Dealing with Kids Travelling Solo

Few weeks from now, your teenage daughter will join her friends in a tri-city tour in Asia. Though your child is already 16 years old, the idea of her flying solo scares you. As parents, it’s necessary for you to get to know the guidelines for children who are about to fly solo.

If you’re letting your children to fly alone, be sure to take necessary precautions that will ensure their safety. Numerous children fly alone yearly and there were no records of major incidents. But the mere fact that your kid will be travelling by himself, it’s important that all of you are prepared for the trip.

Children ages 5 – 14 years old are considered by most airlines as “unaccompanied minors”. On the other hand, children under 7 years old were not allowed to make connecting flights by most airlines. Some may permit the idea as long as there will be a personnel to assist the child. For guardians who are planning to send an unaccompanied minor by plane, you’ll be required to accomplish a form containing the child’s details such as name, age, medical considerations, allergies, and other relevant information. Upon arrival at the airport, unaccompanied minors must be escorted from the aircraft by an airline representative and will only be released to the person named by you prior to departure. Be mindful that you have to agree with the airline’s policy stating that they will not take any special responsibility of guardianship during the flight. As per legal basis, any unaccompanied minor is treated in the same way as an adult passenger.

In domestic flights, children ages 1-4 are allowed to fly when accompanied by an adult. Children must be at least 5 years old to be allowed to fly alone. On the other hand, children ages 5-7 years old can take a direct flight to a single destination but certainly not connecting flights.

Some airlines allow children between 8-11 years old to travel alone with connecting flight but requires to be escorted by an airline personnel. While older than 12 years old is not routinely escorted unless you request this assistance with an additional fee. Minors are required to be met at their destination by another parent or designated responsible adult.
Also, anyone under 17 years of age who’s flying alone on an international flight must show a signed letter of consent from a legal guardian detaining destination, length of stay, and permission. It’s important to keep in touch with your carrier since the guidelines may vary in any airline.

If you thought that letting your kid fly unaccompanied makes you save money, well you’re wrong. Airlines charge anywhere from $50 to $150 for an unaccompanied minor fee. The exact amount depends on the destination, age of the child, and type of flight. Some airlines allow multiple children to travel together at a single fee, while others require a charge per child. Also, watch out for those “red-eye” flights between 9pm to 5am. Most airlines don’t allow unaccompanied minors to fly during those hours or on the last connecting flight of the day.

After accomplishing necessary paperwork and paying fees at the check-in counter, one parent or legal guardian will receive a pass that will allow him or her to accompany the children until they reach the boarding gate. They can also stay with the child until the plane has took off.

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