As flying becomes more challenging for everyone, most airlines are requiring paid escort services for unaccompanied minors ages 5-12. Parents can smooth out the journey for your unaccompanied minors with our travel tips for kids who fly solo. Defensive strategies are especially important in summer, when kids may be off, on their own, to see the Wizard, to visit grandma or to spend quality time with a divorced parent.
While each year there’s at least one highly publicized mishap in the transport of minors, some aspects of this ordeal have improved. Inexpensive smartphone and mobile communication makes it easier to stay in touch with traveling minors throughout their journey. Refreshed and expanded airport facilities make it easier to feed and entertain kids traveling alone, and WiFi enabled lounges are a haven for the guardians who await their takeoffs and landings.
Special lounges, such as the one at Paris Orly Airport (Orly West Hall 2) designed for unaccompanied minors ages 4 to 17, ease the fears of young travelers. At Orly, as at other airline lounges, kids with more than one hour waiting time between Air France flights may relax in a supervised setting stocked with video games, a flat-screen TV and age-appropriate games for young children. According to an airline spokesperson, nearly 400,000 unaccompanied minors travel on Air France every year.
But as every parent knows, every child is different and it’s our job to make them comfortable with what has become a right of passage for many travelers.
Unaccompanied Minors Need A Grown Up to Advocate for Them
Air travel is more stressful, slower and less fun than ever. Air rage, mask frustrations and ever-changing security regulations. (Visit the Dept of Homeland Security site for current information.)
As your child’s best advocate, it’s important to prepare and empower them with confidence before a flight.
Make sure you have all the forms and documents and photo IDs you need to give to your child, with multiple copies of each. Medical permission letters, documents granting permission for minors to travel with only one birth parent or guardian, and other forms for traveling with minors can be found on the site.
Flying Alone Tips for Never-Evers, Novice or Un-Frequent Flyers
First-time solo travelers have the most fears. Child psychologists offer several tips to prepare children for the anxieties of air travel: Pack their bags with food, drinks purchased from a secure area after the screening gate, and plenty of play essentials. Train the child to recite her own name, address and phone number (but be sure that she’s not wearing anything on her outer clothing that mentions her name).
Give her ’emergency’ spending money and contact information for responsible adults. Confirm which adults will meet her upon arrival and call them once the plane is off the ground to give them an estimated arrival time. Take novice flyers on a tour of the airport so they’ll know what to expect from security checks, gate attendants, baggage claim, etc. Make them aware that with advanced security procedures in place, if they accidentally set off an alarm (perhaps by carrying a metal toy through the security gate), they may be asked to see a uniformed agent for further action, possibly having a wand waved at them or having their clothes and pockets felt by the agent. Prepare them and rehearse their ‘grown-up’ trip in the days preceding departure.
How to Prepare Your UMs (Children Flying Alone) and Yourself
Make sure to notify the airline that the passenger is an unaccompanied minor at time of booking, and order special forms, kid’s meals, and anything else they might need. It’s more fun for kids to travel midday than at peak travel times, when they may face nervous, pressured adults waiting for overbooked flights. Even worse, your kids may get ignored by busy airline personnel. (Most airlines will not book unaccompanied minors on the last flight of the day because they don’t want to be responsible for kids stranded overnight.)
1. Make sure you have arranged an airline escort (see UM Escort Fees below) to help your child change gates, or have a babysitter fly part way to help kids make a connection. Escorts are really useful on non-stop flights, too. Reassure kids that part of being grown-up is knowing when to ask for help.
2. Avoid connecting flights, where kids’ need to navigate another potentially stressful situation or endure more earaches and nausea from additional flights. Delays, lost bags, and lost kids are more common during a connection, too! Most airlines won’t accept 5 to 8 year-old minors on connecting flights, but older kids can get stranded too.
3. Check your smartphone for weather forecasts before the flight and ask loved ones at your destination to check theirs. Ask about changing flight plans if weather conditions seem inclement at either end. That goes if your child is feeling sick, too. Weather has become such a big concern for the airlines, that for example, Alaska Airlines will not transport any UMs on flights into or out of Sun Valley, Idaho between December and March because of the frequency of delayed flights.
Remind your kids that flying alone is a really grown-up thing to do. Let them talk about their fears. If you’ve got an unaccompanied minor (“UM’s” in the travel trade) ready to go, share this advice with them:
Empower Your Kids to Speak Up In Flight
4. Don’t ask UM’s to carry shopping bags, heavy stuff, extra electronics, or gift-wrapped fruit cakes as carry-on baggage.
5. Make sure your child knows how to reach a trusted adult at all times during the air travel period. You can ask your child to purchase WiFi on the flight so you can instant message them while in flight. Have cellphones charged so you can all communicate while en route. Make sure everyone in the travel party has the proper photo ID with them.
6. Review travel plans with each child, and ask them to carry their own copy of the flight itinerary. If they think they’re on the wrong flight, encourage them to speak up to airline personnel.
Tips for You and Your Kid’s Big Flying Day
7. Pack lunch, snacks and a debit card for food purchases once kids get past security screening, so they don’t have to beg the Flight Attendant for more pretzels and drinks. In addition to giving kids snacks, give them a pre-loaded gift card or debit card. Many airlines have stopped accepting cash in the cabin for food purchases and headset rentals, so your children will need to have plastic on hand.
8. Make sure your child has a few books or quiet toys, essential medication (though flight attendants will not administer it during flight), an extra set of eyeglasses, change of clothes, all contact info, a cellphone, and a prepaid calling card just in case of a cellphone mishap.
9. Carefully explain any potential problems. For example, your child might lose a boarding pass and need an adult’s help. Security may ask him/her to turn on their video games or other electronic toys to show them how it works.
10. Ask the ticketing desk to issue you a Gate Pass to walk your child through security to the plane’s departure gate. The FAA says that special arrangements will be made at the check-in counter to provide gate passes for one parent or guardian of unaccompanied minors or passengers with special needs. However, we have heard that parents of children 11 and older who have not paid UM escort fees may be denied access to the gate areas. If this happens, demand to see an airline supervisor.
Stay at the airport until your airplane is up in the air. That way, if there are last minute boarding problems, mechanical difficulties, or unforeseen weather delays, kids will have someone to play with instead of being stranded alone in a departure lounge.
What if Your UM’s Trip is Interrupted? Or They’re Stuck Overnight?
Ask about the airline’s policy on interrupted flights for UMs. Some airlines place solo kids with flight attendants overnight, some put them in hotel rooms (could be neat) with a security guard posted outside, a few create pajama parties by putting two kids together in a room (could be yukky with strangers), some place kids in local custody (sort of like a nice, friendly jail) until the next flight. Be sure the airline discusses the options with your family and child. If you — or even an older child who’s alone but not flying as a UM — have a preference, express it!
We at FTF think it’s safer to sleep on the airport grounds, under the supervision of airline personnel, than to leave with a stranger. Besides, at some airports, there are really cool things to do overnight, and camping out is always an adventure.
So kids, enjoy your trip and send us your tips for keeping kids amused on long plane flights!
Understanding Airline Escort Fees & Rules
Most airlines have increased their fees and tightened restrictions for escorting Unaccompanied Minors. We read on Chris Elliott’s blog about a family who was charged an escort fee on Hawaiian Airlines because the mother and one child were sitting in First Class and two other children were sitting in coach, on the same flight.
Even with a paid escort, the minimum age for UMs on all “direct” (non-stop or stops without change of planes) flights is 5 years. “Connecting flights” with an older minimum age, are those in which the passenger must change planes. Most airlines will no longer allow any UMs to change planes to another carrier; to change planes with the same carrier if it requires land transportation between airport terminals; or to fly on the last connecting flight of the day.
On most airlines, UM tickets cannot be purchased online, so book your child’s trip, but allow plenty of time at the airport to pay the extra fees. Many airlines require proof of child’s age before accepting him/her as a passenger, so have passports or birth certificates handy. The ripoff: Some airlines charge the same fees in US$ or CDN$ or in Euros, making international flights super expensive. The bargain: A single fee often applies to siblings or companions flying on the same itinerary.
Current Airline Escort Fees & Rules for Unaccompanied Minors Flying Alone
Here’s a list of age requirements and one-way costs for unaccompanied minors. Note that several airlines are now requiring escorts for ages up to 14. Please check each airline’s regulations about which airports will allow UMs to change planes. Prices reflect a charge for each leg of the journey, and are valid as of February 2022.
- Southwest – Ages 5 – 11 on domestic non-stop or direct flights only for $50
- Alaska – Ages 5 – 7 on non-stop or direct flights only for $50; 8 – 12 on non-stop or direct flights for $50 and connecting flights for $75; 13 – 17 may request unaccompanied minor status at same rates
- American – Ages 5 – 7 on non-stop or direct flights only for $150; ages 8-14 on non-stop or direct flights or some connecting routes for $150; 15 to 17 may request unaccompanied minor status. Two or more children on same route pay $150 total.
- Delta – Ages 5 – 7 on non-stop or direct flights only for $150; ages 8-14 on non-stop or direct and some connecting routes for $150; 15 to 17 may request unaccompanied minor status. Up to four children on same route pay $150 total.
- Frontier – Ages under 15 are no longer allowed to fly on any Frontier route alone.
- JetBlue – Ages 5 – 13 on nonstop flights only for $150; age 14 may request unaccompanied minor status. No UMs on JetBlue’s London routes.
- United – Ages 5 – 14 on nonstop flights only for $150 each way. Up to two children for $150 fee.
Please let us know about your experiences with any of these services in the Comments field below.
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People who choose to book trips for summer or further out should do so with caution; the coronavirus pandemic is unpredictable. And many reservations may claim flexibility. Amid so much unknown, there will be one certainty: the headaches of rescheduling and canceling.
With a rugged interior featuring 286 peaks topping 3,000 meters Taiwan’s railway system is shoehorned onto the coastal margins where most of Taiwan’s cultural life is concentrated. Whether you ride the high-speed service from Taipei City to the second city of Kaohsiung or spend a week slowly circumnavigating the island by local train, all journeys are within eyeshot of either the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean, flatlands of verdant rice-paddies, or towering mountainsides
When I originally commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
Amazing Post! about Amsterdam
There’s one street in Baltimore that’s more festive than the rest. Every holiday season, the neighborhood of Maryland’s miracle on h Street is decked out in Christmas lights and festive displays. From a tree made of hubcaps to classic candy cane fixtures, each house is uniquely decorated.
Considering Northeast Ohio has plenty of breweries, as well, Thomann was asked if it’s more likely we’ll find the members of Dorfrocker touring different venues tasting beers or visiting the Rock Roll Hall of Fame?
Covid-19 certainly affects travels plan…Not long ago my friends were among passengers of the British cruise ship Braemar. And how could the US refuse to help the ship and close the borders?? Unlike the US, Cuba showed its humanity and friendship! Thank you Cuba
Would you like to stay in the gorgeous area around Keukenhof? You can! We have a broad range of great hotels and bed and breakfasts for you. Accommodations in Haarlem, Leiden or Amsterdam are also good options.
I will reach Amsterdam only on 19 May morning, the last day of the flower exhibit. Is it still worthwhile to go Keukenhof Gardens? Will there still be many flowers to be seen?
Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world’s most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.
If a court order states that one parent can travel abroad with the child without the consent of the other parent, what documentation is required? We recommend carrying a copy of the court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed to travel abroad with the child. Any questions about the wording of the court order should be directed to a family lawyer.
If transporting your pet by air is the only option, find out whether they can travel in the cabin with you. Most airlines will allow you to take a cat or small dog in the cabin for an additional fee. But you must call the airline well in advance; there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin. If you are transporting your dog, make sure they meet the size requirements. If you get overwhelmed by all the regulations, there are companies that can help you navigate through the process of flying with a pet.
Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada. Failure to produce a letter upon request may result in delays or refusal to enter or exit a country.
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2 adults available to drive your car from New Orleans to north suburb of Chicago mid October. Need 3 or four nights. Split the gas,
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
Ever dreamed of driving along the cliffs that overlook the Pacific with the windows down? Or wanted to travel the historic Oregon Trail in a car instead of on a computer? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.
Rhonda, from a railman who started his train travel when he was 16, I would strongly suggest a Canadian Train Ride! Via Rail Canada offers four significant rides through wilderness and coastal areas with deluxe, overnight trains from Toronto to Vancouver ( 4 nights), and Montreal to Halifax, Nova Scotia (one night). Both offer a chance to have decent meals enroute, and sleeping car accommodations. Train crews tend to be a bit friendlier than south of the border, Canada, largely uninhabited, offers many scenic vistas with little hamlets few and far between, certainly a wonderful way for both of you to enjoy these new experiences.
Via Rail Canada also offers Railpasses, which enable you to travel on other routes as well for a bit of a price reduction. It’s all up to you!
Their website is http://www.viarail.ca for further information.
My son is a rail fan and we have traveled only in the US but I would love to surprise him with an excursion where he could talk to the train staff and railroad personnel. I would also like to include beautiful scenery as well for Both of us. My son is 16 and I am 59. We love to explore and don’t mind walking and roughing it!! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won??™t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
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This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.
7 memorable Tips for Traveling to Mexico
Don stress if you don Mexico is agreeable to English speaking travelers, And there a ton of tips to get to know the country landscapes, terms, And younger culture.
yet still, If you new to traveling or have never been out of the us, A trip to Mexico may be somewhat frightening.
If you interested in learning some tips for traveling to Mexico, Take a look at our 7 easy to remember tips for your journey. We outlined some of the basics that you’d like to learn for your own aventura!
1. Choose the Right Transportation If you traveling to Mexico, You need to decide you might arrive by car, aeroplane, Or liner. It important to know how you want to arrive because it will searching,an extravagance,good to have city you arrive in, How much luggage you results, and so forth.
an individual can find international flights if you prefer to travel by air. instead, There are plenty of cruises to Mexico that you can enjoy if you like the amenities and beautiful views that are included in ship travel!
If you live nearby the border, Or just need to take a bit of a road trip, going down the road by car is always an option as well.
2. Use Pesos When You Can It best if you use the local currency pesos when you can. while touristy areas accept USD, They choose the rate at that they accept it, So it is possible to get a better deal if you just use pesos.
Consider exchanging USD for pesos somewhere in the usa before your trip and dividing up your cash between USD and pesos during your trip.
3. Know bathing room Etiquette In Mexico, The sewage pipes just aren built to handle a lot. this means that people rarely flush their toilet paper. rather than, There will often be a trash bin near the toilet for you to put your used toilet paper in.
further, Men may make of entering a bathroom labeled with an M, let’s assume that it stands for However, The M actually can stand for mujeres, Which is the word for in Spanish. Men needs to look for doors labeled H, Which stands for the Spanish word for men, Hombres.
4. Practice Some Spanish One of the most basic tips for traveling to Mexico is to learn a few Spanish phrases before your trip.
once you know basic things, Like how to ask where the bathroom is or how to order food, Will make your trip to Mexico a lot smoother. sometimes, The locals will appreciate the effort, Even if they undoubtedly speak English as well!
5. Adjust to the Time Whether you are changing time zones while having trip or staying in the same one, You find that Mexico runs on a lot more fluid schedule. Punctuality is less of a concern, So you take pleasure in it a lot more if you can relax and don push a strict schedule.
furthermore, Meals are spaced out a bit distinct in Mexico. You will usually have a large breakfast, associated with the main meal of the day between 2:00 together with 4:00 pm hours. then finally, You will enjoy a smaller meal at dusk.
6. Drink Bottled Water Bottled water can be found on just about any street corner for purchase. Why exactly do you wish to buy bottled water?
let me tell you, Most of Mexico plain faucet water is unpurified. Some hotels may have filtered water, But be sure to go shopping for a sign above your sinks before you test it out!
If you be residing in Mexico for a lengthier trip, Consider buying or bring a water filter with you to purify the tap water and avoid buying so much bottled water. You be decreasing costs and plastic consumption!
7. Stray off the Beaten Path While sightseeing attractions and famous beaches are always fun to see, Traveling to lesser known places will offer you a more authentic taste of Mexico.
of which this isn an excuse to be reckless or oblivious to your surroundings. Be mindful of the areas you visiting and research where you will make sure it a safe area.
Now You Armed with all very reputable Tips for Traveling to Mexico Mexico is a diverse country with so much to see and offer.
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As North America’s fastest multi-launch coaster, it’s expected to draw in adrenaline enthusiasts, including those from the group Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fans, which has been updating their Twitter and website with information on the ride.
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Many parents of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder dread traveling or often avoid it altogether. Most people with ASD do better with routine and structure and a break from that (vacation) can often lead to stress and even meltdowns. Additionally, traveling by air can include having to navigate a multitude of unpleasant experiences from airport security procedures, moving sidewalks, and boarding tunnels to cramped seats, unfamiliar noises, and lots of strangers. Experts indicate that preparation and practice is the key to a successful flight and travel. Before your trip, talk with your child about what to expect. Go over the details of the travel: how you’ll get to the airport, wait in line, go through security, find your departure gate, get on the plane, buckle seatbelts, and spend time onboard. Flying to See Janet: A Fun Guide to the Airport Experience is a book you can use to prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience. You can also write your own social story.
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Emily, my coming of age years were the late 1970s, early 1980s at the YMCA. I agree with you about the open showers versus the individual shower stalls. From a guys perspective, I spent many nights and weekends swimming or playing basketball at my local YMCA. Showering with not only my friends, but over the years, dads, neighbors and guys from church. It really makes one comfortable, not in a sexual way, with one self and others. Never had the nude swimming, I think that ended in the 1960s as women/girls joined the YMCA, forcing may YWCAs to close their doors.
Amelie, here in the US a number of Korean Spas have opened. As with Japanese, Korean families bath together (grandmother, daughter, grand-daughter), (dad, son) separated by gender. They are starting to attract a diverse clientele (age, race, etc). So who knows, maybe the nude swimming will return to the Y someday.
The Ski and Snow Vacations for Families article is one of the best I have ever read!
You are doing a great job with https://myfamilytravels.com site.
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Note that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide you with advice about the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad beyond what is offered on this website.
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Chicago is a famous place that has many impressive landscapes.
Most visitors like traveling there.
I am always looking online for tips that can facilitate me. Thx!
helo, do you happent allow drive passengers to another state?
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I’m so happy that you enjoyed your experience at the Onsen!
I’ve never been to an Onsen, but I would love to get to visit one some day.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s my mom was the head supervisor at a YWCA in Ohio. I practically lived in the YWCA (not literally, of course) for the 19 years that my mom worked there. I had a part time job at the YWCA for a few years in the 1990s.
One of the great things about spending so much time at the YWCA was that I grew up using the locker room all of the way from a young child to a young woman and being 100% comfortable with both my own nudity and the nudity of all other females.
I feel that it was so much better back then when the Y had one big room full of shower heads on the walls than it is with stalls these days. The group shower setting was great from a bonding experience. I feel that it’s much healthier psychologically speaking that females are exposed to other women’s and girl’s bodies, as opposed to feeling that we need to hide from each other and change clothes in toilet stalls or under towels.
One of the benefits of having a mom who was a supervisor of the Y was that after hours my mom and my sisters and myself could just skinny dip in the pool, and my sisters and I were allowed to have our female friends with us for a skinny dipping session on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also, my aunt and a few of my female cousins would skinny dip with my mom, my sisters and I every once in a while.
My mom said that she had heard that the YWCA used to have one night a week that was for nude swimming back in the 1960s and most of the 1970s. Obviously it was a female only facility at the time.
Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US-2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.
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Oh man. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I certainly appreciate your take on this though, a little humor goes a long way. I’m headed to Barcelona in a few days, so I’ll be sure to keep my valuables close. Thanks for sharing.