All you need to know if you plan on sending your child alone by plane
You've never noticed the possibility, and now you find that it is time to let go of her hand. Your child will travel alone by plane, and you feel truly terrified.
In reality, there is nothing to fear. Many parents allow their young children to travel alone. There are good reasons for parents wanting to put their children, who have barely learned to tie his shoelaces, alone on an aircraft.
Divorced parents or families living over long distances following the work of one of them, need to send their kids to visit.
Often, boys spend the holidays with their grandparents or travel to spend some days with his aunts or godparents who live in a distant province.
But before you take off from under the bed SpongeBob's suitcase and start your child to pack her things and begin to lecture your child about how to behave on the plane, there are some things you should consider:
Although the minimum age for travel is five years, some airlines determine the age of seven or eight years the minimum age that children can travel alone on direct flights.
As for flights with connections or stopovers, usually must be accompanied by at least one adult.
In fact, some airlines will not let the kids fly alone in this kind of flights until they are much larger, many until the age of 15 years.
All airlines are required to provide a service for unaccompanied minors.
This means that the airline personnel will help the boy has come to fruition, assist you with whatever you need, and accompanied by a flight to another-if there are stopovers or connections.
This service comes with a fee, usually between 40 and 99 dollars. The price varies markedly between different airlines, and depends mainly on whether it is a direct flight or scales. Some airlines charge a fee only, even when two or three children are traveling together.
The age limit for compulsory service to children varies from airline to airline but is usually set between 12 to 15 years. Again, it is advisable to ask in each case.
Meanwhile, other companies offer optional service for children up to 17 years. In any case, any youth under age 17 traveling alone must have a note of permission, destination and length of stay, signed by a parent or responsible adult.
Also, children must be picked up by another parent or responsible adult at the destination airport. Even when your child is 11 years used to be collective, subways, and taxis are not allowed to do so on their own.
Tips for parents of children traveling alone on airplane
· Never wait until you get to the airport to inform the airline that the passenger will be an unaccompanied child.
It is always appropriate to provide this information by phone to customer service. Thus the company can inform you all your options and fees involved.
· If possible, purchase tickets direct to your kids. If necessary a change in plans, use a smaller, less intimidating airport for the transfer.
· When you leave your children at the airport, make sure haberles provided emergency information.
This must include instructions on how to handle flight delays, cancellations, emergency contacts, and ways to pay unforeseen cats.
· Familiarize your children with an airplane ticket. Teach them to keep it in a safe place. After the game, the boys need to keep the ticket for the return flight or as a receipt.
Use e-tickets-tickets-mails whenever you can, so that the information is stored on the computers of the airline in case of emergency.
· Try booking a morning flight. If this is delayed or canceled, you will have the rest of the day to make alternative plans. Some airlines will not allow children to fly alone over the last flights of the day.
· Young children may have problems with baggage checked. Therefore, avoid sending your children with excess baggage.
If possible, when reviewing the luggage, be sure to check the heel yourself, to make sure the ticket and luggage tag matches the final destination of travelers.
· Up to the airport early in the process to facilitate check-in and the kids get used to the environment of the airport.
If possible, show them where are the posts of information and help, and teach them to recognize uniformed employees.
· Start your children carry a photo of the person who will find them in the destination.
This picture should be written overleaf the person's full name, address, and telephone number. You will need to provide this information also to the airline.
Fun, phone and identification
· Make sure that the adult me to get your children into the destination has a photo identification.
· Pack some snacks for the kids: chips, sandwiches, cocktail nuts and other foods that can get his hands like grapes or berries.
· Drawing up a travel package to entertain the little ones children during the flight.
This combo should include books, drawing materials, small games or puzzles, and anything to keep them happily occupied.
· Provide your children from X amount of cash to cover unexpected expenses and to make emergency calls.
· In addition, make sure the kids know how to make collect calls, and a telephone card provéeles before traveling as well as a list of the most important numbers. Also inform them that they can not use the phone during the flight.
· Let your child is five years and I can fly alone, "does not mean that can handle all the situations involved on their own, especially if you've never flown before.
Parents should use common sense and decide whether or evaluating the children are mature enough to fly.
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