Things to Do if Your Child is Flying Alone

If your child is flying alone there are some things you will want to do:

•Make sure they have a working cell phone. This way they can reach you if there is a problem and reach the person picking them up if they are late.
•Make sure they have money, such as cash or a temporary credit card like Visa TravelMoney. This ensures they are fed and what not if they get stranded somewhere.
•Make sure they have proper documentation, flight information, and identification on their person. This helps airline personnel and others to know where they need to be and who they are.
•Talk to the airline before hand so they are aware your child is flying alone and can watch out for them. This is especially important if your child is a teen.
•Consider paying for the unaccompanied minor service. This can cost as much as $75 each way, but can provide a lot of piece of mind.
•Provide emergency contact information to the airline. That way if the flight is delayed they can get a hold of someone.
•Provide the contact information of who will be picking the child up. If no one shows the airline will know who to call.
•Teach them that if delayed or stranded, they should call you immediately so that you can discuss the options with an airline representative right there, and get them taken care of. They should not try to handle that on their own.
•Do not book your kids on the last flight of the day – in most cases it is not permitted for kids flying solo to be on the last flight of the say, and is done so on purpose to prevent youngsters getting stranded en route. So, be sure to book kids and teens on the earliest nonstop flight of the day.

•Google your airline carrier to check their rules for unaccompanied minors, each airline has different regulations and fees.
•Make sure your child has a copy of his itinerary and knows where he’s supposed to be going and who is picking him up. (There have been cases where unaccompanied minors have been sent to the wrong city. Even a seven-year-old should be able to speak up if he knows he’s supposed to be going to visit his dad in Cleveland and the pilot just announced they’re going to Detroit, so make your child aware of this and help them listen.)
•Pack plenty of food and entertainment in their backpacks. Airlines are stingy with the snacks they offer, and in some cases charge extra for them. This can mean that your child might be without food for hours. Pack some for them. And give them something to do on the flight, a portable DVD player and movies is always a good bet.
•Stash something new in their backpack that they have not played with before so that they stay entertained longer.
•Pack a sweatshirt and a clean T-shirt in their carry on in case they get stuck in bad weather and are there overnight.
•Request a “gate pass” to go through security with your kids and wait with them until they board.