first time flying alone -- travel hints

[zaichiki]

My dd will be flying cross-country alone (well, with a same-aged friend, but without a parent) for the first time this summer and I am looking for travel hints. Do you have any advice? Things I might not have thought of? Suggestions? Consolation for me? (My baby is growing up!) She is so excited but I am not. Heh. 

 

Thanks!

[Penguin]

How old is she? Are there any connections? Will there be an unaccompanied minor service?

 

Answers to these make a big difference :)

[Lanny]

As a childhood friend wrote to me, after reading about the problems we encountered on our trip to Orlando last month, one should "expect the unexpected".   I would suggest trying to anticipate anything that might possibly go wrong and have your DD and her friend prepared to be flexible and deal with any issue that might occur.  

[Pink and Green Mom]

Two weeks ago my oldest flew from Tampa to Washington, DC with 24 classmates and 8 chaperones for his 8th grade class trip.  I would tell your daughter to make sure she boards the plane with everything she arrived at the airport with.  Guess whose son left his suitcase at Reagan National and "forgot" to bring it home?    :glare:   No one realized it had been left behind until it was too late.  Sigh.

 

You would think this advice goes without saying but apparently, no.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Pink and Green Mom

[Anne]

Make sure she has a cell phone so she can call you.

 

Think through the trip & walk her through what it will be like:

 

TSA/Security

Finding the right gate - STAYING at the gate!

Boarding - having all belongings secured & boarding pass out

On Board - listen to flight attendant, read safety card. What will she do on board? Eating on board? If she wants to buy food, she needs a credit/debit card.

Getting off the plane - checking for all belongings

Baggage claim

Meeting her Ride

 

What if the plane is delayed or diverted?

 

Have fun!!

 

Anne

[gingersmom]

My daughter has been flying cross country alone for years (she's 19 and actually at airport waiting to board plane)

 

She loves flying alone!!! She was early today so she went to restaurant for breakfast, checks out the shops.

 

My only advice was the stewardess is there if you need something or if someone makes you uncomfortable go and speak to them (I hadn't a business man try to casually put his hands on me when I was her age and traveling alone on train)

 

I also told her to seek out uniformed airport people if she has any questions, issues.

Edited May 26, 2016 by gingersmom

[Alessandra]

Make sure she has a cell phone so she can call you.

 

Think through the trip & walk her through what it will be like:

 

TSA/Security

Finding the right gate - STAYING at the gate!

Boarding - having all belongings secured & boarding pass out

On Board - listen to flight attendant, read safety card. What will she do on board? Eating on board? If she wants to buy food, she needs a credit/debit card.

Getting off the plane - checking for all belongings

Baggage claim

Meeting her Ride

 

What if the plane is delayed or diverted?

 

Have fun!!

 

Anne

Good advice. I second the credit or debit card or gift card, plus some cash. For some purchases, a credit or debit card may be necessary. I always send ds off with a combination of financial resources, in case one of them doesn't work. For example, checked baggage fees could not be cash, uber cannot be cash or gift card. I also tod ds not to use a debit card if he didn't have to -- like miscellaneous food purchases, etc, because of possibility of scamming. He used a gift card for those items.

 

I would add a small cell phone charger, about $20. A phone plugged into a recharging port is a phone that could be forgotten.

 

Is your dd old enough for any official ID in your state, or do you have time to get her a passport?

 

Triple check times to get through TSA lines at airports and then allow even more time. Make sure your dd buys into the idea of leaving early for the return trip.

 

A smartphone is a plus, especially when checking departure times, delays, etc. Not to mention general navigation in an unfamiliar place. But print out boarding passes in case phone battery dies.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Alessandra

[Twigs]

Have her "practice" where to put her ID (government issued) and travel documents and to keep them there. For myself, I use a cross body bag which I keep on at all times except in the hotel room.

 

With all the recent delays, I would get the TSA precheck so she (hopefully) won't have to spend so much time in line, possibly missing her flight.

 

Make sure you go over with her all the TSA guidelines - what to pack, no joking about chemicals, bombs, weapons, etc.

 

Make a checklist of items to take. Check it before leaving home and before leaving the hotel. List what goes in carry on and what goes in checked luggage.

 

Cell phone with charging cable and portable charger.

[Laurel]

In addition to the above, once she finds her gate, make sure she pays attention, as the gate may change. A friend's son missed his connecting flight, even though he was on time, and even though he went to the right gate, because the gate changed and he just sat at the old gate until long after his flight had left.

 

If she is bringing a large carry-on, she should be prepared to gate check the bag if there is not room for it in the cabin, so things she would want for the flight (and valuables, medications, id, etc.) should be in a smaller personal item.

 

Definitely a charged cell phone (and additional portable charger if possible), and maybe important contact numbers written down, in case something happens to her phone.

[Kareni]

Also inform her that the flight time is not the same as the boarding time which might be twenty to forty minutes earlier.

 

Is it a direct flight or will there be a layover?  On one of my daughter's first flights alone (admittedly it was for a college visit so she was 17), her first flight arrived late and she missed the connection.  She ended up spending the night in the airport since her connection was the last flight out that day.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Library Momma]

My daughter has flown as an unaccompanied minor.  This allowed for her to be accompanied through security by a family member and dropped at the gate.  On the other end a family member could pick her up at the gate.  She was only really alone on the plane and the flight attendant kept an eye on her. I believe they will only offer this service on direct flights.

[theelfqueen]

If DD is classed as an unaccompanied minor, you and the people meeting them should be able to get Escort Passes (good for ONLY one person) to escort them to/from the gate (assuming DD is the 13 year old listed in sig). Even if the airline doesn't class them as unaccompanied, you might be able to  -- contact the airline directly to find out what they do.

 

For unaccompanied, you must remain at the gate until the plane TAKES OFF... not until it boards.

[Ottakee]

Might sound weird but tell them to use the bathroom just before their plane boards. Then they won't be uncomfortable if they have to sit in the runway for a long time.

[QueenCat]

Make sure she has a credit card, cash, a cell phone and a cell phone charger.

[Anne]

Make sure she has a cell phone so she can call you.

 

Think through the trip & walk her through what it will be like:

 

TSA/Security

Finding the right gate - STAYING at the gate!

Boarding - having all belongings secured & boarding pass out

On Board - listen to flight attendant, read safety card. What will she do on board? Eating on board? If she wants to buy food, she needs a credit/debit card.

Getting off the plane - checking for all belongings

Baggage claim

Meeting her Ride

 

What if the plane is delayed or diverted?

 

Have fun!!

 

Anne

[Kareni]

On Board - listen to flight attendant, read safety card. What will she do on board? Eating on board? If she wants to buy food, she needs a credit/debit card.

 

We've been on some airlines that require credit cards for purchases and others that only take cash.

 

Do tell your daughter, that she will be offered a free beverage (non-alchoholic) on almost all airlines.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Annie G]

Our routine is to get through security and go to the gate. Once we check to be sure the gate hasn't changed, it's time to use the restroom, buy a drink or fill our water bottle with water from a fountain, and if we don't already have one, buy a snack to carry on.  We always bring a drink even if the airline provides one because sometimes it takes a while to get a drink. And if I'm stuck on the plane waiting to take off, I might want a drink. We bring a snack because it's routine. g

 

Then grab a seat at the gate, plug the phone in to charge while we wait (because we're usually texting people to let them know we're at the gate, checking Facebook, etc.) and pay attention to any activity at the gate, like announcements that the flight is delayed, etc. 

 

Hope she has a great time!

 

 

[justasque]

Make sure she has a cell phone so she can call you.

 

 

Remind her to put her cell phone in airplane mode or turn it off while on board, otherwise it will eat up battery power like crazy trying to find a signal.  

Have her carry snacks - in case of delays or unexpected airport overnight stays, it's good to be able to eat!  (Think the five food groups of travel:  protein, carbs, moist fruit, salt, and  chocolate).

Buy or fill a water bottle once past security.

 

Have a list of people to communicate with (mom, etc.) and text the list at each step - at the gate, on the plane, arrived at layover, on the next plane, landed at destination airport, arrived at hotel or wherever she is staying.

[yucabird]

I'd say that after she gets through security to go directly to her gate, and (continue to) make sure the flight leaves from there.  (Gates changes happen, and some airlines are better than others about notifying passengers.)

 

She's better off in sensible clothing and comfortable, "easy-off" shoes.  If she is cold-natured, carry a soft travel shawl or sweater.  Bring something fun and light--mentally and physically--to read and do on the plane.  Forget the weighty carry-ons; keep it lean-and-mean. 

 

It is a very good idea to have a carry-on bag or purse with a compartment designated for travel documents, ID, and pen.  As soon as she takes out one of these items, she should immediately return it to the compartment.    

 

      

[Lanny]

A USB cable to charge the cell phone on the aircraft.  Go through Security ASAP. One is safer near a Departure Gate than in the open terminal, near the Check In counters of the airlines.  Keep the battery in the cell phone as fully charged as is possible, at all times. If she likes music or videos, a pair of ear bud  headphones, if those are not free on the airline she is traveling on.  Tell her to put her ID away when in the TSA checkpoint, when they tell her she can do that, and also her Boarding Pass. We always print two (2) copies of Boarding Passes. One I assume will be taken by the airline at the gate. That doesn't always happen, depending on which airline it is. The other, in case 2 people in the aircraft think they have been assigned the same seat. That happened to my wife, on our flight from Orlando to Bogota, a few weeks ago.  The other person   actually had  been assigned a seat in a different row. My wife was in her correct seat.  Carry the fewest possible number of things that is possible. The fewer things one needs to keep track of, the fewer things that are lost or stolen.  I put my laptop under the seat in front of me and my carry on in the overhead rack. Any important papers are in the laptop bag.  

[Lanny]

One advantage to being at the Departure Gate early is that some airlines leave early, if everyone is aboard and they get permission from Air Traffic Control to leave early.     Also, some airlines (Avianca does this on International flights, this is one example) print on their Boarding Passes, "Door closes 20 minutes before departure". DO NOT wait until the last minute to arrive at the Departure Gate. The aircraft may already be waiting for takeoff at that time.  Pay  a lot of attention to the Safety Video before the flight leaves and to any Safety announcements that are made.  When there are Survivable   Accidents, when they interview the survivors, they are always people who paid a lot of attention to the Safety announcements.  ALWAYS, after you are in your seat, look ahead of you, and behind you, and count the rows between you and the emergency exits.  Keep your Safety Belt fastened, at all times. 

[Dmmetler]

Check for an airline specific app. On United, you can only access the in-flight entertainment through your own device, and you have to have the app installed in advance. DD was rather upset to discover that on a flight this Spring.

Edited May 27, 2016 by dmmetler

[Guest]

Make sure she has a cell phone so she can call you.

 

Think through the trip & walk her through what it will be like:

 

TSA/Security

Finding the right gate - STAYING at the gate!

Boarding - having all belongings secured & boarding pass out

On Board - listen to flight attendant, read safety card. What will she do on board? Eating on board? If she wants to buy food, she needs a credit/debit card.

Getting off the plane - checking for all belongings

Baggage claim

Meeting her Ride

 

What if the plane is delayed or diverted?

 

Have fun!!

 

Anne

 

And I would actually do all of this in a role-play.  You get her to the airport and tell her what flight she is to catch and walk her as far as you can through the steps and talk her through the rest.  And then turn around and pretend you are "landing."  Making them pay attention to signage is a huge part of the win.  

 

Also, tell her when she packs her carry on, to be very conscious of what she has put in it.  And when she is on board, be very conscious of what is coming out, and don't take out more than you are actually going to USE at this moment.  And consciously put it back where you found it.  This is just a perfect time to start establishing good travel habits.   

 

Count your pieces.  If you have one carry-on when you get on the plane, make sure you have one getting off.  (Same with shopping...if you came in this store with 2 bags, and you bought something, now you have THREE bags...)

 

The very best advice I ever got for travelling is from a 30-year stewardess.  (They were called stewardesses back then...)  :0)

 

1.  Expect the unexpected.  Pay attention.  Check and double check flights and gates.

2.  Recognize that everyone you meet in an airport is *upset* to some degree.  They are going to/coming from a business trip. a party, a funeral, a vacation, a wedding, a _____.  This is not a normal part of the universe.  People get upset and do odd things, sometimes.  Just keep calm and carry on...

 

I hope she has a wonderful time.  I was an early flier, too...and have always loved it.  Until TSA.  LOL

[Suzanne in ABQ]

My 16yo nephew was visiting over winter break, and was flying home by himself.  He had never flown commercial before.  I sat down and typed him up step-by-step instructions, explaining the steps he would take as he found his way through the airport, what to do through security, where to look for his gate, what to do when he got there, who to ask for instructions, how boarding would work, what to do at his destination, how to get to where his dad would be waiting.  He read every word and seemed very appreciative.  He got home safe and sound with no issues.

[Tita Gidge]

The first thing we do upon boarding is to find their primary and secondary exits. These will be on the safety card, but a quick look around is always helpful. Doors are better than window exits - they move faster during an evacuation. We've had to evacuate before (no crash), so it's something we always look for.  Once we identify our primary exit, we count the seat rows to it. The lights don't always work during an evacuation, and they can be hard to see if there's smoke.

 

We're frequent fliers on a specific airline so we know the quirks of each airplane type, but if you guys aren't - you'll see the aircraft type on her reservation or boarding pass. Aircraft are updated at different phases, even within the same airline - some will have electronic outlets like the plugs at home, others will have ones like in a car. You'll want to send her with the correct charging equipment if she's using a laptop (or doesn't have a portable phone charger). 

 

We always bring a stainless steel water bottle through security (empty) and refill it at a water fountain on the secure side. Some airports have filling stations.

 

Bring snacks. Even when they sell on board, there's not enough for everyone (unless you're on SWA who gives out small snacks to all). Most FAs will offer food to kids first, and for free, but not all do - especially when school is out and lots of kids are onboard.

 

Transcons include a few beverage services, but she should know it's okay to go back and ask for a drink at any time. Some kids don't know or don't feel comfortable doing so, but it can be a long time between services - and depending on the crew, a long time between times you see them in the aisle. It's preferable to ringing the call light, if she's not trapped in a window or aisle seat.

 

If she has a window seat, let her know that it's polite to close it - at least partially - if she's not looking out when there is a movie on, or if it's an all nighter and she's flying east into the sun.

 

If her flight is more than 4 hours, have her get up and stretch at some point. And if she watches the movie, get up and pee real fast as soon as the credits roll.  After that everyone goes to the lav and it gets gross and smelly LOL.  Not all airlines are great about cleaning it mid-flight!

 

[TammyS]

My 16yo nephew was visiting over winter break, and was flying home by himself.  He had never flown commercial before.  I sat down and typed him up step-by-step instructions, explaining the steps he would take as he found his way through the airport, what to do through security, where to look for his gate, what to do when he got there, who to ask for instructions, how boarding would work, what to do at his destination, how to get to where his dad would be waiting.  He read every word and seemed very appreciative.  He got home safe and sound with no issues.

 

Oh!  I wonder if you still have it, if you would be willing to post it (with detail deleted, of course) for those of us who have teens traveling soon.  My 17yo ds is going to college this fall and has never flown before.  I haven't flown in (mumble mumble) years and things have changed so much.  Having something like you are describing where we could fill in the blanks would be really useful.

[Lanny]

This article (27 May 2016) describes an evacuation. The aircraft caught fire, while on the ground. The one I remember prior to this, was in Ft. Lauderdale (?) a year or so ago.  An aircraft about to take off for Venezuela caught fire.  This is a much better scenario than evacuating an aircraft that has been involved in an accident.  The Inflatable Slides can be dangerous and one MUST pay strict attention to the orders given by the crew members. No shoes. No eyeglasses. No purses, etc.  Occasionally, a passenger will be injured (broken bones) going down an Inflatable Slide, but that's rare.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/05/27/more-than-300-people-on-board-korean-air-plane-evacuated-after-engine-fire.html?intcmp=hplnws

[J-rap]

I still give this tip to my kids when they fly, and they always appreciate it:  If you have checked luggage and will be picking it up at the other end, go to the restroom immediately after getting off the plane and BEFORE you pick up your checked luggage.  It's just much easier to not have to bring a bunch of luggage into the restroom, especially if you're traveling alone (although at least your dd will be with a friend).

 

Also, if she has any fear of flying, tell her that air turbulence is really perfectly normal so she needn't worry if she has a bumpy ride.  (I had a ride once where the pilot announced, "Time to get out the little bags in front of you.  You WILL need them.")  

 

Have her double check departure gate # on the screen after she goes through security, because they sometimes change on you.

 

And probably most important, remind her that it's okay to ask questions once there!  Many people are there to help her.

[justasque]

And along with all the safety reminders and travel-savvy info, remember to tell her that the flight will be the safest part of her journey, that most people are nice and good, that a crisis is an opportunity for creative thinking and innovation, and that you will still love her even if she makes a mistake and something goes wrong because of it.  

[zaichiki]

Oh, wow!  Thank you so much for all of your suggestions and advice!  It's exactly what I needed!

 

Yes, she is the dd in my signature line. She's not afraid to fly at all, but she gets airsick, so I'll have to give her the pills her doctor prescribed.  The last time she took them they did not make her sleepy, but she had an upset stomach for hours after landing... Oh well, better than throwing up for 6 hours on the plane I guess.

 

I'm going to sit down and read through this whole thread with my dd this afternoon and we'll make a cheat sheet for her to carry with her.

Thanks again! 

I feel better about this already!

:001_smile:

 

[Lanny]

Might sound weird but tell them to use the bathroom just before their plane boards. Then they won't be uncomfortable if they have to sit in the runway for a long time.

 

This is also a good plan for rides at Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World.  DD and I were ready to roll on a major coaster, and they shut it down, because they were going to bring the other track online.  I think we waited about 15 or 20 minutes, before they sent us on our journey.  

[Lanny]

Check for an airline specific app. On United, you can only access the in-flight entertainment through your own device, and you have to have the app installed in advance. DD was rather upset to discover that on a flight this Spring.

 

I haven't flown on a U.S. airline for a long time, so thank you for the heads up about that.  The aircraft here are fully equipped, but I guess that saves United a little money, when they configure the aircraft they buy.

[Dmmetler]

I haven't flown on a U.S. airline for a long time, so thank you for the heads up about that. The aircraft here are fully equipped, but I guess that saves United a little money, when they configure the aircraft they buy.

I imagine it also may be the difference between short haul and long haul flights. I don't know that it's possible to do a flight from our local airport that is more than about 3-4 hours.

[MegP]

My 16yo nephew was visiting over winter break, and was flying home by himself.  He had never flown commercial before.  I sat down and typed him up step-by-step instructions, explaining the steps he would take as he found his way through the airport, what to do through security, where to look for his gate, what to do when he got there, who to ask for instructions, how boarding would work, what to do at his destination, how to get to where his dad would be waiting.  He read every word and seemed very appreciative.  He got home safe and sound with no issues.

 

I would really, really love to have a copy of these, if you are willing to share. Thank you!!!

[Tree Frog]

Have her "practice" where to put her ID (government issued) and travel documents and to keep them there. For myself, I use a cross body bag which I keep on at all times except in the hotel room.

 

With all the recent delays, I would get the TSA precheck so she (hopefully) won't have to spend so much time in line, possibly missing her flight.

 

Make sure you go over with her all the TSA guidelines - what to pack, no joking about chemicals, bombs, weapons, etc.

 

Make a checklist of items to take. Check it before leaving home and before leaving the hotel. List what goes in carry on and what goes in checked luggage.

 

Cell phone with charging cable and portable charger.

 

My dd just traveled to Europe with a group. One member was pulled for a random security check, then placed at the end of the security line when they'd checked her. The rest of the group made it on the plane easily, but the woman who was pulled barely made it on in time. They had allowed plenty of time and if the woman had thought to advocate for herself, she may have been placed at the front of the line instead of the end.

[Donna]

If she is traveling with her viola, she might ask the flight attendants checking people in if she might board the flight when they begin calling for boarding rather than waiting for her level of boarding if it is near the end of the line. That way she is sure to get her instrument onboard and safely stowed in the overhead while there is still room especially on a full flight. 

 

 

 

Edited to change violin to viola…LOL…listening to one while typing didn't work out.

 

 

Edited May 30, 2016 by Donna

[LadyR]

If she has to change planes during the trip, and she prints out the boarding passes at the airport, make sure she waits for BOTH passes to print or the clerk might have to run through the airport calling her name because she left one behind.  Yes, I did that. LOL

 

Keep a fully charged phone charger in her purse. They are inexpensive and are the size of a lipstick.

 

Use a crossbody bag so you have two free hands.  My dd uses a Very Bradley crossbody just for flying.  It's lightweight, large enough for her Nook, and also has several secure compartments/pockets to keep everything organized and easily accessible.

 

FlightAware is a great phone app.  I find that it lists info like delays or gate changes quicker than the airline apps.   GateGuru is another fun app.

 

Tie a brightly colored ribbon or bandana around the handle of checked luggage.  It makes it easier to identify when they are the conveyor and all look the same.

 

[ktgrok]

definitely be very early to the gate, and look for changes. We almost didn't make our wedding in scotland because they boarded SO early, that when we got there 45 minutes early they had already boarded. They did try to page us over the intercom, but butchered our names so badly we didn't recognize them! They had already left the gate when we realized what was happening (we'd been sitting at the gate for 20 minutes before we clued in) and the only reason they brought it back to the gate was that TSA rules said that it couldn't take off with our luggage if we weren't on the plane. So they either had to unload our luggage or let us on and they decided it was faster to let us on. We got some dirty looks from the passengers, but oh well. 

[Tita Gidge]

If she is traveling with her violin, she might ask the flight attendants checking people in if she might board the flight when they begin calling for boarding rather than waiting for her level of boarding if it is near the end of the line. That way she is sure to get her instrument onboard and safely stowed in the overhead while there is still room especially on a full flight. 

 

If that doesn't work, at the boarding door she can ask the FA if there is room in "the closet" for her instrument.