How do airlines handle a child traveling by themselves?

Question

Is their anyway to have someone, keep an extra eye out on them to assure their safety? This is a short flight, but I am nervous as hell. Any other parents done this before? I am talking about an 8 year old, not my child, she is coming to see us. I've heard of kids traveling alone before, i just don't know how it works. Can you tip one of the attendants to pay extra care to them?

Thanks

Answer 1

Actually you should let the airlines know when you purchase the ticket that she's 8 and will be traveling alone. The adult that accompanies her to the airport for departure should repeat the information again at the ticket counter (before going through security) and they will have an airline employee escort her to the plane in time for the first boarding.

The adult who takes her to the airport will have to fill out and sign some forms with information about the child and that about that adult and about you (at the arriving end). Copies of those forms and the tickets/boarding passes will be put in a plastic pouch hung from the child's neck or pinned to her clothes so that all airline personnel will be able to help her at all times.

In flight, the cabin crew would have already been briefed by the time the child gets onboard. Flight attendants are required to pay special attention to children, the elderly or the handicaps traveling alone and often go above and beyond the basic requirements.

Upon arrival, another airline employee will escort the child from the plane to the waiting adults. If they do not allow you to go to the gate due to security regulations, they'll have you wait at a specific area and bring the child to you.

Do not tip airline personnel. That's against the airlines' regulations and may be viewed as an insult to their professionalism. Instead, get the names of those involved on either end and onboard and write them thank you letters (with copies to their bosses).

They value those letters more than any money you'll be able to tip them. Letters praising their performace go into their personnel files and serve as basis for their raises and promotions.

Answer 2

Most airlines will issue a gate pass to an adult so they can take the child to the gate and wait until the fight attendant is ready to take the child on board. The person picking up the child at the destination airport can also go to the ticket counter and request a gate pass to meet the child at the gate when the plane arrives (the reservation will show that the child is traveling as an unaccompanied minor). The person seeing the child off and picking the child up will need a vaild photo ID to obtain the gate pass.

The child is escorted to and from their seat by a flight attendant, and is checked on throughout the flight by the FAs. You can not tip the FA to pay extra attention to the child as they are not allowed to accept tips.

Airlines will also issue gate passes to disabled travelers so that they can have a friend/family member assist them to the gate.

Answer 3

I've done it myself on numerous occasions. Flying from Sydney to Dublin with two stopovers. You tell the ticket attendants, the children will will unattend minors. UM i think it was you get stickers and stuff. A ground staff person usually came took me through customs etc, to the plane, we are then passed onto the flight attendants who are very nice, usually get seated first, eat first etc. When you arrive they tell you to remain seated. Wait till everyone gets off, flight attendant takes you to a ground staff, they either transfer you to the next part of the airport or to the airline lounge and they pick you up when the next flight is due. When the journey is over they take you through customs and everything and make sure you find the person your suppost to meet. They dont hand you over unless you have Identification. I hope that helps. email me if [e-mail] if you have further questions. Hope it all works out.

Answer 4

Usually you can tell the people at the check in counter that they are flying by them selves...they will be boarded first on the plane and usually the flight attendents know to keep an on them...also i think they help them find their way out of the terminal once they arrive...I would recommend calling the airline though to see what they can tell you...
Don't worry it will all work out, when I was 10 I used to fly by myself all the time, and it was just fine.

Answer 5

The child will then be given a kind of plastic bag, with all his documents therein, which will be hung around his neck. The bag will bear the letters UM (Unaccompanied Minor). A cabin crew will look after the child during travel and on arrival at destination and will only leave him when he will have been met by the specified person. Such children are even looked after when in transit.

Answer 6

Don't worry! I flown when I was 11 by my self and it was great. At check in my guardian notified the check staff that I was by my self, they gave us a form to fill out and then I was taken to a special lounge were there was other people of same age flying by the self.

In this Lounge you were looked after by staff and it was like traveling Business class, the lounge had free drinks, biscuits,food,Nintendo and films to watch. When you aircraft was ready to depart I was taken by a staff to the gate and handed over to the cabin crew who looked after me like I was a KING I got lots of goodie bags and sweets.

When the aircraft arrives a member of the airline staff come to the aircraft to collect you and they will take you through customs and collect you suitcase and then hand you over to the person collecting you. Its very safe and the whole crew and staff know what to expect. DONT WORRY

Answer 7

there are ground attendants and flight attendants and they coordinate and are trained and experienced in this. it's been done and comes as non-chalant. i have also sat with a child who i myself helped entertain and in the course of the flight turned out to be a diplomat's son but, regardless, i saw that these crews do their job well without being too patronizing. it should be exciting for you, just keep calm and reserved, hold out until the child arrives then it is your turn to make the child welcome and comfy

Answer 8

i don't be responsive to why absolutely everyone pronounced you are able to no longer fly previous your 6th month. you are able to fly up till 7 daysof your due date. plenty airlines require a word out of your dr even however, in the experience that your on your 9th month.

Answer 9

Usually you can tell the people at the check in counter that they are flying by them selves