12 year old travelling alone

[seajay829]

I am really really excited to get to combine work and pleasure October 26-28by attending a 3-day nursing CE course at DISNEY WORLD Its on behavior change and very cool stuff.

I live in Oregon and couldn't imagine going without taking my daughter, along who will be 12 at the time. I plan on traveling out on the 20th of October, and coming home on the 30th. My DD doesn't need to miss THAT much school. I plan on taking her out Tuesday the 20th, then having her fly home on Sunday, by herself, then I do the conference for three days and fly home by myself.


We have travelled a fair amount together, but I have never had her do anything like this on her own.

I was wondering if any of you with more experience may have a tip or two for me.

Cindy

 

[Jestocost]

Each airline is a bit different as far as their "unaccompanied minor" policies, so check out your specific carrier for the exact details. In general, however, you will need to pay a fee (AA charges $100 each way) and many airlines require that you use and pay for the service even if the child is an experienced traveler. At MCO, you will have to go to the ticket counter and fill out some paperwork, including information about who will be picking up your DD at her destination. They will give you a security pass that will allow you to accompany her to the gate. If she has a flight change along the way, they will escort her from her arrival gate to the departure gate. They also will not book her a ticket at all if the flight she connects to is the last flight of the day from the transfer city to her final destination. This helps avoid the possibility that she gets stuck half way home and they would then be responsible for her. Whoever is picking her up at her destination also will need to check in at the ticket counter and complete some paperwork. They too will get a security pass that allows them to go to the gate to meet your DD.

 

[crashbb]

The age cut off also depends on the airline. I know that when I was a child, the cut-off for the UM program (on the airline we flew) was 12. I was so excited when I flew the day after my 12th birthday and I didn't have to be an UM.

I just checked, the UM program is mandatory up to the age of 12 and optional between 12 and 17 (on that airline - not sure of others). And UMs are not allowed to have connecting flights at all (not just the last one of the day).

 

[Jestocost]

The age cut off also depends on the airline. I know that when I was a child, the cut-off for the UM program (on the airline we flew) was 12. I was so excited when I flew the day after my 12th birthday and I didn't have to be an UM.

I just checked, the UM program is mandatory up to the age of 12 and optional between 12 and 17 (on that airline - not sure of others). And UMs are not allowed to have connecting flights at all (not just the last one of the day).

Just note that if your DD is not required to us the UM program on the relevant airline and you choose not to use it, you will not be able to go with her through security and to the gate and anyone picking her up won't be able to go to the gate to meet her. I myself did connecting flights on my own at O'Hare when I was 12 or younger and personally would be fine with that for an experienced child (my DW is another story), but many people would reasonably be concerned about that scenario.

 

[seajay829]

I suspect that my daughter would be just fine with the connecting flight, it is in atlanta then directly to portland. My concern is not being able to take her to the gate and have someone picke her up at the gate. I will have to mull if that is worth a hundred dollars, though I suspect in peace of mind to me it would be well worth it. Thank you each for your quick replies.

Cindy

 

[uva185]

I suspect that my daughter would be just fine with the connecting flight, it is in atlanta then directly to portland. My concern is not being able to take her to the gate and have someone picke her up at the gate. I will have to mull if that is worth a hundred dollars, though I suspect in peace of mind to me it would be well worth it. Thank you each for your quick replies.

Cindy

Buy a one way refundable ticket, take her to the gate, then cancel the ticket. Have whoever is picking her up do the same in Portland.

 

[Chelley00]

Just note that if your DD is not required to us the UM program on the relevant airline and you choose not to use it, you will not be able to go with her through security and to the gate and anyone picking her up won't be able to go to the gate to meet her. .

This is not true. In October my ex was allowed to get a pass to sit with DS15 before he was boarding his flight at Ohare, and I got a pass at MCO to meet him at the gate when he came in. When I took him back to MCO to fly him back to Midway, I got a pass and sat with him until he boarded, and his dad met him at the gate when he came off the flight. You just have to go to the counter and ask for a non-passenger pass. You'll have to provide ID.

 

[jacos11]

This is not true. In October my ex was allowed to get a pass to sit with DS15 before he was boarding his flight at Ohare, and I got a pass at MCO to meet him at the gate when he came in. When I took him back to MCO to fly him back to Midway, I got a pass and sat with him until he boarded, and his dad met him at the gate when he came off the flight. You just have to go to the counter and ask for a non-passenger pass. You'll have to provide ID.

I did the same thing a couple of years ago for my 12 year old flying to Austin by himself out of O'hare.

 

[Alexander]

My DH was also given a pass to assist me to the gate with the two small kids. He wasn't flying, and just had to show the "boarding pass" and ID to get through security. It was actually kind of funny because we didn't plan on him going with us, but this sweet older lady who checked me in, insisted that he help us get to the gate. She would have nothing of him saying "no".