Children Flying Alone

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I came from an era when a child traveling without a chaperon is unheard of. So, every time I see children in many of my flights, I always assumed that a parent or guardian is somewhere nearby. It was only lately that I encountered a news feature on the increasing number of children flying alone. The fact that there are more and more children taking flights alone should not have come as a surprise. Nowadays, both parents are working and relatives willing to chaperon a child on a trip are hard to find. Air travel has also become much safer than before and many airlines are willing to take charge of a child without a chaperon provided an authorized adult will pick the child up in the place of destination. If it is inevitable for your child to travel solo, here are a few tips to help keep your child's trip secure and safe: Make sure that your child is allowed to fly without a chaperone. Although many airlines are allowing children to fly alone, there are those that impose strict age limits. Some airlines allow children within the age bracket of 5-17 to fly alone while other airlines only accept children from the age of 7 and above. These policies also vary depending on whether the flight is direct, connecting, domestic or international. Ensure that your child qualifies for the airlines policy on un-chaperoned minors before sending him or her to the airport to take a solo flight. Contact the airline and find out if they are willing to provide an escort for your child from the moment of check-in until s/he is picked-up by the designated guardian in the place of destination. It is recommended that you choose airlines with programs or services for unaccompanied children to ensure that someone is keeping an eye on your kid for his or her safety and security. If possible, book only day flights for children flying alone. Aside from the fact that children get easily anxious at night, airlines also have limited resources at night to monitor and supervise a child's condition. Make sure that your child is carrying proper identification. Write your child's name and your name, address and contact number so that your child can easily be reunited with you in the event he or she gets lost in the airport. It is also recommended that you arm your child with a mobile phone so that he or she can contact you if the need arises. Make sure to make prior arrangements with the airline regarding your child's mobile phone so that they can ensure that it is turned off while on flight and turned back on upon arrival at the airport of destination.
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