Publication: Travel Tips
Kids flying solo | |
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COOL TRAVEL MAIL'S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Adice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
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http://www.CoolTravelMail.com
May 15, 2007
In most states, you have to be 21 to buy beer.
You must be 18 to vote.
And, depending on the state, you can't get a valid driver's
license until you’re 15 or older.
So what's the minimum age for boarding a plane by yourself
and flying across the country?
About 5.
This week's edition includes:
* FLYING SOLO BEFORE YOU CAN DRIVE
* TIPS FOR GRADE-SCHOOL TRAVELERS
* FUN, PHONES AND PHOTO ID
P.S. If you're interested you can now post comments on this
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FLYING SOLO BEFORE YOU CAN DRIVE
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There are lots of very good reasons why parents might want
to put kids who still haven’t mastered shoelace tying on a
plane all by themselves.
Divorced parents, or families geographically separated by
one parent’s career, need to send children for visits;
sometimes under court order.
Kids often vacation with their grandparents or travel to
spend time with aunts or uncles who live far away. And
summer camp season is almost here.
But before you pack your kid’s Sponge Bob Squarepants
suitcase and brief him on using an airplane restroom, there
are some potential wrinkles you need to consider:
Although the minimum age is 5, airlines require that
children be at least 7 - usually 8 - before they can go solo
on anything but a direct flight. If a kid’s itinerary
includes a connecting flight, they MUST be accompanied by an
adult.
Some airlines don‘t allow children to fly solo on flights
with connections until they are considerably older. US
Airways won’t let them negotiate tricky flights alone until
they are 15. Southwest sets the minimum bar at 11.
All airlines have “mandatory unaccompanied minor service”
for kids under a certain age. This means airline personnel
will help the child make his or her connecting flights and
personally get them on and off the plane and escort them off
to whoever is meeting them at the final stop.
That service comes with a fee, usually somewhere between $40
and $99. The price varies greatly from airline to airline,
and depends on whether it’s a nonstop or connecting flight.
Some airlines charge only one fee, even if two or three kids
are traveling together. Keep an eye out for this, and figure
it into the equation when selecting flights.
The ceiling age for mandatory minor service also varies from
airline to airline. It can be as young as 12 (AirTran, ATA,
Southwest and United) or as old as 15 (American, Continental
and most other major carriers). Again, you need to ask.
Many carriers offer optional minor service for youths as old
as 17.
Anyone under the age of 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. Even if your 11-year old is used to
riding buses or catching cabs, he or she won’t be allowed to
do it on their own.
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TIPS FOR GRADE-SCHOOL TRAVELERS
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OK, so those are the ground rules. Now here are some tips,
courtesy of The Independent Traveler Web site
( http://www.independenttraveler.com ), to help your little
guy’s or gal’s solo flight go smoothly:
* 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, buy your children nonstop tickets
only. 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 or she is
traveling with emergency information. It should include
instructions on how to handle flight delays or
cancellations, emergency contacts and a means to pay for
necessities, such as overnight accommodation.
* Familiarize your child with the plane ticket and have him
or 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. Use 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. Some airlines won’t even allow children to fly alone
on the later flights in the day.
* 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 your child a picture of the
person meeting him or her. The photo should have the
person’s full name, address and phone number written on the
back. You will need to provide this information to the
airline as well.
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FUN, PHONES AND PHOTO ID
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* Make sure the adult meeting your child at his or her
destination is carrying photo identification.
* Pack some snacks for the child: chips, sandwiches, trail
mix or other finger foods like grapes or berries.
* Put together a travel pack for young children to keep them
entertained while in-flight. It should include books,
drawing materials, small games or puzzles - whatever keeps
them busy.
* Give your child a little 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 or her a calling card
before she travels, as well as a list of numbers to call if
necessary. I also firmly believe in having the child carry a
cell phone. Just make sure he or she is crystal clear about
the rules against using it during the flight.
* Just because a 5-year-old is permitted to fly solo, does
not mean that your child will be able to handle flying
alone, especially if the kid 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.
Well, that's it for this week, group. Thanks again for
reading, and please keep those comments, complaints and
questions coming in.
You can send me an e-mail message at: Email Pierce
Until next week, thanks for reading.
Your Tipmeister,
Pierce
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