Kids Flying Alone Can Get Everything But Plastic Wings
Share
Flying alone is probably a kid’s biggest dream, as well as a parent’s biggest nightmare. These days, the airlines have taken the blind adventure out of flying alone (if you’re a kid), as well as the uncertainty (if you’re a parent). While it used to be a case of pointing your kid toward the nearest airline staff member and racing off towards an adults-only weekend, today’s airlines have mandatory programs in place for unaccompanied children flying alone.
Generally, kids under five years old cannot fly by themselves, and those under 15 have to fly under an Unaccompanied Minors (UM) program. Such programs vary by airline, but none seem to include those awesome plastic pilot’s wings. Don’t you wish you kept yours? It’s too late now.
The cost for sending your child off on her own air adventure in the US ranges from $25 each way (Alaska Airlines, who for some reason will not fly a UM to Sun Valley, Idaho) to $150 (United Airlines, which describes it as a fee for “extra handling” – your kid may bristle at the nomenclature). You’ll often get free food or checked luggage thrown in. Some airlines offer special swag bags and handheld video game devices for UM passengers, but parents will value peace of mind most.
To keep young flyers occupied between security and boarding, Delta offers Sky Zones – dedicated UM lounges – at airports such as JFK, ATL, DEN, and SLC. Now your kids won’t have to re-enact scenes from Unaccompanied Minors.
If you’re traveling with kids and end up with extra time on your hands, some airports offer play areas so the little ones can blow off some steam. While San Francisco’s nightlife is grownup friendly, its airport is all about the kids: SFO boasts 11 nurseries and three play areas, as well as kids’ menus at several of its restaurants. PDX in Portland has two kids’ play areas, including one before you reach security – ideal if you’re picking someone up and have to wait. Chicago O’Hare International Airport has Kids on the Fly, which is as much a work of art as it is a playground.
KIDS ON A PLANE
Once aboard, forcing unaccompanied minors to serve coffee and peanuts is heavily frowned-upon, so airlines will often provide specialized in-flight entertainment for their young solo passengers. Emirates, for example, offers a Flying Camera channel that gives avgeeks-in-training a pilot’s-eye view of the flight. In addition to special in-flight programming for kids and teens, Lufthansa stocks board games, kids magazines and even offers young passengers a logbook for collecting information about the flight.
Airline childcare services are not limited to young ones flying by themselves. Sometimes you need an extra hand while flying with your brood; hey, maybe you left your smart cradle at home. Etihad Airways offers a Flying Nanny service to save your sanity. These airborne nannies don’t need flying umbrellas, since they’re in the cabin with you – and they can also keep an eye on unaccompanied minors.
Children’s needs and wants have been integrated into the travel experience better than ever before. Now, if only they’d bring back those plastic wings…