Anonymous wrote:on the way to camp, have them navigate on their own without any help from your husband.

+1

I'm a huge "let the kids do it, don't helicopter parent kids" type parent but honestly, this would make me uncomfortable because I had a horrible experience flying as a 13 yo.

I know you said the flight is nonstop, but things happen and flights change.

When I was 13, I was flying to CA with a layover in Chicago. There were terrible storms and the flight got delayed hours and then eventually cancelled. I was totally stranded. The airline gave out vouchers for hotels but since I was 13, I obviously couldn't check into a hotel by myself. They had no idea what to do with me. Eventually the person who had been checking in on me stopped doing that and I just sat there all night. I was terrified to fall asleep because there were so many strangers around but I was beyond exhausted. This was pre-cell phones, too. It was a fluster cluck and the #1 reason why I'm still not comfortable letting my kids fly alone before age 16.

Anonymous wrote:My son and a friend are going to camp in Colorado. My husband is flying them to camp. On the way back the camp will take them to Denver Airport, help them check in and put them in the security line. My son is pretty confident that he could find the gate and so am I but my husband is not sure if they can really manage it if something comes up and wants to fly to Denver in the morning and immediately fly back with them. The flight is direct flight back home.

Can you call the airport and see if there are any staff members to help them?
Honestly, I think they will be fine. Print out a map of airport and they should be fine.


Just in case, can you call the airport and see if there are any staff members to help them?
It's probably something airports don't do anymore but 11 years ago when I was traveling with my then toddler, the airport in Atlanta had someone who stayed with me while I went through security and went to the gate. It was part of some family assistance program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course! I'd feel like a failure of a parent if my children couldn't do this by about age 11!

Go over with your kid at what point they should ask for help, and how to find appropriate people to ask for help.

So your 11yo has navigated an unfamiliar airport by themselves? My son flies unaccompanied all the time, he's 13 and has been flying alone since 9, but no way would I be comfortable with someone dropping him off at the security line, in an unfamiliar airport, and him finding his gate and boarding by himself.

Most airlines require that until 15 the child is accompanied to the gate by a parent/approved person and that person waits until the plane is wheels up.

My 9 year old is ready to do this. I bet your kid coulda managed too.

They should be fine!

Just be sure they know how to navigate the train system. But yes I would be OK with this.

Yes I think this would be fine

It depends. Some 13 year olds are very responsible and some are still clueless, they can't even spot the checkin line.
Work on different scenarios in case of this/that at the airport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course! I'd feel like a failure of a parent if my children couldn't do this by about age 11!

Go over with your kid at what point they should ask for help, and how to find appropriate people to ask for help.

So your 11yo has navigated an unfamiliar airport by themselves? My son flies unaccompanied all the time, he's 13 and has been flying alone since 9, but no way would I be comfortable with someone dropping him off at the security line, in an unfamiliar airport, and him finding his gate and boarding by himself.

Most airlines require that until 15 the child is accompanied to the gate by a parent/approved person and that person waits until the plane is wheels up.

Yes, here's how I teach this: we walk into the airport, and I say "Okay, you tell me what to do from now until the plane takes off. Every step of the way." They think it's fun to get to order me around, to say things to me that I've said to them and to be in charge. We generally start doing this around age 7, and so by 11 they can absolutely figure their way around an unfamiliar place. And they are comfortable getting a little lost, figuring out how to get unlost, finding the right people to ask for help, etc.

Sure. My 14 year old niece just did international including immigration and customs and transferring flights on her own. Air Canada allows that but not all airlines.

Since yours is domestic and 2 kids, if they’re reasonably reliable l don’t see why not.

Anonymous wrote:Ask the camp to have someone apply for an escort pass so they can walk campers to their gate(s):

https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/young-travelers.html

Stop at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter if you wish to obtain an escort pass, which is required to accompany the child through the security checkpoint.

The camp does this for campers 12 and under. 13 and over kids get help getting checked in and shown to security gate only. When they arrive we can go to the gate no problem it is just departing Denver.

Ask the camp to have someone apply for an escort pass so they can walk campers to their gate(s):

https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/young-travelers.html

Stop at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter if you wish to obtain an escort pass, which is required to accompany the child through the security checkpoint.

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure most US airlines (possibly all) require you to use their unaccompanied minor service under the age of 14-16 depending on the airline. I am not aware of one that wouldn't require it for 13 year olds so you should probably start there and find out the requirement for the airlines you are looking at. Most of them charge extra for this as well.

this

Just caught where it’s Southwest so they’re youth travelers. They recommend the person dropping off wait until plane is in air but don’t seem to require it. That’s where you need the backup plan.

I'm pretty sure most US airlines (possibly all) require you to use their unaccompanied minor service under the age of 14-16 depending on the airline. I am not aware of one that wouldn't require it for 13 year olds so you should probably start there and find out the requirement for the airlines you are looking at. Most of them charge extra for this as well.