How to prepare kids fly UM for the first time?

[Anonymous]

they will be 11.5 and 9. both have flown many times before but never on their own. it'll be a ~3.5 hr flight with my BIL waiting at their destination. mentioned this to them last night and both were terrified by the idea. some of their same-age friends have done this so i know it's not impossible to do for their ages. probably just scared of the unknown. what have you done to get your kids ready for it that worked?

[Anonymous]

a bump for the afternoon crowd

[Anonymous]

OP, I would repost with a different thread title. I had no idea what UM meant which is why I clicked on it. Unfortunately can't give you any advice because I still have a toddler. But you might get more hits if you just say "how to prepare kids to fly alone for the first time?"

[Anonymous]

well I asked mine first -- seems to be too late for you. My DS did it first alone at 10. My younger DS is 10 now and says he wouldn't want to. It really is no big deal at all -- just explain the process to them ---you will take them through security ,wait for the plane, they will be cared for by an airline person, make sure they have a cell phone, etc. Just give info

[Anonymous]

My ds was 5 the first time he did it and he was fine. They will never be alone. When you arrive to the airport, you will check in and there will be an employee who will put badges on your kids indicating that they are UM and you go with them to their gate. The flight attendant will get them from you to board the plane. My ds got to sit with other kids flying UM on several flights, other times he sat with friendly adults. When he gets to the destination, flight attendant takes them to the adult who is responsible for them and he will be at their gate when they arrive. My kid loves flying UM because mom & dad aren't around to "boss him around" lol.

I did nothing to prepare him except remind him of airplane etiquette. No kicking the seat in front of you, don't be loud, stay in your seat, don't invade the space of your neighbor, headphones, please & thank you and trash goes in the trash can. The flight attendant said he was fine when she brought him out.

[Anonymous]

Can you do some kind of practice trip before they fly alone?


We fly across the county several times a year. Our DC are 13 and 9. On our last trip we pretended we (DH and I) didn't know our kids. We walked through security together but then had them walk a significant distance in front of us. They had to figure out where the gate was and get there, stop at the bathroom, fill their water bottles etc... DH and I then sat in first class and they sat together in coach. . We deplaned and met up after security.

As they are younger, they will be UM and will have a flight attendant look after them and hand them off to your BIL upon landing.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. I told her I'd walk her to the plane, and an airline attendant would walk her off and stay with her until her dad picked her up. She flew alone at 8, no problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ds was 5 the first time he did it and he was fine. They will never be alone. When you arrive to the airport, you will check in and there will be an employee who will put badges on your kids indicating that they are UM and you go with them to their gate. The flight attendant will get them from you to board the plane. My ds got to sit with other kids flying UM on several flights, other times he sat with friendly adults. When he gets to the destination, flight attendant takes them to the adult who is responsible for them and he will be at their gate when they arrive. My kid loves flying UM because mom & dad aren't around to "boss him around" lol.

I did nothing to prepare him except remind him of airplane etiquette. No kicking the seat in front of you, don't be loud, stay in your seat, don't invade the space of your neighbor, headphones, please & thank you and trash goes in the trash can. The flight attendant said he was fine when she brought him out.

a five years old flying by himself? how long was the flight???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ds was 5 the first time he did it and he was fine. They will never be alone. When you arrive to the airport, you will check in and there will be an employee who will put badges on your kids indicating that they are UM and you go with them to their gate. The flight attendant will get them from you to board the plane. My ds got to sit with other kids flying UM on several flights, other times he sat with friendly adults. When he gets to the destination, flight attendant takes them to the adult who is responsible for them and he will be at their gate when they arrive. My kid loves flying UM because mom & dad aren't around to "boss him around" lol.

I did nothing to prepare him except remind him of airplane etiquette. No kicking the seat in front of you, don't be loud, stay in your seat, don't invade the space of your neighbor, headphones, please & thank you and trash goes in the trash can. The flight attendant said he was fine when she brought him out.

a five years old flying by himself? how long was the flight???

1 hour. He wasn't alone. My ds has never met a stranger. He's the friendliest kid in the world. He was totally safe and we all knew that.

[Anonymous]

If you call ahead to the airline, you can get a pass to walk you kids through security and to the terminal, and then get another pass for your BIL to pick up the kids at the other side.

You should reassure the kids that they will be very well taken care of on the flight and it is a great adventure. My kid (12) got to pick items (an Ipad, books, candy, etc.) to bring on the plane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ds was 5 the first time he did it and he was fine. They will never be alone. When you arrive to the airport, you will check in and there will be an employee who will put badges on your kids indicating that they are UM and you go with them to their gate. The flight attendant will get them from you to board the plane. My ds got to sit with other kids flying UM on several flights, other times he sat with friendly adults. When he gets to the destination, flight attendant takes them to the adult who is responsible for them and he will be at their gate when they arrive. My kid loves flying UM because mom & dad aren't around to "boss him around" lol.

I did nothing to prepare him except remind him of airplane etiquette. No kicking the seat in front of you, don't be loud, stay in your seat, don't invade the space of your neighbor, headphones, please & thank you and trash goes in the trash can. The flight attendant said he was fine when she brought him out.

a five years old flying by himself? how long was the flight???

1 hour. He wasn't alone. My ds has never met a stranger. He's the friendliest kid in the world. He was totally safe and we all knew that.

I flew the first time by myself the day after my fifth birthday and then once a month after. My mom always dropped me off, told me to listen to the nice flight attendants, told me to pay attention, and packed me good snacks. It's not a huge deal to kids if you don't make it a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I flew the first time by myself the day after my fifth birthday and then once a month after. My mom always dropped me off, told me to listen to the nice flight attendants, told me to pay attention, and packed me good snacks. It's not a huge deal to kids if you don't make it a big deal.

This - the most important thing you can do is treat it like it's not a big deal, even if that's not what you're feeling inside.

UM is really well organized and they will be escorted on and off the plane and into their uncle's arms. Make sure they have a cell phone with your number and his, just in case, and don't send them with too much stuff to carry on the plane - one small bag each, preferably a little backpack, so they only have to keep track of one thing. A few snacks and some new "toys" like a fresh coloring book and crayons and do a little bit of gentle quizzing ('what do you do if you have to use the bathroom?' 'what would you do if you are thirsty?' 'what do you do when the plane is taking off or landing?') both to anticipate any fears they might have and also to reassure yourself they can handle it.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they just don't understand the logistics and envision it as you dropping them off at the curb to fend for themselves. They should feel a lot better when you ressure them that you will get them right up to the plane, not leave the airport until they are safely on their way, and Uncle will be right at the gate when they get off (which the airline should allow) Remind them that they know what to expect from flights because they are such pros and talk about what kind of snacks, songs, movies, etc you can pack for the trip.

[Anonymous]

I flew to a foreign country where people spoke a language I did not understand and a family friend was going to pick me up when I was 10 (flight was about 2 hours). I was excited about the trip and I do not remember being scared at all. if your kids are afraid, probably the best thing you can do is go over the procedure with them (they should not really be alone, you give them to a flight attendant and the flight attendant or somebody else is going to be with them until your BIL picks them up. you can make them understand that they will be not alone and that they will have an adult take care of them. you can also reassure them by giving them a phone, your numbers and so on. if they are still terrified, I am not sure what to say.