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Safety of Air Travel by Unaccompanied Minors (Children Traveling Alone by Air)!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
Generally the following rules apply for children traveling alone (as unaccompanied minors), the rules may vary from airline to airline and from country to country. A fee of around $150 is also charged by airlines for managing children traveling alone.
Children under the age of 5 must
always be accompanied by someone at least 12 years of age flying in the same cabin (18 years of age on some airlines); airlines do not allow kids under 5 to fly alone.
Booking the flights;
In order of desirability, you should try to book (1) a nonstop flight, (2) a direct or ‘through’ flight (may have a stop, but no change of planes), (3) an online connection (change of planes on the same airline), or (4) an interline connection (a change of planes from one airline to another). Remember that most airlines will not allow kids under 8 to take connecting flights when traveling alone. If your child’s trip involves more than one airline, call each carrier to find out about its policies and requirements for unaccompanied minors.
Most airlines require that a child traveling as an unaccompanied minor have a reservation for all flights; standby travel is generally NOT permitted. If the flight has MEAL service, ask about reserving a child’s meal;
if available, these have to be arranged in advance!
When you receive the ticket or itinerary,
check to make sure that all dates, times and cities, as well as your child’s name, are correct. Note the origin and destination airport; some cities have more than one. Make sure the person meeting your child also knows the airport for the arriving and return flights. Ask the airline what phone number you should call if you have questions about unaccompanied-minor procedures or problems during the trip.
Ask the airline about getting a “gate pass” so that you can accompany your child through security to the departure gate. Some airlines require this. Each adult going to the gate will need a government-issued photo ID. Give this information to the person who will be meeting your child at the destination airport and putting him or her on the return flight.
If your child has not flown before, you may want to visit the airport before departure day to familiarize him or her with the surroundings. Point out places where assistance is available.Your son or daughter should dress for both the outbound and return flights in comfortable clothes that are easy for him or her to manage in small aircraft lavatories. Put the child’s first initial and last name in any article of clothing that might get taken off during the flight (e.g., a sweater or jacket).
Many airlines do not permit their employees to administer medication to passengers. If your childrequires medication that he or she cannot take unassisted and which would normally be necessary during the time of the flight, consult your doctor about alternatives.
Airlines try to do everything necessary to make your child’s trip safe and comfortable. However, you should understand that unaccompanied-minor services do not include constant supervision or entertainment during the flight.
At the airport...
When checking in an unaccompanied minor, airlines generally recommend that you get to the airport at least one or two hours before departure on a domestic flight and two hours or more for an international flight. Check with your airline for its requirement. Allow time for traffic delays and lines at the check-in counter. You may also need time to fill out an unaccompanied-minor form, clear security (there may be a line), and get your child to the gate in time for pre-boarding. Don’t plan to simply drop off your child at the airport entrance or the ticket counter. Make sure the person putting your child on the return flight also understands this.
Bring to the airport the address and the home and daytime phone numbers of the person meeting your child; the airline will want that information. The airline wants your phone number and the phone number of the person meeting the flight at the child’s destination so that the carrier will be able to provide information in the event of any schedule irregularity that may arise.
Your child may be given a special badge to wear; tell him or her not to take it off until after being met by the person who will be meeting your son or daughter at the destination. If there is a paper ticket and the airline does not have its own procedure for handling it, have your child keep the ticket (or a copy of the itinerary) in a pocket or carry-on bag so that it will not inadvertently be left on the airplane. The ticket should never be placed on an adjoining seat or in the seatback pocket.
Have your child use a bathroom in the gate area at some point before boarding. If traveling under unaccompanied-minor procedures, he or she will be escorted onto the airplane during pre-boarding. Airline policies call for a positive hand-off of your child from one employee to the next. At the destination, the person meeting your child may have to show ID (many airlines require photo ID). Even a parent may have to show ID when picking up the child at the end of the trip.
Stay in the gate area until the flight has taken off...
in case the aircraft has to return to the gate. Flights are sometimes delayed on the ramp or taxiway after they have left the gate. On most airlines, any gate agent should be able to tell you when the flight has taken off. Arrange your schedule for the departure day so that you can remain at the airport if the flight’s departure is delayed.
Bring the child’s birth certificate to the airport
—the airline may ask to see proof of age. Send a copy of the birth certificate to the person who will be bringing your child to the airport for the return flight.
Most airlines charge a FEE for the unaccompanied-minor services. Most carriers’ fees were $50 to $100 each way ($100 to $200 round trip).
These fees are in ADDITION to the air fare. The fee is sometimes higher on international flights. On some carriers a fee might be charged only when the child is taking a connecting flight. If you have two or more children traveling on the same flight to the same destination, most airlines charge only one fee.
International travel...
Some airlines automatically apply the unaccompanied-minor procedures to kids through age 17 on international flights, and charge the standard unaccompanied-minor fee if applicable. Children must usually have the same passport, visa or other international entry documentation required of adults.
In addition, certain countries require children leaving that country without both parents or a legal guardian to have a letter of consent, in some cases notarized. Check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country for its requirements. Airlines and travel agents can sometimes provide useful information on this.
What your child should bring....
You may want to consider having your child bring a carry-on bag that is small and light enough for him or her to deal with. Some useful things to bring would include;
-- Books, small interactive toys (e.g., Etch-a-Sketch), games (without a lot of pieces), coloring books and crayons, sticker books, etc. You may want to pack a surprise or two. Video games should have the volume low or off. If your child brings a personal stereo, please include headphones. Some airlines prohibit the playing of CD’s due to potential interference with aircraft systems; check with your carrier.
Remote-control toys may be prohibited for the same reason, and due to security considerations toy guns should be left at home. Tell your child that the flight attendant or pilot might make an announcement requesting that all electronic devices be turned off for takeoff and landing and that he or she should do as requested.
-- A copy of the child’s complete itinerary, including dates, airline name(s), flight numbers, departure and arrival times, and the reservation record locator number. Make sure that he or she is aware that this is in the bag. You and the person meeting the flight should also have a copy of this. Write your home, work and cell phone numbers and the phone numbers of the person meeting the flight on this itinerary. Also include your name and the child’s name, in case the carry-on bag is inadvertently left on one of the flights or in an airport.
-- A light snack, since flights can be delayed after boarding or take longer than expected. Be alert to security-related limits on the quantity of liquids that can be brought into the aircraft.
-- Any essentials that your child will need in the first 24 hours in case his or her checked bag is delayed (e.g., medicine, eyeglasses, a change of underwear).
If the weather is warm and your child is lightly dressed, he or she may want to bring a sweater in the cabin; the aircraft air conditioning may feel cold.
Your child should have enough CASH to buy a meal in case of an unexpected delay. If there is a movie on the flight, there may be a charge for a headset. Some airlines charge for soft drinks during the flight.
Your child should also have a cell phone or several quarters in order to make phone calls if it becomes necessary, and he or she should KNOW how to make a collect long-distance call from a pay phone to you or to the person meeting the flight. Some parents of older children give the child a pre-paid phone card and instructions on how to use it.
What your child should know....
The most important thing to tell your child is NOT to leave the airport unaccompanied or with a stranger.
Tell the child to go to a uniformed airline employee or airport police officer if he or she needs help.
Remind your child of the potential dangers associated with interaction with strangers. Tell your child that if at any point during the flight he or she is made to feel uncomfortable by someone seated nearby, the child should immediately get the attention of the nearest flight attendant and explain his/her concerns.
Tell your child whether the flight will have a stop or if there will be a connection and resulting change of planes before the final destination. Have the person who puts your son or daughter on the return flight give him or her the same information. If the destination city for your child’s outbound or return flight has more than one airport, he or she should know the name of the proper airport.
Remember To;
Familiarize your child with the flying process
Prefer to book early flights that are nonstop or at least direct
Keep important documents like passport, boarding pass, proof of age etc. safe
Pack the essentials plus a little comfort like snacks and a refillable water bottle, phone or iPad pre-downloaded and charged up for entertainment, A portable charger,a book or a notebook with colored pencils, any stuffed animal or comfort item and a jacket because planes can get very cold.
Opt for checked bags instead of carry-ons
While carry-on bags may be easier for most adult travelers, asking a child to navigate their suitcases through the plane can be a lot, especially if they need to find overhead storage space. Since a parent or guardian will be with them at the gate on both sides, they’ll also be able to help with checking luggage and picking it up at baggage claim plus using a backpack as the child's personal item can keep things simple,
Arrive Early
Airlines recommend arriving to the airport 30-60 minutes earlier than you USUALLY would, since unaccompanied minors need to check in at the ticket counter.
Keep track of your child virtually
by using digital tools to track their location
Encourage your child to speak up
Unaccompanied minors should be made aware that they’ll be in the first group to board the plane and that, when it's time to de-plane, they should remain in their seat (even if everyone around them is getting off) until a flight attendant comes and escorts them to meet their parent or guardian at the gate.
Though flight attendants should check in on the child throughout the flight, kids should also feel empowered to speak up if they need anything including asking other passengers to get upif they need to use the restroom, or asking the gate agent escorting them on a layover if they can stop to get food if they’re hungry and there’s time.
