Unaccompanied Minor - The Process

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

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!

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”