Children Flying Alone?

[va32h]

My oldest daughter is 11, and I think she is old enough to fly alone to visit my sister. It would be a nonstop flight from Dallas to Las Vegas(less than three hours).

My husband and mother are in a panic about it, but I'm sure she'll be fine. Any positive stories to share, to calm their worries? Any tips?

 

[poohandwendy]

I took my first solo flight at the age of 12, the day after my 12th birthday, it was not non-stop either. As a matter of fact, there was some sort of steering problem (yes the captain TOLD us this mid flight) on the connecting flight and we had to go back to Atlanta airport and sit there for a few hours until we could get another flight. I was perfectly fine and they had an escort who kept an eye on me and fed me a steak dinner, LOL. (of course my parents were totally freaked out, but were kept up to date on what was going on and were able to talk to me via telephone to make sure i was ok)

To be honest, I think that experience really was a confidence booster. I have never felt afraid to travel alone and have always felt very confident that I could handle the unexpected.

If you feel comfortable with it and your DD does too, I wouldn't have a problem with it. I think the best advice I can give you is to go over 'what if' scenarios with her beforehand. Not to alarm her, just to prepare her for the inexpected just in case.

 

[DebbieB]

Check the airlines rules. You may have to pay an unaccompanied minor fee. I checked a couple. USAir is $40 each way for ages 5 to 14, they are escorted. Southwest is 5 to 11, I don't see a charge. American is 5 to 14, $75 each way. Proof of age is required.

 

[Pixie Tales]

i use to travel from florida to denver, changing planes and all, alone when i was 11.. its not that bad at all... the stewartess (sp) kept checking on me

 

[babytrees]

My girls did it by themselves from Denver to Baltimore three years ago (11 &7)....we had to pay an unaccompanied minor fee for both.

They put all unaccompanied minors together in one section of the plane. Their flight wasn't a non stop and there were problems so they were HUNGRY when their Ama picked them up at BWI but they would do it again in a heart beat.

Unaccompanied minors are very well monitored and only the people who are on the drop off and pick up sheets can pick them up. They check id's.

 

[rie'smom]

My son used to fly to his dad's in San Antonio when he was 5. The flight attendants kept him near them. He loved it.

 

[MushyMushy]

You're a lot braver than I am. I would never allow my kids to fly unaccompanied like that. This isn't saying anything against those of you who do or have done it, but I just couldn't.

What reasons do your DH and mother give for feeling the way they do? What reasons do you have for feeling she'd be okay? I think as long as you and your DH (the mother really doesn't have a say, IMO) can come to an agreement you're both comfortable with, then that's the important thing. I don't think either of you should force your will on the other.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD has flown by herself since early in second grade-so about 7 without any problems. They are escorted onto the plane and off and if they need to transfer they are escorted then also. Since she was 12 she has been flying by herself without being an unaccompanied minor and again without any problems. My Nephew fly by himself many times also, to my House and to meet us at Disney. One time he flew himself from Pa and we flew in and met at the connecting airport and then flew into MCO together, so in our family it is no big deal. My son will probably do it this summer to go see his Grandma and he is 8. There really isn't anything to worry about they take many safety precautions and you walk them to the gate and the person picking them up meets them at the gate.
Once they are on the plane what is the big deal they sit there play or read and have a snack. I would have no concerns to do it anytime.

 

[CheezDoodle]

I'm 12. My mom would never let me.

I'd like it though. It sounds very fun, I'd feel independent. But it would suck if they sat me next to some big sweaty fat guy or something

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My stepdaughter has flown unaccompanied since she was about 6. She is now 17. I would say she probably has flown about 15 times by herself.

Each airline has different rules about ages for unaccompanied minors, and we have had 2 bad experiences with her flights. On the first one, she flew Northwest and was about 7. She jumped off the plane and into her daddy's arms--and had no flight attendant with her when she got off the plane. No one ever even checked his ID.

We went downstairs to the manager on duty and immediately demanded our unaccompanied minor fee be returned to us. We could have made it much worse for the airline but didn't because we were there to pick her up right on time.

On the second occasion, she was 11 and we paid the unaccompanied minor fee on AirTran. I was caught in a horrible traffic jam and was nearly 45 minutes late to get her from her flight. She was sitting in the baggage claim area with her bags...all by herself.

I calmly took her upstairs and found the most senior person on duty at AirTran...and then demanded my money back.

OK, so what to know from all this?

--Make SURE you have the NAME of the ATTENDANT taking care of your child when he/she leaves.
--Make SURE your child knows to stay away from anyone else, and don't take being passed off to another attendant as being OK.
--Make SURE you're at the airport to pick your child up in advance of the arrival time. On the other end, make sure your person has arrived at the airport ahead of time as well.
--Do not take the choice of allowing your child to go without paying the extra cost. It truly is worth the cost.
--Don't forget your ID!
--You will be allowed to go to the gate to retrieve your child at most US airports. Do not take any extra people with you when you go to pickup the child--they will not be allowed past the security checkpoint.

Did I say enough?

 

[BabyPiglet]

I am a teen, and well I would be scared to death to fly alone. I am a scaredy cat after all but I think your child should be fine. I am sure it's not as bad as I imagine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My younger dd is 10 & 1/2 and could not handle it, she hates flying, period.

My oldest has no problems and is more independent. She flew alone at 15 last summer.

 

[kendall]

I think it depends on how comfortable your DD is with the idea. Has she flown before so she knows what to expect? The unaccompanied minor rules will vary by airline, as well as the fee, so definitely check in to that. Both my kids flew alone when they were around that age, but had flown before and were comfortable with the idea. IMHO, if your DD is comfortable with the idea a direct flight shouldn't be a problem!

 

[SDFgirl]

I flew alone for the first time when I was 8. There were absolutely no problems. I loved it!

I had a connecting flight and a flight attendant drove me to my next gate on one of those airport carts. I felt like a total celebrity.

 

[shortbun]

While one person here has two iffy stories, I was a travel agent for 27 years and never knew a child to get lost or left. Yes, make sure you have plenty of time for problems so you arrive on time to pickup your child at both ends. I would give my child a cell phone so IF somehow they get off the plane without an escort and no one is there to meet them, they have immediate contact with everyone and anyone important to walk/talk them through a safe ending. Provide your child with several copies of all contacts-names, addresses and all phone numbers of people at both ends as well as their own name. Make sure this information is on their person not packed in a bag that might get lost.

 

[Green Tea]

I know some airlines require the unaccompanied minor fee where they take responsibility for the child from the time you turn them over until they have verified the id of the other party. I wouldn't worry about that, at least not with a direct single leg flight like you spoke of.

 

[va32h]

You're a lot braver than I am. I would never allow my kids to fly unaccompanied like that. This isn't saying anything against those of you who do or have done it, but I just couldn't.

What reasons do your DH and mother give for feeling the way they do? What reasons do you have for feeling she'd be okay? I think as long as you and your DH (the mother really doesn't have a say, IMO) can come to an agreement you're both comfortable with, then that's the important thing. I don't think either of you should force your will on the other.

Well my mother is just plain paranoid about anything. I am 36, and I don't think she thinks that I am mature enough to fly or drive anywhere alone!! The funny thing is that I did fly by myself as young as age ten, which she is conveniently forgetting...

My husband is being stubborn because I have, in the past, refused to let our daughter go to visit his mother alone. It really has more to do with whom she is visiting than the mode of transportation. But if you knew my MIL - you'd understand.

My daughter has flown numerous times - for the past six years, my sister has flown out every summer to pick her up and fly back with her, and then flown back out to drop her off. It's been a lot of money and trouble to arrange the schedules and for her to get time off work, etc.

Last May, we all flew to California for a Disneyland trip - me and the three kids. My daughter ended up being seated two rows ahead of us, I could have asked for her to be moved, but we were both on the aisle so I could see her. She was perfectly content, never even glanced back once. Yes, I am sure it would be different if I weren't there at all, but she wasn't the least bit nervous about sitting by herself, and she has already told me that she would love to fly by herself.

I have also observed unaccompanied minors on several flights, and always been satisfied, if not impressed, with how the attendants handled things.

So it occurred to me that perhaps this year we could spare the expense and juggling of schedules and send her by herself.

I have no problem paying a fee, as it would surely be less than the price of another ticket. Since it is a nonstop flight, there isn't much chance of her getting lost in the airport, and I don't see what could actually happen to her on the plane, in terms of being kidnapped or assaulted.

My understanding is that I would get a pass to accompany her to the gate, and my sister would get a pass to meet her at the gate, so my daughter would really only be "alone" while she is actually on the plane. She's a bright, responsible, girl, and very confident. She went to summer camp last year and had a wonderful time and didn't miss us once! She's also been visiting this aunt every summer since she was four. Her daddy just doesn't want her to grow up, especially since he is going overseas, I think he just wants us to stay frozen in time while he's gone.

 

[TerryKitten]

No personal experence, but when waiting to be checked in to a flight a kid was getting checked in to their flight by their parent (?). The agent asked the parent who would be picking them up. "My Uncle Mel" she replied. "And what is Uncle Mel's lastname?" the agent asked. "Uh... Oh... " she thinking really hard, "I don't know." "Ok, do you know his phone number so we can call him to find out?" the agent asks. "Its on my cell phone and my husband has it"...

What i'm getting at is make sure you know the person on the other end's information. I don't know if the kid ever got on the flight, but I'm sure you'll be more prepared than this gal.

 

[hydster]

Sure....it's a simple procedure! In our experience usually you book the ticket, pay the unaccompanied minor fee and then you are able to walk with your child through security and stay with them at the gate. When they board, a flight attendant will come and get your child, walk them to their seat, get them situated and make sure they are ok on the flight.

On the other end your sister would have had to be put on the form as ok to pick up your child, show ID to those at the airport and would be allowed to wait at the gate when the plane landed. Once they open the door the flight attendant will walk with your child off the plane, check your sister's Id and let your child go with your sister.

This process would be repeated on the way back as well. They take really good care of the kids on the flight. My mom is really paranoid too about stuff and she freaks every time we do this but oh well.....one day she'll learn I'm all growed up!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I sent my 7 year old unaccompanied on Southwest to visit my brother. It went really smoothly, but there were some things I did that made me feel safer.

1) I told my brother I wouldn't put DS on the plane unless I knew he was already in the airport (via cell phone confirmation). People here told me that was paranoid, but when I called to check my brother said "Are you kidding, I'm at the gate, I'm not taking any chances with my nephew". I was at the gate before he took off at the other end.

2) He wasn't scared -- even an hour long flight (what he had) would have been too long for a terrified child. But once I reassured him that he didn't need to find a taxi to his uncle's house (he asked me if I would give him cash to pay for it, or if he should start saving his allowance ) he wasn't worried at all.

3) It was a short non-stop flight. I figured the chances of a weather delay or some other problem were slight in an hour flight -- if he had been flying across country I probably would have waited.

4) I stayed at the airport until he landed on the other end.

Realistically, I think the chances of DS being hurt driving with my brother or on the ski trip they took was worse than the chances of something happening in that plane.

BTW on Southwest unaccompanied is free, but only for 5-11, and only for direct flights. I want my 12 year old goddaughter to come out and visit me but they tell me she can't fly unaccompanied -- without that service I think I would worry and I know her mom would. SW is the only airline that flies direct between our cities.