Adult Assistance Program

Traveling can be an exciting experience. It can also be stressful for those who stay behind and worry that their loved ones may need additional assistance to deal with the logistics of airports and air travel. At Northwest Airlines we understand your concerns and now offer you a new option; The Adult Assistance Program.

With counter-to-counter escort service to anyone who wishes to have dedicated assistance while in the care of Northwest Airlines, this program will ensure that your loved one is handled with personal attention during boarding, transfers, layovers, and at the final destination. Northwest Airlines will also provide participants in the Adult Assistance Program supervision during delays or irregular operations and will provide a transfer of custody form for each segment of travel. With the Adult Assistance Program we will work hard so that you can rest easy.

Northwest will provide supervision from the time of boarding until participants are met at the final destination. At no time will participants in the Adult Assistance Program be left unsupervised.

Adult Assistance Program Overview:

The Adult Assistance Program requires a service fee, $40US/$62CAD for a nonstop flight, $75US/$116CAD for a connecting flight(s), fares one-way.  Participation in this program and the services offered are optional. The program is available to adults age 18 and older. The Adult Assist Program offers supervision, escort, and sign-off transfer service similar to the UMNR Service for domestic NW/XJ and 9E operated flights only.

What Northwest Airlines will do:

• Escort on/off aircraft.
• Provide escort at connecting/layover points.
• Positive hand-off during transfers and connections.
• Keep emergency contact information throughout the travel itinerary.
• Provide documentation and verify ID of person designated to meet at final destination.
• Contact designated adult(s) in the event of a cancellation, diversion, or lengthy delay.

• Assist with eating or personal hygiene. Passengers who require medical attention should travel with a ticketed companion.
• Administer medication or provide medical services.
• Assist with any medical device.
• Participants cannot be booked on the last connecting flight of the day or "red-eye" flights that operate between 9pm and 5am local time.
• Provide transportation to passengers enrolled in the Adult Assistance Program on flights that may miss a necessary connection.

Under certain conditions, Northwest may require passengers to present a medical certificate from your doctor. These conditions include:

• Travel on a stretcher
• Travel in an incubator
• Need for oxygen
• Having a communicable disease or infection
• Having a medical condition that gives reasonable doubt that you can complete the flight safely  without extraordinary medical assistance during flight

Adult Assistance Program - Making Reservations and Purchasing Tickets

• Advise the reservation, ticket or travel agent that an adult will be traveling unaccompanied and is requesting participation in the Adult Assistance Program. You will be asked to provide the following information:
  • Age of participant (not required for enrollment).
  • The name, address, and phone number(s) of the person that will accompany to the departure airport (they will be required to stay with the passenger up to flight departure).
  • The name, address, and phone number(s) of the person that will meet them upon arrival at the destination city.
  • The name, address, and phone number(s) of a person to be contacted in the event of an emergency.
  • Any special information such as special dietary needs. Northwest offers a wide variety of special meals on flights scheduled for meal service. A minimum of 24 hours advance notice is required for special meal requests.
• This information will be checked against the identification of the party meeting the participant at the destination airport before the participant will be released from Northwest's custody.
• Participants in the Adult Assistance Program will be charged the applicable published fare plus the service fee.

When you receive the ticket and/or itinerary, it is important to verify that all flight information is correct. Be sure the proper airports and flight numbers are reflected on the ticket. Record this information for safekeeping apart from the travel documents. Also, be sure the party meeting upon arrival has the same information, including flight numbers.

Adult Assistance Program- Preparing for Travel

• Gather all travel documents, identification, and all contact information prior to your trip to the airport.
• Carry-on luggage should be minimal and contain the passenger's name and address.

The Check-In Process

• Arrive at the airport ticket counter 90 minutes prior to scheduled flight departure.
• The Northwest agent will ask you to complete a Service Form that includes contact information. All information must be complete before acceptance for travel.
• If the Adult Assistance Program service fee was not collected at the time of reservation, service fee will be collected at this time.
• Any checked luggage will be accepted.
• The participant is responsible for keeping track of personal items. Tell them to notify a Northwest employee immediately if something is lost.
• A small sticker will be placed on the participant to assist staff in identifying them.

Departure

• Introduce the participant to the gate agent and advise the agent that they are traveling in the Adult Assistance Program.
• You must remain in the departure gate area until the flight has departed.
• The gate agent or other employee will give assist with boarding. You will be asked to say goodbye in the gate area and cannot be allowed to escort onto the aircraft.
• Northwest will sign the ticket and travel documents over to the flight attendant for safekeeping.
• If travel includes a connecting itinerary, a Northwest employee will supervise the adult participant at their arriving flight, and stay with them until they board their connecting departure.

• At the destination, Northwest will verify ID and sign participant over to party designated to meet them.
• Person meeting at destination should arrive at the airport prior to flight arrival and must have a government issued photo I.D. Arrival times can be verified by calling 1800 225-2525.
• In the unlikely event of a flight reroute, cancellation or delay, Northwest Airlines personnel will assist participants in the Adult Assistance Program and contact parties listed on the service form.

Remind the participant to stay with Northwest personnel at all times and follow any requests from authorized personnel.

Provide the participant with instructions, phone contacts, and a small amount of money in the unlikely event their flight is delayed, cancelled or rerouted.

Advise the participant that uniformed Northwest personnel will be happy to answer any questions they may have during their trip.

Northwest will not assume any financial responsibility for an Adult Assistance Participant who is not met at the destination airport by the responsible adult listed in the reservation record. Any expense borne by the airline will be reimbursable by the parent or guardian.

These policies pertain to Northwest Airlines. Policies for other airlines may vary. Be sure to check with each airline involved in your itinerary as to its specific policies and practices.

Passengers With Disabilities:

The Adult Assistance program is not intended as a substitute or replacement of our comprehensive programs available free of charge to passengers with disabilities. The Department Of Transportation regulation 382.39 and the Air Carriers Access Act requires all air carriers to provide assistance to passengers with a disability for enplaning, deplaning, and with connections. We continue to provide these services without additional fee or advance notice.