<p>Agree with the airline employee. I just returned from a trip to Spain. The flight home was a mess. We sat in Madrid at the gate for hours. It became obvious to me that there was a problem with the plane, particularly when they brought up a wheelchair passenger and unaccompanied minor and then took them away never to return.
We boarded hours late and then sat on the runway for an hour. Finally took off. An hour in they returned the plane to Madrid.
Anyway, the point of the story is that a 19 year old who was alone and going back to the States approached me. Told me she was scared, didn’t know what was going on, had a dead cel phone and no adaptor for European charging…etc.<br>
We emailed her parents from my blackberry, had her go to the airline provided hotel with us, made sure she was in the room next door, etc.
I think she had not travelled a lot and the airline handled everything terribly.
So…advice about approaching personnel in uniform is great. Absolutely if she has any issue she shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help.<br>
Of course, cel phone and charger…of course check screens all the time for gate changes.</p>
<p>In February I flew from London to Cape Town via Johannesburg by myself (and back again). I had just turned 18. To be honest, I didn’t feel unsafe or scared at any time, but that was probably because all my flights were fine and there were no complications. What made me feel comfortable, though, was having the phone number of the place I was going in Cape Town, so I could call if I needed to, and knowing that my debit card could be used abroad.</p>
<p>My kids have both been flying on their own since the age of 14. One thing I make sure to tell them is to hang on to that last $20 for their return trip home. It’s a temptation when shopping to spend every dime, then they are traveling with no $! Also, for sure the cell phone and charger, older D just returned home from Spain during all of the “volcano confusion” and had us worried because she didn’t answer our calls and voicemail. She had her charger in suitcase and phone dead. I also gave them a just in case credit card to use on long trips.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t let anyone travel nowadays without a credit card; you just never know what might be needed. (Suppose they lose her luggage and she has to buy clothes before she gets reimbursed - will she have enough cash for that?) Make her an authorized user on one of your cards, and let her use it for emergencies. Of course, define “emergency” before she leaves! IMO, if she’s trustworthy enough to travel alone, she’s trustworthy enough to carry your credit card. To paraphrase my father when he handed me his card, she can overspend . . . once.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. GaMom I will pm you back.
It was a last minute decision trip. Booked at 2 pm on the plane at 1 am. She is safety in the car with her sister at her destination. We had to drive her to an airport last night 2 hours from our home. We played out all the different scenarios in the car on the drive down. Made sure she had all cell phone charger. She also got lucky that the cheapest flight was in first class for the outbound trip. I guess they would rather sell it cheap versus going empty. She texted us while waiting for the first plane and called when she got to Memphis. (5:30 am my time) She had a problem finding her flight on the screen and asked a Delta employee for help.
The way back will be more complicated. She is traveling coach and going through Atlanta. I haven’t flown through Atlanta but understand she might have to take some sort of train. Hoping she doesn’t have to change terminals. She has about a 2 1/2 hour layover in Atlanta. That should give her plenty of time to find her gate.
Good reminder about saving some cash for the return trip.
Isn’t it the Mom’s job to worry?</p>
<p>Be sure she has Delta on speed dial. If there’s any sort of cancellation she can be the first on the line to get a rebooked flight. When I was flying last year and the my connection in Vegas got canceled due to 2" of snow I immediately called Southwest and was able to rebook to one of only three seats available the following day (was flying during holidays) to my final destination. If I had instead waited in line for a representative I’d probably still be waiting for my chance to rebook.</p>