teen flying alone for birthday trip to see friend

[Anonymous]

DD, 15, has been invited to go visit a friend in Texas for her birthday this summer. Friend used to live here. Free place to stay once she gets down there and plenty of supervision. She would likely have to fly alone (there's a chance she could fly with another friend, also a teen). DH and I would be working. Not against her going on this trip, but she's never flown alone and I am worried about her getting confused, being in the airport alone and navigating everything, etc. Anyone allowed their teen to travel like this and how did it work out?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely! This sounds like a great first flying alone experience. Book a nonstop, take her to the airport, and then there is someone waiting for her at the other side. It's fine. Let her experience Texas.

[Anonymous]

If she can get a direct flight, you can get her to the gate and she gets picked up on the other side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she can get a direct flight, you can get her to the gate and she gets picked up on the other side.

Sounds like they can't get her to the gate

[Anonymous]

Direct flight, you can walk her to the plane with a gate pass and she just has to meet them at baggage claim. We used to have teens fly cross county for a few summers to visit us no issue.

[Anonymous]

Where in Texas? Can she get a direct flight?

If traveling to Dallas, Love Field is a much smaller airport than DFW, and in the heart of Dallas.

Houston's airports are also large. San Antonio and Austin much smaller.

[Anonymous]

She needs to struggle and persevere. Read signs and figure it out. She's 15 not 5. She can ask people who work at the airport how to get where she's going if she needs help.

[Anonymous]

No—she’s still a child. A friend’s birthday party isn’t essential, and it’s not appropriate for her to be flying somewhere alone without a parent for that. I’d also be concerned about trafficking.

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No—she’s still a child. A friend’s birthday party isn’t essential, and it’s not appropriate for her to be flying somewhere alone without a parent for that. I’d also be concerned about trafficking.

15 is basically an adult for most of human existence. We’re not asking the kid to fight a war or earn a living- just to board a plane.

[Anonymous]

Yeah my kid starting flying alone at age 8 for custody visits

[Anonymous]

It
Depends
On
The
Kid

Not their age!

[Anonymous]

Book a direct flight. Book an aisle seat toward the front if possible. (No window where a creeper could gem her in.) When you bring her to the airport, you can be with her to check the board for which gate to go to. Beforehand, review with her what happens at security and how to maximize chances of going through smoothly. Connect with the other parents and make sure everyone knows the plan for where she will meet them at the destination airport.

Kids younger than 15 fly solo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she can get a direct flight, you can get her to the gate and she gets picked up on the other side.

The mother can get a gate pass for a 15 year old so no worries. Mom can pay for her to be supervised under the unaccompanied minor program where someone is responsible for her from adult drop off to adult pickup.

Mine has been flying alone since 7 years old. They put the few solo flyers together under the minor program. I wouldn’t do a connecting flight. Too much can go wrong, especially right now with so many cancellations and delays. Don’t let anyone talk about independence blah blah blah. Precautions make parents rest easier.

[Anonymous]

How comfortable is your child with flying? Like is she familiar with the airport, TSA, and boarding a flight, etc.?