Would you let you 5 year old fly unaccompanied overseas?

[Anonymous]

There really should be a basic IQ test before people are allowed to procreate.

How could anyone think it's ok to send a 5 year old unaccompanied by a parent or guardian on an overseas flight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People call CPS when they see kids playing alone in their own backyard these days. How do you think something like this would ever, uh, fly in today's world?

I just looked up international airline policies on min. ages for unaccompanied minors and transfers:
El Al - age 5 - 100 dollar fee, no transfers allowed
British Airways- age 5, 150 dollars, no transfers; age 6-12 child can transfer flights
Air France- age 5, can transfer plans and there is a special lounge for unaccompanied minors at Paris-Orly and DeG., 75euros
http://www.airfrance.us/US/en/common/guidevoyageur/assistance/enfant_seul_um.htm
Emirates Airlines- age 5, must pay for adult ticket, can transfer but only onto Emirate flights. The website said they would even take a picture of your kid on board or give them birthday cake if it is their birthday.
Singapore Airlines-age 5, transfer only
Lufthansa-age 5, transfers aloud, special lounge for unaccompanied minors in Frankfurt and Munich airports


So actually in today's world it would fly for a five year old to be an unaccompanied minor.

Nope, today's world is all about shaming people via social media, the rules be damned. Someone takes a pic of a solo 5-year old on his journey, and it's all over.

You're naive, PP.

[Anonymous]

Uh, no freaking way. It's hard enough for a kid to do an international flight with a parent or two. We went to London last year with our then 8 year old. He ended up throwing up at the end of the flight (air sickness I guess as he was never sick again). 16 hours is a long time for a kid to be with complete strangers in an airplane.

[Anonymous]

No way. Only in a life or death emergency.

[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.

If someone asked me to do this, I would. But unless there were terrible extenuating circumstances, I would think the parent was out of his/her mind and would feel so bad for the little kid. Omg. Who does this?

[Anonymous]

Who will take the kid thru immigrations and customs? What happens if there are delays?

A responsible 15 yo with a direct flight. yeah, it would be a a possibility.

A 5 year with a connection? Never.

[Anonymous]

Oh my God, I feel stressed and sad just considering this! We do all kinds of real-world skills work with our 6 year old (read the map, figure out when the next bus should arrive, find the correct airline gate) and he would be completely overwhelmed and scared to be alone on a flight, even a domestic one.

[Anonymous]

OP - Are you a real parent?

[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?

my thoughts?

You're not very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who will take the kid thru immigrations and customs? What happens if there are delays?

Yep - I read this entire thread and very surprised that you are the first one who brought it up.. Although, I already know the OP's answer - "well, of course. the assigned personal flight attendant would do it!" All this incredible personal service for a 75 euro fee - yeah, and I have a bridge in..

And what about the languages? Does the kid speaks the language of the connection airport? And final destination?

But what I really want to know is where the child is flying to? But OP is not saying... I wonder why?

[Anonymous]

I am a veteran of the UM lounge in Frankfurt. It's pretty nice.

I am also a veteran of a UM flight that connected through Rome. For reasons unclear, I missed my connection back to the States that afternoon. I spent the night in a hotel, loosely supervised by an airline staffer who spoke precious little English (and I spoke no Italian). We toured her neighborhood, I met her parents, and I was presented at the airline counter the next day, where I was routed through another European airport, a first US airport and finally home. I was 10 at the time.

Even these days, with cell phones and more stringent rules, there is a distinct possibility that something can go seriously FUBAR. Why take this particular chance? And I say that as a pretty non helicopter parent.

[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?

my thoughts?

You're not very bright.

I second this! A person who thinks that any airline in today's world will provide this 16hr+ "hand-holding individual and caring" service for a fee to any child and who's only concern in this situation is "all the airline disasters" is either a troll (I hope so, actually) or is completely out of touch with reality or just a self-centered sociopath or indeed comes from a country where 5 year olds fight in real wars (name your home country, OP! Pleeeeease..)

[Anonymous]

Airlines lose luggage all the time. Do you really want to take the chance they'll lose your kid? What if he has a bathroom accident on the plane and the flight attendant doesn't notice and he's wet for 10 hours? Even if he's been potty trained for years he may be scared to use the airplane bathroom or too busy watching a movie. I've been both thrown up on and had to deal with a potty accident when traveling with a 5 year old. Do you think the flight attendant is going to deal with that? Bring him there, stay a while for your vacation and then have a relative bring him back and visit you at the end of the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Judgemental jackals! Why do you have to attack this poor woman and insult her as a parent for asking a question? What right do you have to be this mean and nasty? I feel sorry for your kids who have to deal with your black and white thinking and general bitchiness.

Well, its a stupid question. WTH is wrong with OP? A 5 year old can't fly alone internationally, with a layover no less. None of my kids could do this at 5. One still needed help in the bathroom at that age. My youngest is turning 5 in March and NO WAY IN HELL would this be even remotely appropriate for him.

Because the question she is asking - and the thought/ consideration that motivated her to post the question -- is stupid beyond belief. People like this need to be called out and hopefully have some sense knocked into their heads. I couldn't care less about her. It is that innocent 5 year old whose mother is dumb enough to put him/ her on an international flight for 15+ hours, and hope for the best as s/he navigates major world city airports, that I am concerned about.

Obviously your thoughts are with this "poor woman" instead, which is sympathy misplaced.

[Anonymous]

What about a 12 year old on a direct flight, being picked up by family on the other end?

(considering this for next summer)