Many airlines are no longer shipping pets but apparently parents are still sending their kids on flights as unaccompanied minors.

In fact American Airlines has a new warning parents booking their children to fly solo: better pack a lunch.

“When booking unaccompanied minor (UMNR) PINRs be sure to advise customers that, due to the current COVID measures in place, food service in the economy cabin of most flights will be very limited. Therefore, we recommend that parents/guardians pack some food in their child’s carryon.

By proactively communicating with customers, this will help ensure they have enough information to prepare their unaccompanied childlren for upcoming travel.

Additionally, parents will find detailed unaccompanied minor information and more tips on aa.com.

This begs the question, who is sending their children off traveling alone in the midst of a global pandemic? Well, I’ve got a theory for that: people who mistakenly think their kids are going to pick up the virus!

People are mis-estimating the actual risk of catching the virus on a flight. Maybe they think planes are one giant measles party. So try this on for size.

• Divorced parents living in different cities

• Mom wants the kid to get COVID on the plane, knowing it isn’t likely to do much harm to a child

• But they’ll darned sure infect the ex- and the 20 year old he met at Orange Theory

People do need to travel, and many of you should even consider planning a trip. And when a kid needs to go from one place to another, sometimes the parent can’t take them (or can’t afford two tickets). Fortunately American hasn’t suspended unaccompanied minor travel to promote social distancing. After all it’s not even clear the extent to which children are spreading the virus.