Q: How many children fly alone during the holidays due to divorced parents?

[piratefish08]

A: a LOT.

If you ARE planning on keeping holiday flight plans, can you at least take notice of any children around you who appear to be traveling alone? Make sure they are able to keep their dignity and are treated with the respect they deserve?

Mine used to travel alone when they were younger - but the security bullshit was NEVER like this................

[redirish28]

1. OMG that's right. It's was bad enough seeing the child go through that strip search with his

father (at least you think it was his father or a male ralative.) A child having to go through that alone.


:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[uppityperson]

27. Parents accompany their kids through security. They don't have to go through it alone

They don't just drop their kids off at the curb and drive away. You take your child (at least) through security before handing them over to a designated airline employee who becomes responsible for them. Parents can, and do, get a gate pass from the airline to accompany their minor to the gate where they are supposed to wait until the plane takes off.

No, they don't have to go through security alone.

[blondeatlast]

35. That's right. My son has to travel overseas (Czech Republic) to see his father.

He's 13 and doesn't need an escort, but I'm still allowed to see him to the gate.

[LisaL]

2. How in the world would it be possible to make sure the children

are able to keep their dignity. Parents who travel with their own children can not prevent these children from being x-rayed or patted down. How do you expect people to be able to do something for unrelated children?

[piratefish08]

5. Speak up? Film an incident with your cellphone? Find the child after security and offer to call

their parent? I guess it would depend on the situation.....

Or just do nothing. Wouldn't want to draw any undue attention from 'the Man' anyway, right?

[saigon68]

3. Hey Sonny !!! --- MR HAND is going touch your Winkie

The new TSA job description "Handling Privates"

[PeaceNikki]

4. Um... even when they fly solo, parents bring them to the gate and through security.

[stray cat]

6. The younger ones are escorted individually by members of an airline

at all moments of their flight. They usually do a phenomenal job and don't get appropriate credit for taking care of other people's children

[PeaceNikki]

7. Right, and the parent(s) still escorts child to the gate.

Jesus Christ, get a grip, people. You don't just drop the kid at the curb and drive off.

[uppityperson]

8. Exactly. Unrec. You don't drop off your kid at the curb and drive away

You walk them to, and (used to be) through, security, though haven't had a young child for a while. Then they assigned a airline staff member to take them to the gate, watch over them, make sure they get on the flight, etc.

They aren't dropped off to get checked in, go through security, get to the right place on their own. Good grief.

[PeaceNikki]

10. My son was FOURTEEN and they made me sit at the gate with him until he boarded the plane.

[kestrel91316]

How did you get through security and to the gate without a boarding pass??

[PeaceNikki]

14. They give you a gatepass. It's not that uncommon.

My BIL and dad recently got one when dropping off/picking up my sister with 2 children under 3 years-old. She needed help.

[kestrel91316]

12. Since 9/11, NOBODY goes through security without a valid boarding pass.

At least at every airport I've been through.

[PeaceNikki]

13. Bullshit. It's called a gatepass and they give it to parents/guardians with kids flying solo

[kestrel91316]

16. Never heard of it. But then I don't have kids, nor want them.

[PeaceNikki]

17. Gate passes can be issued to assist elderly, disabled, children, etc.

The ticket counter will issue one with a valid reason. They aren't as uncommon as you think. As I said upthread, my sister was travelling with a 16 month old and an almost 3 year-old. This meant tons of luggage, car seats, strollers, etc. My BIL got one to help her on the plane and my dad to pick her up.

In the case of unaccompanied minors, all airlines REQUIRE the adult get one. Example: http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesspecialneeds.aspx
Gate Passes
All Unaccompanied Minors must check in at the ticket counter (see Guidelines / Conditions below). The person bringing and picking up the Unaccompanied Minor must obtain a gate pass at the ticket counter.
Electronic Gate Passes are only provided for an escort of an Unaccompanied Minor and for people who require assistance. They are not issued to anyone who requests a gate pass – there must be a valid reason. TSA requirements/security restrictions may vary based on the airport.

[Haole Girl]

20. PeaceNikki...

don't confuse them with facts. ;-)

[uppityperson]

23. Good to use things like this to educate people. Unless you've been involved with

needing a gate pass, you may not know about them.

[Haole Girl]

25. True

I've learned a lot on DU throughout the years.

[uppityperson]

15. It is called a gate pass, get it from the airline check in counter for parents

I have gotten them several times, they allowed me to accompany my minor through security to the gate where I waited 'til the plane was in the air.

First time I watched that fragile metal tube taxi away with my child on it was very very very difficult.

Typically they give a pass to 1 parent but you can sometimes talk them into giving to 2.

[grace0418]

22. I had to escort my elderly mother to the gate several times in the last 9 years. You give them

an i.d. and they give you a pass to get through security. So you're incorrect.

[MineralMan]

31. Not so. My wife get's a gatepass whenever her 82-yo mother flies

alone. It's no big deal. They both go through the security screening. You don't have your facts correct.

[blondeatlast]

36. Not the case if you are seeing unaccompanied minors off--

and the excorts go through the procedures just like passengers.

[mzmolly]

9. I don't think young children should travel alone.

But, that's another topic I suppose.

[uppityperson]

11. How young do you mean? Airlines have rules about unaccompanied minors.

[Haole Girl]

18. Parents are permitted to go through security checkpoints with minors...

all they have to do is request a pass at the airport ticket counter.

[PeaceNikki]

19. Not permitted, but required, even.

United's policy:
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,1360,1052,00.html
Unaccompanied minors must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult (such as a relative, family friend or camp counselor) who must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. This individual must provide evidence that another parent or responsible adult will meet the child at his or her destination.

Frontier:
http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/plan-book/travel-info-services/family-pets/unaccompanied-minors.do
You'll need to escort your child to the gate and wait until the aircraft has taken off before you leave the airport.

American:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/childrenTraveling.jsp
Remain with unaccompanied minors until the child is boarded on the flight and the flight has departed the gate.

[Haole Girl]

21. Yes

Are you an airline employee? Just curious.

[PeaceNikki]

24. No, I just have a son who has traveled unaccompanied.

And I have a sister on the other side of the country who travels with 2 small kids.

[jberryhill]

33. Unaccompanied minor policies depend on age

[seabeyond]

26. when parent first takes in, they can walk thru security with child. there is that. nt

[PeaceNikki]

28. Not "can", they are REQUIRED to bring them through security and to the gate.

[Haole Girl]

29. It is required. Thanks, again. Also, someone upthread said airline personnel...

can stay with the unaccompanied minor 'at all times.' This is not quite true.

I hate to split hairs, but the parents are not only required to take minor to the gate area and stay with them until boarding; but the parent(s) picking up the child must get a pass and go through security to MEET the unaccompanied minor AT THE GATE (at the child's destination) too.

[PeaceNikki]

30. Yes, this OP is ridiculous because the issue is the same

whether an adult boards the plane with the child or not.

[uppityperson]

32. That may have been me and they are required IF no parent/guardian

They switched arrival gates at the last minute on me once, meaning I wasn't there to meet the plane. An airline person accompanied my child to security looking for me as I ran from one end of the airport to another. True it was arrival, but in case a plane is detoured somewhere else, or returns to gate and parent left, then an airline person MUST stay with the child until a parent/guardian can be found.

Again, speaking from experience. IF a parent/guardian isn't there, then an airline person must stay with minor.

[Haole Girl]

34. That's where the unaccompanied minor fee really pays off

Unexpected gate changes, weather, mechanical...

[blondeatlast]

38. Yes, indeed--and my son (13) flies internationally.

He hates the escort, but when his flight got rerouted thru Germany, he finally saw the wisdom of it.

[blondeatlast]

37. Exactly--and this thread is giving me a headache, I'm afraid.

Keep fighting the good fight, though, PN. :thumbsup: