put short, I am a ball of nerves. I have been somewhat reassured by some people who fly often (though not internationally), and have read extensively on this site, as well as on many others. The answers to the questions I seek seem to vary.

Below are my flights, which I booked through Delta.com. I am requesting a simple, list-format itinerary for when I will have to clear security, passport control, and customs at these airports. The sequencing of events will help me immensely.

Chicago (ORD) to Schiphol (AMS) - Operated by KLM
Schiphol (AMS to Billund (BLL) - Operated by KLM
--
Billund (BLL) to Schiphol (AMS) - Operated by KLM Cityhopper
Schiphol (AMS) to Chicago (ORD) - Operated by KLM

Any other details that can be provided about these airports, Delta, or its partner, KLM, baggage, or connecting flights are greatly appreciated.

I would ask for assistance at every airport. Do this before you get there.

Failing that go to the websites of the airports and study the maps.
You will go through security at Chicago and Schiphol where you will also go through passport control You do not leave the terminal but go through passport control to the Schengen area of the airport. You will go through customs at Billund, but you just go through the green channel, no need to stop.
On the return journey you go through secirity at Billund, and again at Schiphol, where you also go through passport control since you are leaving Schengen there.
Schiphol has large clear signs to direct you, but you may struggle to read which gate you need for your onward flights. There are information desks which can provide you with that information if you explain your special needs.

Having assistance will get you through security, and passport control faster.

Are you good with maps?

Both airports should have maps online that you can obtain and store. If you can view them and memorize a lot of them, that could help your navigation.

You should request the meet and assist service, then you can have someone help you through the airports which will take away the stress.
You need to prebook the service through DL.

Thank you all for the kind advice. I had considered booking assistance but my mother told me to "just suck it up and deal," hah. I have looked at numerous maps, and they have helped some, though I have not found a decent one with symbols for Billund.

I appreciate your responses greatly.

Good luck, I hope you do decide to get assistance, if only to be able to skip some queues :). Have a great trip

To help us help you a bit more, what is the nature of the impairment and what does it prevent?

If you can review maps can you then navigate with them in real time while walking?

Hi BigRuss.

I am blind in my left eye, and otherwise very light sensitive. It prevents me from doing things like remembering where I've already been in large areas (malls, for example) and I doubt I will be able to read the signs/boards very well.

Maps are decent aides, though I do not think I could use one while walking.