AIRLINE POLICIES FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS TRAVEL
Updated by Ken Raggio, Raggio &
Raggio, Dallas on December 2007
(American and Southwest)
| Transportation Carrier | Youngest Age for Unaccomp. Minor on Direct Flight | Youngest Age for Unaccomp. Minor on Connecting Flight | Escort Provided by Carrier for Connecting Flight | Youngest Age for Unescorted Connecting Flight | Fees for Escort Service Each way | Pre-pay charge to Receive ticket at Airport | ID Required for Pick-Up | Information Airline will Require in Advance | Miscellaneous Specific Information |
| AMERICAN Domestic and International (1-800-433-7300) | 5 with adult fare | 8 with adult fare | N/A | 8 | $60 direct/ $75 connect. Int'l: $60 N/S $90 for segments |
No Fee | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in at least 1 hour early (Domestic); Check- in at least 2 hours early (International) |
| BRITISH
AIRWAYS
International (1-800-247-9297)
www.britishairways.com |
5 with adult fare | 6 with adult fare | Required for ages 5 to 11 | 12 | No fee | No Fee | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Skyflyer's Club for regularly traveling child; permanently records information; travel documents of child held by flight attendants |
| CONTINENTAL
Domestic and
International (1-800-231-0856)
www.continental.com |
5 with adult fare | 8 with adult fare | Required for ages 5 to 14 Domestic; 5 to 11 International | 15 Domestic
12 International |
$60.00 each way Domestic; No Fee International | $75.00; no fee if e-ticket | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early Domestic; 2 hours early International |
| DELTA Domestic (1-800-221-1212) | 5 with adult fare | Not Permitted | N/A | 12 | $40.00 each way for direct | $100.00; no fee if e-ticket | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early; child has envelope with personal information |
| DELTA
International (1-800-221-1212)
www.delta.com |
5 with adult fare | Not Permitted | N/A | 12 | 90 each way for direct | $100.00 | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early; Child wears ID tag |
| KLM (Royal
Dutch)
International (1-800-374-7747)
www.NWA.com |
5 to 14 with adult fare; must purchase ticket with adult escort | 5 to 14 with adult fare; must purchase ticket with adult escort | Required for ages 5 to 14 | 15 | $40.00 Direct
$75.00 Connecting |
$75.00 | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early; escort helps child through gates and customs |
| LUFTHANSA
International (1-800-645-3880)
www.lufthansa. com |
5 with adult fare | 5 with adult fare | Required for ages 5 to 10 | 11 | $22.00 each way | $45.00 | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early; child wears ID tag & has envelope with personal information; child seated in special section of the plane so attendants can see them |
| NORTHWEST
Domestic (1-800-225-2525)
www.NWA.com |
5 with adult fare | 5 with adult fare | Required for ages 5 to 14 | 15 | $40.00 Direct
$75.00 Connecting |
No Fee | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 90 minutes early; Child can not be on the last flight of the day |
| Transportation Carrier | Youngest Age for Unaccomp. Minor on Direct Flight | Youngest Age for Unaccomp. Minor on Connecting Flight | Escort Provided by Carrier for Connecting Flight | Youngest Age for Unescorted Connecting Flight | Fees for Escort Service | Pre-pay charge to Receive ticket at Airport | ID Required for Pick-Up | Information Airline will Require in Advance | Miscellaneous Specific Information |
| NORTHWEST
International (1-800-447-4747)
www.NWA.com |
5 with adult fare | 5 with adult fare | Required for ages 5 to 14 | 15 | $60.00 Direct; $90.00 Connecting | $75.00 | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 2 hours early; escort helps child through gates and customs |
| SOUTHWEST Domestic (1-800-435-9792) | 5 with adult fare | 12 with adult fare | No service available | 12 | N/A | $25.00 | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Flight Attendant escorts child and stays with them until pick-up by guardian |
| UNITED
Domestic and
International (1-800-241-6522)
www.united. com |
5 with adult fare | Not Permitted | N/A | 12 | $30.00 each way | $60.00 Domestic; $75.00 International | Photo ID Required | Name, address, phone number of drop-off and pick-up person | Check-in 1 hour early (Domestic); Check-in 2 hours early (International); Child can not fly on last flight of day |
| GREYHOUND BUS LINES (1-800-231-2222) | 8 to 11 with adult fare (12 is an adult) | 12 switches buses, 8 to 11 just making stops | No service available | 12 | N/A | No Fee | Photo ID Required | Unaccompanied child must depart from and arrive at destinations with Agency office open; Child can not ride at night; Trip can not exceed 5 hours; Legal guardian must sign liability release and consent form |
1. CONTENTS
Travel Policies for Unaccompanied Minors
Top Safety Tips for Children Traveling Alone
List of Things Child Should Not Bring on Board
Dressing For Air Travel
Southwest Airlines - Tips for Children Traveling Alone
Southwest Airlines - Updated Travel Information
Press Release & Article on New Policy on Passport Application for Minors
Travel Affidavit
A. Airlines
1. Total time needed to travel
2. Availability of flights
3. Major airlines no longer permit unaccompanied minors when connecting flight required.
4. Baggage
5. Gun Toting / Full Military Dress People Everywhere
6. Security Procedures (Constant need for ID)(Gate Policies)
B. Family Courts
1. Informal Survey - no real changes. No policy changes. Everything still "case-by-case."
2. Possible Impact (Food for Thought and Discussion)
A. Will Courts be more inclined to decrease "distant" parent's periods of possession?
B. Will Social Workers / Mental Health Professionals be more inclined to recommend a decrease in "distant" parent's periods of possession?
C. Are residency restrictions more likely to occur than before September 11th
D. Are residency restrictions less likely to be lifted on a modification?
E. Consideration of different transportation / visitation methods?
- Auto / Bus / Train
- Parents meet half-way
- Parent comes to child's city of residence (at least sometimes)
- Child is always accompanied by an adult
F. More Detailed Decrees / Orders
www.airsafe http://airsafe.com
http://travel.state.gov/travel_ warnings
DFW Airport: www.dfwairport.com or call 972.574.8888
Love Field: 214.670.6156
Statewide Interstate Travel Hotline: 1.800.452.9292
Statewide Road Conditions: www.dot.state.tx.us (Click on "road conditions")
Local Road Closures: 214.374.4100
www.greyhound.com or 1.800.231.2222
www.amtrak.com or 1.800.872.7245
http://travel.state.gov/passport assistance
Passport Services
CA/PPPT/PAS
1111-19th St., N.W., Suite 260
Washington, D.C. 20524
202.955.0231
202.955.0230 (fax)
©2002-8, Law Offices of Raggio & Raggio, P.L.L.C.
Go To How a Texas Divorce Case Works
06/10/08 http://www.raggiolaw.com/travel.htm