My son will be flying alone out of state this weekend, he's only 8.?

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thunder2sys

call the airline. they have to clear it with the security at the airport. The person picking them up will need information as if they were boarding a plane, and without a ticket they will need the clearance from the airport and that needs to be done way ahead of time. The airline people will escort your son off the plane to the person standing at the gate waiting. You just need to make sure that person has clearance to get down there.

Definately take care of that today, because you are really late to get it done.

coolmandarek

ok first it sounds like your a little worrid and hes 8 and i would to but when i was 10 or so all the need was proof my dad had my birth certificate number and thats it but that 6 years ago but it should not be to much harder then that hope i could help

AlaskaMac

We have done this before and the receiving party only needs identification as to who you have said is recieivng the child
such as name address phone number etc. THis has to be given to the airlines before they will accept your child as an unaccompanied passenger

Jeremy

Tell them the time the flight gets in and ask for them to get there a little early. Tell your son if there is a problem, ask airport staff to contact you and let you know how he's doing.

Buttercup

I recommend calling the other airport to find out for sure. I'm sure the other party will need a valid I.D. for one. I'm sure you're a little nervous about the whole thing, which is understandable. Blessings to you and your little boy. As a habit I ask God for safety in travel, and I am asking that for your boy.
The internet is a great place to get detailed info on almost anything. You can check the policies of the receiving airport online, if they're available. Otherwise a phone number is probably available for you to call. Customer service can direct you. Often the airports have toll-free numbers which you can get from 1-800-555-1212. 411 will get you the toll number you may have to call.
Please see the following website for more info about airline safety for minors. Blessings, Buttercup

home skillet.

If i was you i would go with them to make sure someone comes and picks them up! you dont know if theres ant weirdos at the airport!

blue_sky_13_31

if you have someone that is picking him up name down that person will need some kind of ID on the plane he will be fine they will help him all the way

lb87

Pay the extra money and get the flight attendant to help them to and from their gate. Went through this last year w/ my dayghter (15) she missed her flight and was wandering around O'Hare and wound up spending the night there before she could catch another flight to my sister's. I didn't know that you had to PAY a flight attendant to do this and wasn not informed of that by the airlines. It would have saved a LOT of stress and worry on my part if I'd been told about this and I would have gladly paid the extra $50.

Yoruichi Fancy

Make a phone call, e-mail or IM the person who is to be waiting for your son!!!!!!!!!! Ask them what things they will need!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, yes, and be sure your son DOES NOT END UP IN THE WRONG HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

southrntrnzplnt

Ok, never type during a thunderstorm..had it all typed out and lost power...so here goes again.

Make sure you get to the airport early. Some major airports like Atlanta have a counter just for checking in UM's since summer is the time they go back and forth between mom and dad.

You will be asked to confirm the inforamation you provided to the airline as to who will be picking them up. You will give the agent your name, address and phone number as well as the name address and phone number of who is picking them up. If there is a cell phone, make sure you provide that incase of any emergencies in route. You will not have to provide a birth certificate or any ID for the child. Only passengers 18 and older must provide ID. You will give the agent your ID and you will be given a pass to get through security and to the gate. Keep in mind the people you list in the reservation are THE ONLY PEOPLE who can pick him up, no substitutions. You will be then asked to pay the UM fee, usually $50 each way. This is a mandatory fee, not optional for children 14 and under. It is voluntary for children 15-17 if the parents request it, most times they are not asked if the kid is 15 because they are treated as an adult at that age in the airline world. If you pay for the fee for round trip, make sure your son holds on to the receipt incase there is a problem when he returns. Some agents forget to hook the receipt number into the reservation.

He will then be given a sticker or pin to put on, most airlines all have red and white stripes on them. Needs to be kept visible at all times. You will be given a piece of paper that states you have made arrangements to have the child picked up by the person you named and you will sign it. It is then attached along with another card that will have both your info and the person who is picking him up at the other end's info printed as well as all flights, seat and connection information listed on it as well as his age. His boarding passes and baggage check will be placed inside the envelope and then handed to you.

Once you get to the gate, check in with the gate agent and let them know where you will be sitting so that you will be easily found when its time to board. Give them the envelope and stick close to the gate. Boarding begins 30 min before departure, but the agents will escort all minors about 10-15 min before boarding time. You will say your good-byes in the gate area and then you child will be escorted down the jetway and on to the plane. The envelope is then handed to the on board leader flight attendant, introduced by the agent and then escorted to their seat by the FA. Their envelope remains in the front with the OBL (Onboard leader). Once in their seat the flight attendant will remind them to stay seated during the flight, unless of course they need to use the lavatory, and to remain seated when they arrive until they are either called or one of the FA's comes to get him.

You will be asked to remain in the gate area until the flight is off of the ground, that way incase they have to return to the gate for any reason you will be there. If its a larger airport, the gate agent will let you know when its ok to leave.

Upon arrival at a connection point the gate agents already know to expect him. We have a manifest that advises us of "specials", or the FA will tell the agent when they open the door that they have UM. Again, your son will be last off of the plane. He is then handed over to the gate agent and either escorted to the next flight or to a room with TV and video games if the lay over is extensive. They are constantly watched and by someones side at all times. Make sure you send money so that if there is time, they can grab something to eat at the connection if necessary. The process repeats itself, the gate agent usually has the kids either behind the counter with them if there are only a few, or in the seats right next to the desk.

When its time to board, repeat the process, gate agent walks them down the jetway to the plane, and hands everything over to the next crew.

Upon arrival at destination the same thing...last off of the plane and the other person HAS to be in the gate so make sure they arrive early, check in at the ticket counter to get a security pass. They will provide their ID and it must match who you said is picking them up. Once he comes through the door and identifies who is picking him up, the agent will again verify the ID that it matches who is on the paperwork in hand and they will then sign off and he's free to go.

The main rule for traveling as a UM is you can not book the last flights of any point. No last flight leaving origin or connection. That way they do not have a potential of being in the airport all night until the next morning. No matter what AT NO POINT is a child ever left alone. Worst case scenario if that happens an agent volunteer's to stay at the airport until the morning shift arrives. We try to avoid that at all costs and will deny check in if you are booked on the last flight as a UM.

Just go over the mom rules and what is expected of him during the trip. There are kids that do this literally every other weekend and log more air miles than most business travelers. I had a kid that was 10 and went from New Mexico to Mississippi every other weekend and connected in Dallas or Atlanta. By then, he'd bee doing it so long he could do it with out help, and tried many times.

Dont worry, dont fret...he'll be fine. Make this a fun experience for him and dont let your anxiety pass off to him, that way he will enjoy the experience rather than worry. Make sure he has plenty of activities with him for the trip, books a DVD player and what not. Keep the small action figures at home or tell him to keep them in his bag until he gets where he is going. Most times who ever is sitting next to him, if its an adult is more than likely going to help him out with whatever he needs and kinda watch out for him too.

A good idea is to give your son a piece or paper with all of the contact information of everyone involved. You, the person picking him up and a back up emergency contact. That way if he arrives and the person is running late or something happened, he will be able to have access to that information too. It is printed on the envelope as well, but just in case there are alternate numbers to call, make sure he has them too. Most kids dont have phone numbers memorized.

When he flies back, its the same thing. The most important thing is be EARLY to check in. Cut offs are generally 45 min at most major airports, but with a UM you need more time than that since it takes a good 10 minutes to check in sometimes and sometimes longer. There is just a lot of steps to go through. Give yourself time to have mom and son time in the gate, grab a snack or a drink and make this a fun time for him.

He will be fine and so will mom. No tears, just smiles in the gate...you can shed a few after he gets on the plane.

Once you get home, log onto Yahoo Travel. On the right side is a Flight/Gate status link. Enter his airline and flight number and you can track the flight in the air. It shows a map of where the aircraft is in the air. OR you can go to the airlines website and it will either tell you the details, or some do have the live tracker system.

If you have any quesitons I didnt address here, please feel free to contact me personally or call the airline he is using. Ask the ticket or gate agents any questions you have. Also if he has any major allergies let the agents know. Especially if he has an allergy to peanuts or anything he may come in contact with along the way. Check the airlines website as well. Some airlines my have different rules, but for the most part this is all the same thing no matter what airline they fly.

Amanda

The person who is picking him up will be identified at the gate by YOU. Name and phone number... on their end valid ID. They will go to the ticket counter and get a gate pass to pick up the unaccompanied minor. It's all very easy... and they are more than happy to help you and him in the airport, at the gate and on the plane.

Lemi

give the other person a description of his(ur sons) clothes and u should give ur son the name of the other person just in case they don't find each other. Or ask about a stewardess who could accompany ur son till he will be found..

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