DD13 flying alone for the first time

[snowbunny]

My DD will be flying alone for the first time next month. I will put her on SWA at our end, wait until the plane is airborne, and she will be met when she deplanes. No connections, 2-hour flight that she and I have made together multiple times. Nonetheless she is very nervous about it.

At 13 she is too old to fly SWA as an unaccompanied minor, and she really would not need to anyway; she is very sensible and level headed. I think what worries her is being on the plane "alone" if there is any problem--flight being diverted, bad weather, what have you (accident is probably in the back of her mind).

Any tips on how to make her more comfortable? Should I approach SWA before she boards at MHT and let them know she is alone until landing?

 

[madenon]

Snowbunny, maybe it helps her to have a mobile phone with her during the trip? Just so she knows she can call you at any moment she might need to. Knowing she can reach you might put her mind at ease when it comes to all of the 'oh my, what if this or that happens'.

Especially with you saying she's very sensible and level headed, I doubt it she'll be calling her friends for hours on that phone and get you a 'nice' bill. She'll probably just needs the experience of knowing she can do it, she'll be fine. Maybe she also has some ideas about how she would feel saver/better/more at ease while flying?

 

[twoeeyy]

You said that she will be flying the route that she has flown with you many times so she will be fine.

My only concern with flying at that age and SW no longer considering them a minor is the fact that they have to get from the gate onto the shuttle then into the main bldg where they can get meet.

We would not let out DD fly alone once she could no longer be accomponied because we we nervous that there are a lot of bathrooms etc. along the way and you never know what creep might try to drag them off somewhere. I know that we are overly worried warts but there is so much going on in airports with everyone rushing somewhere who honestly is paying attention to what is going on around them,

I am not trying to freak you out but like I said we are worry warts and as my hubby says we can't replace her

 

[mareed]

You said that she will be flying the route that she has flown with you many times so she will be fine.

My only concern with flying at that age and SW no longer considering them a minor is the fact that they have to get from the gate onto the shuttle then into the main bldg where they can get meet.

We would not let out DD fly alone once she could no longer be accomponied because we we nervous that there are a lot of bathrooms etc. along the way and you never know what creep might try to drag them off somewhere. I know that we are overly worried warts but there is so much going on in airports with everyone rushing somewhere who honestly is paying attention to what is going on around them,

I am not trying to freak you out but like I said we are worry warts and as my hubby says we can't replace her

You can still get a security document and go with the child to the gate even if they're too old (over 12) to fly as unaccompanied minor. I checked with SW on this last Summer when my 11 year old was flying, because I wanted to know how it would work next year when he's 12.

 

[snowbunny]

Thanks very much...I forgot to mention, she does have a cell phone so I told her she can call me when the plane pulls up at the gate at her destination, and we will stay on the phone until she sees and is standing with the person meeting her.

Also she is flying into Chicago Midway so will not have to contend with the MCO shuttle. I will get a gate pass at MHT so that I can wait there until she is on the plane and it leaves the gate.

Is there anything I have not thought of? I don't know whether she needs ID. I don't really want to give her her passport to take with her; she is not one to lose things but it would be a problem if the passport were lost.

 

[vegas_mickey]

This summer my 12 flew to my sisters by herself, it was a non-stop 2hour flight and had no problem at all. She took a book to read and was fine. As long as you print out her itinerary and such you can get a gate pass and go through security with her to the gate. I also e-mailed it to my sister so she could do the same thing and both pick her up at the gate and stay with her on the return trip. It all went very smooth.

 

[twoeeyy]

You can still get a security document and go with the child to the gate even if they're too old (over 12) to fly as unaccompanied minor. I checked with SW on this last Summer when my 11 year old was flying, because I wanted to know how it would work next year when he's 12.

It must be different depending on airport and airline. When our DD went out of Logan on Jet Blue we had to BEG for security to let one of us thru with her. We then called my parents who were meeting her at MCO we told them to do the same thing and my mother was able to finagle her way to the gate.

The next year She was going to fly from PVD on SW and we called and we told that over 12 they go alone and we could not go with her to the gate. It ended up that when she was due to make that flight it was right after 911 and we decided it best for her to not fly alone at that time.

I am glad to see that they have changed and you can go with them. Like I said we are worry warts but I feel 12, 13 ,14 is to young to be alone in an airport.

I hope your daughter has a safe and fun trip.

 

[mareed]

It must be different depending on airport and airline. When our DD went out of Logan on Jet Blue we had to BEG for security to let one of us thru with her. We then called my parents who were meeting her at MCO we told them to do the same thing and my mother was able to finagle her way to the gate.

The next year She was going to fly from PVD on SW and we called and we told that over 12 they go alone and we could not go with her to the gate. It ended up that when she was due to make that flight it was right after 911 and we decided it best for her to not fly alone at that time.

I am glad to see that they have changed and you can go with them. Like I said we are worry warts but I feel 12, 13 ,14 is to young to be alone in an airport.

I hope your daughter has a safe and fun trip.

The key might be that we wouldn't be asking anything from security. We'd get a security document from Southwest that would let us accompany the child. But then it sounds like it was SW who told you you could not go! Probably one of those things that varies, but this is definitely something you'd want to know about for sure up front! We have a younger DS who will be travelling too, so we can definitely get the security document for him for a couple more years. At the time we might not be allowed to go, they'd be 12 & 15, and I'd probably be fine with them on their own at that time anyway!

 

[Jeanne B]

At 13 she is too old to fly SWA as an unaccompanied minor

Wow, that surprises me that they consider 13 too old to be considered an unaccompanied minor. I would have guessed the limit would have been more like 16.

 

[Princess Erin]

I also thought it wa age 16. As a mother of two, I think 13 is very young.

 

[Belle1962]

Yes--let them know she is alone. It never hurts.

Aisle seat near the front of the plane. Keeps her visible to more people, easier access to ask the flight attendants questions, easier to get to the bathroom, etc. If a man sits next to her (in the middle seat) and she has time--tell her to change her seat. Try to get an "A" boarding pass.

Type up a card for her to carry 'What to do if" (my son had one but it was what to do if they offer a bump---it spelled out what the airline should do for him--but he was 16 & older) But maybe: If the plane is delayed: stay in the gate area. Call home. If you need to use the restroom--try to use the one on the plane before getting off/wait until you get on; look for a family (mom & kids) that is heading that way and just kinda tag along--don't look like you're alone. Say hi to the kids. If the flight is diverted: call home. Listen to the flight attendants for instructions such as go to gate #, stay in this gate area, etc. ask a flight attendant if you didn't hear.

Make sure she has a debit card or money in case of delays (for food/snacks in the airport). Pack snacks in her carryon and make sure she buys a bottle of water to carry on the plane with her --in case she is stuck on the plane. Make sure she knows not to leave the general area--i.e. don't wander back through security and stay close to the gate area.

If you do go to the gate with her and you are comfortable with it--maybe you could look for a nice looking family (I know doesn't mean anything really) and just talk to the mother about your daughter flying alone and if she could "keep an eye out" without hovering. (kinda like the theme "if you are lost look for a mommy with a baby and tell her")

 

[snowbunny]

All good suggestions, thanks very much. I am going to use a lot of them.

SW will give a gate pass at MHT, last time we were there a grandmother got one to accompany her two teenage grandchildren to the gate and security accepted it without a problem.

According to SW website after age 11 children are no longer eligible for the unaccompanied minor status (that I believe you have to pay for).

Still not sure what to do about ID but I've decided I will keep her passport here. If nothing else she can carry her school lunch card which has her name and photo on it, or her health insurance card.

 

[CarolA]

It must be different depending on airport and airline. When our DD went out of Logan on Jet Blue we had to BEG for security to let one of us thru with her. We then called my parents who were meeting her at MCO we told them to do the same thing and my mother was able to finagle her way to the gate.

.

Don't waste your tiem with security. Gate passes areg given out by the airline and if you have one the IDIOTS at security will let you go. So go stand in line for a human and get one.

And if she can't sit next to a man you are really limiting her options. (Sorry, but being Male is not exactly a crime?? Do you really want your child scared of all men? )

 

[snowbunny]

Do you really want your child scared of all men? )

Ha ha...no. I'm not going to scare her, because she has very good antennae anyway for what the kids call "sketchy" people. One time I accidentally put us into a gypsy cab in NYC, boy did she let me have it.

But I will ask the gate person at MHT to please let the cabin crew know that she is on her own.

 

[Belle1962]

Still not sure what to do about ID but I've decided I will keep her passport here. If nothing else she can carry her school lunch card which has her name and photo on it, or her health insurance card.

Not to panic you but I would make sure she has her health insurance card anyway--and maybe some info if she has any allergies, etc.

Don't mean to imply to be wary of men-- but not sure if at her age she wouldn't be more comfortable next to a woman.