What age would you let your child fly alone?

[rparmfamily]

How far? Would you let your child fly 13 hrs ALONE on a flight?

Yeah, because my FIL thinks I'm being an overprotective mom because there is NO way my 9 yr old DD is flying from Hawaii to West Virginia. ALONE. And temperment wise, she's sensitive and was upset at going to camp last year (sobbed!) so I can't imagine her on a plane by herself, the flights are just way too long.

I think she would have to fly direct, so I think maybe Cincy would be the closest direct flight from Honolulu, and that's about 12 hrs in the air.

Anyway, what age would you let your child fly alone?

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

How far? Would you let your child fly 13 hrs ALONE on a flight?

Yeah, because my FIL thinks I'm being an overprotective mom because there is NO way my 9 yr old DD is flying from Hawaii to West Virginia. ALONE. And temperment wise, she's sensitive and was upset at going to camp last year (sobbed!) so I can't imagine her on a plane by herself, the flights are just way too long.

I think she would have to fly direct, so I think maybe Cincy would be the closest direct flight from Honolulu, and that's about 12 hrs in the air.

Anyway, what age would you let your child fly alone?

My older DD flew by herself from Vancouver to Ottawa (5 hours) when she was 8. Loved every minute of it, and was spoiled rotten by the crew. She's very independent, though, and begged to have the opportunity to do it by herself.

My younger DD is now 9, and I can't imagine her doing it by herself. Different personalities! You know your DD best. What does she think about the idea?

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son was 9 or 10 when he started flying alone to visit his dad and stepmom in NC.

We paid the unaccompanied minor fee until he was about 13.

 

[dislaney]

I agree with different kids - different ages. I also think it depends on whether it was a direct flight or not. You know your child best. And no I probably wouldn't let my 9 year old make that flight.

 

[rparmfamily]

If it was short, like an hour or 2, I'd probably be ok with. But across the ocean and most of the country alone? That scares me LOL.

 

[lewdyan1]

not a chance!

 

[Freyja]

My kids were 5 and 7 when they flew alone on an overseas flight. However, it was from Denmark to Iceland and only took 3 hours.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think that is too long of a flight for a child under the age of 13. My dd13 flew alone at 11, but it was only a 1 1/2 hour flight. I think 9 or 10 for a flight under 3 hours.

 

[kirstenb1]

There's no way our dd would have been ready for this at 9. Your flight distance is just so far. Add in any flight delays, or unforeseen circumstances, and I just think it's a lot to put on a 9 yr old.

 

[disneycruising]

I have never let my children fly alone.

My neice (13) flew alone this past Dec. When she went with us to WDW over the Christmas holidays...her first big trip away from her family!

She needed take a short flight from AZ to Denver to meet up with my family. Then everyone, took a flight from denver to Orlando.

My BIL walk my niece to her gate in AZ and waited for her to get on...then my DH pick her up at her gate in Denver. So she was never alone! But on the flight home it did not work out so great!

My family and niece flew from Orland to Denver. My DH got my my niece boarded on her flight & then DH went to catch his flight home. In the mean time, my nieces plane broke down and they had to switch planes. It all worked out... but I kept thinking, what if her flight had been cancelled! She would have been stuck in Denver and we never would have known.

When we do our next trip with our niece. We will make sure to have a few hours between our flight time & her. This way if there is a problem, we will be there to help.

 

[klacey1]

I flew from NY to Ireland and back alone when I was 10. Over 5 hours each way. Not so bad-- I was a pretty independent kid, though. I was also a reader-- to have that much time just to sit and read was wonderful!

 

[johnsontrio]

Thinking back, I'm thinking 12 or 13 for Domestic and 15 or 16 for International for my DD. Of course, we have no urgent reason for her to have to fly alone, no parents in other states etc... That might have changed things. We hosted a friend's son one summer. They flew him here from Spain (paid the unaccompanied fee) by himself at age 9 and he didn't speak a word of English. That flight also included customs and a change of plane in Amsterdam. I don't know that I would have done that. I felt better flying him back as his English was greatly improved.

The same summer we sent DD to Spain for 3 weeks at the end of the summer. She was 12 and my DM flew with her both ways.

 

[Bluestars]

There is no way I would have let my child fly alone for 13 hours when he was 9.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Of course it'll all depend upon your child and how they feel about it, and how you feel about them being alone for 12 hours.

You will get to accompany your DD to the departing gate, and someone should be able to either 1) meet DD at the arriving gate 2) someone will escort DD to that person waiting just outside security.

I think it's essential that it is a direct flight but you seem to know that.

Also, having a cell phone to check in on is a plus. Obviously she can't call you during the flight but on the way there, she can call you when she lands and on the way home, she can call you when she's about to take off.

I've been on direct flights and connecting flights at a young age before, as a kid, it's really fun! A lot of the time, I would sit by the other unaccompanied minors and we'd have a blast!

 

[Ohiodislover]

My oldest flew alone at 10, without any hesitation. She now flies by herself at least every 6-8 weeks. The longest has been Baltimore to Phoenix. My younger daughter who is now 11 is afraid to go by herself. She will fly short flights with her sister but not by herself. I just depends on the kids and their comfort level.

I will say that both my girls LOVED the attention of the flight crews when they were young enough to be unaccompanied minors. Now that my oldest is 14, my youngest is not considered unaccompanied.

 

[mhsjax]

No way I would let my kid fly alone until there were well into their teenage years. It is different today, most airlines don't pay attention like they used to, to children, and with all the delays and bumped flights, it isn't worth it.

My hubby was on a flight with a little girl, nobody on the airline watched out for her, they had a 3 hour delay in their connection because the original flight missed the connection. They were all very tired and hungry, the airlines did nothing for the little girl, thank goodness all of the adults took care of her and fed her.

 

[lovesmurfs]

How far? Would you let your child fly 13 hrs ALONE on a flight?

Yeah, because my FIL thinks I'm being an overprotective mom because there is NO way my 9 yr old DD is flying from Hawaii to West Virginia. ALONE. And temperment wise, she's sensitive and was upset at going to camp last year (sobbed!) so I can't imagine her on a plane by herself, the flights are just way too long.

I think she would have to fly direct, so I think maybe Cincy would be the closest direct flight from Honolulu, and that's about 12 hrs in the air.

Anyway, what age would you let your child fly alone?

DS flew from Chicago to Albany at 9 (summer camp) -- only a 2 hour flight. My biggest concern for that was him not going over the baggage weight limit at the end. It was fine -- he had his iPod and other electronic amusements. He flew on his own for several years, with a mandatory unaccompanied minor fee from the airline for each way ($$$).

As long as there's no changing planes (and your daughter isn't worried about the trip), I would make sure her carry-on contained snacks, etc. It would be all right.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My oldest DS is 9, and I would not let him fly alone. I don't think there would be any set age that I'd let him, just depends on when he would be ok with it, his maturity level, etc.

 

[cristit14]

My oldest is 14 and she flew by herself this year to visit a friend. It was only about 1 1/2 hour flight and I worried about her.

That being said, I was 8 or 9 when flew from Honolulu to Nashville by myself to stay with my grandparents for 6 weeks while my parents and brother were getting everything packed up to move back to the mainland. I remember being nervous about the flight, but then I am pretty sure I slept the whole way. It wasn't a direct flight either. I do remember having to change planes in Dallas.

 

[Disneyadore]

My nephews flew alone from Singapore to Europe when they were 5 and seven.
They had to change flights also but no sweat the airline took very good care of them.
They did this for years in a row and never had any problems.