Dates & Travel Information

Tuesday, July 1st - Wednesday, July 30th 2025

PLEASE READ ALL TRAVEL INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING YOUR TRAVEL PLANS

Travel Information for Out-Of-Town Campers

If you are an out-of-town camper, when your travel arrangements have been made please fill out a travel form found on your camper application regardless of how you plan to travel to Chicago.
Your travel form must be completed by June 1st.
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If you are an out-of-town camper, please fill out this form regardless of how you plan to travel to Chicago.

O'Hare Airport

Transportation from Chicago O'Hare Airport is provided for out-of-town boys arriving between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1st and departing Wednesday, July 30th   between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

O'Hare carriers (except Southwest) have adopted a policy, which requires children under 16 to travel as an unaccompanied minor, unless accompanied by an adult. They routinely charge an additional $150.00- $200.00 each way for this service. This service requires that we meet your son at the gate upon arrival and stay with him at the gate until he enters the plane upon departure. You can understand with a large percentage of our campers coming from out of the Chicago area it would be extremely difficult for us to do this. Our policy is, therefore, to only meet campers 16 and above at the baggage claim area upon arrival.

Upon departure, your son will be delivered to the specific airline terminal needed and assisted in finding the correct security check-in. If your son will not be 16 years old at the time of travel, he will have to travel as an unaccompanied minor and we will meet your son at the gate upon arrival and stay with him at the gate until he enters the plane upon departure. Please inform your airline that a staff person from Yeshivas Hakayitz Summer Camp will be meeting your son at the gate with the proper identification, and that a name will be supplied in advance. Please don’t forget to prepay your son’s luggage fee for his return trip online or provide him with the necessary funds to do so upon return.

While there may not be a "best" airline for unaccompanied minors, each offers a little something different in the way of fees, age restrictions and more. Here’s a peek at the policies for a few major U.S. airlines. Please make sure to visit the website of the airline of your chice to check up and any policy changes.
  • Southwest Airlines: Southwest is unique in that it only allows children 5-11 to travel as unaccompanied minors with no option to book the service for older children. If they are within this age range, they either must be traveling with someone over the age of 12 or booked as an unaccompanied minor. The service costs $100 per traveler per direction of travel. 
  • Delta: Travelers ages 5-14 are considered unaccompanied minors on Delta and are required to register as such, while children ages 15-17 can voluntarily opt to use the program. It costs an additional $150 each way but covers up to four children on one booking.
  • United Airlines: Kids 5-14 are required to use United’s unaccompanied minor program if they’re traveling alone or with someone under 18, but it’s optional for kids 15-17. It costs $150 per one-way flight for up to two children, and an additional $150 per direction of travel for every two kids after that.
  • American Airlines: You can request your child be treated as an unaccompanied minor when they’re 15-17, but it’s required for kids 5-14 traveling alone or without someone who is at least 16. The fee is $150 per one-way flight, but it covers siblings traveling together.
  • JetBlue: Kids ages 5-14 must register as unaccompanied minors on JetBlue. However, if children are accompanied by someone who’s at least 14, it’s not required. The fee is $150 per direction of travel for each minor. You’ll have to fill out a JetBlue Unaccompanied Minor Form and bring three copies to the airport with you.

 

Midway Airport

Midway Airport is close to an hour’s drive from camp during traffic. However, Southwest Airlines does not require children 12 and above to travel as an unaccompanied minor and does not charge for the first two bags. This typically can save $100 each way. In addition, discounted flights are often available on Southwest. As a result, we will now provide transportation to and from this airport. There will be small charge of $30 each way to cover the additional cost. The charges will be added to your credit card.

Book your arrival time to Chicago between 12:00 and 3:00 and your departure time from Chicago after 1:00 p.m. The Bus will depart from camp at 11:00 am.

If your child is 11 or under and must travel as an unaccompanied minor, we will meet your son at the gate upon arrival and stay with him at the gate until he enters the plane upon departure. Please inform your airline that a staff person from Yeshivas HaKayitz Summer Camp will be meeting your son at the gate with the proper identification.

Please don’t forget, if possible, prepay your son’s return trip luggage fee online or provide him with the necessary funds to do so upon return.


Once your travel plans have been made you must go to the Travel Form located in you Parent Dashboard and complete all the information that is requested. This is required even if your son will be driving to Chicago or even if you have family or friends picking them up from the airport.