The Challenge
In countries like the US, UK, and across Europe, thousands of children travel alone every year — handed over to airline staff at check-in and expected to arrive safely at their destination hours later. For parents, this journey is filled with anxiety. For airlines, managing unaccompanied minors is a complex, staff-intensive process with multiple handoffs.
A small addition to the entire flow of a child's journey can bring immense relief to parents — knowing their child is traveling safely and will reach their destination without fail.
Core problems to solve
Parental anxiety No real-time visibility into where their child is during the journey — only a phone call at departure and arrival.
Staff handoff gaps The child is passed between multiple airline staff during transit — each handoff is a point of potential disconnection.
No emotional continuity The child feels alone during the journey — no connection to parents beyond a brief call.
The Solution
The concept is built around a small Bluetooth beacon device — small enough to be placed inside a toy, which is gifted to the child by the airline at check-in when they are handed over to the airline staff.
The Beacon Toy
A small Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon is embedded inside a soft toy presented to the child as a gift from the airline at check-in. The child carries it naturally — no wearable to lose, no device to manage.
Real-Time Check-ins
As the child moves through the journey — security, gate, boarding, transit lounge, arrival — the beacon pings the system at each checkpoint. Parents receive a real-time update on their phone app at every stage.
Staff Handoff Tracking
Each airline staff member who takes custody of the child logs the handoff digitally. Parents see exactly who is responsible for their child at every point in the journey.
Emotional Connect
Beyond tracking, the app allows parents to send short messages or stickers to the child's in-flight screen or device — maintaining an emotional thread throughout the journey.
Concept Document
Full concept overview — beacon toy, real-time check-in updates, staff handoff tracking, and the parent companion app.
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Impact
UK Airline Funding
Project was funded by one of the leading airline giants in the UK
Well Appreciated
Solution was well received by stakeholders and airline staff
Commercialised
A part of the solution was commercialised by a German airline a year later
“The project was funded by one of the leading airline giants in the UK and it was well appreciated. The same solution got commercialised — a part of it — by a German airline a year later.”— Debashish Sahu, Interaction Designer