Teens Flying Alone

[Brier Rose]

DH and I have not flown since 1996, and I honestly can't remember a lot about it, at least as far as the general dealing with the airport kinda stuff.
I'm sure most everything has changed since then anyway.

DD has flown once, last year with her aunt. That is the only time in her life she has ever been on an airplane.

She is turning 18 next month, and for her birthday we are allowing her to fly to Maui to stay a week with her boyfriend and his family. He goes to college there now, but is transferring back home in December.

We're all very excited for her to have this opportunity. Not only because it will be an amazing trip, but also because I think this will be a great confidence builder for her.

I was raised in such a way, that until recently, like in the last year or so, I was afraid to do pretty much anything alone. I do NOT want that for her. I want her to be able to go and do whatever, whenever. Whether it be across the country or across the world.

I know she can do this, but to be honest, I am nervous about it. She's never been away from home alone. Never had to deal with an airport alone.

I've worked really hard to get over my irrational fears about this. She is definitely going, already have the ticket.

At this point mainly, I was just kinda looking for some advice/tips on making us both a little more comfortable about her navigating the airport alone.

On the way there she'll be flying out of Atlanta, straight to Honolulu, and then catching a flight to Kahului, with about an hour and 15 minutes between the flights.

On the way back, she'll fly from Kahului to Los Angeles, and then straight back to ATL, with 30 minutes to get to her flight. So no layover whatsoever at LAX.
Is that even going to be enough time to get from one plane to the next? What happens if she misses her flight?

 

[NMAmy]

DD's been flying alone a couple of times a year since she was 13. It actually got much easier on me when she turned 18 and I knew if she got stuck somewhere she could get a hotel room.

Ways to make it easier:

Check out airport maps online before the trip. Print them out for her if she wants to have a reminder. You won't know the gates in advance but at least she'll have an idea how to get from one area of the airport to the other.

Make sure she has a credit card or access to funds in case she does miss a connection (due to time or weather or mechanical issues) so that she can get a hotel room and have money for food if she needs it.

If she misses a flight or has a cancelled flight, she just needs to talk to a gate agent. They'll work on getting her another flight out. You could also make sure she has the phone number for the airline so she can just call instead of waiting in line.

I'm sure she has a cell phone but remind her to carry the charger with her in her carryon. There's nothing worse than having a delayed flight and not being able to let anyone know because the phone has run out of power.

And don't worry. She'll be fine. She will be an adult when she leaves and part of being an adult is learning how to deal with situations that pop up when travelling and learning how to cope without freaking out. Good for you for encouraging her in this. It will be a good confidence builder for her.

 

[pozey]

My 13 year old DS has flown by himself a few times.

Really, it's no biggie...

First off...does she have a cell phone?

When my son flies, I check the flight status online often. Almost every airline has a flight status page where you can check to see what gate the flight will depart from and what gate it will arrive at the next destination. I check the flights and tell him..Okay...you are departing from gate ___ and you will arrive at gate ___. Your next leg will depart from gate ___. When you get off, go straight to that gate.

The airlines usually keep the status page updated so you can check for any delays.

Have her also check the overhead monitors to check the gates as well.

She will be fine. Flying isn't all that hard as long as you just make sure you know what gate you need to be at next.

 

[SC Minnie]

Yes, make sure she know her flight numbers and to check the monitors. Gates can and do change. Airports generally have good signage so she will just need to pay attention to her ticket, the departure monitor, and the signs.

With only a 30 min layover in LAX she is going to have to hustle to get the connecting flight if it is in another terminal. If the flight out of HI is late then she will probably miss it. Make sure she has the airline's numbers so she can easily change her flight in case she does.

I agree with the PP that she needs to have access to money, a cc as well as a little cash just in case.

I assume she is checking bags? If I am on a multi leg flight I also like to pack at least one set of clean undergarments in my carry on just in case my luggage doesn't make it to the same place I do.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

There is nothing I can say to make you not nervous. I would just show a positive front and be nervous until she gets there.

My dd first flew alone when she was 16, I think. Since then she has done several trips alone. She is also 18 now.

 

[Brier Rose]

Thank you all! Awesome advice, it really does help a lot! You all have mentioned several things I wouldn't have thought of.

She does have a cell phone, so that is covered. I'll make sure she is comfortably covered for any situation as far as money goes, so she should be good to go there.

As far as her bags, she plans to only take her carry-on. She is teeny tiny, so her clothes don't take up much room. haha. Throw in an extra pair of flip flops and she's done.

Tho he did tell her to bring a heavy coat. Hmmmmm...he won't tell her why..it's a surprise.

Anyway, just taking the one carry on worked well for her the time that she did fly, so that should make things much easier.

She asked me about taking her lap top so that she would have something to entertain herself with on the plane.
Is there any reason that would be a bad idea?

If she does miss a flight, what is the best way to handle that? Do all of the airlines still have ticket counters? Would she just go there, tell someone what happened, and have them sort it out for her?
Do they charge a fee when that happens?

 

[Brier Rose]

There is nothing I can say to make you not nervous. I would just show a positive front and be nervous until she gets there.

My dd first flew alone when she was 16, I think. Since then she has done several trips alone. She is also 18 now.

This is the main thing I have really tried to watch. She has NO idea how I feel. As far as she is concerned I have been acting like this is just as normal a thing as her going to the mall.

Not saying it's not normal of course, because it is, it's just something new and unusual for us. kwim?

If anything I've been getting on her nerves because I have been so positive and upbeat.

 

[BelleWDW]

On the way there she'll be flying out of Atlanta, straight to Honolulu, and then catching a flight to Kahului, with about an hour and 15 minutes between the flights.

On the way back, she'll fly from Kahului to Los Angeles, and then straight back to ATL, with 30 minutes to get to her flight. So no layover whatsoever at LAX. ?

No way 30 minutes is enough in a large airport-IMO
I missed my last flight (in may) in Atlanta and i had a 50 minute layover-our flight left 30 minutes late and we had to do the train between buildings-I'm sure LA is just as big


I dont understand how a plane can fly straight from Atlanta to Honolulu?

 

[mickeyboat]

The gate agent should be able to help if she misses her connection. She can check before she departs to make sure flights are all on time. If she fears she might miss the connection, she should talk to a gate agent.

Make sure she knows to ask for help if she needs it.

My first time flying was alone at 17. My flight was wonderful, but once I got from NC to Boston, I had to find ground transportation. I was told there was a bus to where I was going (2 1/2 hours away), but when I asked someone they said to take the subway to the bus terminal. I had to take a bus to the subway, change trains three times (with three gigantic suitcases without wheels), walk up the stairs at the last station because the escalator was broken, only to find out that I was at the wrong bus station.

I found a taxi, who balked at taking me to the other bus station because it was not too far away. I finally did get on the bus.

As awful as that experience was, I got two things out of it:

1. I saw DH again after 3 years and we fell back in love.

2. I gained a ton of self-confidence. If I could do that I could do almost anything.

Good luck to your DD.

Denae

 

[Chicago526]

Thank you all! Awesome advice, it really does help a lot! You all have mentioned several things I wouldn't have thought of.

She does have a cell phone, so that is covered. I'll make sure she is comfortably covered for any situation as far as money goes, so she should be good to go there.

As far as her bags, she plans to only take her carry-on. She is teeny tiny, so her clothes don't take up much room. haha. Throw in an extra pair of flip flops and she's done.

Tho he did tell her to bring a heavy coat. Hmmmmm...he won't tell her why..it's a surprise.

Anyway, just taking the one carry on worked well for her the time that she did fly, so that should make things much easier.

She asked me about taking her lap top so that she would have something to entertain herself with on the plane.
Is there any reason that would be a bad idea?

If she does miss a flight, what is the best way to handle that? Do all of the airlines still have ticket counters? Would she just go there, tell someone what happened, and have them sort it out for her?
Do they charge a fee when that happens?

The lap top will be fine, but she will have to take it out of it's carry bag to send thru the x-ray machine. In fact, she should head to www.tsa.gov to read up on the security screening process, what's allowed in carry on, etc. so she knows what to expect. The TSA folk are usually very nice, it's not like they are going to haul her off to a back room if her shampoo is more than 3 ounces, but it will make it faster and easier on everyone if she knows what to do and what's allowed.

Also for the laptop, not all airlines have power ports in their seats, so she should have a fully charged battery so she can use it for as long as possible on the flight if she finds she doesn't have access to one. She may be able to find out in avance by checking the airline's site or by calling them.

As for missing a flight, or any problems due to cancellations, delays, etc. she has a few options. If it's before the security check point she needs to either go to the ticket counter or call the airline's toll free number, they can help her get rebooked. If it's after the check-point, she can go to the gate agent and/or the airlines customer service counter (like a ticket counter but behind the check point, some airlines at some airports have these) or again, she can call the toll free number. If the line for an airline ticket/gate agent is short she should speak the them, airport personel have more power than phone agents. But, if the line is a mile long then the best flights can book up before she gets to someone, and she will be better off calling and having someone over the phone re-book her.

 

[Brier Rose]

Ok..I may be totally missing something here, but I was just looking over the paperwork, and I'm wondering if the plane just stops at LAX without deboarding. Do they ever do that?

The flight number is the same the whole way through, from Maui to ATL, and there is only one terminal listed.

Could it be possible that they are only stopping to re-fuel?

Maybe that's why the short 30 minutes between flights?

 

[SC Minnie]

Just FYI-- if she takes her laptop that will be counted as her personal item. She will not be allowed to carry on a purse, laptop bag, and suitcase. Only 2 items are allowed. Also, make sure that her suitcase is not too heavy and she can lift it by herself to stow it. Sometimes people will help but a lot of times they won't.

 

[Chicago526]

Ok..I may be totally missing something here, but I was just looking over the paperwork, and I'm wondering if the plane just stops at LAX without deboarding. Do they ever do that?

The flight number is the same the whole way through, from Maui to ATL, and there is only one terminal listed.

Could it be possible that they are only stopping to re-fuel?

Maybe that's why the short 30 minutes between flights?

Yes, it's called a "direct flight", it makes a stop to let passengers on/off and to refuel, but if you are going straight through you just stay on the plane. If you PM me the date and flight number, I can check for you in my airline system (I'm a travel agent). Or you can call the airline and ask.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I've been flying alone several times a year since I was 12. I've always loved to fly, but the first time alone I was so nervous. I spent an entire week pacing around my house saying, "What if something happens and I need to land the plane and don't know how?!" Totally rational, right? To calm my nerves, my Dad bought me a copy of The Worst Case Scenario Handbook, bookmarked to the page "How to Land a Plane." It certainly made me laugh and took all the unneccesary stress off the situation. It also provided some interesting reading material for the flight!

On a more serious note, I always make sure I have the airline's phone number programmed into my cell phone, as well as my confirmation number and flight numbers. I keep a copy of my itinerary in both my checked luggage and my carryon. Security had me the most nervous, so make sure she's prepared for that. The TSA website has some great videos on what to expect. Make sure she also knows what (and how) to pack. I always travel with my laptop in my carryon bag when I fly for school, and it has never been a problem. I'm always told to take it out of my carryon and place it in a bin by itself to send it through the X-ray machine. No problem.

The hardest part of flying solo, to me, is the fact that you have to be extremely aware of your surroundings. Your belongings make it through to the other side of security before you do, so you have to watch them like a hawk...especially things like laptops, which are in plain view of everyone. Also ensure that she is comfortable with the layout of the airport. Print out some maps from the airport website. Go over them together and have her stash them in her carryon.

I've been flying alone for years, and my mom is still nervous about it every time. I just give her a big hug at the airport and call her every chance I get. She also signs up for text-message updates on the status of my flights, so that might be something you want to look into.

I hope your daughter has a wonderful trip! What a great experience you're giving her.

 

[RedxPanda]

Everyone's advice seems pretty spot on.

I've flown alone starting when i was 17 (27 now)... additionally I've flown some long flights like these, LAX to Paris non-stop .

I second the recommendation for her to study the airport maps. Its good to have a visual of where you will be going.

Some things i always consider:

Luggage: Check the limits and regulation of carry-on luggage and items. Like other posters said, they are still stringent on the type/size of liquids that go onboard in the cabin of the plane.

Laptop: Personally I travel with my laptop to use when i get to my destination. I plan heavily with the computer and internet, so i use it quite a bit in the hotels i stay at. I never use it on the plane because the battery has limited life, especially watching video & etc.

Somethings to think about as an alternative:
Check the airlines webpage for their entertainment options. Since this is a loooong flight, there should be plenty of in-flight entertainment and you can usually see what movies and tv shows will be available ahead of time if you check their schedules online.

Also, there are portable DVD player rentals in major airports. I know ATL has them. I'm not sure of pricing. Here is their website: InMotion

Food: Since Hawaii usually counts as an 'international/overseas' type flight, food will probably be complimentary. Again, check the airlines webpage to figure out what the meal situation is. Pack snacks and feed her well in ATL if its slim picking. She should also drink lots of water on the long flights, it can be very dehydrating.



It sounds like she's just touching down in LAX, so that should help out. If not, LAX can be disorienting at first, but not as bad as ATL. What makes ATL hard is if you are flying delta and you have to run from concourses A to E in 40 mins. From my memory LAX isn't nearly as bad. My husband managed to figure LAX out earlier this month, if he can do it, anyone can!

HTH
Keep bringing the questions on! My traveling as a teenager has convinced me that I want to travel and see as much of the world as I can. I think this will be a very good experience for her, as well.

And remember, if something doesn't go as planned, make sure she knows to ask the gate agents and airport employees for help

 

[redlight]

Good luck to your daughter. It will be a good experience for her. Remember to get to the airport early (like two hours before). The lines probably won't be that long, but it saves you from worrying if you are early.

 

[PatsGirl]

I've been flying alone several times a year since I was 12. I've always loved to fly, but the first time alone I was so nervous. I spent an entire week pacing around my house saying, "What if something happens and I need to land the plane and don't know how?!" Totally rational, right? To calm my nerves, my Dad bought me a copy of The Worst Case Scenario Handbook, bookmarked to the page "How to Land a Plane." It certainly made me laugh and took all the unneccesary stress off the situation. It also provided some interesting reading material for the flight!

I hope your daughter has a wonderful trip! What a great experience you're giving her. [/QUOT

Plannin Shannon, your Dad sounds like a hoot

And ~ You can do it Mom, give em wings!