Tips for Kids Traveling Alone

Sometimes circumstances mean a child has to fly without an adult. But how you can make sure your kids end up in the right place, safe and sound?

Some airlines have strict policies about unaccompanied minors, and many are good rules of thumb.

For example, don’t send children on the last flight of the day, and avoid putting them on connecting flights.

Make sure your child knows he or she is supposed to be accompanied by an airline staff member every step of the way.

The key to avoiding problems is to anticipate them before they happen.

Put a copy of your kids’ itinerary in their bag, but for safety’s sake, don’t put their name or personal information where others can see it.

Give them a cell phone with your number and the number of the person picking him up pre-programmed into it.

If the child is on a connecting flight, make sure there is an emergency contact in that city.

That could be a relative, a friend, or the even the phone number of a nearby hotel.

But the bottom line is really to understand your own kid’s maturity level.

Even though some airlines let kids as young as 5 travel alone, that doesn’t mean all 5-year-olds should travel alone.

And these days, with airlines charging as much at $150 for kids to fly alone, each way, you may want think twice before booking that ticket.

Or get more help in our Family Travel section.

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