07/30/2026
Today, I wanted to give praise to American Airlines. We flew our 13 year old child from CAK to PHX via ORD. For those unfamiliar with airport codes, that’s Canton, Oh to Phoenix,Az via O’Hare Airport in Chicago,Il. This was her first solo trip, so it wasn’t exactly easy on myself and her Mother.
The ground and cabin crew and “the Company” itself scored some points with us today, heck even the reservation agent who took my payment for the unaccompanied minor(UM) fee was very helpful. Starting with the phone agent, I was paying the $150 fee each way for them to take her and she re assured me all would be ok, that they would es**rt her from the first leg, to a private holding room to the connecting flight. In addition everyone along the way would be aware of our child’s status as a UM, but… still you worry.
All went well at CAK, it’s why we love that airport, and she was the first to board. As she walked up the gate to the plane, a proud tear ran down my face. Shortly there after though the irrational fears started to take over and you start to worry about everything as you’re not in charge of your kids safety anymore. I will say this, cell phones made this journey less stressful. She and I texted all the way till wheels up, and as the plane lifted off on-time I knew she would have a great trip. She would arrive early at ORD, and would text me as they taxied.
Then she sent a video of the room she was in. Hidden somewhere in the terminal I saw an agent, food and drink options but most importantly a secure kid. Not just sitting at a gate for her 3 hour connection, but in a secure-private area. At this point she would tell us of some other safety procedures the cabin crew shared with her too (I’m not going to share here to help keep other kids safe). As she discussed these extra security precautions I was so happy with the experience so far, my fears that we so avid as I left her were calming.
After a couple hours in the UM “lounge” she texted us that she was being es**rted to the connecting gate. Upon arrival at the gate for her connecting flight she encountered a minor delay. That was solved quickly, she was boarded and put in the back rows, so she would be close to the flight attendants and the last to deplane, also a security measure policy. Her plane pushed back a few minutes late, but still before the taxi ways at the busiest airport in the US got congested and was up in the air in no time. Actually the flight was tracking to land early. The second leg went on uneventful and my Mommy, her Noni, met her at the gate! A great week for them is now under way!
Thank you A’A! And to all parents who might want to fly their kid, I highly recommend American. They allow your child to connect , most airlines make you chose a non stop or they won’t fly your kid, and they have these secure rooms at all their major hubs!, AA.com will let you know if the connection airport qualifies. Feel free to reach out for more specifics!
Photo by my kid in the secure room at ORD!
