Long Distance Visitation -- Airline Policies

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Michelle O'Neil

Many parents have long distances to bear between their children and themselves.  On Fridays and Sundays at the ariport, one can see many parents escorting kids to and from flights.  Airlines have regulations addressing flights for minor children flying without an adult -- called Unaccompanied Minors.  The regulations and fees charged vary between the airlines.  Here's a summary of the various airlines policies:

Airline

Kids Flying Solo Age 5-7

Kids Flying Solo Age 8-11

Kids Flying Solo Age 12-14

Kids Flying Solo Age 15-17

Kids Flying Internationally

AirTran

$39 (nonstop or direct only)

$39 (nonstop or direct only)

$39-$59 (optional)

Call airline for options

N/A

Air Canada

Not Allowed

$100

$100

$100 (optional)

$100

Alaska

$75 (nonstop only)

$75 (no codeshare flights)

$75 (optional)

$75 (optional)

$100

American

$100 (nonstop only)

$100 (no codeshare flights)

$100 (no codeshare flights)

$100 (optional)

$100

Continental

$75 (nonstop only)

$75 (nonstop) or $100 (connecting)

 $75 (nonstop) or $100 (connecting)

Not Offered

$75 (nonstop) or $100 (connecting)

Delta

$100 (nonstop or direct only)

$100 (nonstop or connecting, no codeshares)

$100 (nonstop or connecting, no codeshares)

$100 (optional)

$100

Frontier

$50

$50

$50

Not Offered

N/A

Hawaiian Air

$35 inter island Hawaii and $100 mainland nonstop only

$35 inter island Hawaii and $100 mainland nonstop and connecting

$35 inter island Hawaii and $100 mainland nonstop and connecting

Optional $35 inter island Hawaii and $100 mainland nonstop and connecting

$100

JetBlue

$75 (nonstop or direct only)

$75 (nonstop or direct only)

$75 (nonstop or direct only)

Optional $75 (nonstop or direct only)

$100

Northwest

$100 (nonstop or direct only)

$100 (nonstop or connecting)

$100 (nonstop or connecting)

$100 (optional)

$120 (nonstop or connecting no codeshare)

Southwest

$25 (nonstop or direct only)

$25 (nonstop or direct only)

Not Offered

Not Offered

N/A

Spirit

$100 (nonstop or direct only)

$100 (nonstop or direct only)

Not Offered

Not Offered

13-17 yrs. only with notarized letter

United

$99 (nonstop only)

$99 (nonstop or connecting)

$99 (optional)

$99 (optional)

$99

US Airways

$100 (nonstop only)

$100 (nonstop only)

$100 (nonstop only)

$100 (optional)

$100

Virgin America

$75 (nonstop only)

$75 (nonstop only)

$75 (nonstop only)

$75 (optional)

N/A

British Airways

$50  (nonstop only)

$50  (nonstop only)

$50  (nonstop only)

$50 (optional)

$50  (nonstop only)

Lufthansa

$60-$120 (within Europe) $150 (outside Europe)

$60-$120 (within Europe) $150 (outside Europe)

$60-$120 (within Europe) $150 (outside Europe) (optional)

$60-$120 (within Europe) $150 (outside Europe) (optional)

 $60-$120 (within Europe) $150 (outside Europe)
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What not to tell your kids during a divorce and how not tell them.

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Nathan Anderson

Although it may seem like common sense, there are a number of things parent shouldn't tell their kids during and after their divorce.  A common them among some of these things is the assignment of blame for the divorce (be it blaming the other parent or the child).  Another common theme involves the delivery of the message.  Communication experts have routinely pointed out that approximately 80% of communication is in the delivery.  Also, these communication tips not only apply to divorce cases in Dallas but across the country too.

Examples of things not to say that fall in the "not my fault" category are:

  1. I don't want a divorce, but your [mom/dad] does;
  2. You can thank your [mom/dad] for us splitting up; and
  3. Because of what you did, we're getting a divorce.

Examples relating to the delivery of the message include: 

  1. Yelling at the other parent in front of the children; and
  2. Expressing apathy/frustration about the other parent's rules.

Sometimes parents "sugar coat" the issues which results in their children having unrealistic expectations.  Although the level of explanation to provide a child varies by age, intellect and maturity, parents do themselves a disservice by trying to shield their children from truths surrounding their divorce. 

Bottom line: Parents should remember to avoid blame assignment and pay attention to how they communicate with their children when discussing their divorce.  Hat tips to Dick Price's blog and Wolfgang at Singleparentgossip.com for the motivation behind this post. 

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