I Help Unaccompanied Minors at the Airport for a Living. These Are the Most Common Problems I See


You need to avoid these four issues.

Flying alone for the first time can be a scary experience for anyone—you’re literally suspended thousands of feet in the air, for starters—but it can be particularly frightening when you’re a child or a teen.

And while most kids usually travel  with their parents, sometimes it’s just not possible, meaning they need to fly as “unaccompanied minors.” But what exactly does that entail?

I work with a company called Travel for Teens that does exactly what its name suggests: It heads guided trips all over the globe for middle schoolers and high schoolers. These trips are as informative as they are entertaining, letting kids build their confidence in new situations. In fact, that confidence building starts right at the get-go as almost all the children fly without their parents to meet their group abroad. Since airlines require children under the age of 15 or 16 to register as an unaccompanied minor via their unaccompanied minor service (each airline has different rules and requirements), I help those teens navigate that (sometimes confusing!) process at the airport before their trips.

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Here are the most common problems I notice with unaccompanied minors and how to avoid them before sending your child off on a solo flight.

Paperwork Isn’t Filled Out Beforehand

This one may seem obvious, but not everyone remembers to get the unaccompanied minor service, to begin with before sending an unaccompanied minor on a flight—and I’ve seen that lead to kids missing their flight altogether as parents scramble to complete the paperwork.

Almost all airlines will require you to contact them (usually by phone, sometimes online) in advance to request this service, so make sure you do this ahead of time so there aren’t any surprises or delays at the airport. You’re then usually sent a form you can fill out ahead of time that asks for flight details, contact information, and the information for the person picking your child up after the flight. While you can answer it at the airport, it’ll save you time and hassle to have this prepared before you even arrive there.

The airline won’t let your unaccompanied minor check in alone, so you’ll want to make sure you stay with them until they’ve been checked in, their luggage is handled, the form has been handed to the desk agent, and the fee has been paid (the standard cost is around $150 for the unaccompanied minor service). From there, the process differs based on airlines and airports. Sometimes, they’ll have airport staff take them to the gate to wait with someone or to a holding lounge until their flight. Other times, you’ll be expected to go through security and wait at the gate with them. Learn what you should expect from the airline ahead of time so you have the right documentation and are prepared to go through a security screening process if needed.

Children Aren’t Adequately Prepared

While adults handle the initial paperwork and fees, it’s the child who actually makes the flight. Too often, I have to comfort kids who are visibly scared and confused about the process, especially if their parents are leaving them with airport staff to guide them to the gate. It’s important to remember that while traveling, it might be familiar and simple to you. For kids, it can be disorienting, even if they’ve been on a plane already.

Before a flight, you should talk to your kid and walk them through the process, explaining exactly who will be bringing them to the gate, what the boarding process is like, what they can expect on the plane (including entertainment options and the foods/drinks situation), and who will be picking them up when they land. Give them space to ask any questions at this point! You may not even be aware of what’s making them nervous: It could be being stuck with a stranger, the fear of missing a flight, or turbulence once they take off. By talking it out, you can address any potential concerns they may have about taking this big step solo.

No Contacts on Either Side of the Flight to Help with Pickups/Security

When you pay the airline to watch over your unaccompanied minor, they’re not just checking in on them during a flight. They’re also watching over them from the moment they go through the security line until the adult you’ve named picks them up in person from the airport. However, parents don’t always think about what happens when the plane lands.

If you don’t have a designated pickup person over the age of 18 to pick your kid up in person, they won’t be able to fly—and yes, many people do forget this part of the process when booking flights, leading to canceled travel plans.

One thing I’ve seen several parents do if they don’t have an adult to be there right on time at arrivals to get their kid is hire a service to get them. There are plenty of legitimate options out there; just make sure you do your research.

And while many airlines have staff escort an unaccompanied minor through security to the gate or a holding lounge until the flight is ready, that’s not always the case. You may be required to take them through security and wait with them yourself. Depending on when you arrive at the airport, that may mean you’re stuck there for quite a while! I’ve seen several parents get flustered and say the timing doesn’t work for them, so make sure you clear your calendar for the day or get an escort who has the time to wait with them.

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Not Having a Contingency Plan in Case Flights Are Canceled

Air travel is mostly reliable, but things happen. Weather impacts flight routes, planes encounter mechanical issues, and this summer, a tech issue grounded thousands of flights. The day that happened, I was stuck trying to help several unaccompanied minors who were grounded indefinitely at the airport, which led to several logistical issues, especially if their flight was rescheduled for another day entirely. Where were they going to sleep? Hotels won’t let people under 18 check in alone, for example, and Uber policy states it won’t let minors ride alone either. Luckily, my company is aware this is always a possibility, so I was already available to help kids make hotel arrangements for the night and then get them back to the airport the next day if needed.

You have to do the same and have a contingency plan in place if your child is on a connecting flight (this goes for any kid under the age of 18, regardless of whether they’re technically an unaccompanied minor via their specific airline requirements). That means having a contact on the ground the day of the flight at the airport (whether that’s a family member, a trusted friend, someone like me working with your travel group, or a travel service you’ve researched) so your kid can have a place to sleep and someone to watch over them if there are any major issues. You’ll rest easier knowing someone is in place to help if the worst happens.

Sending your child to fly alone can seem scary, but it’s also something that kids do every single day. The airlines are there to help, and there are plenty of services you can turn to for assistance as well. Just make sure both you and your child prepare properly, and you can expect smooth sailing (ahem, flying?) from there!



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