If
you are allowing your children to fly alone, be sure to take every
necessary precaution to ensure
their safety. Millions of children
fly alone each year, the majority without incident. Be sure you and
your child are prepared for the trip.
Unaccompanied Minors
Children between five and 12 who travel without a parent or
guardian are known as "unaccompanied minors." Many
airlines will not allow children who are under seven to make
connections at all, but in the event a minor is old enough to change
planes, they will probably be assisted by airline personnel; and a
fee of $40-$65 will be charged. Some airlines, Southwest for
example, will not allow any minor (5-12) to change planes.
If you send an unaccompanied minor by plane, you will be required to
fill out a form detailing the child's name, age, medical
considerations and other relevant information. Upon arrival,
children will be escorted from the aircraft by a flight attendant
and released to the person named by you prior to departure. In
addition, you will have to agree that the airline is not taking on
any special responsibility of guardianship during the flight.
Legally, an unaccompanied minor is treated in the same way as an
adult passenger.
The Cost To You
Most major airlines will charge you $40-$75 each way for an escort
fee. The exact fees will depend on the airline and the age of the of
the child.
General
Age Guidelines:
Airline rules vary but this will give you a good idea of what
to expect on domestic flights: |
- Children
ages one through four may fly only when accompanied by an adult.
A child must be at least five to fly alone.
- Kids
five through eight can take a direct flight to a single
destination but not connecting flights.
- Those
over eight may change aircraft. If they're eight through eleven,
they will be escorted by airline personnel to their connecting
flight. A significant extra charge for this service is likely.
Older kids — ages 12 through 15 — may not be routinely
escorted, but you can request this assistance.
- Anyone
under age 17 who is flying alone on an international flight must
have a signed note from a parent or responsible adult giving
permission, destination and length of stay.
- Minors
must be met at the destination by another parent or responsible
adult.
As these
guidelines vary slightly by airline, be sure to contact your carrier
for specific information.
Other Details
Although many airlines offer discounts for minors under normal
circumstances, if your child is flying unaccompanied, it is
practically a certainty that you will pay a full adult price for the
ticket.
The good news? The fee you pay for an escort covers an unlimited
number of children traveling in the same party (except on Alaska
Airlines). Hence, if you are sending your three children together,
you pay only once.
On international flights, the age restrictions are more stringent.
Additional fees may apply if a flight is longer than six hours in
duration.
Due to
new security measures, it is possible you won't be able to accompany
your child to the boarding gate. In such cases, the airline will
provide an attendant to escort your child through security and
accompany them through the boarding process. Sometimes, however, you
may request special admission at check-in and accompany your child
into the terminal. Such policies vary by airport, so be sure to
check ahead of time if this is a concern.
Tips For Smooth Traveling
Never wait until you have reached the airport to inform the
airline that you have a minor traveling unaccompanied. Always
provide this information to customer service over the phone, and
have them inform you of all your options, all fees involved, and so
forth.
If you can help it, fly only nonstop, so that your child
does not need to change planes. If a change of planes is necessary,
use a small, less intimidating airport for the transfer, if
possible.
When you send your child, make sure that he/she is traveling with
emergency information. For example, leave instructions on how to
handle flight delays or cancellations, including emergency contacts
and a means to pay for necessities, such as overnight accommodation.
Familiarize your child with the plane ticket and have him/her keep
it in a safe place. Upon departure, the child will need to retain
the ticket for the return flight or as a receipt. We recommend
utilizing e-tickets whenever possible, so the information will be
stored in the airline's computers in case of emergency.
Try to book a morning flight. If it is delayed or canceled, you have
the rest of the day to make alternate plans.
Small children may have trouble with checked baggage. If it can be
avoided, don't send them with excess luggage. If not, when checking
luggage, make sure to check the stubs yourself, to be sure that the
luggage claim ticket and luggage tag match your child's final
destination.
Get to the airport early to ease check-in and get children
accustomed to their surroundings. If possible, show them where help
desks are located, and get them to recognize uniformed employees.
Give them a picture of the person meeting them -- with the full
name, address and phone number written on the back. You will need to
provide this information to the airline as well.
Pack some snacks for the child: juice boxes, chips, sandwiches,
trail mix or other finger foods like grapes or berries.
Make or
buy young children a travel pack to keep them entertained while
in-flight. A great place to try is Travel
Tots.
Give your child a some cash to cover incidental expenses and phone
calls in the event of an emergency.
In addition to being sure your child knows how to place a collect
call, you may want to give him/her a calling card before she
travels, as well as a list of numbers to call if necessary.
Just because a five-year-old is permitted to fly solo, does not mean
that your child will be able to handle flying alone, especially if
it involves a connection and/or a child that hasn't flown before.
Parents should use common sense and make a decision based on if they
feel the child is mature enough to handle it.
Reading Recommendations
The Department of Transportation, with the
National Child Safety
Council, offers a free brochure, "Kids and Teens in
Flight." Contact the Office of Consumer Affairs, Department of
Transportation, 400 7th St. SW, Washington DC, 20590
