Would you let you 5 year old fly unaccompanied overseas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is a really good suggestion!

[Anonymous]

No way. Not at 5 and with a layover. No way, no how.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

PP here. Yes it was domestic, but it still involved a layover. I'm just saying, it's not that crazy

[Anonymous]

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?

I would definitely let him. Kids need independence.

Also, what on earth do you mean by "in light of all the airline disasters"?

[Anonymous]

At 5 no way.

Let's suppose it all goes well. My 5 year old would be TERRIFIED!!! No way would I put him through something like this. Independence is great, but all in due time. Consider letting him walk to the end of the block first.

[Anonymous]

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

And cheap as hell

[Anonymous]

OP, I would never do it, but am trying to imagine a situation in which someone might.

Have you made this trip with your son frequently? Does he remember several of the (long) trips? Do you two fly together regularly in general? Can he entertain himself for 20 hours or so at a time (in case of delays), going to sleep without urging or reminders and staying cheerful or calm? Is he accustomed to being cared for by people he has never met before, and is he cool with that?

I consider my 5 year old to be pretty mature, but I would not be confident that a flight attendant I'd never met before would be able to calm her or reassure her if she DID become upset and afraid. However, if airlines accept this situation, they must feel confident that there are 5 year olds who are equipped to handle it and flight attendants who can care for them well. Maybe yours is one of them.

[Anonymous]

WOW! That sounds really bad for the 5 yr old! I would never do that. Basically, you are handing your kids over to the strangers in their seat to care/comfort them. No way a 5 yr. old is self sufficient enough and emotionally mature enough to handle caring for him/herself for hours in a strange location (or even at home!).

[Anonymous]

Do you have any friends from your home country that will be traveling there? Maybe you can plan your child's trip with theirs?

I know some people that have done this for their kids or elderly parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would never do it, but am trying to imagine a situation in which someone might.

Have you made this trip with your son frequently? Does he remember several of the (long) trips? Do you two fly together regularly in general? Can he entertain himself for 20 hours or so at a time (in case of delays), going to sleep without urging or reminders and staying cheerful or calm? Is he accustomed to being cared for by people he has never met before, and is he cool with that?

I consider my 5 year old to be pretty mature, but I would not be confident that a flight attendant I'd never met before would be able to calm her or reassure her if she DID become upset and afraid. However, if airlines accept this situation, they must feel confident that there are 5 year olds who are equipped to handle it and flight attendants who can care for them well. Maybe yours is one of them.

We have traveled a lot internationally and to numerous destinations - at least twice a year and he does well on the long flights. As a matter of fact, we are heading to South Africa together (different destination than the proposed summer '16 trip) in September to see family. He sleeps part of the way, and the other part, he plays games and watches DVD's/iPad. The only issue I would have is he does not eat much while on the plane, but that's really not a big deal. I am more fearful of something happening to the plane than I am of the care he would receive or how he would do.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but it depends on the maturity level of your child. Only you would know if your child could handle it. I'm curious to know if the airlines would still allow it given all the increased fear these days.

My parents did it multiple times with me in the 80s to see family in Chicago, LA and Toronto. I was old enough to ask for directions or help. It definitely made me more confident and self sufficient.

The biggest issue really is once they de-board, knowing where to go. A family member would need to be at nearest entrance where passengers make their way out of the secured areas, for safety reasons. Other than that, whats the worst that could happen?

-Stealing a child is out. The chances that someone on his particular flight wants to steal him when they land is extremely low. No one can take him on another plane without a ticket. Especially these days.
-Child getting lost and not making the plane is low. Child can ask for help. Airport officials will help them get to the appropriate gate.
-Plane crash? Unavoidable regardless.

I would say sending your 5 y/o on a plane is probably safer than a school bus. Between bullying and accidents, the likelihood of harm to your child is much lower on a plane. Someone prove me wrong.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not. Maybe at age 7 or 8, definitely not 5. I let my just turned 6 year old fly unaccompanied to Florida to meet my mom, there was really bad weather and turbulence and he was terrified, plus the plane had to be rerouted to Hartford, which caused all kinds of confusion. Plus the man sitting next to him completely freaked out and kept screaming that they were all going to die. It was a bad experience for him, although he obviously survived it.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not do this.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Have times changed.

5 y/os are a lot more resilient than many of you make them out to be. In many countries they are working full time jobs. I think they can handle a simple plane ride.

[Anonymous]

Outlier here. I'd do it if we were exhibiting a normal maturity level for five. The stewardess is with him. In his seat he eats, sleeps and watches movies. Then they accompany him off the plane to his grandparents. Honestly, this is very safe.

My mother made a trip half way across the world with multiple changes in the days of prop planes when she was 8. I am sure people were helpful, but no assigned stewardess or anything remotely like that. No one thought anything of it.