Can A Child Travel Alone by Air

If you are a busy parent like most of my friends who are all over the globe doing business or your core job is all about travel and moving countries, you will face the challenge of either moving your child from one school to another across the globe or making that decision to board them into one school and have them join you across the globe to where you are currently. The main concern for many parents when faced with the possibility of their children travelling alone by air is their safety and comfort. Here is the good news, you no longer have to worry about that. Most if not all airlines offer the escorted service for unaccompanied children at a fee and guarantee their comfort and safety. This includes assisting with check in, luggage check in and transfer, physical escort and handover to the guardian.

Below are points to consider before you let your child travel alone.
1. Age
2. Airlines
3.Luggage
4.Transit Airports
6. Travel Time and Cost


Age

Airline always have an age limit for the children they allow to travel alone. This includes the lower limit and the upper limit as well. However, airlines will be more strict on the lower age limit mostly because of the needs the children may require during travel. Most Airlines would allow the age of 5 years to 14 years. However if you want your child above 14 years to be offered this service, some airlines allow it upon request.

Airline

Confirm which airlines your child is going to use and their conditions of carriage in regard to unaccompanied children (unaccompanied minors in the airline industry) If your child is going to use two or more airlines, find out the terms and conditions of transfer from one airline to the next. Do your research and find out if you need to do an advance request for the service and the timeline, this may differ from one airline to another.

Luggage

Find out how much luggage you child is allowed to carry unaccompanied and if this is acceptable to you as a parent. Does it accommodate the needs of your child? If you want their is a need to carry more, how much will it cost you and is it worth it? It is always advisable to check with more than one airline for costs that are friendlier than your pocket but also offer comfort and safety for your child.

Transit Airports

Airline have strict conditions for  unaccompanied children and this must be taken into consideration if your child has a transit connection, some of them include but not limited to:

• No overnight stopover/connection

• No connections on 'flights' operated by train/ bus.

• No change of airport allowed

• No overnight stopover/connection

• No connection longer than 5 hrs

Travel time and Cost

It is wise to consider the cost of your child travelling alone, it should be pocket friendly but also offer the desired quality of service. Consider also the time your child is going to spend travelling and if it will be comfortable you and to your child. Most parent would consider breaking the journey into phases if they have trusted guardians on transit points to offer their child a resting time.

Are you comfortable letting your child travel alone?

Can you trust an airline to take care of your child

Share your comments below and any experiences you have had if your child has ever traveled alone by air