Son's first flight alone

[momto3pirates]

My DS15 is flying out 2 days after us due to a schedule conflict. My mom is taking him to the airport. He is flying United out of IAH. Can she walk with him through security to help him get to the gate? He has flown numerous times out of this airport but never by himself and it is such a large airport.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes. She just needs to get a pass at the check-in desk.

 

[dontthrowsand]

Also, if you request it they have people who are they for young people who are traveling alone.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not sure if they would consider a 15 y/o a 'young person'. I know they have a catagory of 'unaccompanied minor flying alone' but just not sure about what the age cutoff is. Delta's cut off is 14. Oops, here is what I found from United's official site........

Children traveling alone


Frequently asked questions
Service fees
Young Travelers Club
Children 5 to 11 years of age who are not accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years of age on the same aircraft are considered unaccompanied minors. Travel arrangements for young travelers can be booked at any of the following:

united.com
United Reservations call center
Your local travel agent
The following rules are in effect for unaccompanied minor travel:

United allows unaccompanied minor travel only on United Airlines and United Express® flights.
Unaccompanied minors under 5 years of age are not accepted.
Unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 7 may only travel on nonstop flights.
Unaccompanied minors ages 8 to 11 may travel on any flight (nonstop or connecting) operated by United or United Express. However, travel will not be allowed on the last connecting flight of the day — unless the connecting flight is the only published service to that destination. Unaccompanied minors are not accepted on flights which require an overnight stay in order to make a connection.
Children ages 12 to 17 have the option to pay the fee and use the unaccompanied minor service or they may travel as adults with no unaccompanied minor service provided.

 

[vacationclub]

Some airlines consider 15 and up an adult and may require a fee for an accompaniment from them. I can't find anywhere that it says a non-ticketed parent can go with them past security...not saying it can't happen but a few web sites seem to discuss the airline doing the accompanying, not the parent, and that 15 is old enough to do it on their own.

As long as he looks at an airport map ahead of time to get familiar with it, and carries a cell phone, he should be OK. He can always ask how to get somewhere if he can't find a gate, but once you're past security it's basically following the signs.

 

[momto3pirates]

Thanks everyone. I know he will be fine but I'm just a nervous mom. United does cut off age for unaccompied minor at 11.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks everyone. I know he will be fine but I'm just a nervous mom. United does cut off age for unaccompied minor at 11.

Not to worry. My dd is flying, by herself, for the first time in June. Heading to WDW with her two friends. And she's 18 and very familiar with the airports on both ends...but still, I worry. That's what moms do.

 

[dudspizza]

If he has flown through this airport before, he will be fine. It doesn't hurt for mom to ask if she can accompany him to the gate, but I think he'll be fine. I flew home from London to Minneapolis at 15. No issues what-so-ever. I had to connect in Minneapolis to a small regional prop plane to a small town in northern MN and did it without any issues. In fact, my mom didn't even know I was coming! I was a surprise for her after I had spent the year overseas with my dad!

Your son will be just fine. In fact, I would ask him what he thinks. If he isn't concerned about it, then don't fret!

Duds

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks everyone. I know he will be fine but I'm just a nervous mom. United does cut off age for unaccompied minor at 11.

Actually, United will allow you to pay the unaccompanied minor fee for a child up to age 17. It's just that kids 11 and under must pay the unaccompanied minor fee.

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/minors/default.aspx

UA's unaccompanied minor fee is quite high - $99.00. I wouldn't pay it for a 15 year old.

All kids are different. If your son is nervous at all about finding his gate, just have grandma go with him. I've seen plenty of adults who are very confused at the airport!

 

[tjmw2727]

I was able to accompany my dd's 14yo friend through security last August at Phi. I simply explained she was a minor traveling alone and unfamiliar with the airport and they gave me a non traveling boarding pass - I can't remember exactly what was printed on it though !

Prepare the 15yo for the possibility that he may have to go it alone and then if your Mom is allowed all the better. Have him check out the map of the terminal online and make sure he and your mom check and re-check the gates up to the time he checks his luggage. If he needs help any gate agent at any airline will be able to assist him. If I were your Mom, even if I didn't accompany him to the gate I would still wait unitl the airplane was in the air before I left the airport - but that's probably just me ??

Edited to add - her mom was also able to accompany her through security at Logan on the way out to visit us!

 

[Hannathy]

My DS flew by himself last summer when he was 12 and not as an unaccompanied minor and he did fine. I walked him to the security checkpoint and he went thru by himself and walked to the gate. I had him text me when he got to the gate and then when he got on the plane. He was absolutely fine and did not want me to walk him to the gate! He was absolutely, abundantly clear that he did not need walked to the gate.

Since your son is 15 I would fund out from him whether he wants walked to the gate or if he wants to go it alone, and I'd respect his wishes.

 

[gmeh1]

My DS15 is flying out 2 days after us due to a schedule conflict. My mom is taking him to the airport. He is flying United out of IAH. Can she walk with him through security to help him get to the gate? He has flown numerous times out of this airport but never by himself and it is such a large airport.

You have received many great answers, but, the final answer would be found by calling the airline. I would suggest giving them a call and let us know what they say. Have a great day.

 

[gmeh1]

Not to worry. My dd is flying, by herself, for the first time in June. Heading to WDW with her two friends. And she's 18 and very familiar with the airports on both ends...but still, I worry. That's what moms do.

Yep, that is what MOMs do. My son is 42 and I worry when he flies. Same with daughter 35 and other daughter 43. It never ends.

 

[laughinplace199]

Yep, that is what MOMs do. My son is 42 and I worry when he flies. Same with daughter 35 and other daughter 43. It never ends.

This made me . I'm 43 and whenever we're going on a trip, my mom always says, "Be careful" to me.

 

[momto3pirates]

You have received many great answers, but, the final answer would be found by calling the airline. I would suggest giving them a call and let us know what they say. Have a great day.

Unfortunately I called United customer service first and the rep was not any help. He actually told me he did not know and just to ask when they got to the airport. I thought I would come here and ask people who have experience. I appreciate everyone's advice.

He will only have a small carryon, no bags to check. We are bringing all of his stuff with us when we fly out. Honestly my biggest concern is making sure he is listening for the boarding calls. It's amazing what he can tune out at home. He is a 15 year old boy after all.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Unfortunately I called United customer service first and the rep was not any help. He actually told me he did not know and just to ask when they got to the airport. I thought I would come here and ask people who have experience. I appreciate everyone's advice.

Don't worry any more about this. Grandma just has to ask a ticket agent for a pass to accompany your son to the gate, as I have already posted. It's done every day; not a problem.

 

[disneymomjcs]

Just the nature of the beast, Moms worry all the time.

I would be worried not that my DD15 couldn't hand the airport and flight. She has flown many, many times and long international flights. So she is a great and knowledgable traveler. I would worry more about her just the getting to her destination safely. Then I could relax. Well maybe not even then.

 

[gmeh1]

Unfortunately I called United customer service first and the rep was not any help. He actually told me he did not know and just to ask when they got to the airport. I thought I would come here and ask people who have experience. I appreciate everyone's advice.

He will only have a small carryon, no bags to check. We are bringing all of his stuff with us when we fly out. Honestly my biggest concern is making sure he is listening for the boarding calls. It's amazing what he can tune out at home. He is a 15 year old boy after all.

I totally dislike the " I don't know" answers from Customer Service people. Makes me furious. When I get answers like that, I gear up and ask for a supervisor. I know how 15 year old kids,in general, can tune out stuff, mostly their parents' voices. But, they have amazing attention spans when it is something they want to do.
I was thinking that maybe the TSA rules might be the joker in the deck for this situation. What are their rules, if any?

 

[vacationclub]

Honestly my biggest concern is making sure he is listening for the boarding calls. It's amazing what he can tune out at home. He is a 15 year old boy after all.

If he is really is concerned, or just a bit nervous about his situation, I think it's unlikely he'll miss the calls for boarding if he's at the right gate. It's nearly impossible to miss boarding...even people who don't speak any English seem to line right up for the plane even before their zone is called.

It actually amazes me that people who are in the gate area on time "miss" their boarding. I was boarding a plane once and a lady walked up from across the hall realizing something was happening (boarding). She walks to the counter and asks, they say they are boarding the flight. She looks at her ticket, then her watch, then says "But it doesn't leave for another half hour." The residual effect from that interaction may have actually killed some brain cells of a few people standing too close.

I was thinking that maybe the TSA rules might be the joker in the deck for this situation. What are their rules, if any?

I think the TSA will simply require either a boarding pass, or some other documentation from the airline that says you are accompanying a minor....if such a document exists.

 

[tjmw2727]

The issue is that the "customer service" can not give a difinitive answer because its up to the ticketing agent to decide if the situation warrants a gate pass or not.

Then if the ticketing agent agress that the 15 yo needs assistance and issues the gate pass to the grandmother its also up to TSA if they accept it or not.

So the best case senario is to plan for the 15yo to clear security alone in case the gate pass is denied.

I totally dislike the " I don't know" answers from Customer Service people. Makes me furious. When I get answers like that, I gear up and ask for a supervisor. I know how 15 year old kids,in general, can tune out stuff, mostly their parents' voices. But, they have amazing attention spans when it is something they want to do.
I was thinking that maybe the TSA rules might be the joker in the deck for this situation. What are their rules, if any?