Being a Unnacompanied Minor with Continental (Continental Airlines)

Member Name: SerenityKayte

Product:	Continental Airlines
Date:	25/07/05 (657 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Staff take good care of you, Nice waiting room, free food and drink.

Disadvantages: They put me in the wrong seat on the aeroplane

Well, my first time travelling internationally on my own! Hurrah! But, since the 7/7 bombings, I got recommended to go as an unaccompanied minor.
Getting a connecting flight, from London to Newark, then Newark to Rochester, cost me $90, but it was most definitely $90 worth spending.

Continental designates children from ages 5-14 as unaccompanied minors when travelling without a companion of at least 18 years of age. This could also include children ages 15-17 travelling alone and for whom the parent or guardian requests special supervision.
• Unaccompanied minors under 5 years of age are not accepted
• Unaccompanied minors ages 5-7 years accepted for nonstop and direct flights only
• Unaccompanied minors ages 8-14 accepted for nonstop, direct and connecting flights


I don’t know much about the company, but it was a good choice to go as an Unaccompanied minor.

I was firstly told to fill in a big form, about who is meeting me, and getting my dad to sign me out of London Gatwick, I was whizzed through customs in 10 mins, (The best part was queue jumping!) I was then given a white and red striped wristband to wear to show I was an Unaccompanied minor.

The crew for Gatwick to Newark were fantastic and checked on you every 30 mins. I found no bias towards the Upper Classes, and everyone in Economy was happy.

But, oh no, 20 mins circling round Newark, our captain tells us there are bad storms so we have to get a transfer to another airport to get more fuel and to wait for the storms to pass, I thought I was going to miss my next flight! I had a 7 hour gap in between luckily. We arrived at Newark about 4 hours late, but another girl and I were accompanied off the plane by a very loud New York woman! Unfortunately we had to wait another 1 hour in customs, and then got to the room where I got to relax.
There was cookies and 2 rooms each with TV's and Sofas, it was well kept, clean, and nicely looked after. And so were the children :-) Everyone was chatting to one another, and the staff often spoke in more than one language to help break down the language barrier. It was very comforting.

They asked all the children frequently if any of them needed the bathroom, drinks, pizza, bagels, anything you wanted! Except to go shopping in Duty free :-(

I then got my flight to Rochester, and was boarded first 20 mins early to get to know the attendant and meet the pilots, and I got a little badge with continental wings on them.

I arrived in Rochester 30 mins later, and was accompanied off the flight, and met my best friend there :-)

It was good that everyone who looked after you had to sign the piece of paper with all details on it, and they gave you a ride in a little truck from the Gate you arrive to the Waiting room for minors.

Returning home, my friends mom and him were allowed through security to see me depart. Continental sat me in the wrong seat, mistaking 16A for 16J. I just went up to a crew member and told them. They soon corrected it :-)And apologized. Apart from that there were no problems.

In total, i think that was a $180 well spent. It helped me find my way around Newark, and got me safley to and from my destinations. Thanks continental :-D

Summary: Very good service.