Child Safety While Traveling Alone

Many families send their young children across a few states or even across the country to visit relatives alone. It is a pretty common occurrence, and many different modes of travel have made accommodations for such travel. Depending on the type, be it a bus or an airplane, they all have rules and regulations they must follow, but some have a few differences. Prior to sending your child, though, here is a quick list of tips to prepare not only you, but the child as well:

Make sure the party picking them up has the current itinerary, and the description of the child; including the clothes they are to wear.

The child must have an ID.

Always pack a snack. No one wants a grumpy, hungry child on their trip!

Make sure your child has a favorite toy or book, to help comfort them if they become afraid. Also, have them pack a sweater or light jacket as many airlines get cold.

Have a sit down prior to taking the child to the airport, bus terminal or train station. Let them talk to you about their fears, and you must instill in them the rules of travelling alone. (Not talking to strangers and such.)

Make sure they know who they are meeting, and if they get scared during the trip, who their contact person on the staff is.

Depending on how the child is travelling will depend on the necessary paperwork and fees that will be needed. For example, if the child is travelling by Greyhound, http://www.greyhound.com/HOME/Default.aspx, there is the Unaccompanied Child Form that needs to be filled out prior to the trip. The form must be filled out in person and names the people responsible for picking up the child, and other emergency contact information. This form MUST be turned in to the Customer Service Supervisor prior to departure. There is a $5.00 fee for each child travelling alone. Another restriction is the child's trip can be no longer than five hours in length, and must take place during daylight hours only. This type of ticket cannot be purchased online. Check out their website for age restrictions and other information.

If the child is traveling by Amtrak, then they must travel during the hours of 6:00am and 9:00pm. There are many different age restriction levels, just like with the buses or airlines, so it is best to visit their site to see what restrictions and accommodations are for your child's age group. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage

Just like with Greyhound, you cannot book a reservation for an unaccompanied minor online. You must call their toll free number (1-800-USA-RAIL) or go to the station to do this. Arrive an hour early because a release form is required to be signed by the parent or guardian and prior to the child being allowed to leave; he or she MUST be interviewed. This interview will deem if the child is capable of travelling alone. If the child is allowed, they must wear a wristband for the entire trip. One last thing: the child must not "have any life-threatening food allergies". If they do, they are not allowed to travel alone. There are many other restrictions and I am recommending visiting their site.

United Airlines has accommodations for an unaccompanied child to travel internationally. They provide a service that is mandatory for ages 5-11 and optional for 12-17 year olds. "This service is available to ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination." (See the website for the full quote: http://www.united.com/) They also have a form that you MUST fill out in order for your child to travel. Here is a link to it: Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage Form. It is a PDF, so you will need Adobe Acrobat to read it. The fee United Charges $99 each way, except to Japan or Brazil, where there is no fee. This is for international or domestic flights.

Knowing these tips and recommendations prior to departure will make the trip not only easier for you, but for the child as well.

Sources:

http://www.greyhound.com/HOME/Default.aspx

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage

http://www.united.com/