It was just an hour. The parents of a 10-year-old Virginia girl say United Airlines lost their daughter at Dulles Airport for a little more than an hour. The kid, like so many children in summer, was flying unaccompanied from her grandmother's house in Boston. When the plane landed, instead of being escorted to meet her parents at the gate, the child says a flight attendant told her to have a nice day and left her to wander on her own. Another passenger saw the girl crying and took her to the information desk.

According to their Web site, United's policy says parents must pay a $99 fee each way for unaccompanied minors. The service is mandatory for all kids under 12. Ther service is supposed to make sure the kid gets on the plane, off the plane and into the hands of the right person. Um, looks like United missed a step in this case.

You can see a video here. One thing I thought was that the kid does look older than 10. But that's not something to be decided on the fly. I mean airlines are always talking about the rules so they should at least follow their own. Luckily it had a happy ending, because airports can be overwhelming, even for adults. Listen, even I could get lost in Atlanta's airport. 

Experts say parents who send their kids on planes alone need to give them a calling card, emergency phone numbers and written instructions on what to do if their flight is delayed or cancelled. The child should also carry a photo of the adult who is supposed to meet them. You can't be too safe.