BWI- Can I walk my son to his gate if I’m not traveling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

How nice for you. I have to wait at the airport until his flight leaves anyway. If it’s canceled, I have to take him home so why not wait with him?

I’m not that PP and I’m not trying to be rude, but the answer is you don’t wait with him so that he has the opportunity to be a little independent. You can track the flight status and keep in touch with phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

How nice for you. I have to wait at the airport until his flight leaves anyway. If it’s canceled, I have to take him home so why not wait with him?

I’m not that PP and I’m not trying to be rude, but the answer is you don’t wait with him so that he has the opportunity to be a little independent. You can track the flight status and keep in touch with phones.

Yeah waiting until his flight leaves is something I would never consider doing unless it was bad weather and it seemed really good chance it would be cancelled (but wasn't already). It's not like dropping your kids friend off at home when you wait 30 seconds until they get in the door. You are talking waiting potentially an hour and a half or two hours. I have never heard of anyone doing that except for unaccompanied minors.

[Anonymous]

People, raise your f’king kids anyway you want and let OP raise her kid anyway she wants. Don’t be nasty bit*hes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

How nice for you. I have to wait at the airport until his flight leaves anyway. If it’s canceled, I have to take him home so why not wait with him?

I’m not that PP and I’m not trying to be rude, but the answer is you don’t wait with him so that he has the opportunity to be a little independent. You can track the flight status and keep in touch with phones.

Yeah waiting until his flight leaves is something I would never consider doing unless it was bad weather and it seemed really good chance it would be cancelled (but wasn't already). It's not like dropping your kids friend off at home when you wait 30 seconds until they get in the door. You are talking waiting potentially an hour and a half or two hours. I have never heard of anyone doing that except for unaccompanied minors.

My brother’s mid day flight was canceled recently and he couldn’t get on another one that day so he ended up going home. It happens.

[Anonymous]

Nothing wrong with asking for a gate pass. There have been lots and lots of cancellations. Your son even at 17 is asking for your assistance. Don’t let others get you down, you are doing a great job!

I promise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

NP. There seems to be a difference. You seemed to be a millennial who came from a wealthier family such that you had traveled by plane regularly. By the time you were 18, how many times had you flown through an airport with your parents? Probably a dozen times? Then the drill was a lot more familiar for you.

OP's son has flown 2-3 times in his life always accompanied. If the last time was not particularly recently, it might be good for him to have someone with him. I was like him and when I flew in high school, I was accompanied by my older sister. When I went to college at 18, then I started flying solo.

As a parent, you have to gauge the maturity of your children individually and do what you think is best for their level of maturity. Forcing a child or young adult who is not ready into some model of maturation that other children/young adults are ready for is not in their best interest.

Kudos for being a more mature young adult. Stop projecting and just answer OP's question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

NP. There seems to be a difference. You seemed to be a millennial who came from a wealthier family such that you had traveled by plane regularly. By the time you were 18, how many times had you flown through an airport with your parents? Probably a dozen times? Then the drill was a lot more familiar for you.

OP's son has flown 2-3 times in his life always accompanied. If the last time was not particularly recently, it might be good for him to have someone with him. I was like him and when I flew in high school, I was accompanied by my older sister. When I went to college at 18, then I started flying solo.

As a parent, you have to gauge the maturity of your children individually and do what you think is best for their level of maturity. Forcing a child or young adult who is not ready into some model of maturation that other children/young adults are ready for is not in their best interest.

Kudos for being a more mature young adult. Stop projecting and just answer OP's question.

Actually I came from an LMC family (camped every vacation) but necessity is the mother of invention. I bet OP’s son could handle everything I did if he had to.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I’m thinking practically. We live a good hour or so from the airport. If I just drop him off and go home and his flight was canceled, I’d have to turn around and go back to pick him up. That’s a lot of gas money wasted that I don’t have. I could just sit in the airport before security and wait until he takes off or I could go sit and wait with him. Sitting with my teenager doesn’t mean I’m a helicopter mom or he’s immature. If he still wants to sit with his mom at his age, I’ll do it and enjoy the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

NP. There seems to be a difference. You seemed to be a millennial who came from a wealthier family such that you had traveled by plane regularly. By the time you were 18, how many times had you flown through an airport with your parents? Probably a dozen times? Then the drill was a lot more familiar for you.

OP's son has flown 2-3 times in his life always accompanied. If the last time was not particularly recently, it might be good for him to have someone with him. I was like him and when I flew in high school, I was accompanied by my older sister. When I went to college at 18, then I started flying solo.

As a parent, you have to gauge the maturity of your children individually and do what you think is best for their level of maturity. Forcing a child or young adult who is not ready into some model of maturation that other children/young adults are ready for is not in their best interest.

Kudos for being a more mature young adult. Stop projecting and just answer OP's question.

Actually I came from an LMC family (camped every vacation) but necessity is the mother of invention. I bet OP’s son could handle everything I did if he had to.

Yes, very rich or very poor kids are able to handle things on their own when travelling. Very rich kids because they are exposed to traveling, booking into hotels, transportation, asking for upgrades etc, because they are exposed to it. Very poor because they are usually raising themselves and are used to hustling for even the basic things in life. It is the middle class kids who are a bit sheltered and are cautious. No harm in that though. Travelling is not rocket science and after doing it once, your kid will be more confident. It is very sweet that you are accomodating him. I would do the same for both my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m thinking practically. We live a good hour or so from the airport. If I just drop him off and go home and his flight was canceled, I’d have to turn around and go back to pick him up. That’s a lot of gas money wasted that I don’t have. I could just sit in the airport before security and wait until he takes off or I could go sit and wait with him. Sitting with my teenager doesn’t mean I’m a helicopter mom or he’s immature. If he still wants to sit with his mom at his age, I’ll do it and enjoy the time.

You go, mom. I have a 17 yr old too and he likes spending time with me. You must have a great relationship with your son that he likes to hang with you! Even though you are thinking practically, it is wonderful that your son knows that you are there incase he needs you to give him a ride back. This kind of security from parents is what are children need in these crazy times.

Don't take offense when the DCUM nasties who call you a helicopter mom. Most of these people have children who can't stand them. These children would have fared better being raised in an orphanage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

How nice for you. I have to wait at the airport until his flight leaves anyway. If it’s canceled, I have to take him home so why not wait with him?

I’m not that PP and I’m not trying to be rude, but the answer is you don’t wait with him so that he has the opportunity to be a little independent. You can track the flight status and keep in touch with phones.

-1
I disagree. I would rather that my kids know that I am available to them and physically present nearby in the event of cancellation of flights.

[Anonymous]

Ignore the nasties. If it’s your kid’s first time, go with him, but let him handle checking in and finding the gate, while you stand by. No harm in sitting with him while he waits. We have flown a lot with my DC, and we practice letting him figure out airports while we’re traveling. He has a significant level of anxiety, though, so I could see walking with him to the gate if he was flying alone and had never done it before, just to calm his nerves. Different kids are ready for things at different times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I knew that were a lot of nasty people on DCUMs but why are you so nasty? He has never flown alone and hasn’t flown more than 2-3 times in his life. Not everyone has money to fly their kids around on their own. He asked me if I was coming to the gate and I had no idea if it was allowed. Thanks to those who answered the question without being a jerk.

But how is he going to learn to fly on his own if you don’t let him figure it out. By the time I was 18 I was backpacking through Europe alone. As a millennial female. One time I bought a train ticket to the wrong city in Poland and had to get a new ticket without speaking a lick of Polish. Drop him off early enough for him to fix it if he screws up and let him learn.

NP. There seems to be a difference. You seemed to be a millennial who came from a wealthier family such that you had traveled by plane regularly. By the time you were 18, how many times had you flown through an airport with your parents? Probably a dozen times? Then the drill was a lot more familiar for you.

OP's son has flown 2-3 times in his life always accompanied. If the last time was not particularly recently, it might be good for him to have someone with him. I was like him and when I flew in high school, I was accompanied by my older sister. When I went to college at 18, then I started flying solo.

As a parent, you have to gauge the maturity of your children individually and do what you think is best for their level of maturity. Forcing a child or young adult who is not ready into some model of maturation that other children/young adults are ready for is not in their best interest.

Kudos for being a more mature young adult. Stop projecting and just answer OP's question.

Actually I came from an LMC family (camped every vacation) but necessity is the mother of invention. I bet OP’s son could handle everything I did if he had to.

Yes, very rich or very poor kids are able to handle things on their own when travelling. Very rich kids because they are exposed to traveling, booking into hotels, transportation, asking for upgrades etc, because they are exposed to it. Very poor because they are usually raising themselves and are used to hustling for even the basic things in life. It is the middle class kids who are a bit sheltered and are cautious. No harm in that though. Travelling is not rocket science and after doing it once, your kid will be more confident. It is very sweet that you are accomodating him. I would do the same for both my kids.

So now LMC kids who fly rarely growing up are “very poor”! Never change DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Don’t listen to the sayers of nays. Putting your 9 year old on a plane by themselves isn’t exactly something someone should be proud of. Go with him. Be happy and enjoy your time with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m thinking practically. We live a good hour or so from the airport. If I just drop him off and go home and his flight was canceled, I’d have to turn around and go back to pick him up. That’s a lot of gas money wasted that I don’t have. I could just sit in the airport before security and wait until he takes off or I could go sit and wait with him. Sitting with my teenager doesn’t mean I’m a helicopter mom or he’s immature. If he still wants to sit with his mom at his age, I’ll do it and enjoy the time.

You wait at the airport and text/call each other until the flight takes off. I've had flights canceled and someone just comes back to get me.