Unaccompanied Minors: Airline Travel Tips

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There are few things more nerve wracking than sending your child on an airplane alone. All the dangers apparent on the ground combine with terrorists and airplane crashers, and parents can’t do anything about them from the ground. Add to that bustling airports, unreliable airlines and the childlike tendency to sometimes do the wrong thing? It’s very hard to trust an airline to keep your child safe, but an estimated 7 Million children travel alone every year. That’s nearly 20,000 a day!

Airport Options

Most airlines have what is called an “Unaccompanied Minor” program. For a fee, the airline ###### your child to an attendant who walks them through security, helps them find their seat on the plane and checks on them throughout the trip. Programs vary by airline. If your child is between the ages of 5 and 14, chances are they are eligible for the program. One some airlines, you must register a child traveling alone and pay extra fees.

Third Party Services

Companies like Trusted Traveler will give your child personal attention, traveling with them if need be. Many parents will cringe at the cost, starting at $900 for a round-trip but if you find a good deal on airfare, it could absorb some of the costs.

Finding “Good Deals”

You don’t have as many options to save on a ticket for a child traveling solo. Aim for flights with fewer stops, during hours that your unaccompanied minor is more likely to stay away. However, you can use some of our tips to get a good price:

* Try to travel in off-seasons and during the middle of the week. Flights with fewer passengers will sell their cheats for cheaper prices.

* Compare costs between airports. You can often save, for instance, by flying into Tampa instead of Orlando.

* Compare costs between one-way and round-trip. It’s very likely the round-trip ticket will be less, and there’s no law saying you have to use it.

Covering the Basics

Safety isn’t the only issue to worry about when your children go off on their own. Natural curiosities can get them into just as much trouble. Make sure they understand what they are (and aren’t) allowed to take on the plane. Give them things to do to keep from getting bored. Lay down rules and consequences for if they misbehave, and encourage them to speak up if something feels wrong.

It’s tough sending your kids off into the big, wide world without you at their side, but airlines have worked hard to make the process go smoothly. With a little preparation, your unaccompanied minors will be travel experts in no time.

Sources: Trusted Traveler , How to Find Cheap Flights Anywhere in the World

Image: Creative Commons

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