Would you let you 5 year old fly unaccompanied overseas?

[Anonymous]

Did you guys see this? Hell, my kid would love to travel solo if he knew these were the perks:

"For connecting flights of more than 2 hours*, your child is welcomed in the Air France connecting area reserved for children traveling alone at Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports.

These lounges are specially equipped to offer activities for everyone: rest, reading, cartoons, board games and foosball (table soccer). Lounges also offer Sony PlayStation 3 and/or PlayStation Vita video game consoles. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you discussed this with your child?

My 5 year has traveled extensively since he was a baby and I know he would not feel comfortable or safe alone on a plane for 7 hours plus transfer. Pretty much I could see how upset he would be.

OP here: I plan on revisiting this conversation when he turns 5. The focus and conversation right now has been around preparing him for our almost 16 hour flight to South Africa (which we have done together once before but he was much younger). Depending on how this trip goes and his reaction on the conversations, I will reevaluate my decision. But if airlines allow children to fly unaccompanied at age 5, I am pretty sure it is more common than we think.

As a test run, get seats really far away from each other and tell him he is on his own. See how he does.

) Yes, OP definitely get your seats as far away from each other as possible - you have such an outgoing and mature 4 y,o. boy, he will love it. Also make sure that he goes to the bathroom, through customs and immigration on his own - and don't forget to tell us how wonderful this experience was for your DS.

But seriously OP - why did you start this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you discussed this with your child?

My 5 year has traveled extensively since he was a baby and I know he would not feel comfortable or safe alone on a plane for 7 hours plus transfer. Pretty much I could see how upset he would be.

OP here: I plan on revisiting this conversation when he turns 5. The focus and conversation right now has been around preparing him for our almost 16 hour flight to South Africa (which we have done together once before but he was much younger). Depending on how this trip goes and his reaction on the conversations, I will reevaluate my decision. But if airlines allow children to fly unaccompanied at age 5, I am pretty sure it is more common than we think.

As a test run, get seats really far away from each other and tell him he is on his own. See how he does.

OP: Strange you should mention this. I got really sick on a flight to DC from Europe when he was 2.5. The head purser moved my son to first class where he sat with one of the flight attendants and interacted with a really wonderful Scottish man (who turned out to be a pre-school teacher). He was more freaked out that I was being transported in an ambulance to the hospital than the 7 hr plane ride (we were separated the entire flight with the exception of take off when I feel ill)

[Anonymous]

And the person who you are replying to has no clue about flying on 16 hour flights to two different continents - there are no "waiting areas" in the 21st cetury airports where a person without a ticket can get to - you are saying good byes to your kid at security gates and there is no way to tell who is going to be on their flight.

I'm in the "don't do this" camp. However, parents are allowed to go to the gate with the kid. You don't say goodbye at security. You are even allowed to go with your elderly parent, if needed.

I'm just thinking what would I be thinking at hour 8? would I be worrying about whether my kid is okay? Did he get enough to eat? Is he well? Is someone with him?

Sure, kids can be hurt on the curb outside your house--but you are not a day and a plane trip away from him. You have neighbors around. If he is lost, you have people who know him to help you. This whole thing creeps me out.
Sure the airlines may offer help. A trip like this might be absolutely necessary in some cases. But, not in this one.

Take the money you save and send him to day camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you discussed this with your child?

My 5 year has traveled extensively since he was a baby and I know he would not feel comfortable or safe alone on a plane for 7 hours plus transfer. Pretty much I could see how upset he would be.

OP here: I plan on revisiting this conversation when he turns 5. The focus and conversation right now has been around preparing him for our almost 16 hour flight to South Africa (which we have done together once before but he was much younger). Depending on how this trip goes and his reaction on the conversations, I will reevaluate my decision. But if airlines allow children to fly unaccompanied at age 5, I am pretty sure it is more common than we think.

As a test run, get seats really far away from each other and tell him he is on his own. See how he does.

) Yes, OP definitely get your seats as far away from each other as possible - you have such an outgoing and mature 4 y,o. boy, he will love it. Also make sure that he goes to the bathroom, through customs and immigration on his own - and don't forget to tell us how wonderful this experience was for your DS.

But seriously OP - why did you start this thread?

OP: I started this thread because this is a very real and serious consideration/option for me. I was hoping to hear from people who had done it so they could share their experiences. I also know individuals who have done this, but I wanted to get more of a general idea of what other people's perceptions on the subject were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you discussed this with your child?

My 5 year has traveled extensively since he was a baby and I know he would not feel comfortable or safe alone on a plane for 7 hours plus transfer. Pretty much I could see how upset he would be.

OP here: I plan on revisiting this conversation when he turns 5. The focus and conversation right now has been around preparing him for our almost 16 hour flight to South Africa (which we have done together once before but he was much younger). Depending on how this trip goes and his reaction on the conversations, I will reevaluate my decision. But if airlines allow children to fly unaccompanied at age 5, I am pretty sure it is more common than we think.

As a test run, get seats really far away from each other and tell him he is on his own. See how he does.

OP: Strange you should mention this. I got really sick on a flight to DC from Europe when he was 2.5. The head purser moved my son to first class where he sat with one of the flight attendants and interacted with a really wonderful Scottish man (who turned out to be a pre-school teacher). He was more freaked out that I was being transported in an ambulance to the hospital than the 7 hr plane ride (we were separated the entire flight with the exception of take off when I feel ill)

I suggest dropping him off at the ticket counter and meeting him in South Africa at baggage claim

[Anonymous]

Wow, it is getting curiosier and curiosier with every OP's response. Wonderful Scottish man, ambulance on a Tarmac..
Please, OP, don't stop - you and your son are living the lives of extraordinary adventure and we, helicopter parents, are depriving our kids of all his fun and excitement...

(need to go get some more popcorn)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However, parents are allowed to go to the gate with the kid. You don't say goodbye at security. You are even allowed to go with your elderly parent, if needed.

Oh, interesting - is it in all airports? In the U.S.? And can you meet children/parents at the gate, too? (Probably not from international flights, though)

[Anonymous]

OP: Traveling internationally is a passion of mine and I travel with my son on all the trips. With that said, I'd heard about children traveling unaccompanied and I wondered whether it was an option I would consider if he were old enough, and if I was confident he would be able to handle it. In starting this thread, I was seeking varying opinions and perspectives, which I have read through and absorbed. But it still does not change my stance/position that this is a consideration for us. I have a lot of faith in my ability to make a sound and informed decision for myself and my son, and ultimately, if I decide one way on the other, it will be because I firmly believe it is the best decision for both of us.

With that said, thank you for those who gave their advice, suggestions and opinions without judgement. We all do the best we can with what we have...

Happy and safe travels...

[Anonymous]

Wait, wait, do tell us where do your parents live?

[Anonymous]

This would be monumentally inconsiderate to all the responsible adults who would feel obligated to look out for your VERY young unaccompanied child. No younger than 10 IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Traveling internationally is a passion of mine and I travel with my son on all the trips. With that said, I'd heard about children traveling unaccompanied and I wondered whether it was an option I would consider if he were old enough, and if I was confident he would be able to handle it. In starting this thread, I was seeking varying opinions and perspectives, which I have read through and absorbed. But it still does not change my stance/position that this is a consideration for us. I have a lot of faith in my ability to make a sound and informed decision for myself and my son, and ultimately, if I decide one way on the other, it will be because I firmly believe it is the best decision for both of us.

With that said, thank you for those who gave their advice, suggestions and opinions without judgement. We all do the best we can with what we have...

Happy and safe travels...

Certainly it will be the best for you, satisfying your "passion" for international travel. Whether or not it is the best for your child is another question.

[Anonymous]

Too bad the OP is so secretive about her home country - I really think it could be cultural on her part. In many countries parents don't really consider much emotional well-being of their children - as long as they are OK physically, the rest they will "get over it". They don't dwell on all the "touchy-feely" stuff. Yes, physically, your kid will most likely be ok flying unaccompanied on any of the major international carriers you mentioned, but emotionally? Will he be scared, terrified, confused, upset at some point during those 16 hours? Most likely yes. But for parents from many cultures that is not very important.

But for majority of American parents it is of paramount importance - that is why you got the responses you got. If you to post the exact same question on the forum for parents from your home country, I suspect, you will get very different responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too bad the OP is so secretive about her home country - I really think it could be cultural on her part. In many countries parents don't really consider much emotional well-being of their children - as long as they are OK physically, the rest they will "get over it". They don't dwell on all the "touchy-feely" stuff. Yes, physically, your kid will most likely be ok flying unaccompanied on any of the major international carriers you mentioned, but emotionally? Will he be scared, terrified, confused, upset at some point during those 16 hours? Most likely yes. But for parents from many cultures that is not very important.

But for majority of American parents it is of paramount importance - that is why you got the responses you got. If you to post the exact same question on the forum for parents from your home country, I suspect, you will get very different responses.

OP here: This is partly true. And not being secretive at all, I just didn't want the conversation to shift from focusing on what I was specifically asking about.

[Anonymous]

So, OP tells us that she got sick on a flight and had to take an ambulance in Paris. What would you do, OP, if it were your son in that ambulance and you were here?