Tips for DS 15yo flying alone this summer

[sergeantmajor]

Well the tips are more for me than ds to put my mind at rest, as I am sure he is mature and competent! He is meeting his French exchange family at Lyon airport. Any advice to ensure he arrives safely, meets them successfully and a back-up plan if things don't go as planned? What does he do if they aren't there to meet him?

If they aren't there, then he waits at the arrivals exit in plain sight.
If they don't arrive in e.g. 20mins he phones you & texts them?

When DD1 flew to Spain when she had just turned 16 the two things I was most concerned about were losing passport & lost baggage.

Passport - strict instructions never to put it down - in hand or in bag only.
Lost luggage - don't leave luggage hall without reporting it first. But if waiting for luggage makes you late text / phone people meeting you (or parents) to let them know.

Because DD is who she is, we gave her typed instructions and what ifs for all steps of the journey.

I flew transatlantic at 16. Not many things can go wrong. Make sure he is know to the airline and he knows who to speak to. Will you be able to confirm gate number before he goes thru pp control ?

good advice - thanks!

Make sure phone numbers are in his phone with the +44 or +33, so if he has to ring or text in a panic they work properly.

Has he flown with you before, so knows the general procedure?

If he has hold luggage make sure he knows how to collect it and make sure he does before leaving arrivals.

Does he know what they look like? Can you ask them to wait in arrivals/wherever appropriate (look on the airport website for a map and get them to send a photo of the map with where they will be marked on it, your DS can print this out and take it with him) with a sign with sergeantmajor DS written on it?

If he is going on a French exchange, I assume that he speaks some French and this is the point of the trip? I'm sure he will be fine.

Main thing is, make sure he has mobile call and data switched on and wnabled on his phone, but FGS make sure he is on a capped travel call plan... also a means of paying for things, like a credit card or debit card with facility to withdraw money. Again though you may need to notify card issuer he is going away.

If he is 15 will he not be an unaccompanied minor?? If so have you checked with airline he will be permitted to fly?

Oh I see that now many airlines permit kids of 12+ to travel unaccompanied and without an escort or adult... ignore my last point, times have changed :)

make sure he is on a capped travel call plan

Roaming charges have been abolished within the EEA.

Do not leave the departure airport before you know his plane is in the air

Really good tips - thank you!