Your
kid is going overseas. Perhaps she’s visiting family who live abroad.
Maybe he’s going to stay with a friend for a couple of weeks during the
summer break. Now you have to figure out how to keep your kid safe from a
continent away. The following are ten top travel safety tips when your
kid is flying alone.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #1: Arrange Documents Ahead of Time
The last thing you want to have happen is for your child to be detained at a foreign airport due to a problem with their passport or visa. Make sure ahead of time your child’s passport expiration is more than 6 months after their planned return home. Check if any visas are needed for the countries where they’re planned to spend time, and if so, arrange to have those far in advance. Verify if there are any special requirements in that country regarding kids traveling without parents, and follow these to the
letter.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #2: Make Travel Arrangements Early
Book your travel as far in advance as possible, and at least 48 hours in advance. This will make it easier for the airline to seat your kid near a flight attendant station where they can be supervised more closely. Arriving at the airport at least 3 hours before departure will also make things less stressful for you and your kid.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #3: Stranger Safety
Your child’s name should not be externally visible anywhere, including not on his bag, so unauthorized people can’t claim to know him and get him to follow them anywhere. Carefully coach your child on the tried and true strategies. Don’t talk to strangers, and if uncomfortable with someone’s attentions talk with someone in authority. These are especially important to follow when your child is traveling alone internationally.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #4: Take Advantage of Airline Unaccompanied Minor Service
Airlines’ services for unaccompanied minors, another term for kids flying alone, can cost $100 or more for each direction of travel beyond their airfare, though usually with no added cost (except the airfare) for a sibling flying together on the same flight.
These services are fairly straight-forward. You buy the ticket for your child, specifying this is for travel as an unaccompanied minor. You then check her in, where she’s handed over to the care of airline personnel. The airline assigns an employee, usually a flight attendant on the flight, to escort her through security checks, and if needed, to a connecting flight.
Make sure you read and carefully follow the policies and procedures of the airline your child will travel alone on. Typically, airlines will not allow children younger than 5 to travel solo. Typically up to age 6 to 8 (depending on the airline) children flying alone can only go on non-stop flights. Children 12 to 17 are not usually required to use the airline’s unaccompanied minor service, but it is still a good idea.
Even if the airline allows it, don’t include in the itinerary a connecting flight that’s the last of the day. Try to arrange for early flights only, as this will give some leeway for recovery from a cancelled or missed connection. Early in their day, the staff at the connecting airport will likely be fresh and not make a mistake that puts your child or his checked luggage on the wrong flight.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #5: Stay at the Airport until the Flight Departs
Children flying alone are likely to be anxious about it. Last minute flight delays or cancellations will make things even more stressful. Check your kid’s flight status before heading to the airport to ensure you don’t have to spend more time than necessary waiting at the airport. Once your kid is checked in and in the hands of the airline, stay until his flight departs. If there’s a last minute problem and the flight is cancelled, you need to be on hand to take him home.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #6: Give your Child a Recent Photo of the Adult Picking Her Up
Unless your child will instantly recognize the adult picking her up, having a recent photo will make it easier on her to identify the person picking her up. This adult will need to show a photo ID to the airline to be allowed to pick up your kid, but this way she has some feeling of control and is likely to be calmer about the transition.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #7: More Things to Send with your Child
Your kid should have with him a list of emergency contacts at his destination. This should include the names and phone numbers of the person picking him up, plus at least one other person. This way if the arranged pickup is delayed or somehow prevented from reaching the airport, your child can contact an alternate person.
If your child takes prescription medications, make sure to pack with him a sufficient supply in the original bottle. If your kid suffers any allergies, make sure to send with him any necessary medications, as well as a letter describing the allergies. It is especially important to note any allergies to medications, such as penicillin.
A consent letter naming the custodians at your child’s destination will allow them to prove to authorities they are his temporary guardians. This could make things simpler in case of a medical emergency. The letter should be signed by both parents if at all possible.
Give your kid a global calling card and/or a rented cell phone that will work at the destination, with instructions on how to call you. This will allow him to reach you in an emergency.
Make two sets of photo-copies of all documents including passport, e-ticket itinerary, contact information for you as well as the adult picking him up at his destination, unaccompanied minor form, consent letter, etc. Keep one set of copies with you and another with your child, in a secure pouch, possibly under his shirt. This is also a good place to put some emergency cash, preferably in the currency of the destination and any layover location. Tell your kid not to take this out except in case of emergency. The money may enable your child to make an emergency phone call, or at least feed himself if somehow his escort loses him.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #8: How to Pack
Packing for your child, make sure her carry-on is not too heavy to carry in comfort. Follow airport security instructions to the letter, and don’t send any liquids in the carry-on in amounts greater than allowed. Any liquids should be in the allowed quart-sized clear bag. Pack toys, solo games, books, activity books, markers, crayons, etc. depending on her interests. Make sure these are easy to access. If she’s used to them, you should include a favorite stuffed animal and perhaps a neck pillow for comfortable napping on the way.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #9: Strength in Numbers
If possible, having two siblings travel together is much better than either one travelling alone. The two can talk things over if they feel uncomfortable or concerned, providing emotional support on the way. Keep in mind however that airlines will use the younger kid’s age to determine what flights they’re allow on.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #10: Communication
Make arrangements to talk with your child daily, if at all possible, when she’s abroad. This will provide her with a measure of normalcy, and will allow you to question her as to how she’s doing so you’re confident she’s OK.
Bottom Line of Kid Travel Safety
Plan everything far ahead of time, and make all arrangements needed so your kid doesn’t have to do anything more complicated than follow an escort through security checks, connecting flights, customs, immigration, etc. This will already be plenty for a child flying alone to handle.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #1: Arrange Documents Ahead of Time
The last thing you want to have happen is for your child to be detained at a foreign airport due to a problem with their passport or visa. Make sure ahead of time your child’s passport expiration is more than 6 months after their planned return home. Check if any visas are needed for the countries where they’re planned to spend time, and if so, arrange to have those far in advance. Verify if there are any special requirements in that country regarding kids traveling without parents, and follow these to the
letter.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #2: Make Travel Arrangements Early
Book your travel as far in advance as possible, and at least 48 hours in advance. This will make it easier for the airline to seat your kid near a flight attendant station where they can be supervised more closely. Arriving at the airport at least 3 hours before departure will also make things less stressful for you and your kid.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #3: Stranger Safety
Your child’s name should not be externally visible anywhere, including not on his bag, so unauthorized people can’t claim to know him and get him to follow them anywhere. Carefully coach your child on the tried and true strategies. Don’t talk to strangers, and if uncomfortable with someone’s attentions talk with someone in authority. These are especially important to follow when your child is traveling alone internationally.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #4: Take Advantage of Airline Unaccompanied Minor Service
Airlines’ services for unaccompanied minors, another term for kids flying alone, can cost $100 or more for each direction of travel beyond their airfare, though usually with no added cost (except the airfare) for a sibling flying together on the same flight.
These services are fairly straight-forward. You buy the ticket for your child, specifying this is for travel as an unaccompanied minor. You then check her in, where she’s handed over to the care of airline personnel. The airline assigns an employee, usually a flight attendant on the flight, to escort her through security checks, and if needed, to a connecting flight.
Make sure you read and carefully follow the policies and procedures of the airline your child will travel alone on. Typically, airlines will not allow children younger than 5 to travel solo. Typically up to age 6 to 8 (depending on the airline) children flying alone can only go on non-stop flights. Children 12 to 17 are not usually required to use the airline’s unaccompanied minor service, but it is still a good idea.
Even if the airline allows it, don’t include in the itinerary a connecting flight that’s the last of the day. Try to arrange for early flights only, as this will give some leeway for recovery from a cancelled or missed connection. Early in their day, the staff at the connecting airport will likely be fresh and not make a mistake that puts your child or his checked luggage on the wrong flight.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #5: Stay at the Airport until the Flight Departs
Children flying alone are likely to be anxious about it. Last minute flight delays or cancellations will make things even more stressful. Check your kid’s flight status before heading to the airport to ensure you don’t have to spend more time than necessary waiting at the airport. Once your kid is checked in and in the hands of the airline, stay until his flight departs. If there’s a last minute problem and the flight is cancelled, you need to be on hand to take him home.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #6: Give your Child a Recent Photo of the Adult Picking Her Up
Unless your child will instantly recognize the adult picking her up, having a recent photo will make it easier on her to identify the person picking her up. This adult will need to show a photo ID to the airline to be allowed to pick up your kid, but this way she has some feeling of control and is likely to be calmer about the transition.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #7: More Things to Send with your Child
Your kid should have with him a list of emergency contacts at his destination. This should include the names and phone numbers of the person picking him up, plus at least one other person. This way if the arranged pickup is delayed or somehow prevented from reaching the airport, your child can contact an alternate person.
If your child takes prescription medications, make sure to pack with him a sufficient supply in the original bottle. If your kid suffers any allergies, make sure to send with him any necessary medications, as well as a letter describing the allergies. It is especially important to note any allergies to medications, such as penicillin.
A consent letter naming the custodians at your child’s destination will allow them to prove to authorities they are his temporary guardians. This could make things simpler in case of a medical emergency. The letter should be signed by both parents if at all possible.
Give your kid a global calling card and/or a rented cell phone that will work at the destination, with instructions on how to call you. This will allow him to reach you in an emergency.
Make two sets of photo-copies of all documents including passport, e-ticket itinerary, contact information for you as well as the adult picking him up at his destination, unaccompanied minor form, consent letter, etc. Keep one set of copies with you and another with your child, in a secure pouch, possibly under his shirt. This is also a good place to put some emergency cash, preferably in the currency of the destination and any layover location. Tell your kid not to take this out except in case of emergency. The money may enable your child to make an emergency phone call, or at least feed himself if somehow his escort loses him.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #8: How to Pack
Packing for your child, make sure her carry-on is not too heavy to carry in comfort. Follow airport security instructions to the letter, and don’t send any liquids in the carry-on in amounts greater than allowed. Any liquids should be in the allowed quart-sized clear bag. Pack toys, solo games, books, activity books, markers, crayons, etc. depending on her interests. Make sure these are easy to access. If she’s used to them, you should include a favorite stuffed animal and perhaps a neck pillow for comfortable napping on the way.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #9: Strength in Numbers
If possible, having two siblings travel together is much better than either one travelling alone. The two can talk things over if they feel uncomfortable or concerned, providing emotional support on the way. Keep in mind however that airlines will use the younger kid’s age to determine what flights they’re allow on.
Kid Travel Safety Tip #10: Communication
Make arrangements to talk with your child daily, if at all possible, when she’s abroad. This will provide her with a measure of normalcy, and will allow you to question her as to how she’s doing so you’re confident she’s OK.
Bottom Line of Kid Travel Safety
Plan everything far ahead of time, and make all arrangements needed so your kid doesn’t have to do anything more complicated than follow an escort through security checks, connecting flights, customs, immigration, etc. This will already be plenty for a child flying alone to handle.
