Airlines and unaccompanied minors

CLRracer said:
I vote cannonball, but I enjoy driving lol.

Duane
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Same. Id take the drive and just enjoy the trip. But im the weirdo that opted to drive NC to CT in the dead of winter, and only stop twice.
 
I have a friend who just put his 14yr old on a plane to Seattle to visit his uncle. He had a direct flight through American, from CLT.

He said that he paid $200 for the unaccompanied minor, went to the American counter at the airport and filled out a bunch of paperwork. He was then allowed to escort his son to the gate, and had to wait at the gate until the plane took off. The uncle had to go to the American counter in Seattle, and fill out the same paperwork, and go to the gate and meat his son there.
 
mbalbritton said:
I have people working for me that I have to send off on installs globally that have never been on a plane before, much less out of the country.
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I'm one of those people lol. I've been to/through over 30 states, but never by plane and never out of the US. Nothing against flying or anything, we just always drive and sightsee.

Duane
 
skyhighZJ said:
ATL is probably a mandatory stop for him and depending on what they are working on to improve the airport this year it can be frustrating at best or down right confusing if you’ve never been through there having to go down and catch the train to the next terminal then back up to your gate. Hope you’re not in a hurry cause your hosed.
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Just know that if he gets stuck in ATL for whatever reason, I can get him.
 
mbalbritton said:
issues lately with delays and rerouting and changing of gates. If you're not accustom to watching out for this and navigating it, you can miss a connecting flight or find yourself stranded right quick
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Move gates and delay 30 mins because of a plane change, announce it at the gate, but then don't update the boards, so plane shows as departed from the original gate....
 
My mother in law just did this a few weeks ago. She was loading up some grand kids to fly back toward Atlanta air port from Colorado. They were 15/16, the biggest issue she ran in to was them taking a flight after a certain time at night (sorry can’t remember specific time) the airline didn’t want the minors flying unaccompanied due to any potential lay over, cancellation, that would cause the kids to have to stay over night and not be able to get a hotel room, they almost didn’t let them fly but after some phone calls were made, they were allowed to fly. My mother in law did have to accompany them to the terminal and wait until plane actually took off before leaving
 
This thread is a great reminder about how the world has changed since we were kids.
 
RatLabGuy said:
This thread is a great reminder about how the world has changed since we were kids.
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Lurking in here and yes. I flew a lot as a kid. I think I had an escort once. She was hot. Of course I was young and this was the 80's.
 
Funny thing is I am having to research this now for my son. He is headed to boot camp after turning 17 less than a month ago!
 
RatLabGuy said:
This thread is a great reminder about how the world has changed since we were kids.
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Shit...

I had traveled across Europe on my own by train a few times by the moment I turned 18.
I also grew up in a family that travelled a lot and it wasn't my first rodeo.
 
How long is the lay over for the plane change? I might be a little biased due to our experiences but my son could have done it no problem, may not be comfortable, but he could have done it. Hell we went to Jamaica 4 years ago and he was more observant and re directed us when we were about to head in the wrong direction. If the lay over was 2hrs it shouldn't be bad, 45 minutes can be tight for some experienced flyers,

Airlines have apps that update you and also have maps of airports to see where the gate are and what the flight schedule is. Again it all comes down to your sons ability and I would be the same way make it easy as possible, but even as an adult things change and go wrong when flying so I understand your concern, things are definitely different now.

I flew out to Wyoming with my cousin at 12 years old in the 80's, we got bumped to a puddle jumper for our return flight. Prop job over the Rockies was interesting at that age. Then from Denver we flew direct to Toledo, stewardess asked us what mistake was taking us to Toledo. LOL I said it's our home. She didn't ask any more questions after that.

My sister booked me a flight 8 years ago, I had to take her back to NC after she donated a kidney in Cincinnati, I was to driver her and her car back. Lay over was 30 minutes in Dulles, biggest mistake ever. Our plane waited for another to leave the gate before we could deplane. Then I had to ride the "shuttle" which is a big scissor lift with a canvas top on it, to another terminal to catch my next flight. Never had a chance to make the connecting flight. Ended up calling a friend in Louisville KY, he was able to pick me up in Covington just over the river and take me to my sister. I will never let her book flights for me. and never go to Dulles unless it is my destination.

Your assessment of his capabilities and comfort level will all be your determination, but I wouldn't put much faith in the airlines now days. Give him the tools to and prep him anyway you can. Hopefully it is a great experience for him.
 
Bebop said:
Shit...

I had traveled across Europe on my own by train a few times by the moment I turned 18.
I also grew up in a family that travelled a lot and it wasn't my first rodeo.
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And from what I gather that’s common place in Europe as opposed to America where depending on your upbringing you could be well into your 30’s -40’s or older and never left the state or hell even the county.
 
V1Rotate said:
Once we finally transitioned from the MD80 in favor of a single-type fleet (A320’s/319’s) all that really went away. I’ve flown for them since 2015 and I can tell you there’s not a single pilot on property that will currently accept an aircraft that they wouldn’t put their own family on.. myself included.
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Good to hear!
 
So update from me and thank you all for your input. We called and forced our way to a competent sales person at American Airlines ( yes, I’m a racist POS) and got Robert his ticket out of Lake Charles, La. To DFW to RDU. escort will meet at ticketing desk to gate, pickup planeside to connector and pickup from planeside to baggage claim at RDU. We have also made sure to talk through the entire process and he will be on the phone immediately to make sure we can FaceTime him through the process if something falls through. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
 
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