Putting Kids On a Plane Alone

[Anonymous]

Next year my kids want to go to sleep away camp together. DC#1 has been to the camp twice before. The idea is we would put both kids on a non-stop flight, with grandparents waiting on the other end. After spending a couple days with the grandparents, the kids would go to sleep away camp (an hour or so from GPs' house). The camp would then put the kids on a non-stop flight back to DC after camp is over.

Would you do it? I just keep thinking what would happen if the plane went down. Yes, I have a whole year to torture myself about this before doing it. They make a drug for that, I'm sure. But would you do it? Kids would be 11 and 9. When it was just DC#1, one of us either flew with him/her both ways or drove, depending on the year.

[Anonymous]

That would be too young for me. I'd wait a couple of years, to 13 and 11 because you don't want to have to put the 11 year old in the position of watching the 9 year old.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been flying unaccompanied since they were about six. The oldest three are in college now. I only let them fly on non-stop flights until they were about twelve. And I was very particular about flight times and who would meet them when they landed.

It's not a big deal. The plane is not going to crash. They are MUCH more likely to be killed in a car accident, but you let them get into a vehicle, right?

[Anonymous]

Oh totally. My DD is an only child and she's been flying alone since age 7 or 8. It's no problem.

[Anonymous]

DD took her first unaccompanied flight (non-stop) at 5. She and her sister flew together overseas at 9 and 11.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the kids. Mine would have been fine and well behaved on a long flight like that when they were 9 and 11. And I know people who have (successfully) done this sort of thing with younger kids than that.

But what would happen if the plane had to land prematurely at another airport due to a mechanical problem or bad weather? I know that has got to be very, very rare but I think I'd want to know how the airline would handle a situation like that with my kids.

Otherwise I'd send them.

[Anonymous]

OP I think this is totally fine. You should of course tell the airline, I don't know if you have to pay extra for "unaccompanied minor" status or whatever but this would solve any concerns about the HIGHLY unlikely event that the plane got diverted and had to land somewhere else.

The PP who noted flying is safer than driving is 100% right.

[Anonymous]

that's fine. nonstop flight, they aren't alone, grandparents meeting them at the other end - totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Airlines require that you pay unaccompanied minor fees for anyone under 15. They give you a special pass so you can see the child to the gate and they literally hold their hand all the way to their seats. I am sure they also have very strict procedures in place if the plane gets diverted. I think 9 and 11 is fine for most kids.

[Anonymous]

Mine has been flying nonstop flights to his grandparents' location since he was 6. We equip him with a phone in the exceedingly unlikely chance that the flight is diverted, so that we would have direct communication with him if need be. It was hard initially to give up that bit of direct oversight of his movements, but I see it as a good, healthy step towards independence.

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe the answers you are getting to your question OP. I would NEVER send a 6 year old on a flight by him/herself! OMG. NEVER except in the case that our country was taken over by terrorists and I was sending my 6 year old to safety.

I wouldn't send my 9 year old either. Flights can be scary, they get delayed or diverted. People on flights can be scary or rude. I will not buy tickets on a flight unless I can sit in the same row as my children -- I'll pay for a higher priced flight where there are enough seats together or we just won't go.

My kids have flown many times, but they don't want to sit by strangers. They sometimes have to be reminded not to disturb nearby passengers. They wouldn't know what to do in an emergency.

Wow. I am really shocked that some of you think it's no big deal to put a six year old on a plane.

[Anonymous]

I would do it for a 9 and 11 year old, it will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe the answers you are getting to your question OP. I would NEVER send a 6 year old on a flight by him/herself! OMG. NEVER except in the case that our country was taken over by terrorists and I was sending my 6 year old to safety.

I wouldn't send my 9 year old either. Flights can be scary, they get delayed or diverted. People on flights can be scary or rude. I will not buy tickets on a flight unless I can sit in the same row as my children -- I'll pay for a higher priced flight where there are enough seats together or we just won't go.

My kids have flown many times, but they don't want to sit by strangers. They sometimes have to be reminded not to disturb nearby passengers. They wouldn't know what to do in an emergency.

Wow. I am really shocked that some of you think it's no big deal to put a six year old on a plane.

Go back under your rock.

Send your kids.

[Anonymous]

I sent my oldest as an unaccompanied minor when he was 8 to visit my brother in Chicago. He is now 13, so that was a little over 5 years ago.

He went again as an unaccompanied minor to visit Dh's sister in San Franciso last summer (so age 12).

Then this summer, he and my other son went to San Diego to visit my parents as unaccompanied minors (they were ages 13 and 11)

So yes, I would totally do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Airlines require that you pay unaccompanied minor fees for anyone under 15. They give you a special pass so you can see the child to the gate and they literally hold their hand all the way to their seats. I am sure they also have very strict procedures in place if the plane gets diverted. I think 9 and 11 is fine for most kids.

That depends on the airline. My seven year old flew on SW and there was no fee, and the unaccompanied minor program was great. On the other hand I tried to fly my 13 year old to see me on SW and they told me that they don't do unaccompanied minors past 12. She's got some LD's and in many ways was more like a 10 or 11 year old but her only choice was to fly solo. I was able to walk her to and from the gate by asking for a pass for assisting a passenger in need, but she didn't have support on the plane. Of course she didn't need help on the plane, but the first time I flew alone my flight got rerouted and in that circumstance, I would have been grateful for an adult who could have helped her out.