Airlines Limit Flights For Unaccompanied Minors
(September 13, 2001)
The current air travel chaos has airlines rethinking
their policies for transporting unaccompanied minors. These changes
are necessary as a result of issues surrounding the reliability of
flight schedules due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
authorization, security concerns, and operational constraints that
make flight connections uncertain. The following airlines have made
changes to their unaccompanied minor transportation
policies:
Delta Air Lines: Delta said that it will
accept travel for unaccompanied minors on nonstop flights only.
Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted for travel to destinations
requiring connecting or through flights. All other rules covering
travel by unaccompanied minors still apply. To view the standard
rules, go to Delta's website for children
traveling alone. For more information, contact Delta at
800-221-1212.
Continental Airlines: Continental has
suspended all travel of unaccompanied minors until further notice.
To view the standard rules, go to Continental's website for
information on children
traveling alone. For more information, contract Continental at
800-525-0280.
Northwest Airlines: Northwest has
suspended all unaccompanied minor travel until at least September
17. To view the standard rules, go to Northwest's website for
information on unaccompanied
minor travel. For more information, contact Northwest at
800-225-2525.
US Airways: US Airways said it will only
accept unaccompanied minors on nonstop flights. All rules covering
travel by unaccompanied minors still apply. To view the standard
rules, go to US Airways' website for information on minors
traveling alone. For more information, contact US Airways at
800-428-4322.
United and American have stated
that there are no changes to their current policies regarding
unaccompanied minors. We will update this information if additional
airlines change their unaccompanied minor policies.
In spite
of the new FAA procedures that allowing only ticketed passengers in
airport concourses, the FAA will allow parents to escort their
ticketed children to the gate.
As a reminder, if you are
flying, it is highly advisable to arrive at the airport at least two
hours before scheduled departure in anticipation of delays from
additional security measures.
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