Help picking up an unacommpanied minor in MCO...

[djm99]

My family and I are scheduled to meet my neice at the MCO airport Sunday. She is 8 years old. She is flying in on Delta from Birmingham, AL, we are flying in on American from St. Louis, MO. She is scheduled to come in 5 minutes AFTER we land. Will I have to go to the drop off Delta desk get an unaccompanied minor ticket, go thru security, in order to meet her? Or, will they allow me to just go directly to her arrival gate?

 

[curlyjbs]

sorry I don't know the answer to your question but the first things that popped into my head were: Isn't 8 a little young to be flying alone? and What happens if your plane is late?

Best of luck to you
~Connie

 

[safetymom]

If you don't have to go through the other security check point you could go right to her gate. Where are you coming in and where is she arriving?

 

[djm99]

sorry I don't know the answer to your question but the first things that popped into my head were: Isn't 8 a little young to be flying alone? and What happens if your plane is late?

Bet of luck to you
~Connie

She's been flying alone two years now. She usually spends summers with me. I was flying alone at 9 too. I'm a product of divorced parents, and one moved out of state. She's a pro at it. As far as flights being late, its our flight being behind that's the issue. If it is, my sister will put her on a later flight. We will be over half way finished with our flight before her flight leaves. Although we've never done this going to Orlando, we did this when she went to Cancun with us (meeting us in Atlanta). I'm hoping this will work out, but thanks for placing fear in me!!!

 

[djm99]

If you don't have to go through the other security check point you could go right to her gate. Where are you coming in and where is she arriving?

I will not know the exact gate number until 24 hours before departure, but according to MCO's website, American Airlines uses Terminal 1 Gates, and Delta uses Terminal 4 gates. Total opposite ends of the Airports.

 

[curlyjbs]

She's been flying alone two years now. She usually spends summers with me. I was flying alone at 9 too. I'm a product of divorced parents, and one moved out of state. She's a pro at it. As far as flights being late, its our flight being behind that's the issue. If it is, my sister will put her on a later flight. We will be over half way finished with our flight before her flight leaves. Although we've never done this going to Orlando, we did this when she went to Cancun with us (meeting us in Atlanta). I'm hoping this will work out, but thanks for placing fear in me!!!

Sorry about the fear thing - that was not my intention. Like I said I hope it all works out!

 

[DVC Grammy]

When our granddaughter visited last June (flying alone and also 8 years old), we were delayed about 30 minutes by a major accident on the highway to the airport. I called the airport and let them know about our problem and they made sure that SW assigned someone to stay with her until we could get there.

If you're delayed, even though you can't use your cell phone on the plane, the attendants can notify the airport for you and have Delta make arrangements for your niece's care until you arrive.

 

[Jestocost]

I can't imagine that they'll let you through security and into her terminal without some kind of documentation. I wonder if Delta could issue the appropriate pass at their counter in St. Louis so you don't have to mess with that at MCO? If I had to guess, I'd say they won't, but it can't hurt to call and ask (and even to stop by their counter they day you travel to ask again). If you haven't tried to get seats as far front in the plane as possible, I'd look into that too.

With your timing, it sound like the best case scenario is that your niece is going to have to spend some time with Delta personnel before you can get to her. I don't know what they do in those situations; do they keep her at her gate until you get there or do they bring her out through security to meet you? You'll really need to have a long talk with Delta to figure all of that out and, if possible, get their commitments in writing. I'd also have a plan in place for how to reach your niece directly or Delta via cell phone so that you can be in communication the moment you touch down.

 

[safetymom]

I would imagine that you will need to visit the Delta counter when you get to MCO to get a gate pass. Is there anyway that the person escorting her could bring her outside security for you?

 

[bavaria]

sorry I don't know the answer to your question but the first things that popped into my head were: Isn't 8 a little young to be flying alone?

Most North American airlines allow UM's from age 5 or 6.

and most UMs on my flights behave better than many adults on my flights.

 

[djm99]

I asked if they can bring me to her to me. They said no. I just called and asked them to add my flight info in the notes. They also have my cell number. They told me that they'd know I was in the airport only AFTER I got an unacommpanied minor ticket. I was told (after being on hold for over 14 minutes) that they would keep her there until I come. I guess that's what the $100 was for. Yeah it was a $100 for an unacommpanied minor with Delta.

 

[Microcell]

She's been flying alone two years now. She usually spends summers with me. I was flying alone at 9 too. I'm a product of divorced parents, and one moved out of state. She's a pro at it. As far as flights being late, its our flight being behind that's the issue. If it is, my sister will put her on a later flight. We will be over half way finished with our flight before her flight leaves. Although we've never done this going to Orlando, we did this when she went to Cancun with us (meeting us in Atlanta). I'm hoping this will work out, but thanks for placing fear in me!!!

Here is a solution to any fear she might have, provided her parents agree- You might want to tell her to sit next to a mom type person (there should be plenty on a filght to Orlando) and her family.

There was a girl on the way back from Tampa to KC one year who was 9 who sat across the aisle from my family and her eyes were huge saucers from the time she got on the plane, so we chatted with her and she told us about her stay with her uncle and how she was going home. After take off I saw big tears rolling down that poor girls face and so we put my DD on my lap and my DH was holding DS and we moved her next to me and I offered to hold her hand, she took me up on that offer the entire three hours home! Poor girl had to get back to her seat for landing, but I hope I helped her. She pointed me out to her parents anyway.

My point was that I did watch her get off the plane to be sure she got with the correct people. I think most mom types would do that. The stewardess did escort her too, I am just overprotective of other peoples children too! DD just said "You got that right!". Smart aleck.

 

[OKW Lover]

The procedures for picking up unaccompanied minors vary from airline to airline and arrival airport. You are best off checking with the airline and asking specific questions of them. But usually, you need to go to the check-in counter of the airline and request a gate pass which will get you through security. Be sure you are listed on the minor's flight record as the person that will be picking them up.

 

[winniedapooh]

Here is a solution to any fear she might have, provided her parents agree- You might want to tell her to sit next to a mom type person (there should be plenty on a filght to Orlando) and her family.

My point was that I did watch her get off the plane to be sure she got with the correct people. I think most mom types would do that. The stewardess did escort her too, I am just overprotective of other peoples children too! DD just said "You got that right!". Smart aleck.

I am a Mom type and would do this too...

 

[djm99]

Here is a solution to any fear she might have, provided her parents agree- You might want to tell her to sit next to a mom type person (there should be plenty on a filght to Orlando) and her family.

There was a girl on the way back from Tampa to KC one year who was 9 who sat across the aisle from my family and her eyes were huge saucers from the time she got on the plane, so we chatted with her and she told us about her stay with her uncle and how she was going home. After take off I saw big tears rolling down that poor girls face and so we put my DD on my lap and my DH was holding DS and we moved her next to me and I offered to hold her hand, she took me up on that offer the entire three hours home! Poor girl had to get back to her seat for landing, but I hope I helped her. She pointed me out to her parents anyway.

My point was that I did watch her get off the plane to be sure she got with the correct people. I think most mom types would do that. The stewardess did escort her too, I am just overprotective of other peoples children too! DD just said "You got that right!". Smart aleck.

yeah - she does that everytime. Last year, on her flight home (from St. Louis) she said she talked a poor ladies head off. - BTW, I have her on the 4th row seats. If memory serves me correctly, that was the closest seats available. She is also on a aisle seat. I think I covered all the things I can control - just wish I could control our flight arrivals and those folks at Delta.

 

[Microcell]

I forgot you said Delta, I am Southwest cattle call oriented! I am sure she will do well, and lets hope she gets nice people.. not a given considering she will be flying from STL ( I am from the other- and better side of the state).

 

[djm99]

I forgot you said Delta, I am Southwest cattle call oriented! I am sure she will do well, and lets hope she gets nice people.. not a given considering she will be flying from STL ( I am from the other- and better side of the state).

Actually she's coming from Birmingham, AL - I'm the one coming from St. Louis