Teach your child to make his own travel plans.
Young people need to learn travel skills. Don't coddle your child by always making all the arrangements for him. Let him go online and shop for the best fares and schedules. Make sure he emails his itinerary to you.
Give your child a credit card with at least a $2500 limit. Instruct him to use the card only for emergencies or in consultation with you. Teach him when and how to use it to deal with unexpected travel plans such as the sudden illness or death of a relative.
Show him how to deal with travel crises.
Explain how connections work, how to move quickly to the next gate, how to cope with canceled flights and lost luggage.
Program your child's cell phone with an In Case Of Emergency entry or ICE. Emergency workers such as police and paramedics check cell phones for a person to contact in case of emergency. They are trained to look for the ICE entry in cell phone address books.
Make sure that the critical phones are actually turned on and answered as appropriate while she is travelling! If overseas travel is involved, make sure she has a phone which works worldwide. It's cheap insurance and will give both parent and child much peace of mind.
Review procedures for minors travelling unaccompanied.
These procedures do vary from airline to airline, but basically require the adult meeting the child on the other end to provide proof of identity. Most airlines offer flight information text messaging so that the person who is meeting the flight knows its status.
Review airline security procedures.
The events of September 11, 2001 have forever changed air travel.
Among the important points to remember are:
- Allow 90 minutes to check in and go through security.
Be at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of time during peak travel times.
Be prepared to wait patiently in long lines.
Be prepared to open your baggage for inspection.
Have at least 2 picture ID's with you. Make sure the pictures are recent.
You need a passport for travel outside the United States. This applies to neighboring countries like Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Teach safe travel!
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A weary child waiting for a delayed flight can be a tempting target to the unscrupulous. Make sure your child dresses unpretentiously, has just enough cash for snacks and taxis, and isn't overburdened with hand luggage.
Teach her to always be wary of strangers and aware of her surroundings. If she suddenly finds herself sitting alone, get up and move to another spot with more people around.
"Don't accept anything from strangers or even friends to carry with you!" The airlines personnel always ask the question and for good reason. They are always on the lookout for bombs. But it also means that you shouldn't accept drugs either. Ignore this advice and you could end up being detained by the security folks, or worse, possibly arrested.
Don't wear expensive jewelry when traveling. It attracts the wrong sort of attention.
Dress sensibly. Low hung skin tight jeans and a halter top will inevitably attract unwelcome attention.
Stay near the ticket counter at airport gates. If you need help quickly, an airline professional will more likely be at hand there than someplace else.
What if somebody hits on your child? Teach him to yell at the top of his lungs and then run like hell to the nearest security office or information counter.
Is your child a bit naive, even gullible? Do some role playing. Tell stories of your own experiences. She needs to hear them!
Now relax! Like everything else involved in sending your child off to school, having him travel alone for the first time is downright scary! Your heart is in your mouth while she is traveling! Every travel nightmare you have endured flashes before you, but, hey! she's a big girl now! Give her good training and advice, then let her go!
