Have you sent your fifteen-year old alone on a flight to and from summer camp?

[Anonymous]

yup, sent my 15 year old up to a week long specialized camp in Maine. There was even some checked baggage drama that she took care of on her own.
She went with a friend, which I really was happy about but I would have sent her on her own too. Also, shuttle to and from airport provided by camp.
On the way back, they had a few hours to wait for their flight so they took an Uber into town and explored. All good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one thing you should do though, if she really is ADHD/absentminded, is triple check and strap her ID on to her; my nieces and nephews fly alone a lot and the biggest issue the absentminded ones have is leaving their IDs at home, or at camp, or in the taxi, or on the shuttle.

What type of ID are you talking about?
Children under 18 flying domestic do not need ID to board a flight, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're thinking of doing that this summer since the camp is in the middle of nowhere (she could ride a shuttle to and from the airport). She's been on lots of flights but never on her own and I'm worried because she's very absent-minded and not the most resourceful kid around. Wondering about other people's experiences and/or advice. Thanks.

When you say a shuttle, do you mean a shuttle that is provided by the camp?

I have never done this, but wouldn't hesitate to do it with my 15 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 16 year old has flown to ballet summer programs since she was 13 and has been allowed to roam around various cities during these summers (with at least 2 peers with her) including getting herself from NJ to downtown Manhattan with a friend via bus to subway plus walking when she was 12. She did amazingly well using public transport including arriving in 1 city out west at 9 pm and getting a cab to a university and then contacting the point person to get her dorm room assignment. We found cell phones make it much less nerve wracking for parents. Most kids are eager for such responsibilities and more than capable.

Kudos to your DD

[Anonymous]

One of mine went to Europe alone at 14, to Hawaii with a connecting flight at 15, and several other places during HS. The other returned from Asia with a connecting flight (that was cancelled and she had to deal with rebooking) at 15. They are well traveled and used to airports which helps.

[Anonymous]

I think this is fine, but here are a few thoughts -

1) minimize connections (to zero, if possible).
2) if there is a connection, be sure to book an early flight, so she doesn't run the risk of needing to overnight somewhere due to equipment issues.
3) be sure there are other connecting flights later in the day, in case she misses the first connection.
4) have a reasonable amount of time between connections.
5) this is summer camp, of course, but if this were in winter I would be particularly concerned to have no connections through a snowy city.
6) if there is a connection, see if she can connect through a city where you have friends/relatives, just in case an issue arises.
7) get a tracker on her cell phone (FamilyMap or similar), so you know where she is (more for your peace-of-mind than anything.
8) add the airline emergency numbers to her phone Contacts and the airline app to her phone.
9) if there is an opportunity (time, budget) take her on a flight beforehand, preferably with a connection, letting her make all the decisions and leading the way.
10) give her a credit card, for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Not to summer camp, but to visit his grandparents. Be sure to check the airline's policy for unaccompanied minors. Some will charge an extra fee. I found Southwest to be very cooperative. You can get a gate pass to make sure she gets on the correct plane at this end. If she has a cell phone, she can touch base with you on the other end and relieve some anxiety.

I'm pretty sure you have to be under 12 to be considered an unaccompanied minor. A 15yo can fly alone freely.

Any minor without the appropriate ID can fly as an unaccompanied minor. I nannied for a very conservative family who homeschooled the kids, the 15 year old flew as unaccompanied because she didn't have a school ID, state ID or driver's license.

[Anonymous]

My 15-year-old did this last summer and it went well. The only problem was that I didn't think to make sure he knew the rules about what's allowed in carry-ons, and he had sunscreen in his that was more than 3 oz and he was pulled out and double-checked for 15 minutes or so. We had checked him in with plenty of time, so the delay didn't have any risk of making him miss his flight, but just make sure your teen knows the rules on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Not to summer camp, but to visit his grandparents. Be sure to check the airline's policy for unaccompanied minors. Some will charge an extra fee. I found Southwest to be very cooperative. You can get a gate pass to make sure she gets on the correct plane at this end. If she has a cell phone, she can touch base with you on the other end and relieve some anxiety.

I'm pretty sure you have to be under 12 to be considered an unaccompanied minor. A 15yo can fly alone freely.

Any minor without the appropriate ID can fly as an unaccompanied minor. I nannied for a very conservative family who homeschooled the kids, the 15 year old flew as unaccompanied because she didn't have a school ID, state ID or driver's license.

This is not true. I tried to fly my friend's just turned 13 year old daughter out to see us. We were told that unaccompanied minor was not an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Not to summer camp, but to visit his grandparents. Be sure to check the airline's policy for unaccompanied minors. Some will charge an extra fee. I found Southwest to be very cooperative. You can get a gate pass to make sure she gets on the correct plane at this end. If she has a cell phone, she can touch base with you on the other end and relieve some anxiety.

I'm pretty sure you have to be under 12 to be considered an unaccompanied minor. A 15yo can fly alone freely.

Any minor without the appropriate ID can fly as an unaccompanied minor. I nannied for a very conservative family who homeschooled the kids, the 15 year old flew as unaccompanied because she didn't have a school ID, state ID or driver's license.

This is not true. I tried to fly my friend's just turned 13 year old daughter out to see us. We were told that unaccompanied minor was not an option.

Depends on the airline. I've sent a 14 year old as an unaccompanied minor before.

[Anonymous]

Ha. Last summer my 15-year-old had a job. He did get it all on his own though. And commuted (on his bicycle) all by himself. He had an awesome summer.

[Anonymous]

I traveled overseas alone when I was 13, which included 2 connections. It was no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Not to summer camp, but to visit his grandparents. Be sure to check the airline's policy for unaccompanied minors. Some will charge an extra fee. I found Southwest to be very cooperative. You can get a gate pass to make sure she gets on the correct plane at this end. If she has a cell phone, she can touch base with you on the other end and relieve some anxiety.

I'm pretty sure you have to be under 12 to be considered an unaccompanied minor. A 15yo can fly alone freely.

Any minor without the appropriate ID can fly as an unaccompanied minor. I nannied for a very conservative family who homeschooled the kids, the 15 year old flew as unaccompanied because she didn't have a school ID, state ID or driver's license.

Kids under 12 must fly as an unaccompanied minor. Kids can fly as an unaccompanied minor until their 18th birthday, though. Although I would have died of humiliation if my mother made me do that after age 15 or 16.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Not to summer camp, but to visit his grandparents. Be sure to check the airline's policy for unaccompanied minors. Some will charge an extra fee. I found Southwest to be very cooperative. You can get a gate pass to make sure she gets on the correct plane at this end. If she has a cell phone, she can touch base with you on the other end and relieve some anxiety.

I'm pretty sure you have to be under 12 to be considered an unaccompanied minor. A 15yo can fly alone freely.

Any minor without the appropriate ID can fly as an unaccompanied minor. I nannied for a very conservative family who homeschooled the kids, the 15 year old flew as unaccompanied because she didn't have a school ID, state ID or driver's license.

This is not true. I tried to fly my friend's just turned 13 year old daughter out to see us. We were told that unaccompanied minor was not an option.

Totally depends on the airline. Some will let you pay the unaccompanied minor fee for any one under 18, some just 12 and under, and some have no age restrictions at all.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't hesitate. It will be a great experience for her.