13 year old flying solo yes or no?

[DL1WDW2]

Not necessarily.
I assumed children traveling alone would be seated in the front rows but my grandchildren were placed in the back row even tho we had paid extra for confirmed front row seating. American Airlines said they felt they could watch them better in back row ???

 

[lila]

Absolutely not.

 

[Alan1972]

Human traffickers are not looking to snatch children they don't know, at random, out of airports .just doesn't happen that way in real life.that is not a realistic concern.

I would be more reasonably worried she would get lost or miss the flight but by 13 she should be able to follow signs or ask for help.you know your child best. If you think she can handle it then it will be no problem whatsoever.

I don't think over protecting parenting does children a service. quite the Opposite.

If it were me I would check her in, walk her as far as security (or the gate if allowed but not sure they will just let you through with no ticket), and make sure someone could pick her up.

 

[Cheburashka]

Human traffickers are not looking to snatch children they don't know, at random, out of airports .just doesn't happen that way in real life.that is not a realistic concern.

Thank you for injecting this bit of reality into the conversation. Traffickers typically target young people who are alienated from or neglected by their families, and they tend to do it by gradually developing a relationship with the young person.

Outright kidnapping is always possible, but it would be very difficult to accomplish at an airport. I'd be more worried about the chance of that happening during a solo bike ride around the neighborhood (aka Jaycee Lee Dugard) than at an airport.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son at 13 wouldn't have blinked an eye at doing it. He was very mature and had flown enough with us that it would have been fine. I'd have given him a credit card and cash though in case of a problem.

My daughter at 13 would not have been able to. She has social anxiety and at 21 is still a very nervous flyer and extremely stressed in airports. There's no way she could have handled it.
In our case, we also fly in and out of Atlanta Airport which can be stressful in itself - it's so crowded and large.

It's up to you and your child if you think she could handle it.

 

[barb969]

It depends on the child. at 13 I would have been capable of flying solo. I traveled solo by train from NYC to Schenectady, NY at the age of 4. I had been walking 1/2 mile and taking a public bus solo since the age of 8. An adult can get a gate pass to accompany a minor on both ends of the trip. The person on the departure end should wait at the gate untili the flight takes off to be safe.

 

[Simba001]

As a parent of a former competitive gymnast, I would have one parent attend the meet with your daughter. I’ve been at a warm up during a meet where a gymnast was injured and the parents were not in attendance, but still at their hotel. The injury happened right in front of me and I phoned 911. After I made the call a sibling to the gymnast asked to borrow my phone to call her parents.
I flew a few times by myself as a child and typically had no problems. Once when I was 12 my flight arrived early. My mom (who was informed the flight would be delayed) wasn’t at the gate (back in the day when this was common) so I went to baggage claim to get my suitcase for I feared someone would take it and then return to the gate and wait for my mom. This was before cellphones. I was frightened and so was my mom.
Yes, we have cellphones now, but things can happen.
With the combination of the family all being out of the area, flights that can have issues, gymnastics and Covid.... personally having your daughter fly by herself right now would be too much stress for me.

 

[crisi]

Kids do this all the time - especially children of divorce. My youngest was about that age when we put them on a plane to NYC to visit a cousin. They flew as an unaccompanied minor - so there was a flight attendant who helped them - from boarding to deplaning. At 13 I think all U.S. airlines require them to fly as part of the unaccompanied minor program - there will be a fee (something like $150).

 

[Elephantay]

Yes I would definitely have someone take her to the gate. There is TSA/ airport documentation that will allow an adult to accompany her to the gate. I am Concerned about child trafficking. I’m also waiting to here back from the coach as to where this meet is and how important it is. The meet could be a few hours drive from home which really changes the situation.

If you are concerned about this...and its a valid concern...then no!

 

[Blondie58]

I think it depends on the 13 year old. Some 13 year olds are way more mature than others. Does she have good street smarts? Would she advocate for herself if needed? Is she aware of her surroundings or more absent minded?

I think your insight is very wise and spot on. Some 13 year olds having frequently traveled could do this. You know your own child's level of maturity, responsibility, and experience level. I have cousins from California that have flown alone since they were very young (less than 13) and would think nothing of this. (My uncle is Colonel in Air Force and they moved every few years too.) However, I grew up on a farm (never move or left home until I went to college) and never flew on a plane until in my 20s. This would have scared me to death.

 

[bakerworld]

We had our youngest fly home from Montana back in the 90's and the airline required us to purchase an escort for her. It worked out so well that we let her fly to Montana again a year later. The airline had her escorted on and off the plane and since Montana required connecting flights, she had a special room to wait between flights.

 

[crisi]

Not necessarily.
I assumed children traveling alone would be seated in the front rows but my grandchildren were placed in the back row even tho we had paid extra for confirmed front row seating. American Airlines said they felt they could watch them better in back row ???

Yeah, if that is where the flight attendants spend their time (which on most airplanes it is), then that is where they will put unaccompanied minors. The most important thing is that your children can be watched (as well as anyone seated near them).

My experience with an unaccompanied minor flight. I took my kid to the gate and waited with her until boarding. At boarding, a flight attendant took her and got her to the plane as part of early boarding. She then flew. She was told to wait in her seat while everyone else deplaned, and then the flight attendant helped her with her luggage and took her off the plane, where she was met at the gate by my husband's cousin. My husband's cousin needed to provide ID to pick her up (I don't know if this would be needed if your kid ran up to you saying "hey, Mom!" but in our case my daughter didn't know my husband's cousins well). You will need to have grandma park at the airport and wait at the gate until she gets on the plane, and you will need to be at the gate to pick her up. The unaccompanied minor program will provide you with the instructions and documentation you need to get through security without your own boarding pass.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Wow the differences in opinions are strong.
My kids have flown by themselves from the time my youngest was 5.
SW is great.. one time our son who was 12 was flying alone and the flight was diverted and he was at the airport for 3 hours waiting for another flight. The airport staff called me and helped him get the first BG for the next flight.
Have a great trip...

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We have already scheduled our February trip and it turns out my 13 year old daughter has a gymnastics meet the day after we are flying out. We fly out on Friday meet is on Saturday. How comfortable would you be allowing a 13 yo to fly solo on a direct flight. I am thinking about letting her fly down after her meet. She has probably flown into MCO about 10 times. Of course I would be there to meet her. My mom (who is traveling with us) thinks I’m crazy. But my dd really wants to go to her meet. She would be flying SW because there is no unaccompanied minor fee for 13 yo and I can get a ticket for under $100.

If it was my daughter, no.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I’d be apprehensive to have a child at a gymnastics meet with no parent anywhere close by. Chances are, she’ll be fine, but gymnastics does carry risk of severe injury. I wouldn’t want to be an airplane ride away if my child got hurt. I realize everyone’s risk tolerance is different, but that’s just not a risk I’d be willing to take.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We have already scheduled our February trip and it turns out my 13 year old daughter has a gymnastics meet the day after we are flying out. We fly out on Friday meet is on Saturday. How comfortable would you be allowing a 13 yo to fly solo on a direct flight. I am thinking about letting her fly down after her meet. She has probably flown into MCO about 10 times. Of course I would be there to meet her. My mom (who is traveling with us) thinks I’m crazy. But my dd really wants to go to her meet. She would be flying SW because there is no unaccompanied minor fee for 13 yo and I can get a ticket for under $100.

how would she or you do if plane had to land somewhere other than MCO? doesn't happen often but could and it can not be planned ahead for. also who would have her at the meet could they get treatment for her if needed? again doesn't happen often but not known ahead of time. are you sure you can get to gate to meet her or is she going to have to get to you? a lot of things to think about. I know years ago when daughters baton preformed at a bowl game and we were not on trip we had to assign medical treatment to director for time there

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

As former competitive gymnast, do not let her go without one of you there. I have seen some nasty accidents happen, even at the lower levels. Watching the bars collapse on my teammate at a meet was one of the reasons I quit....

 

[kanerf]

Not necessarily.
I assumed children traveling alone would be seated in the front rows but my grandchildren were placed in the back row even tho we had paid extra for confirmed front row seating. American Airlines said they felt they could watch them better in back row ???

Depending on the aircraft, the galley can be in the back. It was on my most recent trip to Orlando on American. That way the FAs are usually closer to the back row.

 

[Rory607]

I would personally have one adult stay back and go to the meet with her, then fly out together.

 

[jccarney]

Still haven’t made a decision. My daughter is very comfortable with the concept of flying alone. She‘s been researching flights and probably would have booked if she knew my credit card # She wants to wait to see her scores at this weekend’s meet to decide if she wants to go to the meet during our trip. There would definitely be an adult relative at the gate in each direction. To throw another issue out there the meet is in a different city so she would probably fly out of that airport.