If you and your soon-to-be ex will be living thousands or even hundreds of miles apart, letting your child fly as an “unaccompanied minor” (UM) for school breaks and summer vacations may be the best way for them to spend time with their other parent.
If air travel will be part of your custody and parenting time agreement, it’s important to codify some details and expectations. You’ll also need to factor expenses into your child support agreement.
But, before you decide whether letting your child or teen fly alone is a good idea (or even possible), it’s important to learn more about UM programs. All major U.S. airlines have them. The rules and the costs vary.
Generally, these programs accept children between 5 and 15. Kids older than the maximum age would fly as any other passenger would. Even if your child is old enough to qualify to fly as a UM, you have to determine whether they’re ready for it. While airline personnel will give special attention to children flying alone, they can’t babysit or entertain them throughout the flight.
What to consider when looking at UM programs
You’ll want to choose an airline that flies non-stop between your location and your co-parent’s. This will eliminate the potential complications inherent in changing planes and long layovers. Many UM programs require that kids take non-stop flights.
It’s a good idea to go online and see what parents have to say about various airlines’ programs. While people tend to report only very good or (more often) bad experiences, this input can still be helpful.
Co-parents need to work together
Letting your child fly alone requires communication and cooperation by both parents. Having the right documentation when bringing your child to the airport is especially crucial. If your spouse is less organized and/or reliable than you, you may need to take the initiative to help ensure that your child will be allowed on the flight when your co-parent brings them to the airport.
If you don’t think a UM program is right for your child, for whatever reason, it’s a good idea to consider alternatives like flying with them while they visit their co-parent and staying elsewhere during their visit or your co-parent returning to Iowa. As noted, it’s important to include some details in your parenting plan and to plan for the expenses involved. If you seek experienced legal guidance, you can potentially make these trips less chaotic for your child.