kids flying alone

[celiabot]

i am taking 2 13 yr olds on vacation. they are flying with me and my boyfriend to orlando, going on a cruise, spending some time at disney, and then flying home. however, my boyfriend and i are staying an extra week, so they need to fly home alone.. anyone ever have there kids fly alone? how does it work? they are my siblings, so im not sure if i have to have any extra paperwork to get them on the plane.. thanks

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by celiabot
i am taking 2 13 yr olds on vacation. they are flying with me and my boyfriend to orlando, going on a cruise, spending some time at disney, and then flying home. however, my boyfriend and i are staying an extra week, so they need to fly home alone.. anyone ever have there kids fly alone? how does it work? they are my siblings, so im not sure if i have to have any extra paperwork to get them on the plane.. thanks

Check the specfic airline's website for unaccompanied minors.
The rules are there.

 

[mareed]

I can tell you that Southwest's policies for unaccompanied minors applies to children ages 5-11, so it sounds like this wouldn't apply to 13 year olds. I would think that you'd be able to get a special pass to allow you to accompany them through security to the gate, but I don't really know, but I second the recommendation to check the airline's website.

 

[luvdzny]

DD & a friend (both 14) flew unaccompained from Milwaukee to Phoenix in June. It required quite a bit of extra paper work. They flew AmericaWest. We had to pay a 20.00 fee at each airport to have 1 person go with them to their gate. They were the 1st ones on the plane, and the last ones off the plane. Someone had to take them to a flight attendent and she had to sign a paper saying she had placed them on the plane. When they were picked up the flight attendent had to have the person picking them up sign a paper as well. It went fairly smooth, it just cost $80.00 extra.

 

[zurgswife]

My dd 12 just flew Phl to Atlanta this summer direct flight....I didn't have to pay anything extra and we were allowed a gate pass for an adult to take her to the gate and another was allowed at the other end to meet her at the gate....Worked out great...

I would be concerned about a child taking a flight that would require a connection but a direct flight at that age is fine...

 

[disneyjunkie]

DS 11 will be flying USAir alone on Monday. We pay an extra $40 each way for an agent to escort him on and off the plane. When we check him in, we are given a pass to go with him to the gate. I've been told if we don't pay the fee, they will not allow us pass the security gates. They will not allow kids to fly alone on the last flight of the day.

DS has been flying alone to visit his father in NC for the last 3 years. We try to get him the first flights of the day and only allow him to take direct flights.

 

[dcfromva]

The best advice is to check with the individual airline as their policies and fees vary. Plus, policies are subject to change.

Having said that, our nephew (at age 13) flew on SWA non-stop between BDL-BWI and return this past Jan. An adult was permitted to accompany him to the gate to see that he got on the plane as well as an adult was permitted to retrieve him from the gate on arrival. My sister in law (and DH) had to go to the ticket counter to get a special pass that permitted going through security.

In the back of your mind, you should have a plan "B". You never know what will happen on any given day. One of those odd things that happen: a major power outage in the Northeast which cancelled a bunch of flights. If your siblings flight were cancelled, do you have a back up plan to keep them with you for an extra day or two?

It is always a good idea to make sure your siblings have some cash and phone numbers with them just in case they need to get a hold of someone. This will serve them well if something happens which delays your folks on the arrival end--your sibs would be able to call someone. Maybe a cell phone would be a good thing for them to have (of course that would involve another safety briefing on when they are allowed to have it turned on and such ).

It sounds like you all are going to have an awesome time!

-DC

 

[ducklite]

Defninitely make sure they have cash and phones numbers, and a prepaid phone card that they understand how to use!

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by ducklite
Defninitely make sure they have cash and phones numbers, and a prepaid phone card that they understand how to use!

Anne

Also make sure they have used the prepaid phone card before the trip. When my oldest DD went on a trip alone back from Russia a few years ago (she went with a friend and came back alone), she tried to use her phone card to call us from Detroit. he card didn't work. It turned out to have been activated wrong. She had a charge card that she was able to use on the phone; thank goodness.