Would you send a 13 year old to and from WDW alone?? Please Help me!

[moopdog]

[See my other post for more detailed info] I'm talking about my Dsd13 who it looks like won't be going to WDW with us after all. This is something in the back of my mind that I haven't presented to her or DH yet, because I don't know if it's doable...

Her flying down with us and spending 3 or 4 nights/days at Disney. Then flying home alone, to continue the week at school. This would allow her to only miss 3 days of school vs 7. Big difference! Also she would get to go and then by the time she got kind of sick of the vacation (bound to happen) she can go back to her mother's house and not miss school.

Will they allow a 13 year old to travel alone? How will she get to MCO from resort through ME... will they make sure she gets to her flight, checks luggage etc? Will they make sure she gets her connecting flight in Atlanta? Will someone be there to help her in Atlanta??? IS this even an option? Can this work? (yes I know I'm freaking out).
Please help me!!

 

[RobynK]

I can tell you that there is a $50 extra charge( payable at the gate) for her to fly alone on Delta and it would have to be a direct flight.

 

[Chuck S]

Children fly alone often in divorced parent-type situations. But I would NOT let her go MCO for check-in alone. You may want to rent a car for the day and take her to the airport, see that she gets checked-in and on her flight. If she flies to WDW with you through Atlanta, I would hope you have time between flights to make sure she is somewhat familiar with the concourse/gate numbering system and the underground trams. Make sure the airline knows she is a minor traveling solo, and that you know who will be meeting her at the airport when you she gets home so the airline personnel can check their ID.

Even so, it isn't something I'd recommend doing. She simply has to make a choice and live with it, to go to WDW or not.

EDIT: Posted after Robyn. I forgot about the direct flight rules that many airlines now have for minors. You may be out of luck no matter what.

 

[RobynK]

I only know this because we were looking to send our DS13 to Nj to visit his grandparents and were told we couldn't fly out of the airport that is 10 minutes from the house because of no direct flights. Anyways how comfortable would you feel sending a 13yo with the responsibility of changing flights. Anything can happen flight delays etc that cause her to miss connection then if she is stuck there how willl she get home? If it was a direct flight I might consider it as long as I was there until the plane took off

 

[suevee]

We have allowed our granddaughter as young as seven to fly alone. However, we are at the gate with her until she boards the plane and we also get a special permit to meet the plane at the landing gate to see her off the plane. She is never in the terminal alone.

 

[moopdog]

No direct flights for us... no way we're doing it anyway. Just had to think about it for few minutes...didn't take long to realize NO WAY! Thanks to you all for your help though. I just hope she (DD) is making the decision that will make her most happy - though she will be miserable whether she goes or stays, I imagine. I don't know what we could've done differently since we aren't able to travel during the summer. This sucks. Oh well... hopefully we'll have a good time and so will she whether she's here or there!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hi, Moopdog. I know you've changed your mind, but some answers anyway

Each airline has different restrictions, information available on their respective websites, but to the best of my knowledge no airline will release a 13-year-old EXCEPT directly to a previously-identified parent or guardian, who would have to show identification and sign for the child. DME is not a child-care service - one of you would probably have to go to the airport with her (if DME would even let you do a round-trip of sorts in addition to your arrival and departure) and get her checked in, to the gate and into the supervision of an airline employee.

 

[cassie]

Times have sure changed for the worse. My 2 kids in the eighties flew to Tampa every summer to visit their Father. They were 10 and 13 at the beginning of the visits. At that time they flew Popular Airlines departing from Hartford, and connecting in NJ I think. It wasn't a worry then as the employess looked out for them and saw they made the connection.

My oldest granddaughter is almost 14, and I would only see her on a non stop flight. And if she was leaving early on a WDW trip I would make sure she had someone see her off at the airport.

Times have sure changed.

 

[muffy0110]

does she want to do this-and is she sure she wants to-that is really the
question. She is safe. My daughter has done this twice-she is independant.

 

[twojo21]

i personally wouldnt, i would take her out of school those extra days, call ahead to teachers about possible make up homework & let your dd enjoy the wdw trip with the family for the whole trip.

 

[lookingforward]

My kids fly "alone" when going and returning from summer camp. It is never a direct flight (into New Bern, NC) from Florida. All airlines have a program and they work well. You pay a fee, usually about $50.00. When you make the reservations you give information to the airline:

1. Who will be dropping the child off. (you would have to go to the airport)
2. Who will be picking the child up. (they will check identification)

When you get to the airport they will check your child in, put identification on her (like an employee id), and then you will be given a pass to go through security with your child to the gate. Once at the gate you will formally pass over your child to a flight attendant when the plane boards. Your child will be given a seat near the front, they usually seat kids traveling alone together. Once the plane lands the person picking up the child (could be a camp representative, grandparent, aunt, friend) will have passed through security and will be waiting at the gate. They usually bring kids traveling alone out last and they are very, very careful about checking identification.

If your chid has a connecting flight and has to wait for a bit they will often bring the child to an unaccompanied minor waiting room that has refreshments, games, etc. One official representative will then escort your child to his new gate and officially turn that child over to the new employee. They are very careful and sign in and out. Thousands of kids do it every week.

My son's friend flew in to Florida from Connecticut to join us on the Wonder. He flew into Ft. Lauderdale and due to a security back log (about a thousand people in line!) I was not able to get to his arriving gate in time. I was standing in line freaking out when my cell phone rang. They had my number (part of the protocol) and the flight attendent asked me where I was. She then escorted him (he was 11) right to me. I asked her what she would have done if I had not answered and she said she would have waited and had me paged. They always have detailed information that the dropping off parent or relative must give.

 

[DonnaL]

moopdog..........I notice you're from NE PA....there is a direct flight from WilkesBarre/Scranton beginning in October.....not sure of the exact dates.
Hooters will be flying to and from Orlando on Thursdays and Sundays I believe. Since they are a charter airline don't know their policy on minors flying or if they allow it. You might want to check it though. Their airfare is also pretty inexpensive....I think I read somewhere $79 or $99 one way. Their website is www.hootersair.com......I hate to see a 13 year old miss out on a WDW vacation!!!!

 

[DonnaL]

moopdog......if you're closer to Allentown Hooters is also flying out of ABE, but, the days of the week are different.........I think I heard Wed and Sat

 

[canwegosoon]

I'm glad you changed your mind

 

[vicb]

A 13 yo girl fly alone on Hooters Airline???

 

[gigi1313]

moopdog... i know this current dilemma is solved... and i understand that you are unable to travel in summer... but there are plenty of other times of the year that the kids have days off to build a vacation around, esp if she is willing to miss a day or two of school... we're heading down over MLK weekend, the kids will miss a 1/2 day on friday (we're flying thursday after school) and a day on tuesday and get four days in the parks... depending on airfare, they might miss one more day to extend the vacation... but that's not definite!