Would you let you 5 year old fly unaccompanied overseas?

[Anonymous]

Are you sure there aren't direct flights? My DH travels constantly and pretty much only flies direct. You can go to Africa, Tokyo, all of Europe direct from DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know your child best. Some can do it and some can't. I went cross country to stay with my grandparents for the summers starting at 7. It was nbd and I felt VERY grownup.

I've highlighted the relevant parts here. OP's child is just over 5, not 7, and the trip is overseas, not across the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of sending my son to stay with my parents over the summer in 2016. He will turn 5 in Feb'16 and some airlines allow children his age to travel unaccompanied. A flight attendant would be assigned to him for the entire duration of the flight (there is a connection in Europe and the flight is 16 hrs total - both legs and back). I am a single mom with no family close by, so I am trying to save on the cost of both of us flying there, and then me going back to pick him up at the end of the summer.

I have friends who have done what I am thinking of doing, but in light of all the airline disasters in recent months, I am a bit apprehensive. What are your thoughts?

How are layovers handled?

OP here. He would be brought into the lounge (to use the restroom, eat, rest a little) until the next connection where he would meet the next flight attendant who would travel with him for the second leg.

[Anonymous]

Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure there aren't direct flights? My DH travels constantly and pretty much only flies direct. You can go to Africa, Tokyo, all of Europe direct from DC.

OP here: It depends on where you are traveling to. For where my parents live, the connection options are either through London, Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich, Dubai or Istanbul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

They keep an eye on him the entire time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

They keep an eye on him the entire time.

I can't imagine the flight attendant literally sits with him the whole time, unless they are charging his/her time directly and that cost would add up quickly. I'm guessing they just inform the desk staff that there's an unaccompanied minor and those folks keep an eye out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could a grandparent at least meet him at the stopover city and fly with him to their city? Then at least he'd have you dropping him off at one end and the grandparent meeting him at the other end.

OP here: This is a good suggestion and something to think about. I had not thought of this.

[Anonymous]

Never.

[Anonymous]

My thoughts, OP, are that you are out of your mind to even be considering this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

They keep an eye on him the entire time.

I can't imagine the flight attendant literally sits with him the whole time, unless they are charging his/her time directly and that cost would add up quickly. I'm guessing they just inform the desk staff that there's an unaccompanied minor and those folks keep an eye out.

There is a service change that I would pay, but it is not the total full cost of the ticket (which is usually around $1700). That way, the flight attendant pretty much is ASSIGNED to my child and will cater to his needs for the entire flight/during connections.

[Anonymous]

No. I think you should reconsider when he's 9 or 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

They keep an eye on him the entire time.

I can't imagine the flight attendant literally sits with him the whole time, unless they are charging his/her time directly and that cost would add up quickly. I'm guessing they just inform the desk staff that there's an unaccompanied minor and those folks keep an eye out.

There is a service change that I would pay, but it is not the total full cost of the ticket (which is usually around $1700). That way, the flight attendant pretty much is ASSIGNED to my child and will cater to his needs for the entire flight/during connections.

Personally, I would be okay with it, assuming that the layover city is a nice one (Amsterdam, London, etc). Then again, I was a very independent child (roaming my third world neighborhood on my own from that age).

In the end though - it would be up to you and whether you think your child is mature enough or can handle instructions.

[Anonymous]

I never would - then again, I planned to let my mom take my 7 year old on a 2 hour flight with her to go stay with my sister and her family for a week this summer and he absolutely freaked out at the idea. He was thrilled with the idea of going to see his cousins, but refused to go anywhere without me which I hadn't anticipated since he's usually pretty adventurous and outgoing and has flown with us dozens of times.

Is your son the type to be bothered in a foreign place he's never been surrounded by people he's never met before?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who watches him in the lounge? I would be worried about him wandering off or someone harming him in the bathroom or quiet corner of the lounge.

They keep an eye on him the entire time.

I can't imagine the flight attendant literally sits with him the whole time, unless they are charging his/her time directly and that cost would add up quickly. I'm guessing they just inform the desk staff that there's an unaccompanied minor and those folks keep an eye out.

There is a service change that I would pay, but it is not the total full cost of the ticket (which is usually around $1700). That way, the flight attendant pretty much is ASSIGNED to my child and will cater to his needs for the entire flight/during connections.

There are so many stories about unaccompanied minors wandering the airport alone because there was a mixup with the assigned escort and nobody was assigned. If your very young child goes missing in another country, who are you going to call?