Planning is key when sending child on flight alone

The thought of sending a child alone on a flight can be frightening, although it’s done every day without incident. The U.S. Transportation Department puts the unaccompanied minor (UM) number at more than 9 million a year. With more divorced parents and supportive relatives helping out, it’s not surprising more children are shuttling back and forth.

Parents thinking about sending a child off on a flight for the first time to visit Grandma or Dad had better know what they are doing. Planning is paramount.

Airlines publish guidelines for children flying alone: age restrictions, safety restrictions, costs, etc. For travel outside the United States, there are more restrictions, plus some added ones for children accompanied by only one parent.

Web sites such as Family Travel Forum ( www.familytravelforum.com) offer advice to parents about to ship off their youngsters. Parents who are nervous about making the travel arrangements themselves should consult a travel agent. There may be additional charges involved, but a good travel agent can remove stress from the process and ease fears.

Regulations and extra charges for kids traveling alone vary from airline to airline. On American, Continental, United and US Airways, for instance, unaccompanied children ages 5 through 7 may travel only on nonstop flights or flights not requiring a change of planes. On Delta and Northwest, children 5 through 14 can fly on nonstop or direct flights.

Depending on the carrier, less stringent rules may apply to children ages 8-14 and also in the 15-17 age group. Generally, older children are permitted to take flights with connections. On United, the unaccompanied child service is optional for children 12-17, and on American, children 15-17 are considered young adults.

The one-way service charge for a UM on American, Continental, Delta and US Air is $40 ($75 on international flights), and $60 on all United flights. The same fees apply for UMs regardless of age. Among the low-cost airlines, ATA charges $40 on its domestic nonstop and direct flights, but $75 on a connection flight. Southwest Airlines doesn’t charge for UMs.

Because of the variances in ages and charges, parents need to get UM requirements from the carrier they are dealing with.

US Airways posts a handy parents’ checklist on its Web site ( www.usairways.com) that spells out the UM routine. Other carriers just outline their requirements. This information from US Airways, supplemented with tips from other sources, should set you off on a proper flight path:

First, tell the ticketing agent that a child will be traveling alone, specifying the age. Don’t expect a special fare for children.

Make a reservation on a nonstop flight if at all possible.

Be aware that some airlines will not make a reservation for a child on the last flight of the day to avoid unexpected overnight stays if the flight is canceled.

When you make the reservation, provide the name, address and phone number of the person escorting the child to the departure gate. Also have the same information on the person meeting your child. Airlines won’t release a UM to anyone but the person whose name you provide.

Make note of the child’s flight itinerary, including the destination airport, flight numbers, departure and arrival times, baggage claim checks, etc. The person meeting the child should have all the flight information as well as a government-issued identification card (a driver’s license will do). The name on the ID must correspond with the name on the child’s Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage form.

If the child has never flown before, take them on a little airport orientation tour days before the flight if possible.

On flight day, arrive an hour earlier than the airline requires to allow plenty of time to check in, fill out the Unaccompanied Minor form and go through security. The airline will provide the parent or guardian with documentation that will allow him or her to accompany the child through security to the gate.

Introduce your child to the representative at the ticket counter and at the departure gate, and if he or she has never flown before, advise the departure gate agent (and a flight attendant if you can).

Make sure your kid has proper identification, and cash for emergencies. Carriers provide children with an ID pouch to wear around their neck. Also give your child a telephone calling card and teach him or her how to call home. Given the usual lack of airline meal service, pack some food for the child.

Depending on age, provide your kid with books, games and drawing paper to stay occupied during the flight.

Keep what the child has to carry on to a minimum (one or two bags is the limit anyway).

If children need assistance, remind them to ask a uniformed airline representative, not a stranger.

Try not to worry your child or show that you’re worried.

Remain at the gate until the child’s flight has departed (a requirement!) and make certain your party on the other end is ready to greet your new frequent flier.

For UMs flying internationally on U.S. airlines or on international carriers, the magic age numbers are ages 5 through 11, same as they are domestically. The UM service is optional for children 12-17.

The requirements for paperwork — names, addresses, phone number for both the party bringing the child to the airport and picking him or her up on the other end — are the same. One-way UM charges can vary on international carriers, from no charge on Air France to $50 on British Airways to roughly $75 on Lufthansa.

Besides a passport, parents need to execute a notarized travel consent form when a child is traveling alone internationally. The same consent form is also needed if the child is traveling with only one parent or a guardian or another adult who is not a parent. The travel authorization letter is required by many countries to avoid involvement in custody cases, situations where one parent might try to skip the country with a child. Generic consent forms are available on www.lawdepot.com and on www.familytravelforum.com.