Captain Nowhere Unaccompanied Minors

Airlines provide a service to escort your younger children across the country for a
fee. It is a less expensive way for children travel and see relatives without having
Mom or Dad fly with them to drop them off. This however, is an issue that
parents need to think about as to whether or not they are comfortable with it.
There are risks involved with sending your child alone. Airlines have in the past:
temporarily lost children, routed or rerouted them to the wrong destination, and
even more serious cases of molestation have occurred while a child was in the
airlines custody. In most cases this is a very well run program that has improved
to protect unaccompanied minors from such things. Airlines do take much better
care of your kids than they do your luggage. Many parents, children, and airline
passengers can vouch for the vigilante professional care given to unaccompanied
minors. So as mentioned, this is for parents to think about and decide upon.

Checking in an unaccompanied minor is a fairly simple process. First you should
book the flight over the phone with the airline's reservation desk and make sure
that your child is set up for travel as an unaccompanied minor. There are
restrictions as to what flights they make take, these are designed to safeguard
your children. They will also inform you as to the fees and other check in
requirements the airline has for your child. Make sure that you bring proper
identification as you will need that to check your child in and escort them through
security to the gate. You should bring your form of payment and I strongly
suggest bringing enough cash just as a back up. You can pay for the fees round
trip at check in but will need to request this. If you do so, make sure you get two
receipts, save one for yourself and send the other with the child. This is just
sound practice to avoid being overcharged.

Once checked in, escort your child to the gate and see them off. Do not leave the
gate area until the flight has left the ground, not just the gate. If an aircraft has
a maintenance issue you will need to be there to possibly arrange new flights for
your child. Again this is just a good practice and can be confirmed with an airline
agent. Another good idea is to send your child with a cell phone and make sure
they know how to use it to get a hold of you should the need arise. If there will be
charges for snacks or a meal on board make sure you know this in advance and
pay for these or provide your child with money for this expense. Ensure that you
make arrangements with the person picking up to call you and let you know that
your child has arrived safely. Ensure that those picking up your child know where
to go this includes, What airline, which gate, which flight, and what time. Some
airlines will print off a gate pass allowing the party picking up your child at the
gate past security. They will need a valid ID to pick up your child. Make sure that
they arrive early to the airport just as if they were trying to catch a flight. It's no
fun for a child traveling in an adult world to have to wait for a familiar face to
pick them up. Children are precious and irreplaceable don't take the
unaccompanied minor service lightly.

Travel Safe, Travel Smart . . . Get Somewhere!