Airlines have a track record of losing unaccompanied minors.
In an unnerving incident last year, two unaccompanied minors flying with American Airlines spent a night at an airport–allegedly without food, water, blankets, or pillows–after the cancellation of their connecting flight. The two boys, 10 and 12, were traveling from Missouri to Syracuse, New York, with a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their mother, Amber Vencill, had purchased the airline’s chaperone service for $150.
But as per the lawsuit she has filed, Vencill and her partner, who was picking them at Syracuse, got conflicting information on when they’d arrive and she had no idea where her children were. Vencill couldn’t get in touch with the airline and ultimately an employee at Charlotte Douglas International Airport tracked them down in a lost children’s room and gave them drinks and snacks. They were not given anything to eat or drink since the night before, according to the lawsuit, and the children spent the night in the freezing “jail-like” room on a sofa with the lights on. They boarded a flight the next day.
An American Airlines customer care representative apologized for the incident and refunded the chaperone fee, but Vencill is suing the airline for being “reckless” and “negligent” for “misplacing” her kids.
Unaccompanied Service
Airlines in the U.S. allow children five and over to travel unaccompanied on flights. However, there are rules defined by each airline. American Airlines, for example, mentions on its website that children between five and seven can only be booked on direct flights, and for children under 14 years, parents or guardians need to book the unaccompanied minor service (which includes an airport escort, kids’ lounges, early boarding, and complimentary kids’ kits). For young adults between 15 and 17, the service is optional and they can travel alone.
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So, parents need to check the stipulations before planning an itinerary, as different airlines have different rules around unaccompanied minors.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reminds parents that once children have reached the maximum age of requirement for unaccompanied minor service, they don’t require parental approval to fly—this also includes international flights.
Airlines and DOT both warn that flight attendants can’t offer constant supervision to children under the unaccompanied minor program and they can’t administer medications.
If a flight is delayed or canceled, the minor’s point of contact is informed. Delta states that if a flight is delayed or cancelled, they rebook the minor on another flight and stay with the child until they have boarded on another flight. The airline says: “Under very rare circumstances, an overnight may be required (e.g. a major snowstorm). In these situations, we will provide overnight and meal accommodations for your child. And a Delta employee(s) will provide supervision to ensure your child’s safety during an overnight stay. You will be contacted with pertinent information if this unusual circumstance occurs.”
Airlines will also not allow you to book the last connection of the day for an unaccompanied minor or overnight connecting flights.
So, when you’re booking, make sure you read the fine print. DOT advises booking direct flights, picking early morning flights (which are less likely to be canceled or delayed), and turning up early to fill out the unaccompanied minor form, and staying until the flight has departed. Needless to say, the child should have the itinerary, a list of emergency contacts, fully charged electronics, snacks, and any medications they may need with them.
Related: Is Your Kid Ready to Fly Solo?
Keep Track of Them
This latest incident is a reminder that airlines don’t just misplace luggage. They regularly leave behind wheelchairs, lose pets, and even abandon unaccompanied children. The airlines promise a hand-off from point A to point B and ask receiving guardians to bring their IDs so they can be identified and children may be released. But the checks and balances have failed multiple times. American Airlines received backlash when a mom posted a TikTok video describing how her 12-year-old daughter left a flight by herself, rather than being escorted out, and wandered the Miami alone. The airport was forced to shut down the terminal until they located her.
So, if your child is flying solo under the unaccompanied minor program, you must brief them on the procedures. They should be escorted by the staff to and from the plane and they should ask for help from uniformed personnel only. Make it clear that they shouldn’t go anywhere alone. If they feel uncomfortable, encourage them to speak to the airline officers—also show them how to ring the bell on the plane.
Airlines have failed in the past to communicate to parents about a flight cancellation, so keep track of your child. Technology may come in handy here—you can keep an Airtag in their bag (or a tracking app on their electronic device) and if they are old enough to use a phone, show them how to call or message you. FaceTime may work on iPads, too.
And prepare your child for the possibility of delays and cancellation in advance, and have them carry a printed out list of contacts in case their device doesn’t work. Another thing you can do is track the flight itself (FlightAware and Flight Radar 24 are reliable) and contact the airline if you see anything amiss.
Don’t forget to leave you child with some money to buy food if necessary, as airlines don’t always pay for meals.
You can also look into a service like Travelers Care, which offers travel assistance and companionship for unaccompanied minors, pets, and the elderly.