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Should you let your child fly as an “unaccompanied minor?”

On Behalf of | Oct 8, 2024 | Child Custody Plans

For co-parents who live thousands or even hundreds of miles apart, the holidays often involve sending their child off to spend all or part of their winter break with the parent they don’t live with most of the time. If this upcoming holiday season is your first since you’ve had this living arrangement, you may be considering letting your child travel alone by air.

Major airlines have “unaccompanied minors” (UM) programs for children and teens, usually between 5 and 15, who are traveling on their own. Each program has its own rules, including age restrictions, and costs. They may offer different levels of service. Many require that UMs fly only on non-stop routes. (That’s wise, anyway. You don’t want your child to have to deal with changing planes.)

What’s involved in flying as an unaccompanied minor?

Typically, the way it works is that one parent hands over their child to an airline employee at the gate. The employee escorts them onto the plane and to their seat. When they arrive at their destination, an employee will escort them off the plane and to their other awaiting parent. 

If you’re able to spring for a business- or first-class ticket, that will likely get them more attention. Reserving an aisle seat near the front helps as well. While they’re on the plane, the flight crew will typically keep an eye on them. However, they do not babysit them.

That’s why it’s crucial to be certain your child is not just old enough but mature enough to handle this adventure. Have they flown before? Can they keep themselves occupied with games and books while in flight? Do they listen to instructions from the flight crew and obey them? Do they know how to get help if they need it? These are all important questions to ask.

Co-parent agreement and participation are crucial

It’s important for both parents to be agreeable to this arrangement. It requires having the appropriate documentation ready, getting to the airport in plenty of time (especially when picking them up), making sure your child has plenty of ID on them and maybe offering some reassurance and encouragement. 

Of course, if you’re considering this for your child, it’s best to codify it in your parenting plan and possibly in your support and custody agreements. You don’t want to be battling the expenses as the time to make reservations approaches. Having experienced legal guidance can help you determine if letting your child travel by air alone is a good idea for everyone and help you work out the details.