The scorching temperatures outside can attest to the nearing of summer. It’s a time for travel, fun and frolic. And while many Caribbean American parents will still be busy and may not be able to make the trip to their respective homelands, they still want their kids to experience that Caribbean summer with relatives and all things Caribbean.

Should parents be fearful of sending their kids home as unaccompanied minors?

According to Kaye Chong, Manager of Community and Special Market Sales at Air Jamaica, what parents express is the normal concern any parent would have in any other situation where their children would have to be without them. “If you talk to passengers, they will tell you that their fear is that the child might wander off…but the point is that we have been doing this for many years and we have an excellent record.”

Once children come to the airlines as unaccompanied minors they are identified as such. Flight attendants know where they are and how they are seated. “If we have over a certain number on the flight, then another flight attendant has to travel on the flight to help.”

Air Jamaica’s Unaccompanied Minor program is widely used by the Caribbean American community. However, Chong said parents resort to the UM services when they have no other options.”

There a number of factors that parents should consider when thinking about using the UM services of any airline. Remember the definition of UM varies with each airline and so it is imperative to check with airlines and travel agents on the specific airline you plan to use.

For Air Jamaica, the UM program caters for children under two to those over 12. Each category has different regulations, for example children under two must have a personal assistant who remains with them throughout the entire flight. 

“When you send a child with Air Jamaica, we’re are taking full responsibility, Chong said. From checking and boarding to disembarking and pick-up at the destination airport, the personal assistants or flight attendants are responsible for the unaccompanied minors. “We consider these children precious passengers.” Airlines usually have very stringent procedures for handling unaccompanied minors.

Chong told CNWeekly News that parents often make common mistakes when using this option. “Parents make reservations and don’t indicate that the child is being unaccompanied, Chong laments. “It has to be clear to the travel agent,” she continued. Giving the child’s or children’s age(s) and the number of children traveling together is important as it may affect the cost of the travel. There is always a fee for the unaccompanied minor service, which on Air Jamaica is $50 each way. These are the details that travel airlines and agents will explain to parents.

Chong asks that parents ensure the following:

• Early check-in – Unaccompanied minors arrive early giving themselves 2 ½ hours because the check-in for the UM is much more time consuming due to the paperwork.

• Proper luggage weight – Each passenger is allowed two check-on pieces each weighing no more than 50 lbs. The carryon should be no more than 30 lbs. There are no exceptions for unaccompanied minors.

• No restricted items – unaccompanied minors are checked more thoroughly since some parents may try to send them with restricted items.

• Identification for receiver – Ensure that the airline has the correct information for the person who will be receiving the child. He/she has to have a photo ID and all the other relevant information or the child will not be released to him/her. If the situation changes parents should advise the airline.