Booking the flight
Call the airline to book (United allows this online)
- Give them the name, address, phone number of the person dropping off and picking up
Arriving at the Airport for Drop Off
- Arrive 2 hours early minimum
- Go to the gate and check-in
- Your child will receive their boarding pass and you’ll receive a gate pass
- You will be asked to review the documentation that includes the drop-off and pick up details and to sign the drop-off. This will go with your child
- Proceed to the gate
- Let the gate agent know you have an unaccompanied minor
- They will typically board first and be introduced to the crew (maybe even the pilot!)
- You will need to remain at the gate until the aircraft has taken off
- Say a prayer, meditate, take a breath – whatever you have to do to stay calm!
Arriving at the Airport for Pick-up
- Arrive 1 hour before landing time, minimum
- Go to the gate and request a gate pass, you’ll need ID and the reservation #
- Proceed to the gate and let the gate agent know you’ve arrived
- When the flight has landed, unaccompanied minors typically get off the flight last
- The flight attendant will escort the child to the designated pick-up person
- The attendant will check their ID against the documentation
- They will be asked to sign the document
- The child will be released
- They better call you and let them know “the eagle has landed, target acquired”
Unaccompanied Minor Fees & Age Requirements