Putting Kids On a Plane Alone

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the answers. Looks like I should work up the courage and do it. I'm glad to see others have had it work out fine, and I do realize there are some circumstances (like divorce where one parent moves far away) where is not much of a choice. I do think having the two together makes it a little easier for me to send them. They do tend to stick together in situations, and I do think the airline we would use has a program for unaccompanied minors.

[Anonymous]

You know your kids best - I know some 11 year olds who could handle it and some I would hesitate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow, that is good to know regarding the way SW handles 13 year olds. I wouldn't want my son having to deal with reroutes and whatnot all by himself. Definitely check with the airline re policy.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even send a teenager.
You guys are way too laid back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't even send a teenager.
You guys are way too laid back.

Why wouldn't you send a teenager?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't even send a teenager.
You guys are way too laid back.

Wait -- seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't even send a teenager.
You guys are way too laid back.

At age sixteen I went to college. I'm sorry for your kids that you think so little of their abilities that you hold them back to such a degree.

[Anonymous]

My DD has traveled alone. On the flights my DD took she wore a huge yellow badge that identified her. If there is a problem with the flight, the airline workers will help them. (One time there was a problem and she said all of the unescorted minors were escorted to a room reserved only for them.) The only concern I’d have is how much is the camp going to do. I’ve always picked up the special pass that allows me to walk DD to the gate because I wasn’t sure she could find the gate on her own. I’d ask if the camp will do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't even send a teenager.
You guys are way too laid back.

Wait -- seriously?

Yes! No flying by yourself until you're 20!

(not actually the PP)

[Anonymous]

Check with the camp on how they handle airport departures. If they have a good percentage of kids flying, they probably have a great system in place. The camp my DD will go to next summer had a great system 30 years ago when I was a camper, and it has probably gotten even better.

The airlines have done this before and have a ton of rules and processes to make it work. Each airline is a little different, and they have their rules posted on their websites. This is what I learned when putting my 8 yr old on a flight this last weekend:

* I had to buy the ticket over the phone, not online.
* There was a $100 each way fee, which you can pay when you buy the ticket, or when you get your gate pass.
* You have to show up at least 90 minutes before flight time to get the adult gate pass and all the paperwork.
* Only one adult is allowed through security on each end.
* The person at the arrival end also needs to be there 90 minutes ahead of arrival to get a gate pass and through security.
* I could not get on the plane with her, but saw her go down the jetway. They gave us the choice of first or last to board.
* I was required to wait at the gate until the plane was off the ground.
* Connecting flights have additional rules and age limits.
* They seat unaccompanied minors close to the flight attendants, so if they need anything, someone is close by.

[Anonymous]

I think it is fine, but please be sure to send your kids with plenty to eat and do on the plane ride. On my last cross country flight, I was sitting next to two kids --younger than your kids -- who had no food, toys, books, or movies. It was dreadful for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would send my 13 year old kid, and I would LOVE the SW program that would free me from hassle and obligation (USAir charged me $100 each way). Yes, yours are old enough to fly unattended -- with a phone.

My kid has a phone, and would call if he needed help. He is also perfectly capable of speaking to a gate attendant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

This. After doing it once, my son told us, at age 6, that he "preferred to fly alone." Lol. Crazy kid! I still fret about it though.

[Anonymous]

I echo the posters who say that it depends on the kid. DD flew by herself for the first time when she was 9, and it was fine. She's also a responsible, alert kid who does really well sitting quietly for long periods of time. At 13, she was easily able to fly alone without unaccompanied minor status. I would never have done that with DS, more for the sake of the other passangers than out of fear that he would not reach his destination safely. In my experience, the Unaccompanied Minor programs have been great.

[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.

I'm shocked that you haven't found a way to stuff them back into your womb.