The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the years for travelers and airlines. Infact, many travelers are unaccompanied minors, children between the ages of 5-11 traveling solo. Is your child traveling alone on a plane this holiday season?
Listed below you will find important tips to ensure a successful flight for your child and peace of mind for parents.
Prepare your child for travel. No matter if a flight is 1 hour or 6 hours, there are a few necessities for children while traveling alone.
1. Nutritious snack.
I've witnessed children fly from NYC TO LA without a meal or snack provided by their parent. Airlines do not offer full meals and if they do, most charge for the meal and a credit card is required. Meals are not included in a ticket price.
Listed below you will find important tips to ensure a successful flight for your child and peace of mind for parents.
Prepare your child for travel. No matter if a flight is 1 hour or 6 hours, there are a few necessities for children while traveling alone.
1. Nutritious snack.
I've witnessed children fly from NYC TO LA without a meal or snack provided by their parent. Airlines do not offer full meals and if they do, most charge for the meal and a credit card is required. Meals are not included in a ticket price.
Also, you never know if a flight will encounter a delay due to a mechanical problem or poor weather conditions. Pack a sandwich, fruit or some other nutricious food your child will enjoy. Make sure it's readily available in your child's carryon bag. Avoid giving them candy and sugary snacks. Kids become extremely hyper, kick seats, talk loud, and become figidy if they eat alot of sugar.
2. Entertainment
Pack a book, stuffed animal, coloring book, or a new "soundless" toy or game. If your child has electronic games with sound, be sure to tell your child to mute the sound or wear ear phones while playing the game or watching a dvd movie. Passengers seated near children become irritable when they hear the zaps and zings of battling space aliens or shootouts on electronic game devices. Not all airlines offer inflight entertainment featuring movies or satellite television. Restless childrens usually become unruly children.
3. Keep Them Warm and Cozy
Pack a sweater or small blanket. Planes are cold. Most airlines do not offer pillows and blankets. Some airlines charge customers a small fee for a pillow and blanket. Again a credit card is needed.
4. Lay Down Rules
Tell your child to mind their manners and always listen to and obey the flight crew. The flight crew is there for your child's safety and comfort. They are not "babysitters" for unruly children.
5. Relay Important Information regarding Medical Conditions, Medication and Allergies to the Flight Crew.
If your child has a food allergy, ensure the flight crew is aware. Do not rely on the info sheet from the customer service agent, or informing a reservation agent to relay to the flight crew. If possible, walk onboard with your child and brief the head flight attendant regarding your child's medical conditions, concerns or severe allergies. Peanut allergies have grown within the last 10 years. Make sure the flight crew is aware that peanuts should not be served during the flight. If you are unable to escort your child to the plane, have your child hand the flight attendant a note stating medical concerns or allergies.
6. Medication
Pack your child's medication in the carryon bag. Write instructions and times for medication as a reminder for your child.
7. Store Important Documents in a Safe Place
Make sure your child's important documents are tucked securely in carryon luggage. Passports, airline itineraries, school IDs, etc should be kept in a safe place. Also, inform your child not to remove the documents for his/her carryon. Flight crews find important documents inside seatback pockets and under seats frequently.
8. Contact People at the Destination City to Ensure your Child will be Picked up On Time.
Communicate with the party meeting your child at his/her destination. Make sure they will be on time to pick up your child at the gate. Remind them to give themselves plenty of time to go through security checkpoints at the airport.
9. Write a List of Important Contact Information and Pack it in the Carry On Bag.
An Info sheet with important phone numbers and contacts is valuable information for your child in the event of an emergency.
10. Communicate Expectations
If it's your child's first time flying alone, explain to your child what to expect during their journey. Explain TSA and security. Inform your child what to expect while walking through a security checkpoint. He or she should know all items will be xrayed and is required to walk through a metal detector.
Remind them to stow their luggage under the seat in front of them or to ask the flight attendant to place their luggage in an overhead bin. Tell your child wearing a seatbelt is a must and to always obey the seatbelt sign.
Tell your child to mind their manners and always listen to and obey the flight crew. The flight crew is there for your child's safety and comfort. They are not "babysitters" for unruly children.
5. Relay Important Information regarding Medical Conditions, Medication and Allergies to the Flight Crew.
6. Medication
Pack your child's medication in the carryon bag. Write instructions and times for medication as a reminder for your child.
7. Store Important Documents in a Safe Place
Make sure your child's important documents are tucked securely in carryon luggage. Passports, airline itineraries, school IDs, etc should be kept in a safe place. Also, inform your child not to remove the documents for his/her carryon. Flight crews find important documents inside seatback pockets and under seats frequently.
8. Contact People at the Destination City to Ensure your Child will be Picked up On Time.
Communicate with the party meeting your child at his/her destination. Make sure they will be on time to pick up your child at the gate. Remind them to give themselves plenty of time to go through security checkpoints at the airport.
9. Write a List of Important Contact Information and Pack it in the Carry On Bag.
An Info sheet with important phone numbers and contacts is valuable information for your child in the event of an emergency.
10. Communicate Expectations
If it's your child's first time flying alone, explain to your child what to expect during their journey. Explain TSA and security. Inform your child what to expect while walking through a security checkpoint. He or she should know all items will be xrayed and is required to walk through a metal detector.
Remind them to stow their luggage under the seat in front of them or to ask the flight attendant to place their luggage in an overhead bin. Tell your child wearing a seatbelt is a must and to always obey the seatbelt sign.
Stress the importance of good behavior and manners.
Many children fear turbulence. Explain to your child that turbulence is common while flying and it's nothing to fear. Describe turbulence as driving along a dirt road in the sky. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce and wear a seatbelt tightly across the lap.
11. Ring the Call Button for Emergencies
Press the call button if there is a problem.
Tell your child to inform the flight attendant if he/she doesn't feel well or more importantly, a passenger makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Don't act nervous or instill fear in your child about flying or terrorism.
Pick up your child on time.
Remember, the airline isn't a babysitting service. If your child's flight arrives at 3pm and you cannot leave work until 5:30pm, make other arrangements for someone to pick up your child. Some airlines will contact Child Protective Services if you do not pick up your child in a timely manner.
Check flight status for delays on your airlines website or by calling their reservation 800 number. Please have your child's flight number and city pairs available.
Follow these simple tips. The child should have an enjoyable flight and parents will have peace of mind.
WARNING:
Many children fear turbulence. Explain to your child that turbulence is common while flying and it's nothing to fear. Describe turbulence as driving along a dirt road in the sky. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce and wear a seatbelt tightly across the lap.
11. Ring the Call Button for Emergencies
Press the call button if there is a problem.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
Don't act nervous or instill fear in your child about flying or terrorism.
Pick up your child on time.
Remember, the airline isn't a babysitting service. If your child's flight arrives at 3pm and you cannot leave work until 5:30pm, make other arrangements for someone to pick up your child. Some airlines will contact Child Protective Services if you do not pick up your child in a timely manner.
Check flight status for delays on your airlines website or by calling their reservation 800 number. Please have your child's flight number and city pairs available.
Follow these simple tips. The child should have an enjoyable flight and parents will have peace of mind.
WARNING:
BE SURE TO TELL YOUR CHILD NOT TO LEAVE PLANE UNESCORTED.
Many children get excited when they reach their destination and try to run off the plane without an airline escort. Tell your child to wait for an airline escort to walk them off of the plane to the gate area to meet with family or friends waiting for their arrival.
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