When Kids Fly Alone

by Paul Sheppard

As Marla watches the 9 a.m. flight from Houston to Denver pull away from the gate, she waves to the plane and hopes her son Aaron is watching. She knows he'll have a great time visiting his grandma, but she can't help feeling nervous.

This is Aaron's first flight alone -- and he's only nine years old! Like Marla, many parents wonder -- when is my child old enough to fly alone?

Be sure to call your airline to find out its specific regulations regarding children flying alone. In general though, airlines follow these guidelines.

Ground rules

Before deciding whether to let your child fly alone, you should be aware of a few things:

• Children under five may not fly alone.
• Children between the ages of five and seven may fly non-stop only (no connecting flights), and may not travel on the last flight of the day.
• Children eight and older may fly alone on all flights.

Most parents are more concerned about what happens when their child arrives than they are about the flight itself. If you aren't there, who makes sure that your child is picked up as planned? What if that friend or relative on the other end is running late?

Fortunately, regulations are in place to protect your child. If he's under 12, you'll be required to supply the name, address, and phone number of the person meeting him before he boards. At the end of the flight, young travelers are escorted off the plane first, and gate personnel check the IDs of people picking up children. Kids are kept at the gate until they are picked up. Upon request, most airlines will take this security precaution for kids over 12 as well, usually for a $30 escort fee.

What about layovers?

Okay, so you can feel confident that your child will safely reach her destination if her flight is non-stop. But what if she has to make a connecting flight? Who makes sure she makes the connection and supervises her between flights?

The good news is that airlines will escort your child to her connecting gate, usually for a $30 fee added to the ticket price. From there, the gate agents for the connecting flight make sure your child boards the right plane.

It's easy to get the impression that airlines are providing careful supervision throughout this process. The bad news is that children are not really supervised while waiting at the gate. Gate agents, who typically have their hands full checking in passengers, are the ones responsible for watching over children. They may be able to keep an eye on your child, but they don't babysit. Taking these precautions will help you and your child feel confident that all will be well:

• Make sure your child knows to go to the bathroom on the flight, so that she doesn't need to leave the gate.
• Tell her not to leave with anyone who is not in uniform.
• Give her a calling card before she travels, as well as a list of numbers to call if necessary.

What if I'm flying with young children?

Here are the rules:

• Children under two don't need a ticket -- they can "lap sit."
• If you bring a car seat, your under-two-year-old can occupy any vacant seat. (If no seats are available, the airline will check the car seat for you.)
• Children over two must have a ticket.
  

Check with your airline for details when you make reservations.

More on: Child Safety