Cross your Ts and dot your Is

[Talk Host]

My wife and I went to pick up our 13 year old grandson at Orlando International Airport on a Jet Blue flight from Syracuse yesterday. Our daughter, on the other end, had filled out all the "unaccompanied minor" paperwork that was required, and paid the extra fee associated with it.

Problem was that Jet Blue forgot to enter it in the computer. When we arrived at the airport, we were told that we had no authority to retrieve him. I said, I'll try to call my daughter now to have her call jet blue, but, I asked, what if I can't reach her.

Chills.................. The answer was, "he will be turned over to Orlando Police until it's sorted out." I almost went crazy. I said, instead of Papa meeting him at the gate, a cop is going to take custody of him?

Yes was the answer, unless this gets straightened out. Well, I was lucky enough to reach my daughter, she called Jet Blue and they admitted that they had the paperwork, but forgot to enter it.

This was his first trip alone. Can you imagine what it would have been like if I wasn't there to greet him....instead a cop.

Be sure that the paperwork is complete each and every time you do this.

BTW most other airlines cut off "unaccompanied minor" at age 12. Jet Blue still uses 13 and under.

JLK

[StarbuckSammy]

Thanks for the heads-up....

[Pturner]

You wouldn't have liked that a bit and I don't blame you. A 13-year-old, on the other hand, probably would have thought that was "neato".

Anyway, I'm so glad it worked out.

[bkcunningham1]

How does that work, Jan, if the paperwork is filed and done the correct way? Where does he go when he gets off the plane and where are you waiting to get him? Do you wait in an assigned area with your identification?

[Talk Host]

How does that work, Jan, if the paperwork is filed and done the correct way? Where does he go when he gets off the plane and where are you waiting to get him? Do you wait in an assigned area with your identification?

It works two ways. You can opt to have an airline employee bring the child to meet you outside the sterile zone (outside security). The problem with this is, that is the last thing they do when the plane lands. Your child and the employee will take their good old time getting out to you.

The other option is for you (assuming the paperwork is done correctly) to go to the airline ticket counter or lost luggage office and tell them you need a gate pass to pick up an unaccompanied minor. They will issue you a gate pass that will allow you through security and you can go right to the child's arrival gate and greet them. You will sign paperwork at the gate to indicate that you have received the child.

Now, when the child is leaving and you get a gate pass to take the child out to the gate, you must wait there until the airplane is actually in the air and on the way home. (I don't mean half way home, I mean, in the air)
Otherwise, if you left and the plane had to return to the gate for any reason, your child would get off and would be unaccompanied.

The airlines are really very very good about this, but stuff happens and we have to be vigilant.

[mrfixit]

It works two ways. You can opt to have an airline employee bring the child to meet you outside the sterile zone (outside security). The problem with this is, that is the last thing they do when the plane lands. Your child and the employee will take their good old time getting out to you.

The other option is for you (assuming the paperwork is done correctly) to go to the airline ticket counter or lost luggage office and tell them you need a gate pass to pick up an unaccompanied minor. They will issue you a gate pass that will allow you through security and you can go right to the child's arrival gate and greet them. You will sign paperwork at the gate to indicate that you have received the child.

Now, when the child is leaving and you get a gate pass to take the child out to the gate, you must wait there until the airplane is actually in the air and on the way home. (I don't mean half way home, I mean, in the air)
Otherwise, if you left and the plane had to return to the gate for any reason, your child would get off and would be unaccompanied.

The airlines are really very very good about this, but stuff happens and we have to be vigilant.

Thank You Talk Host.. I appreciate your sharing this info.

[bkcunningham1]

Yes, thank you. I didn't know how it worked (or in your case, how it is suppose to work) either. I'd write a very nice letter to the airline explaining what happened and what could have happened. Maybe they'll give you a little perk to make up for the near mishap. You never know, you may get a certificate for a piece of luggage to fly free.