A recent message posted in the “Parenting” forum coincided nicely with a travel blog idea I had outlined two weeks ago. The posted message reads: “A colleague put his four year old son on a plane from Sydney to London to see his mother. It’s a 25 hour trip. At what age would other parents feel confident about putting their child on a plane alone?” Personally, I pray that there never comes a day that I would have to put one of my children on a plane unaccompanied. But, it sounds like in the case of the boy flying to London that certain circumstances dictate that he travel alone. I hope he got there safely.
What struck me was the age of the boy. Airlines have certain requirements regarding unaccompanied children. While specific rules may vary, this is what you will find the majority of the major carriers dictating:
· An escort fee– most major airlines will charge you $40 – $75 each way for an escort fee. The exact fees will depend on the airline and the child’s age.
· Children ages 1 – 4 may fly only when accompanied by an adult. A child must be at least five to fly alone. Perhaps, in the case of the boy flying solo, the airline didn’t have this policy… or at least didn’t enforce it.
· Kids ages 5 – 8 can take a direct flight to a single destination but cannot transfer to connecting flights.
· Children ages 8 – 11 will be escorted by airline personnel to their connecting flight, but expect to pay a significant extra charge for this service. Older children (ages 12 through 15) are not routinely escorted, but you can request assistance for them.
· Anyone under the age of 17 who is flying alone on an international flight must have a signed note from a parent or guardian giving permission, destination and length of stay.
· Minors must be met at the destination by another parent or responsible adult.
It’s always a good idea to check with the airlines prior to booking a flight for your child. Also, it’s a good idea to talk with your child about what he or she should expect when flying alone. In Part Two of “When Kids Must Fly Alone” I will provide tips on how you can make your child’s trip go as smoothly as possible.