My DD is flying alone tomorrow for the first time..

She will be on her own unless she is specifically flying as an unaccompanied minor, which it sounds like she isn't.

But if she has any difficulty, she can always ask for assistance from a worker there, just as any adult could ask for assistance if they needed it.

She will be okay. (((hugs))) mama.

Unless you arranged for a sky agent, she will likely be on her own. But she will be fine. Some suggestions: you can google for a map of O'Hare and have her call you when she lands. Then you can see where she is at, where she needs to be, and guide her as needed over the phone. Even if she is not accompanied gate to gate, the gate agents will be very helpful in directing her. The important thing is to arm her with the confidence to ASK for help!

My DD was changing planes and airlines in Dulles when she was 15. She was flying back from England with her dad and stepmom, and they accidentally left their passports and claim checks in their seat pocket on the plane they just exited. (They were also traveling with their 2 little boys, so you can understand their oversight a wee bit.) They sent her on to collect the luggage and go through customs while they worked on retrieving the passports from the plane. She was kind of freaked out at doing that, then having to get on a different plane then them to get to Chicago, where she was meeting us. We just walked her through everything over the phone, which helped keep her calm. Now she is a very confident traveler and although I do not recommend this kind of trial by fire, know that she can handle herself in unplanned situations.

It has been a while since I have flown the United terminal at O'Hare, and I am sure some Chicago peas will be around, but I think that the United Terminal is self contained, meaning she would have to simply go from one gate in the United Terminal to another. The flight attendants usually read a list of connecting flights and gate numbers. If she doesn't hear, they will help her. Hoping it all goes well.

Others have given good advice, but the best is to be on the phone after she lands while in Chicago O'Hare.  Look at their maps and and talk her through it.  She will do fine!  If her flight runs late into O'Hare remind her to tell the flight attendants on her first flight that she has a short connection time.  They are usually great about allowing those with close connection times to disembark first.  Also remind her to check the info boards, as her flight boarding gates can change and she needed to double check the gate number and flight number while she is making her transfer.   

We had to do this w/ DSD when she was 14 and flying to visit her cousins in MN.  Alaska allowed her to fly w/out the fees, but the other major airline had older age requirements.  She was  a bit freaked out before leaving, but we convinced her she would be fine.  Didn't help the the ticket agent when she checked in was not helpful . . .  .  We even rehearsed her one year older DOB IF she were to be asked on boarding the second flight.  But of course since she was already checked in no one even asked anything!  But she did great as we did talk to her about the airport while she was there.  Had her get lunch, talked to her after lunch, told her it was OK to throw away her left over food  , buy a magazine, etc.  The whole thing ended up being a huge confidence builder!

She had flown the year before and did the accompanied minor and hated it.  She was taken to a room during her layover and not allowed to go buy food for herself.  That was for $75 I believe!  She had a 2 hour layover, after an early morning flight.  We learned the hard way WE SHOULD have packed more food for her in her carryon!   

  

I think at 16 she will be absolutely fine getting from once place to another. Her boarding passes will tell her the terminal, departure boards will tell her the gates and there will be plenty of direction signs. Airport staff are used to people asking directions etc.

She's 16, so I'm assuming she has a drivers license?  

I'm more worried about my 17 year old driving on unfamiliar freeways than I was when she had to navigate an airport a few years ago.

But when you flew as a minor, did you fly officially as an unaccompanied minor or just on your own. We never paid fees for me or any of the kids to fly because we didn't do the official program. That could be why you didn't pay. I can see charging a small fee for the official program but some charge way too much.

That said, at your daughter's age, she shouldn't have a problem navigating the airport on her own and I don't think she needs official help or minding from the airline for her trip. She'll be fine. Just tell her that if she needs help to ask someone in uniform from any of the airlines. They are there to help anyone find the place they need to be.

My 10 yo DD flew as a UM this summer and there was a fee. It was also required due to her she. She was also only allowed on direct flights. To clear up a misconception.... She did not have a one on one employee but did have to be signed off by an employee and my dad who picked her up.

United flights can go out of Terminal 2 as well - I've had many. They are usually United Express flights using smaller planes that require and outside boarding (walk outside and up a staircase rolled up to the plane.

Have your daughter tell the flight attendant on her first flight that she has to make a connection and ask for advice. There is also usually a gate agent meeting the flight that has connection information, etc.

Good luck to her!

My dd flew to and from Russia at age 15. Fortunately, it was non-stop.

I have to admit I was more worried this past weekend when she flew from TX to CA by herself as it was not direct. I made her text me or call me at each step. She sent me a text when the shuttle picked her up, another after she checked her luggage at the airport, and again when she got on the plane. At the connection, she was bored and called me on the phone. We texted for a while when she got on plane until it was time to turn devices off. My husband flew out to CA ahead of her from NJ where we actually live and met her at the gate in Los Angeles.

I am actually proud that she handles all this herself and know that my requests were probably overkill! She couldn't do that in Russia because she did not have cell service. She only contacted us when she had wifi.