• Pack a copy of your child’s itinerary
and birth certificate in your child’s
carry-on bag. Include travel dates,
flight numbers, departure and arrival
times, and a booking number.
You should also include your own
contact details.
• Give your child a mobile phone with
pre-programmed numbers.
• Include some snacks, and some
sweets to suck to ease popping ears
on landing.
• Let your child pick out some books,
small toys or electronic items to take
on the journey – but don’t forget
to explain that gadgets need to
be switched off for take-off and
landing.
• Put a sweatshirt in your child’s carry-
on luggage in case they get chilly
on the plane. Some parents pack
a day’s worth of clothes in case the
checked luggage gets lost.
• Dress your child in loose,
comfortable clothing – keep tricky
fastenings to a minimum as your
child will need to be able to undo
them (and do them up again) when
using the plane’s toilet.
• On the big day, arrive at the airport
early to deal with any last-minute
paperwork (airlines generally
advise arriving three hours before
an international flight, and two
hours before a domestic flight). In
many airports, parents can get gate
passes to take their child directly to
the gate.
• Stay at the airport until the plane
has taken off. Occasionally, even
after boarding, the flight may be
cancelled or delayed.
• Make arrangements with the
person picking up your child in good
time, and remind them to bring
photo ID to the airport – without it,
the airline may be reluctant to hand
over your child.
Be prepared!
fly as unaccompanied minors every
year, the journey goes without a hitch.
For Arlene’s family, the experience
was a very positive one. She says, “We
were happy with the way it worked
out. The kids were very nervous and
hesitant at first as they had never
flown alone before and it’s such a long
way, but after the flight, they seemed
more than willing to do it again. The
airline booking staff were very helpful,
thorough and efficient, and formalities
were stringent. I did worry about the
girls while they were on the flight.
Although I knew they were in safe
hands, it’s natural to worry. I was a bit
on edge until I heard they were safely
in Glasgow with my mother. I was also
concerned as there was a T8 during
take-off, but everything seemed to go
smoothly. In fact, it worked so well
that we’ll be doing it again this year –
but this year, we’ll also send my son,
who will be eight by then.”
And for many children, getting
from A to B suddenly becomes a
much more exciting adventure when
they are flying solo. Once the initial
jitters have subsided, they might get
a taste for their new-found freedom,
without parents in tow to cramp their
style! This is a sentiment shared by
11-year-old Orla. “I loved feeling
independent,” she says, “but I also felt
safe because the airline staff really
looked after us”.
January 2014
43
