Experienced air travelers, please help me (aaaack!)

Parents Forum
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<p>Am going bonkers here trying to book a ticket.</p>

<p>Is it true...that I can't buy a discount company (kayak, orbitz, pricelines etc)airfare for an unaccompanied minor passenger?</p>

<p>After a day of research, I found a flight I liked for Dec. 14 to return my son home from the West Coast.</p>

<p>HOWEVER, there's some fine print there (on both Orbitz and Priceline) that says minors can't use their products. Priceline said it quite clearly (no unaccompanied minor may fly on these deals...instead, buy it through the airline..) Grumpy people!</p>

<p>So I looked closely for it on Orbitz and found the same message, buried iin their fine print.</p>

<p>My S will turn l8 just two weeks after this flight date. Obviously, I'm not going to fly out there to accompany him home. </p>

<p>For heavens sake, is this true? Could/ would the airline keep him from boarding? </p>

<p>Yes, he looks young for his age. </p>

<p>Yammering details: It's multiple airlines involved (US AIr and Delta). It goes through from Orange to Las Vegas to Atlanta to Buffalo. I liked it because it stays out of the northern snowy airports in winter. If I had to I could send him through Phoenix instead of Las Vegas but the reliability of flights from LasVegas eastward is better. However, if they're more alert to minors boarding because it's Las Vegas, I could put him on Phoenx. </p>

<p>Do you think I should I book through the airlines instead of using these discount routes? </p>

<p>I don't want to do it that way, but will if you think it's absolutely important. I'm concerned because with two different routes, luggage might get lost, or perhaps he has to check bags on and off security...AND maybe it costs more without these discount places.</p>

<p>Or does this^^ happen anyway whenever you use multiple airlines, even through discount fare companies; if so, it's no difference so that's a wash. </p>

<p>Sorry for length. I think I;m losing it here.</p>

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<p>Many of the airline policies are between 14 and 16 for unaccompanied minor. Call the airline directly, he is probably not an unaccompanied minor. If he is there is an added fee and he will be required to have adult wait with him until he gets on the plane.</p>

<p>What airline?</p>

<p>Continental is 15, northwest 16, and Delta are 16.</p>

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<p>He should be okay as long as he is older than 15. for many airlines it is ages 5-14 or 15 for unaccompanied minors... :)</p>

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<p>I think Giggles is right - when I've purchased tickets directly for my son from an airline site before I started to purchase it as an unaccompanied minor, and there were all kinds of restrictions, but I could just purchase it as an adult, and no problem. After all - they charge 17 years olds adult fees, don't they?</p>

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<p>Also agree Vegas is better then Pheonix. I would suggest extra lead time between connections. For D I have done at least 2 hours, especially if you use different airlines as there is no requirement for one airline to rebook flight if original flight is delayed, or cancelled.</p>

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<p>I buy tickets for my D all the time, she is 16, no problems, they don't care when you get to the airport</p>

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<p>Saying that "minors" can't use their products is quite different from the term you quoted, "No unaccompanied minor may fly..." As others have said, an unaccompanied minor might be under the age of 13 or 14 depending on the airline. Hopefully, this is a case of Emily Latella, "That's quite different, never mind."</p>

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<p>Doesn't Jet Blue fly from Orange County (know they fly out of a few airports in So. CALIF.) to Buffalo? There may be a change in NYC or Boston, but it may be a lot less of a hassle than changing multiple times with different airlines. Also may not be the same restrictions when making arrangements directly through Jet Blue.</p>

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<p>You can also wait and pay at airport if required, have had to do this twice for S who is almost 15. Usually extra $25 each way.</p>

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<p>4Giggles, I'd use US Air and Delta for this route. One reason I like this route is there ARE two hour layovers each time, and good percentages on "flight reliability" (60-90%).</p>

<p>Sooo...you're sayiing that if "my" two chosen airline define him as no longer a minor at age 17, then I could buy a discount company ticket and the airline would let him board solo? </p>

<p>You raise something I hadn't thought of. Is it riskier to fly Multiple Airlines in case of any delay, regardless of how you buy the ticket...?</p>

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<p>Marny1, you're right that Jet Blue has flights through JFK and Boston to Buffalo. But..</p>

<p>The reason I'm avoiding them like plagues is from living in Buffalo, I know that on Dec. 14 the winter weather closes airports, sometimes for days. And since we're close to the weather news, it turns out it's not the Buffalo airport that closes (hardly ever does) but the East Coast airports that close a lot for snow or fog.</p>

<p>That's why I wanted to keep him in the Southern and Western airports during December. I'd rather him take 2 flights than experience some of the things we have with winter travel in the Northeast.</p>

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<p>P3T: I googled unaccompanied minors on airplanes and here is what I found. Scroll down to UM for a definition.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flyana.com/um.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.flyana.com/um.html&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>I would leave plenty of time for connections, especially in winter.</p>

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<p>If he already has his college email address sign him up for student universe and check what fare they have. They are usually pretty good.
My son has traveled back and forth to summer programs and only once did he have a problem. We ended up having to pay extra when we brought him to the airport. Strangely the same airline did not have a problem with him flying alone on the return trip</p>

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<p>There have been major delays on all airlines --all the time. This seems to be the new trend in air travel.<br>
We went on a tour this past March so we could visit my d who was on a study abroad program. Of the 40 people on our tour, approx 25% missed their connecting flight due to airline delays -- and they arrived a day later than scheduled.<br>
If you are planning to book flights on different airlines allowing only 2 hours between flights, I think you are "cutting" it very close.</p>

<p>Just saw your response- JFK is usually in pretty good shape. Snow rarely closes it down- and Dec. is still too early for a major storm to strike NYC.<br>
We just close down for steam pipe explosions in midtown!!</p>

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<p>If a flight is cancelled or delayed within same airline, they automatically rebook on next avail flight, this is not necessarily the case with seperate airlines. You potentially will have to wait longer. </p>

<p>I would check with airline and ask them how they handle flight changes when booked thru online discount agent.</p>

<p>JFK very BAD with delay in winter!!</p>

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<p>The later in the day the greater delays. Earlier am flights are more on time.</p>

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<p>I am a former Airline employee-unaccompanied minor does not have the same definition in the airline industry as in law. Back in the day-my old days with the airline-12 and under was an unaccompanied minor-in law, generally speaking 18 and under is a minor.
Call the airline directly.</p>

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<p>Just want to add this -- once you have found your flight, you may want to book directly with the airline anyway. I use Kayak, Expedia, etc. to check on flights, but I have found that once I find the flight, I can always get it for a couple of dollars cheaper by booking directly with the relevant airline. Apparently there is a slight service charge tacked on when the ticket is sold via one of the outside services. </p>

<p>There is an exception, and that's where the ticket is part of a package deal with car rental and/or hotel. It's obvious to me that these packages are part of a different, bundled sales scheme altogether -so there are often very good deals available that way -- however, not something you would ordinarily be interested in when making flight arrangements for kids, who can't rent cars anyway.</p>

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<p>As Rotary exchangers fly all over the world to and from exchanges age 16 to 18, I can't imagine age would be an issue. My D flew back from her European exchange last year, changed in Amsterdam, changed in Detroit, alone, no problem. At all the Rotary Youth exchange conferences I've been to with ad nausem meetings about teens traveling alone, airline permission based on age has never been mentioned by parents or travel agents.</p>

<p>Would also add that I hope you're getting FF miles with all the travel your son will be doing. Sticking to one airline can be helpful with mile accumulation.</p>

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<p>Every time I've tried I've gotten the flight cheaper directly from the airline rather than Orbitz, Expedia, etc. Most airlines now tell you on their websites that they guarantee 'they' will have the lowest internet price. I've only ever checked this for using the same airline through all flight segments though - something I recommend doing if you possibly can. </p>

<p>The fewer the number of flight segments the less chance of a missed connection and complications. It's fewer rotations (takeoffs/landings) as well (when most problems are likely to occur).</p>