Would you let you 5 year old fly unaccompanied overseas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

^^ we = he

[Anonymous]

Maybe around 11 or 12. Never at 5. No way, no how.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe around 11 or 12. Never at 5. No way, no how.

What if there is a delayed flight and he's sitting in the airport?
What if there is a delayed flight and he's sitting four hours on the tarmac?
What if there is a cancelled flight on his connection? Is he going to stand in line to get new tickets?
What if he gets sick?
What if he's scared?


I've had too many weird things happen on overseas trips to even consider this. A woman who stole food off my kid's tray. Took his blanket. And that was after she tried to take my aisle seat from me. Another woman started screaming mid-flight that her dad was dead. Pretty bad air turbulance. My kid got sick mid-flight.

Just no. Sorry. I know the extra cash hurts. But no.

[Anonymous]

I simply cannot even begin to understand the thought process that goes into even considering this. Just beyond my comprehension.

My kids flew unaccompanied domestically with no layovers all the time starting at about age 10. Can you spot all the differences, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Look, Newt Gingrich, we have child labor laws here for a reason. Get with the times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Look, Newt Gingrich, we have child labor laws here for a reason. Get with the times.

RESILIENT??? You think it merely takes RESILIENCE in a 5 year old, being asked to fly hours by himself, oversees?

This is not a "simple plane ride," PP. You are either nuts or not a parent yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I don't think the child would be in danger or would not be safe. But I wouldn't want my child to have to deal with the unexpected. People act strangely on planes. You never know what could happen. I wouldn't want my child alone in that sort of situation. Flight attendants aren't nannies or babysitters. If, god forbid, something should happen on the plane, I would not want my child to be alone without me or his father.

[Anonymous]

No way. It is hard enough to fly WITH the child. I can't imagine sending a child that young alone. I have 4yo and 6yo boys. My 4yo will turn 5 in March 2016 so the same age as your son. No freakin way.

[Anonymous]

I would do it. DOn't listen to these fear-mongerers.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on how outgoing your kid is. My oldest could never do that- he would be too afraid and too shy to say something if he needed help. He would be a nervous wreck. My younger son who is five I really could picture flying alone and having a great time. He is really outgoing, will be the first to speak up or ask a question, and figures out things. When we send both boys to the snack bar alone during a baseball game, the youngest likes to hold the money and order the food. Our oldest said last time someone tried to cut in front of them and the little one spoke up and said to get behind them. He is a cute, friendly kid who people notice and help out.

If you have to do it OP, I would find a family who is flying on the same flight in the waiting area and ask them to keep an eye on him just in case too. If a single mom asked me to do that on an overseas flight, I would totally keep my eye on the kid and check on him during the flight.

[Anonymous]

over the summer

?? how much of the summer?? I don't worry about the flight, as much as I worry about your decision to be apart from him - a 5 year old.

Unless war had broken out, or some extreme can't-even-fathom tragedy, he shouldn't be away from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on how outgoing your kid is. My oldest could never do that- he would be too afraid and too shy to say something if he needed help. He would be a nervous wreck. My younger son who is five I really could picture flying alone and having a great time. He is really outgoing, will be the first to speak up or ask a question, and figures out things. When we send both boys to the snack bar alone during a baseball game, the youngest likes to hold the money and order the food. Our oldest said last time someone tried to cut in front of them and the little one spoke up and said to get behind them. He is a cute, friendly kid who people notice and help out.

If you have to do it OP, I would find a family who is flying on the same flight in the waiting area and ask them to keep an eye on him just in case too. If a single mom asked me to do that on an overseas flight, I would totally keep my eye on the kid and check on him during the flight.

The sheer idiocy that some of you display is amazing to me. So you would walk up to some random family in the waiting area of a major airport and say. "Here 'a my five year old ! You don't know me and I don't know you but would you watch her for the next 15 hours?"

Hopefully - for your kids sake - the airlines are smarter than you and op and would not even allow this

[Anonymous]

I would not send my 6 year old unless I knew he would be picked up after the first flight. Unless your child is incredibly mature I would be uncomfortable because (speaking about my own son) he wouldn't have the wherewithal to manage anything by himself should anything go on. Now I would definitely send my 9 year old daughter - even with the connection.

I would try to get someone to meet him at the connecting city. You could buy your mom or dad a ticket and it would be much cheaper than you flying the whole way. I'm guessing it's also not just the cost but the time for you.... I would consider it but probably not at this age unless they are met after the flight.

[Anonymous]

My now 8 year old has always been really mature and even now I wouldn't let him to that. From one single mom to another, I feel you, but I wouldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not send my 6 year old unless I knew he would be picked up after the first flight. Unless your child is incredibly mature I would be uncomfortable because (speaking about my own son) he wouldn't have the wherewithal to manage anything by himself should anything go on. Now I would definitely send my 9 year old daughter - even with the connection.

I would try to get someone to meet him at the connecting city. You could buy your mom or dad a ticket and it would be much cheaper than you flying the whole way. I'm guessing it's also not just the cost but the time for you.... I would consider it but probably not at this age unless they are met after the flight.

What 5 year old is "incredibly mature?"

OP, I hate to say it, but people like you give single mothers a bad name.