Should Children Travel Alone?
There are many reasons that could lead to a child having to fly on their own. Children attend summer camps, visit relatives, or have parents that live in different states. Sometimes a parent does not have the time or resources to accompany a child on the plane, which means they have to travel alone.
Due to the speedy and safe nature of air travel, children being unaccompanied on a plane is not unusual. For example, Southwest Airlines estimates that around 300,000 unaccompanied kids traveled on its airlines in the last year alone.
Kids flying solo may be a common occurrence, but it is still important for parents to plan these trips well in advance. Most unaccompanied minors are sent on direct flights, which reduces the need for transiting in airports and eliminates switching of planes. However, plans can go awry due to bad weather, scheduling issues or other unforeseen circumstances. It is crucial that parents prepare their kids for all possible outcomes when they are flying alone.
