Hotmail
Parents want airlines to do more for kids
Julio Garcia, a real estate investor in San Diego, said his two sons were among eight kids from 11 to 16 nearly stranded 1,500 miles from home in August. They were flying home without their parents after spending three weeks at a French-immersion program in Paris.
The parents paid Continental Airlines Inc. extra to have the four youngest children watched, but not for the 15- and 16-year-olds.
Storms caused the plane to be diverted, and when it finally got to Houston, the children had missed their connecting flight to San Diego. Continental found seats on a later flight for the four youngest, but Garcia said an airline agent told him the other four — three boys and one girl — were going to a hotel.
"My eldest called and said, 'They just hauled the little kids away and left us standing here,'" Garcia said.
Garcia said he spoke to three different Continental employees, and told a supervisor, "Let me get this clear. It's Continental's policy to leave unattended minors stranded in an airport? How can you leave them in a hotel room? A hundred things can go wrong."
A Continental spokeswoman, Julie King, said because the parents didn't pay the unaccompanied-minor charge for the 15- and 16-year-olds, the airline had no idea they were traveling with the four younger children. The airline doesn't ask ages of other passengers, and it put the two groups of kids on different records, she said.
"We have strict procedures that apply to children traveling alone that ensure they have a smooth travel experience," King said.
Experts on family travel say there are commonsense rules that parents should follow when arranging solo trips for their kids.
Sarah Schlichter, editor of Web site The Independent Traveler, said parents should pick nonstop flights in the morning so they can rebook if the flight is delayed or canceled.
Parents should give the child written instructions on what to do in case of flight delays or cancelations, including emergency phone numbers, and a calling card, Schlichter said. And have them carry a recent picture of the adult who will meet them at the other end, she added.
Natalie Windsor, author of "How to Fly for Kids," said parents should prepare the child for the flight, especially if it's his or her first solo trip. And, she said, create a rewarding reason for making the trip so it's fun instead of intimidating or dreary.
"They should be flying TO something," Windsor said, "not just going from mommy to daddy."
Danny Cole's story had a happy ending. Before leaving the Baltimore airport, an off-duty Southwest flight attendant getting on the same flight promised to stay with him until he met his father in Houston.
But Susan Cole said the episode left her angry and her son crying. She thinks 12 is too young for children to fly unescorted, even if she has to pay extra for the service.
Laraba, the Southwest executive, said the airline has recently heard from other parents who share Cole's opinion. She said the airline is considering changing its policy.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM NEWS |
 News Section Front |
| Add News headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide