While my daughters have been flying since they were toddlers, this is the first year that they traveled by themselves. Since they are minors traveling by themselves, there were a few things that were different:
-
1. There is a $100 additional fee that must be paid at check in. This is the fee for the added attention accorded to minors, such as escort to their seat and transport to their connecting flight. A family traveling together (such as my 3 daughters) only pays $100 for the group, not each. Thank goodness for that! I didn’t have extra $300. They also only take cash or credit card. No checks.
2. Each child is given a paper bracelet, much like the ones they get at amusement parks, to identify them as minors traveling alone. My ten year old daughter exclaimed, “we’re being barcoded!”
3. The airline gives parents a security pass so they can escort their children to the gate. They must stay at the gate. They must stay at the gate area until the plane pushes off.
4. Upon arrival at their destination, the responsible party picking them up must meet them at the gate for the ‘hand-off’.
I have yet to interview the girls to see what they thought of the experience.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Wow, I remember when I was young, I traveled alone from CA to NY all the time. Well, not all the time, maybe 4 times, but it was always easy back then, prior to the time when you needed a boarding pass to even get into the terminal. That being said, I really miss the time spent with family before departing from an airport. It always seemed really special, all of us waiting with the people we were leaving, like a few stolen moments.
That being said, I am surprised the airlines didn’t make you pay the $300. Seems like these days they’ll nickel and dime travelers to death!
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I would be way too paranoid to let me son travel alone LOL! Great information, thanks!
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I haven’t flown alone yet…being 16 I wouldn’t need to deal with this problem though. Yeah, I am surprised they didn’t charge you $300, what airline was it?
July 24th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
LOL! Well the “un-accomps” made it fine to California but you have got to interview Jade and get the details…it’s pretty funny as she describes it. Aaah, they’re growing up so fast….
July 31st, 2008 at 11:00 am
Hello all, thanks for leaving comments. My apologies for the late reply.
Ryan, they flew on Delta, which I heard may now be charging for checked bags as well.
Katherine, yep, they sure are nickel and diming everyone now. First they take the food away, raise the price. Now they take the luggages away, raise the price.
Hi sis, I know, that girl can spin a yarn and have you in stitches
July 31st, 2008 at 11:15 am
[...] mentioned before that the girls flew by themselves for the first time this summer. They’ve been flying to California almost every summer since [...]
August 11th, 2008 at 10:26 am
[...] Anyway, no sense in me ranting about it now. They are in the air as we speak. They just left half an hour ago and will be here in about seven hours. I’ll chuck this up to another learning experience and add it to the previous lessons learned. [...]