昨天做了一个大胆的决定：让妞妞独自一人乘坐达美航空公司新开通的西雅图至上海航线，去那里会合外公外婆度暑假。通过给达美航空的客服打电话订票，同时也了解了许多无成人陪伴未成年人乘坐国内、国际航班的要求。其实早在2009年国庆，在妞妞还只有7岁的时候，她就已经独自乘坐航班从北京飞往杭州，去姑姑那里度假了。以下是达美航空公司网站的内容，我翻译了一下，供大家参考：

Quick Facts About Children Traveling Alone
儿童单独旅行简介

• A parent or designated accompanying adult must take the unaccompanied minor to the departure gate and remain until the flight has left the ground.
  必须由一位家长或者指定成人陪伴者带领无陪伴未成年人前往登机口，并且直到飞机起飞后方可离开。
• A parent or accompanying adult should report to the destination airport one hour before scheduled arrival to obtain a gate pass.
  一位家长或者陪伴成人必须在航班计划到达时间前一个小时抵达目的地机场以索取登机牌。
• A valid ID must be presented before the minor will be released.
  接机人需出示有效身份证件后方可领走未成年人。

Travel Tips for Parents
父母须知的旅行小贴士

Baggage
行李
Keep carry-on baggage to a minimum, and attach ID and contact information on or inside carry-on and checked baggage.
尽量把随身行李缩减到最小，并且在随身和托运行李上附身份信息和联系信息。

Entertainment and Food
娱乐和餐饮
Most flights do not offer meal service, so pack food for the flight, as well as books, games and other entertainment.
大部分航班不提供餐饮服务，因此请自备食品以及书籍、游戏和其它娱乐。

Special Needs
特殊需求
Explain flight procedures to your child: kids traveling alone should speak only to Delta Air Lines agents if they need help or have questions. And they should never leave the airport, the gate area or the aircraft unless accompanied by a Delta Air Lines representative wearing a badge. Be sure to let gate agents know if your child has any special needs. If there is a change to your child’s itinerary en route, an agent will contact you.
向孩子解释航班流程：如果孩子需要帮助或者有任何问题，应该只跟航班工作人员沟通。无佩戴胸牌的航班代表陪同，决不可离开机场、候机区域或者飞机。如果孩子有任何特殊需求，应确保登机口工作人员知晓。如果孩子的航程有任何变化，工作人员会联系你。

Check-in Requirements
换取登机牌的要求
Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to departure time for domestic flights and two hours prior to international flights. Look for the Special Services line at the Delta Air Lines counter to check in with an agent.
国内航班请提前至少90分钟到达机场，国际航班请提前至少2小时。换取登机牌、托运行李是在特殊服务队列。

Note: You may not use self-service options to check in an unaccompanied minor.
注意：你不能使用自助服务来为无成人陪伴儿童换取登机牌。

Unaccompanied Minor Check-in Requirements
无成人陪伴儿童换取登机牌的要求
An adult (18 years of age or older) must accompany the unaccompanied minor at check in.
换取登机牌时必须有一位年满18岁的成年人陪伴。

You may not be permitted to walk your unaccompanied minor to the boarding gate at some airports outside the United States. Upon check in, verify with the Delta agent where parents/guardians can wait for flight status; parents/guardians must remain at the airport until the flight is airborne.
在美国以外的一些机场，你可能不允许陪同无陪伴儿童前往登机口。在换取登机牌的时候，请跟航空公司工作人员核实在何处等待航班状态；家长或监护人必须在航班起飞后方可离开机场。

Note: If the unaccompanied minor arrives at the counter alone, the Delta agent will not be permitted to complete check in. A parent/guardian will be contacted to return to the airport before the check-in process may begin.
注意：如果无成人陪伴儿童独自到达柜台，航空公司工作人员不允许为其换取登机牌。

The following information is required from the accompanying adult at check-in:
在换取登机牌时陪伴成人需要提供如下证件和信息：

• Photo Identification (e.g., driver’s license)
  身份证件
• Address (as shown on identification)
  地址
• Contact phone number (in case of any changes or emergency)
  联系电话
• Name, address and phone number of the adult meeting the unaccompanied minor at the destination
  目的地接机人员的姓名、地址、电话

Next Steps
后续步骤

• Upon arrival, if someone other than the person named at check-in is at the destination to pick up the child, a Delta representative will contact the original accompanying adult to verify the identification of the pickup person at the destination.
  在到达时，如果非指定接机人前来领取孩子，航空公司工作人员会联系始发地陪伴成人来验证目的地接机人员身份。
• The pickup person at the destination must obtain a gate pass to pick up the unaccompanied minor at the gate.
  目的地接机人员必须领取一张舱门通行证以在舱门口领取无成人陪伴儿童。
• At the point of departure, the accompanying adult must remain at the gate until the flight is off the ground.
  在始发地，陪伴成人在航班离地后方可离开登机口。

After reviewing these program rules, the accompanying adult will be required to sign a document stating all the information provided is understood and correct.
在阅读以上条款后，陪伴成人将被要求签署一份文件声明理解以上条款的正确性。

Check-in Completion
完成登机牌换取
To complete the check-in process for an unaccompanied minor, the Delta agent will:
在为无成人陪伴儿童换取登机牌后，航空公司工作人员将会：

• place a wristband around the wrist of the child for identification purposes
  在儿童手腕处系一个腕带以作身份标识目的
• create a package that will be used during the trip to include all travel documents (boarding cards, unaccompanied minor forms, etc.) and any additional documents (passport, receipts, baggage claim tickets, etc.)
  建立一个档案袋，内置所有旅行文件（登机牌、无成人陪伴申请表等等）和任何其它所需文件（护照、收据、行李领取票据等等）

Boarding Gate Procedures
登机口流程
Upon arrival at the gate, unaccompanied minors should check in with the gate agent and be prepared to board the aircraft at the beginning of the boarding process.
在到达登机口后，无成人陪伴儿童须和登机口工作人员报到并且准备在登机队伍的最开始进行登机。

Note: The accompanying adult must be present at the time of boarding for the child to be permitted to board the aircraft. Once the plane is off the ground, the accompanying adult will be permitted to leave the gate area. This precaution ensures that the unaccompanied minor is escorted at all times.
注意：登机时，陪伴成人须在场，儿童方被允许登机。当飞机离开地面时陪伴成人方可允许离开登机区域。该预防措施确保无成人陪伴儿童一直有人陪同。

下图是2009年国庆妞妞乘坐国内航班从北京前往杭州，在杭州机场的现场照片：