Have you/Would you let your children fly alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only if there is no change of planes or layovers. Airlines used to, and may still, require that your children be escorted by a stewardess.

Airlines used to, and definitely do not still, refer to flight attendants as stewardesses.

Thank you! It drives me crazy when people do that. The correct term is flight attendant and it has been that way for quite some time!

[Anonymous]

It depends upon the kid. My DD (aspergers/ADHD/anxiety) was a no even at age 16. We paid the then $100 fee for the attendants to watch over her. She wore a tag around her neck and enjoyed the attention. This was DC to Miami and there may have been a connecting flight that we were concerned about - I can't really remember. But for younger child who was neurotypical, he didn't need it for the same trip

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. I try to be lax with the kids but this is one thing that I absolutely would not do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

Just because nothing bad happened on one or two different occasions doesn’t mean it was a smart or safe decision. Five year olds want to do all kinds of things. That doesn’t mean we automatically indulge them in their every wish. They have no way of knowing all the things that could happen. They can’t even read the airport signs if they get lost in most cases! I also would never give a five year old soda (and I’m pretty lax about food in general). You are free to live your life, but you don’t really sound like a great parent if I’m being honest.

[Anonymous]

I'll never forget that Air France plane that crashed with like a 12 year old alone on it. Man I'd never forgive myself if my young child had to go through a horror like that alone. Nope.

[Anonymous]

Check which airlines allow this as well. Southwest does at those ages. We let our 3 fly with a plane change … DCA let us walk them to the gate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll never forget that Air France plane that crashed with like a 12 year old alone on it. Man I'd never forgive myself if my young child had to go through a horror like that alone. Nope.

Stop it. Chances of dying in a plane crash are like .00000000001 percent. There hasn't been a deadly crash of a US carrier in over 13 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll never forget that Air France plane that crashed with like a 12 year old alone on it. Man I'd never forgive myself if my young child had to go through a horror like that alone. Nope.

Do you ever let your kid ride in a carpool without you? You do realize they are more likely to die in a car crash...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

Just because nothing bad happened on one or two different occasions doesn’t mean it was a smart or safe decision. Five year olds want to do all kinds of things. That doesn’t mean we automatically indulge them in their every wish. They have no way of knowing all the things that could happen. They can’t even read the airport signs if they get lost in most cases! I also would never give a five year old soda (and I’m pretty lax about food in general). You are free to live your life, but you don’t really sound like a great parent if I’m being honest.

Np.

They basically can’t get lost when they are flying unaccompanied minor unless the parent or guardian looses then. Unaccompanied minors on a nonstop flight are escorted to the plane by their parent, to their seat by a flight attendant, then from the seat to parent/guardian who is waiting for them right after they get off the plane. There is no need for the child to have a clue what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

Just because nothing bad happened on one or two different occasions doesn’t mean it was a smart or safe decision. Five year olds want to do all kinds of things. That doesn’t mean we automatically indulge them in their every wish. They have no way of knowing all the things that could happen. They can’t even read the airport signs if they get lost in most cases! I also would never give a five year old soda (and I’m pretty lax about food in general). You are free to live your life, but you don’t really sound like a great parent if I’m being honest.

Np.

They basically can’t get lost when they are flying unaccompanied minor unless the parent or guardian looses then. Unaccompanied minors on a nonstop flight are escorted to the plane by their parent, to their seat by a flight attendant, then from the seat to parent/guardian who is waiting for them right after they get off the plane. There is no need for the child to have a clue what’s going on.

That’s when they are five, anyway, since at that age they can’t do connecting flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

Just because nothing bad happened on one or two different occasions doesn’t mean it was a smart or safe decision. Five year olds want to do all kinds of things. That doesn’t mean we automatically indulge them in their every wish. They have no way of knowing all the things that could happen. They can’t even read the airport signs if they get lost in most cases! I also would never give a five year old soda (and I’m pretty lax about food in general). You are free to live your life, but you don’t really sound like a great parent if I’m being honest.

Np.

They basically can’t get lost when they are flying unaccompanied minor unless the parent or guardian looses then. Unaccompanied minors on a nonstop flight are escorted to the plane by their parent, to their seat by a flight attendant, then from the seat to parent/guardian who is waiting for them right after they get off the plane. There is no need for the child to have a clue what’s going on.

That’s when they are five, anyway, since at that age they can’t do connecting flights.

That is wrong. Most airlines allow unaccompanied minors to fly/connect starting at 5. You pay a $150 fee, and they are escorted through the airport by someone who has a background check. There is a kids-only lounge for layovers, usually pretty great.

My kids started this at 7 and 10. They did really well and love flying without us. But they have been flying since they were babies and are perfect on flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! They would be flying nonstop, and have done that exact flight many times with us to visit their grandparents. If the kids feel good about it, I'll let them. If they're hesitant, I won't push it.

I think this is a good way to decide. Fwiw, I think this scenario is probably fine. I happen to think anyone who sends children alone under the age of 10 is insane. A five year old? Come on.

I'm the "insane" parent of the five year old who flew alone--DC wanted to do it and was completely fine, grandparents met him at the gate there and I met them at the gate when they returned. Watched an iPad the whole flight, had a snack and a soda. They loved the one-on-one time with grandparents and asked to do it again the next summer. We did have to pay $200 (each way, I think) for an unaccompanied minor although maybe with older kids they don't require that.

Completely depends on the kid though--I have another kid who would not have been ok traveling alone at that age.

Just because nothing bad happened on one or two different occasions doesn’t mean it was a smart or safe decision. Five year olds want to do all kinds of things. That doesn’t mean we automatically indulge them in their every wish. They have no way of knowing all the things that could happen. They can’t even read the airport signs if they get lost in most cases! I also would never give a five year old soda (and I’m pretty lax about food in general). You are free to live your life, but you don’t really sound like a great parent if I’m being honest.

Np.

They basically can’t get lost when they are flying unaccompanied minor unless the parent or guardian looses then. Unaccompanied minors on a nonstop flight are escorted to the plane by their parent, to their seat by a flight attendant, then from the seat to parent/guardian who is waiting for them right after they get off the plane. There is no need for the child to have a clue what’s going on.

I’ve known about unaccompanied minors who flew on a flight my friend happened to be on and they were sick and vomiting and didn’t know what to do. The flight attendant didn’t help but my friend did because she was a nurse. My niece who was 12 flew unaccompanied last year and my mother in law didn’t park and go get her and she just waltzed out of the airport. I myself have been at the airport and my flight has been canceled due to weather while we were boarded and on tarmac and getting reassigned and figuring out the next flight was chaotic and difficult and I am not a five year old with out a phone. And in case of emergency the flight attendants are there to manage the entire plane, not make sure Larlo takes off his headphones and puts on his oxygen mask. You can do whatever you choose to do. But don’t kid yourself into thinking everything always goes as it is planned to go.

[Anonymous]

We did this. Flight around an hour, starting at 6.