With the arrival of summer vacation, many families have arranged for their children to fly alone to visit relatives or travel. For parents, their children's solo flight may be worrying, but the unaccompanied minor service provided by airlines can greatly alleviate parents' worries.
In order to ensure the safety and comfort of their children during the flight, parents need to know some important tips about unaccompanied minors flying.
Tips for an Unaccompanied Minor (Flying Alone)
video by Travel Tips by Laurie
Unaccompanied service applicable to
Usually, unaccompanied minors are children aged 5 to 12. For children of this age, they can fly alone without adult accompaniment. However, teenagers aged 12 to 18 can also choose to use unaccompanied service. It is worth noting that the age regulations for unaccompanied services may vary among major airlines. Parents are advised to confirm the specific requirements when purchasing tickets.
How to apply for unaccompanied minor service
1. Ticket purchase: When parents purchase tickets for their children, they need to provide their children's valid identification documents (such as ID card, household registration booklet, passport, etc.). The ticket purchase information should be consistent with the documents to ensure that there are no errors.
2. Application service:Most airlines provide multiple options for parents to choose from, such as phone, official website or counter application. After successful application, parents must check in at the airport. In order to ensure that children can enjoy timely service, parents should apply as early as possible and confirm the specific details of the service with the airline.
3. Fill in the pick-up card:Parents need to fill in the pick-up card when checking in, which includes the child's name, age, gender, flight information, and the name and contact information of the pick-up person. This is an important step to ensure the safety of children on the flight.
Materials required for unaccompanied service
1. Valid documents:The child's ID card, passport or other valid identity documents (such as household registration booklet) need to be carried with them, and make sure to present the original when checking in at the airport.
2. Travel documents:Some flights require children to provide travel documents such as visas and health certificates of relevant countries. Therefore, parents should prepare relevant documents in advance to avoid flight delays due to missing documents.
3. Pickup card: Parents need to fill in detailed pick-up information to ensure that the pick-up person can complete the pick-up process smoothly.
About unaccompanied minors
1. Apply for service in advance: Many airlines have limited places for unaccompanied minors, and some airlines require parents to apply 1 to 3 days before the flight takes off, so parents should make arrangements in advance to avoid missing the best time to apply.
2. Choose direct flights: In order to ensure the safety of children, it is best to choose direct flights, because most airlines do not provide unaccompanied services for connecting flights. Direct flights can reduce the waiting time and possible emergencies of children during transfers.
3. Waiting at the airport: Parents should ensure that the flight takes off on time when sending off the plane, and it is best to wait at the airport to avoid affecting the safety of children due to flight delays and other reasons. Airline staff will take the children to the boarding gate to wait after the flight takes off.
4. Prepare your child's carry-on luggage:Unaccompanied children are usually only allowed to carry one piece of carry-on luggage, and are not allowed to carry items such as imitation toy weapons and milk. Parents should prepare some light items for their children, such as books and toys, to pass the time during the journey, and ensure the convenience of the luggage.
How to ensure a smooth pick-up
1. Arrive at the airport in advance:The pick-up person should arrive at the airport in advance to avoid missing the pick-up time. Parents can check their child's flight information in real time through the airline's official website or application.
2. Keep communication open:After the flight lands, the crew will contact the pick-up person in time to inform the child's flight status and health. Therefore, the pick-up person must ensure that the mobile phone is fully charged and the communication is open.
3. Prepare the documents required for pick-up:The pick-up person needs to bring a valid ID so that the staff can verify the identity and ensure a smooth handover of the child.
Final Thoughts
Although flying with unaccompanied minors is full of challenges, as long as parents are fully prepared and understand and comply with the relevant regulations of the airline, their children's flight journey will become safer and smoother. Parents should ensure that they apply for and prepare the necessary documents in advance, and try their best to assist their children in the entire process of boarding and picking up at the airport. I believe that under the care of the airline's professionals, children will have a pleasant independent travel experience.
