About the Accompanied Minor Program

Traveling alone can be a harrowing experience for a child, and for the child's family. The Trusted Traveler accompanies children who would normally fly alone as unaccompanied minors to and from anywhere in the world.

It is our top priority to provide a safe, secure, reliable, and comfortable travel experience for children who would normally travel alone. The Trusted Traveler's Accompanied Minor Program offers a service unparalleled in the travel industry that ensures your child's safety and security, while providing a service that is comfortable and enjoyable.

The Trusted Traveler's Accompanied Minor Program is an excellent travel service that is specially designed for Unaccompanied Minors, Infants up to 5 years of age, Handicapped Children, Court Ordered Visitation, and even as a Foreign Adoption Escort. We will make sure your children travel safely and comfortably.

How Accompanied Minor Programs Work

The airlines have been running their Unaccompanied Minor Program for many years now. According to published estimates, as many as seven million children fly as unaccompanied minors every year in the United States - and that number is growing. That equates to as many as 19,000 per day and as many as one unaccompanied minor per flight. Due to the climate of extreme security at airports and cities around the world, The Trusted Traveler is able to provide a service that is a tier above the airlines' unaccompanied minor services.

How the Airlines'
Unaccompanied Minor Programs Work

For instance, and eight year old from Los Angeles is going to visit grandma in Miami, Florida. The parents would contact the airlines by telephone (most airlines require you to call them) to enroll the child in an Unaccompanied Minor Program and purchase an adult ticket (required by all airlines).

On the day of departure, the parent or guardian would travel to the airport. Depending on the airline, the parent would be required to drop off their child to a ticket agent who would then turn the child over to an employee, who would then supervise the child until he/she boards the plane. The employee would then identify the child to the flight attendant on the plane. The attendant would take the child to his/her seat and brief the child on airline rules and what to expect during the flight. At that point, the child would be under the control of the airplane crew. At the conclusion of the flight, the airline crew would then turn the child over to an airline employee who would then take the child through to the claims area (or through customs and immigration and then to the claims area) where grandma would then meet the child.

Other airlines may require a parent or guardian to obtain a gate pass and stay with the minor at the gate until the minor has boarded and the plane has departed the airport.

How The Trusted Traveler's
Accompanied Minor Program Works

Accompanied Minor Program Policies

Policies for Unaccompanied Minors vary by airline, but most airlines have the same basic rules and procedures. No airline will accept a minor under the age of five years old in its Unaccompanied Minor Program. Most airlines also require that if a minor is between 5-14 years old, it is mandatory that he/she be enrolled in the airline's Unaccompanied Minor Program.

The following are the major differences between the airlines' Unaccompanied Minor Programs and The Trusted Traveler's Accompanied Minor Program.

Airlines

Children under five years old cannot travel on the airline's Unaccompanied Minor Program and must be accompanied by an adult passenger at least 18 years of age; Children under five years old simply cannot travel alone.

The Trusted Traveler

The Trusted Traveler accepts all children in the Accompanied Minor Program including infants through age seventeen.

Airlines

The Unaccompanied Minor Program is mandatory for children ages 5-14 and optional for children ages 15-17.

The Trusted Traveler

The Trusted Traveler sets no age limits or terms under our Accompanied Minor Program.

Airlines

Unaccompanied Minors ages 5-14 will not be accepted on the last connecting flight of the day, or “red eye” flights. Red eye flights are those departing between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

The Trusted Traveler

Accompanied Minors have no restrictions regarding when they travel because they will be traveling with a qualified agent. Whether it is the first flight out, the last flight out, or the red eye - there are no time restrictions with The Trusted Traveler.

Airlines

Unaccompanied Minors are not accepted for international travel if their itineraries include a connection to a non-partner airline.

The Trusted Traveler

There are no restrictions to this policy with The Trusted Traveler. We can take the accompanied minor to almost any corner of the world if necessary.

Airlines

Unaccompanied minors must check in with an agent and are not eligible to use the self-service check-in devices.

The Trusted Traveler

Check-In is not an issue with The Trusted Traveler since we will be handling all of the flight and travel logistics for the minor.

Program Fees

There is a service fee associated with The Trusted Traveler's Accompanied Minor Program. The service fee and all other travel-related fees are paid prior to travel by calling The Trusted Traveler Reservations toll free at 1-866-582-2866. For current fee information, please visit our web site at www.thetrustedtraveler.com and click on “Rates and Fees”.

Travel Tips for the Parents

Keep carry-on luggage to a minimum. The Trusted Traveler will advise the parents of current TSA rules and regulations regarding carry-on luggage.

Attach identification information on the inside of all luggage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of documentation does the program require?

Both parents must complete an Unaccompanied Minor form prior to travel; it will contain all of the pertinent information to insure your child's safety and welfare during travel. This document will need to be completed by both parents or guardians and must be notarized by a governing authority. Please make sure that this information is filled out completely and accurately to insure that your child will travel that day.

What happens if one (or all) of the flights is delayed or cancelled?

Your child will be under the total supervision of The Trusted Traveler agent and we will do everything within our power to escort your children safely and expeditiously to their final destination while maintaining constant communication with the parent(s) or guardian on both ends via cell phone. In the rare event that an overnight stay is required due to weather conditions, mechanical delays, airport security, or other issues - you can be confident that your child's welfare and safety will be our highest priority.

Can I designate the gender of the agent to accompany my child?

Absolutely. The client has the final authority to specify the agent's gender.

How many children can I send with The Trusted Traveler Agent?

At this time, The Trusted Traveler can only accommodate two children per agent. Both children must be able to occupy their own seats on an airplane.

How will my child be met when he/she arrives?

The Trusted Traveler will escort and release your child at the airport or other specified location - and only to the person designated on the Identification and Release Protocol (IRP) Form.

How does the Identification and Release Protocol (IRP) work?

This is a secure form that only The Trusted Traveler and the Parents or Guardians see. This proprietary information is necessary to insure the safe and secure delivery of the minor to the proper parent(s) or guardian. If the information does not match on the receiving end, the agent will not leave the child until The Trusted Traveler properly verifies this information.

What if my child requires medication on the flight?

If your child requires medication during the journey, we would assign one of our Licensed Registered Nurses to accompany your child through the journey. This requires paperwork that is more extensive (including physician release forms and other liability releases).

What are the backgrounds of The Trusted Traveler agents?

We are highly selective with whom we employ as Trusted Traveler agents. Most of our agents have extensive travel experience and have backgrounds in law enforcement, registered nursing, government protection, or military. All of our employees must pass extensive drug and alcohol screening, mental and physical fitness tests, and thorough background checks. We also require that our employees not be addicted to nicotine products.