How To Prepare Your Child for Flying Unaccompanied for the First Time

Many children fly without their parents, whether they’re visiting their grandparents or staying with their other parent for the holidays. Children between the ages of 5 and 17 who fly alone are referred to as “unaccompanied minors”. Each airline will have their own rules about how old a child must be before they can fly alone. If your child has never flown on their own before, here are some tips for preparing them for travelling as an unaccompanied minor.

Consider Whether They Are Ready

Teenagers and children who have flown several times before may be more comfortable with flying on their own. Younger children may not be so receptive to the idea, especially if they’ve never flown before. You’ll need to consider whether your child is responsible enough to fly unaccompanied and to be respectful of other passengers. They should be mature enough to behave themselves, do what the flight attendant tells them to, and know how to take any prescribed medication (if they need it). They should also know what they can and can’t eat if they have any allergies and be able to speak up for themselves in uncomfortable situations. If your child is afraid of turbulence, forgetful enough to leave their carry-on bag lying around, or will get scared of the customs agents, then they may not be ready to fly unaccompanied yet.

Walk Them Through It

Walk your child through the process of flying alone so they know what to expect. If they’ve never flown before, show them videos of what happens at each step of the process, from checking in, waiting at the gate, getting on the plane and flying, and going through the stages of de-planing and going through the checkpoints at the other end. Remind them that they will always be accompanied by an airport staff member or by a flight attendant. Make sure they know they can talk to them if they have any questions or if they’re having an issue. Teach them how to prevent ear popping, show them what the buttons above the seat do, and tell them who is picking them up at the other end. You should also tell them if they’ll be wearing a tracking bracelet or if there is a child-only airport lounge they’ll get to wait in. Embrace your child’s curiosity and let them ask questions about their trip. They may surprise you by asking about something important.

Talk to Them About Important Documents

Keep all their important documents, such as their passport, visa, boarding pass, a letter of consent, their prescription, a doctor’s letter, photocopies of your and their collector’s I.D.s, and any unaccompanied minor travel documents in one folder. Explain what they are and what they’re for. Tell them that they need to keep them safe and that they should put them back into the folder when they are not using them. Just in case their phone goes missing, print out a sheet of paper with emergency contact information so they can easily contact you, the person collecting them, and other relatives.

Give Them a Phone

Older kids and teenagers will already have their own phone and know how to use it, but younger children won’t. We recommend going for an older phone or a cheaper one—something that is less likely to be stolen and won’t hurt your wallet if it gets lost. Add important phone numbers to the contacts list and show them how to use airplane mode and the onboard Wi-Fi. Remind them that they can call and text you whenever they want. Make sure their phone is fully charged before their flight and pack the charger in their hand luggage.

Make Sure They Have Enough Money

Give your child a pre-paid card and some cash. Most airlines will not accept cash onboard, so a pre-paid card is the best way to make sure your child can purchase food and drinks during their flight. You can also top up the pre-paid card whenever they need more money. It’s a good idea for them to have extra money to buy food and drinks in case of an emergency, such as a delayed flight during a layover.

Let Them Help With Packing Their Carry-On Bag

Make sure they have all the essentials they need in their carry-on bag, but let them help with packing other things. Let your child choose what entertainment and comforting toys they want to bring onboard. If they’re taking a tablet with them, set up parental controls and download their favourite shows and movies during the flight, and pack a pair of headphones so they don’t disturb other passengers. Let them choose what snacks and meals they want to take with them. If your child is in their teens, give them a packing list and let them do it themselves.

Dress Them in Something Eye-Catching

You don’t have to dress your child in a silly outfit, but you should make sure that they stand out from the crowd. Ask them to wear a red shirt or to put on a colourful scarf that the person who is picking them up can identify. You could even take a picture of them in their outfit and send it to their other collector so they know what to look for. Make sure your child knows what their collector is wearing so they can look out for them too.

Comfort Them at the Gate

If you’ve paid for your child to fly as an unaccompanied minor, you will receive a pass to accompany your child to the gate. Most airlines require you to stay in the departure lounge until after the plane takes off, so you’ll have plenty of time to say your goodbyes and run through the process of flying alone one last time. Introduce your child to the gate agent and the flight attendant who will escort them onboard. Adequately preparing your child will give them the confidence to fly as an unaccompanied minor and will make them more comfortable with traveling alone in the future.