What age can kids fly alone?
We accompanied Michael on a business trip recently and were shocked to see two separate parties of very young children flying alone across country!! I am not talking about flying from Georgia to Florida. I am talking about 2,000 miles across country! (More on the trip later but for now let’s discuss this shocking parental decision.)
We watched as two different sets of grandparents kissed kids and sent them down the jet way. I literally had my hand over my mouth as I watched the grandparents kiss the kiddos goodbye. Even my kids noticed. “Are those kids flying alone?”
One set was two sisters and they were probably like 9 and 11. The other two were the cutest and tiniest little brother and sister. I talked to the sister while waiting at the bathroom, and she told me that she was 5!!!! And her brother was 7. She told me they were going to have to change planes!!!
They kids seemed to do well. I didn’t hear any screaming or any freakouts. The little pair did go to the bathroom quite a bit. But I have to say I definitely did not see the flight attendants giving either pair very much attention. They were on their own.
I was freaking out because it looked like our seats weren’t going to be together and Rose and Walsh were going to have to sit next to each other but apart from both of us. I can’t imagine sending my 7-year-old cross country in charge of a 5-year-old.
So what do you think: Would you send a 7-year-old and 5-year-old across country alone? Would you put them on an indirect flight? (Hello you’re saving money by not accompanying them — pop for the direct freaking flight!)
Have you ever let your kids fly alone? How far? How many legs?
What is the youngest age you would let fly alone or with a sibling?
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92 comments Add your comment
susan
July 29th, 2010
4:44 am
Absolutely not! We have been flying as a family since my child was 8 weeks old. Simply not safe in the world we live in. I too have seen many of children way too young flying alone and even though they were supposed to be supervised by the airlines these kids were often just ignored, even saw one instance where the flight attendant was down right rude to the child. I understand that families are often miles apart, but please don’t ever let children fly alone. My child is now 15 and she had a class trip to DC and I chaperoned because of safety. For goodness sake…watch the news!
smh
July 29th, 2010
6:15 am
Last summer I met a woman who sent her children unaccompanied to Germany!! I am not sure what the regulations are on international flights and how she pulled it off but it bothered me greatly. As I recall, the mother opted not to go because the family had already been there earlier in the year and the father was working.
To answer your question, No I would not send a five and seven year old across the country alone. I prefer non-stop flights and therefore I would not book my children on a non-direct trip. My children have never flown alone; ages 11 and 8. The 11 year does not like to fly anyway. Flying alone would send her over the edge. LOL. At what age does it make sense? Not sure but I can guarantee it is not happening here anytime soon.
lakerat
July 29th, 2010
6:40 am
As a former Delta employee I can assure you that though the kids were “alone” on the flight, and even though the flight attendants seemed to not be watching them (and were possibly “rude”), the kids were being watched. They are also the responsibility of the airline as they had been assigned an employee to assist them through the boarding process, and when they landed another employee was assigned to accompany, and watch, them until the appropiate person with proper identification claimed them.
While you do read about screw-ups (just last week there was one where the airline employee assigned to the kid(s) “forgot” about him/her), but those are extremely rare. I would venture to say that the care and attention given “kids alone” travelers is probably better than some parents.
We even had an experience when our oldest was flying alone (and not even paying for the flight) to visit grandparents in KY when he was about 7-8 years old (we put him on the plane)- when he arrived there were no grandparents to meet him! Actually, they were sitting outside in the car and the plane had arrived really early. The flight attendants stayed with the son and paged the grandparents – we have still not let them live that one down, even though it happened about 17 – 18 years ago.
But I will admit that 5 years old does seem a bit young – I actually thought that there was a limit as to how young you could actually leave a child to “fly alone”.
RC
July 29th, 2010
6:55 am
I recall flying by myself at age 11 from Florida to St. Louis to visit my best friend and her family (there was no program for unaccompanied minors back then).
Perhaps because our family lived overseas for a decade, we are pretty relaxed about the kids flying without us, to places like Bali, Indonesia and Melbourne, Australia. Our kids traveled to 6 continents before turning 13, so they know their way around airports and airplanes.
Even stateside, our daughter travels by herself every summer from Atlanta to Connecticut where we have family.
Both kids are quite comfortable taking MARTA to the airport and back by themselves.
gtmom
July 29th, 2010
6:56 am
My comment went missing.
Let go ...
July 29th, 2010
7:08 am
Theresa,
You are a freak. Go ahead and raise your kids as if they can’t do anything unless you’re right there with them, holding their hand through the process.
Listen to the Delta employee’s post. And know they were being watched. But I’m sure had the FA’s been swarming the kids with attendance you then would’ve slanted your article to “Can’t get good Service on Delta if there are unaccompanied minors on your flight b/c they are the only people betting service”
Now quick, go give your kids a trophy/prize, I’m sure one of them just finished NOT first in something.
Kelly
July 29th, 2010
7:32 am
Wow Mom chill out.
My sisters & I flew alone to visit relatives from the time we were 6 or 7. My parents raised sensible children, so there was no fear of the boogey man attacking us at the airport or on the plane. We flew internationally alone as well and never ever had a problem. The airlines were always wonderful and accomodating. I think that this helped us to enjoy living in the world instead of fearing everything in it.
free
July 29th, 2010
7:55 am
My nephew has been flying alone since he was 7 or 8. I coordinate it with AirTran and I must say that I’ve been very impressed w/AirTran’s service. You sit with your child until it is time to board and you must remain at the airport until the flight is in the air. Until you arrive to pick them up (and when they are connecting), they sit in a supervised TV room w/the other kids, vending machines and stuff like that. If you’re late, they call. He’s had no complaints thus far and I would send him on a 4-5 hour flight.
Photius
July 29th, 2010
8:04 am
Chill, Theresa….. Chill Honey Bunny.
deidre_NC
July 29th, 2010
8:08 am
my 2 older kids flew from atlanta to california alone starting when they were probably 11 ans 13…every summer to visit their aunt and uncle. the loved it… there was one incident when something went wrong with the plane and they had toland somewhere unexpectedly and called me a hundred times at 2 am…until they boarded another plane…then they called when they arrived…i have to say i was a little scared just at the fact that the plane had issues. but they did this for years every summer. they were very well taken care of and if they hadnt gone alone tthey never would have formed a relationship with this part of their family. i guess it depends on the kids. mine were always raised to be pretty self sufficient by both me and their dad (who i shared custody with). i have known kids i would let cross the street alone, much less fly alone. if kids are well behaved and understand the concept of obeying adults that are in charge, then you really can let them do a lot. and they learn a lot from it. with so many families living so far apart, and so many split families and 2 parents working….you have to let loose a little or they will never know their families.
MamaBear
July 29th, 2010
8:10 am
I have allowed my children to fly alone from the time that my oldest daughter was 10 years old. I was a single mother living in Dallas, Texas and I wanted to send them home to Georgia each summer to visit my family, but I could not make the trip because I was a SINGLE MOTHER who HAD to work!
Each child is assigned a Flight Attendent and when you take your children to the airport you are REQUIRED to accompany them to the gate and you cannot leave the gate area until the plane has pulled onto the runway. You must provide the airline with all of your personal info, including Photo ID and the name and info of the person who will be picking them up once they reach their destination.
My children have arrived home after a flight and I have actually had flight attendents who would not even allow my children to run up and hug me, until they saw my photo ID and made certain that I was the person with whom the children were allowed to leave.
vcatron
July 29th, 2010
8:13 am
When both my boys were 7&9 they flew from JAX to OKC to visit Grandparents. NO issues because both boys knew what flights they were to be on and all contact information. We had flown many times both nationaly and internationaly and both boys were seasoned travlers.
to those who think it is wrong you are entitled to your own opinion, however before you go off with a “knee jerk” response do your homework on the process the airlines have fot Un Accompanied Minors.
IMHO once children are 7+ it is a good experience for them if the need arises.
Kew
July 29th, 2010
8:15 am
Why worry about what might happen to kids that fly alone? They are probably more safer in the air than on the ground. There are less people on planes than on the ground – plus it’s more secured on and airplane. It isn’t the flying alone that should scare you, it’s making sure that you have family on the other end of the flight ready to receive them, and then it becomes their responsibility. If someone is on the plane that is out to harm them, then they would harm them and you, especially if they have in their minds to do harm.
I sent my 11 year old son to San Diego from ATL to stay a week with my brother and his family and I was satified once my son got on the plane and got settled – but 4 hours later I was concern again only because I wanted to make sure that my brother was there when he got off the plane, and he was. So it’s not the flying alone was the problem, it was making sure that someone you trust and are responsible were on the other end waiting.
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
8:22 am
As most of you know…I fly all the time with Delta on business.
I see kids in the airport all over the country. I put my son, on the plane each summer, to visit my sister ( and cousins) when he was 8-11. He spent the week there with them. I did not put him on a connecting flight.
FYI… Not all flights are direct. We are kinda spoiled flying here in Atlanta and can get many direct flights. If you fly out of a smaller airport that will not happen and while we are enjoying non stop flights…most of the USA is not…life goes on.
My daughter has not flown alone yet she is pretty good at navigating most airports with me. She simply has not had a reason to go by herself.
The gate crew is NOT a private babysitter, so NO they will not be sitting ( with them) in the chairs talking your child through everything. They have a plane to load and get out. The flight attendants have an agenda but the will keep an eye on the kids. They sit the in assigned seats and they are not allowed to deplane until they are accompanied. I have seen several attendants check in with children during the flight.
That being said, I would probably not send a 5 year old alone nor would I send someone younger than a teenager overseas. JMHO
My kids have been seated away from us for years, sometimes this just happens. They have been fine.
T, I am trying to be nice here… ( no matter what the situation) your kids will always pick up on your cues and respond accordingly. If you act confident in their behavior, “Oh wow, it looks like we are not going to be able to sit in the same row but we will be just fine as we are all on the same plane. If you really need me, you can push this little button above your head and the flight attendant will come and get me. I am going to tell her what seat I am in. DO NOT push it just to be silly as the flight attendants have things to do, like that are important to the safety of the plane but we do want you to be safe too!. If you are hysterical, they will follow your lead too. Most kids will rise to the occasion.
Take a minute and re read the comments that so many bloggers shared on the post where you used my idea about raising independent kids. There were some really good ideas. You do not make an independent child, starting at age 16. You start when they are 2 and let them go to the mailbox alone to put a letter inside… of course, you watch them through the curtains and tell them to stay on the grass :).
I wish my kid’s grandparents cared enough to invite my kids for a visit. That could have easily happened but never did.
Sharon
July 29th, 2010
8:22 am
Enter your comments here
When I was 9 (back in the '60's)...
July 29th, 2010
8:22 am
…my parents put me on the BUS to travel alone from Tallahassee to Atlanta, and then back from Atlanta to Tallahassee – and that bus stopped like 10 times between the two cities – now talk about being stupid parents…
deidre_NC
July 29th, 2010
8:25 am
well..i have worrried more when my kids took long car trips with others….and i would never ever put them on a bus at a young age…ive riden the bus and there are some weird people on there lol…
Melanie McElroy
July 29th, 2010
8:26 am
I am currently in the midst of a “formal complaint” because when my 12 year old flew home alone from a summer camp, the man next to him threw up twice. The attendant NEVER assisted my son in cleaning up and when they landed and de-planed, he was carrying his shirt! I wrote AIRTRAN and was told that their investigation results were that the stewardess assisted him and that there was nothing on his shirt and he was wearing it when he got off the plane! It is so frustrating!
I didn’t want a refund, just an apology. I got neither and was basically told I was a liar. What if that man had hepatitis, or AIDS? Why couldn’t they just help a kid clean VOMIT off? And they tell me he has his shirt on?
I WILL NEVER FLY AIRTRAN AGAIN! I will be reporting this to FAA and BBB, perhaps a call to Dateline also…
Sharon
July 29th, 2010
8:30 am
I guess it all depends on the maturity of your children. When my children were younger, either myself or my ex-husband flew with the kids when they were doing going back and forth for visitation. 5 and 7 is way too young to fly unaccompanied! While most airline programs are fairly dependable, it only takes a blink of an eye for something to happen!!
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
8:53 am
catlady….I asked T to send you my info so we can get together soon…hope it works out!
@ Sharon, as it does when you are a parent or even a teacher. To me, it seems like nothing really happens to the kids who roam the neighborhood and whose parents are very nonchalant ( my neighbors). The ones who have parents that are always paying attention, are the ones who happen to have situations.
I found this link and thought it provided some more information:
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/services_for_children/children_traveling_alone/index.jsp
Mrs. G
July 29th, 2010
8:56 am
5 and 7 do seem a little young… However, speaking from personal experience, I wish that I had flown unaccompanied as a child! I always thought that it looked fun and was envious of the kids who got extra attention from the airline employees, LOL. I probably would have felt more comfortable flying alone once I got to be 16 (when I did first fly alone; by then, I was obviously too old to have an airline employee “watching” and helping me). Of course, I figured everything (connections, etc.) out pretty quickly, but it’s always nice to have a set of training wheels. ;)
Melanie – That’s icky and I’m sorry that that happened to your son (and also sorry that AirTran’s response was what it was). Props to your son for helping the man clean up, though; at 12, I probably would have run away (I say that because, when I was in elementary school, a little boy threw up next to my desk and I ran out of the classroom and wouldn’t go back in…). Also, FWIW, I wouldn’t worry about the man having HIV/AIDS; HIV can’t be transmitted through vomit unless there is blood in the vomit (and, obviously, the bloody vomit (ew) would have to come in contact with an open cut/sore or a mucous membrane). And it is my understanding that hepatitis is transmitted in a similar fashion to HIV. So, at least you don’t have to worry about your son being infected. :)
TechMom
July 29th, 2010
8:58 am
I laugh at some of these comments because didn’t we just have a conversation about independence last week?
As soon as my son was old enough to fly alone (5 years old for direct flights), I sent him to see my parents in Dallas (granted it wasn’t cross-country but still, it wouldn’t have bothered me really). We were sick of making the trip by car and two plane tix gets expensive. There are lots of safety measures for kids flying alone like not leaving until their plane is in the air, person picking up your child has to show ID, etc. There are hiccups in the system but there are hiccups in every system and human error occurs all the time in the ‘real world’. You have to prepare your children for things: if this happens, do this, if you need something, go to this person, etc. but we never had an issue with our son flying unaccompanied.
JATL
July 29th, 2010
9:02 am
WOW -imagine kids who can actually do something for themselves! No helicopter parents around! I guarantee you there were airline employees with an eye on all of these kids. And exactly WHAT do you think is going to happen between boarding the plane and getting off of it? There’s not exactly anywhere to go and get lost, kidnap a kid, etc. If unaccompanied minors are on a plane, the flight attendants may not be thrilled, but they know and they’re watching! All airlines have regulations in place just for this purpose.
You know some families are incredibly spread out, and through moving and divorce, remarriage, etc. the only way some kids get to see grandma and grandpa or daddy or their other siblings is to be put on a plane and flown across the country. I don’t know that I would do it with a 5 year old on their own, but after age 7 or so -sure. If I had to, with the regulations in place, I would send a 5 year old (at that age you can still pin or adhere a big sticker w/ name, address, destination and phone number to them to be on the safe side). I remember being that age and was perfectly capable of getting on a plane, behaving for several hours and getting off of it. Once again -you have to know your kid and what he or she is capable of at what age.
Will
July 29th, 2010
9:13 am
The problem is, while you were gawking at complete strangers kids, your kids were no doubt swinging from the light fixtures. Mind your own business!! My kids have been flying alone since they were 11. They are now late teens, early 20’s and are very independent adults.
TechMom
July 29th, 2010
9:17 am
The other thing we’ve done with our son now that my parents live in Chattanooga instead of Texas, is that he’ll take the transport van back and forth to Chattanooga instead of us driving and meeting my parents if the timing isn’t convenient. I’m not saying that everything has to be convenient to me but I don’t always have 2 1/2 hours to spend driving him half way to Chattanooga and then turning around and coming home (plus the cost of the ticket is about what we spend in gas doing the drop-off & pick-up). Basically we take him to the airport and he gets on the van there. If there isn’t anyone to chat with, he pops in his earphones and 2 hours later my parents pick him up in Chattanooga. Same thing on the way back.
ATL06
July 29th, 2010
9:32 am
I have flown by myself and also with my younger brother since the age of 11 from New York to Atlanta. I did this every summer break growing up. Before that I would take the bus from the Port Authority in New York to Connecticut. It is not a big deal as long as you are there when they take off and you make sure someone will be there when you land.
Peachy
July 29th, 2010
9:36 am
My parents sent me to Europe when I was 15 as a student ambassador. 30 teenagers flew from Atlanta to Paris with 2 adults…now looking back that seems a little silly, not because anything bad would happen to the teenagers, but we probably bothered everyone else on the plane being to loud, horse playing, etc…
TWG-This is starting to become freak.out.mom blog instead of a blog for busy mother’s. Busy mother’s need to send chidlren alone on flights because they have to work and grandparents live across the country and we want our children to have a way to visit them. I really wish this article was about “how you deal with sending your kids on planes alone” instead of freaking out over kids flying alone. For your readers sake and especially the sake of your children please try to get over your fears and give us a forum to disucss these issues and not just the insight into your fears.
Given the fact that one responsibile party puts the kid on the plane and another one must be there to pick them up, I don’t really see what could go wrong.
Allie
July 29th, 2010
9:38 am
My kids have flown alone for years, both on domestic & international flights. I was 12 when I took my first international flight alone,so I waited til the same age for my kids. But domestic flights, well that started at 7. And now they think nothing of dealing with a cancellation/flight delay/gate change. They take it in their stride and just make the best of each situation. They’ve dealt with immigration both here and in the UK, know how to complete custom forms, etc. I wish I’d clocked up half the sky miles they have!!
Theresa, you need to relax a little more, maybe breathe once in a while, and accept that this is an important step to raising independent kids. Not every parent is the helicopter parent you are – you seem to hate leaving anyone or anything alone so much you even considered taking the dog on a flight with you.
Let them go a little, let them spread their wings, they need to know that Mum isn’t going to be around always – heaven forbid something happened to you, wouldn’t you like to know they can fend for themselves??? If you don’t let them take some solo steps now, they’ll probably not do it alone when they’re older.
Cammi317
July 29th, 2010
10:07 am
Funny my fear is not that someone will do anything to my daughter, she is 12, alert and will speak up in a hurry. I am sure she would give whomever an earful if not also a swift kick to the groin and/or a fist to the face. My fear is the plane going down and her being alone and terrified. Not that I could do anything about it if I were on the plane, but at least we would be together if it happened and I would be able to hold her and tell her that I love her. I know that planes are safer than cars, nonetheless the fear is there.
Mattie
July 29th, 2010
10:08 am
The very first time I ever flew, my parents put me on a plane alone to go visit a friend who had moved away. Back then, my father was allowed to walk me onto the plane, buckle me in, and kiss me goodbye. I think I was 10.
I have sent my kids on flights alone more times than I can count. We’ve moved often, and they wanted to go back to see their friends. The only time we ever had an issue was when I was checking in another person’s child to send them home. The ticket agent gave me a pass to take them to the gate, but didn’t want to give one to my son. So, I was expected to leave my child alone in the airport to make sure my friend’s child got safely onboard. Idiocy.
It used to cost $50. extra to fly as an unaccompanied minor. I recently found out it is now $200.!
deidre_NC
July 29th, 2010
10:10 am
cammi i can so feel you on that…i have that fear everytime my kids leave me….but..they know i love them no matter what…so if something happens to them when im not around at least i know they KNOW i love them…and anything can happen anytime..whether they are with me or not…as my daughter so wisely told me when she was 5..mom..there is a 50/50 chance i will get hurt doing anything…its not worth the 50% chance i will get hurt to not do it (cant remember what the ‘IT’ was at the time)
DB
July 29th, 2010
10:15 am
My kids starting flying alone when they were about 10 or 11. No way I would have put them together on a flight by themselves when they were 7 and 5 — they would have killed each other!! Putting one “in charge” of the other would have been a recipe for disaster!
My daughter’s first solo flight was when she was 10, and was going to north Florida to visit her grandmother. A 45 minute flight, direct, lots of documentation on both sides as to who was dropping off and picking up. Ironically, the plane ended up a victim of weather, and ended up sitting on the tarmac for almost two hours in Atlanta before taking off. She was fine, and borrowed her seat-mate’s cell phone to tell me what was going on. (10 years ago, she didn’t have a cell phone, and really, they weren’t all that common). I spoke to the seat-mate briefly to thank her, and she was very charming, complimenting my daughter for her manners. (whew!) But the delay on the other end meant that the aunt that had planned to pick her up couldn’t miss work, so her grandmother had to pick her up — changing documentation mid-flight was a bit time-intensive, but it all turned out right, and I suspect my daughter looks back on it as an adventure. She flew alone at 14 up to a music camp in Michigan, and had to change planes in Minneapolis. The connecting flight was cancelled, and they told the passengers that they would have to wait until the next morning and they would be directed to a local hotel. She called me and asked what to do, and I told her to go to the desk and say, “I am 14, and there is no way I am spending the night by myself in a hotel” — and call me if she needed me to “chat” with them. She did, and magically, the airline found her a flight on another airline. Taught her two things: That she was competent and capable of dealing with setbacks, and how to be assertive. Both good things to learn. :-)
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
July 29th, 2010
10:49 am
@TWG….
“They[sic] kids seemed to do well.”
You tipped your hand here TWG. The shock and dismay isn’t that the kids were sent unaccompanied, but rather in YOUR world, you don’t believe that YOUR kids at that age would ever have the maturity, composure, manners, and good behavior to “do well” and not scream or freakout without you around.
If they did well, then what is the problem? Ohhhhhh, I know…it’s all about what COULD have happened, regardless of the reasonable and well thought out controls put in place to mitigate the risk. You know what shocks me? I’m shocked that you fly at all. I mean, every year one plane or so (out of hundreds of thousands of flights) full of people crashes somewhere in the world killing everyone on board. I just can’t believe how, in this world full of frightening and dangerous circumstances (some real, some just figments of your imagination), you would put them in harms way by getting on a plane at all.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
July 29th, 2010
10:57 am
@TWG….On the flip side of this…..I think the flying public should all take a collective sigh relief that you don’t allow your children to fly unaccompanied. Just from all the posts you make about how disruptive they have a tendency to be at school and home, I have a feeling that with my flying luck, I’d be the one sitting next to them as they acted well below their years.
FCM
July 29th, 2010
10:59 am
Why is it a shocking parental decision? Is it because YOU wouldn’t do it?
Reality check: 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Many (no idea the %) of those divorces have “visitation agreements” since minor children are involved.
Math Word Problem Alert:
If Mom lives in Atlanta and Dad in Chicago, and the allotted visitation is 2 weeks in summer, what is the best way to maximize the time? Do parents book extra tix (each way on same day–$500 for parent to do that on Delta on 8/14 ATL to ORD) and you have to pay the kid flights (8/14 – 8/28 for this problem ) so another $ 246.47 PER CHILD. That is $1246.47 just for the visit of one child. In this economy?
OR
Pay $100 at the gate for Unaccompanied Minor so that the FA and Gate watch the kid get on and off the plane. Keep in mind that Mom and Dad should be on each end of the trip and you do non stop flights as much as possible. (parents are allowed at the gate for UnAccomps)
April
July 29th, 2010
11:03 am
I read this thinking, “Wow, what a great adventure these kids had!”
As some others have said, it depends on the kid. My son at age 5 would not have been mature enough to handle it, but my daughter would have been ready long before that.
I don’t think this was as risky as you think. If the kids were well behaved and mature, what is the problem. Bad things can happen, sure, and I am something of a worrier. But with planning on both ends of the trip, I don’t see how this is riskier than any of the things normal kids do on an everyday basis.
Photius
July 29th, 2010
11:10 am
Freak.out.Helicopter.Neurotic.Transfer.All.Mother’s.Fears.to.Her.Children.Wanting.to.Always.be.in.Control.Mom.Blog
What will Theresa do when they head off to college? GPS Tracker computer chip inserted into all her children!
Becky
July 29th, 2010
11:19 am
As others have mentioned, I think it depends on the child..No, I would not have let my two little ones fly alone at 5 & 7..A lot of it would also depend on the length of the flight and NO, I would not have them on a flight that had a layover anywhere and a plane change..
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
11:39 am
@ Tiger…we once boarded the plane in front of a Mom with a tribe. The 2 year old stood up on the seat behind us, reached over and stuckh is drooly pacifier in my husband’s ear ( he was in the seat closest to him). The look on my husband’s face was priceless.
My husband was great with our kids and even lots of other kids but HE CANNOT STAND ANYTHING WET/GOOEY OR TODDLERS THAT ARE NOT SUPERVISED.
It is difficult to eat dinner out with him, especially if there are kids roaming the restaurant and having a free for all. Our friends know this and we try to ask the hostess to seat us away from kids.
On the flip side, he has been playing games with my daughter and the 9 year old she babysits many afternoons ( this summer) before the boy’s parents get home. My husband is home by 4:00 as he starts at 6:00. This child, who stays with my daughter, is pleasant and we enjoy him most all of the time!
Glad I am Gold Medallion and have a chance to upgrade as there are not as many kiddos in first class!
A
July 29th, 2010
11:45 am
Be nice, mommies. She’s just asking a question. Let it go. Mommy vitriol is so unflattering.
A majority of the respondents think this is ok, momania person. So you have your answer.
Also, moms and dads of all ages: it is NOT ok to seat your children in the back of the plane while you coast the clouds in first. Especially on the Orlando route. You know who you are and you know what I mean.
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
11:52 am
@ A, if you are pointing the first class finger at me, my 18 and 23 year olds are fine in coach thank you.
I try to stay away from Orlando too :0
When I travel for business, I am generally traveling alone ( although my husband did come to Oregon) and I did not have my business when mine were small.
Who exactly, on the blog, are you speaking of…I am more than curious. Anyone else?
DB
July 29th, 2010
11:54 am
@MJG: Haha, that reminds me of the time I had to fly with my son when he was 10 mo. old. I had a first class seat (nice and roomy), and back then, there wasn’t the push to have a separate seat for lap babies. So I got a nice upgrade and figured, “cool, more room and the baby will sleep” (he always did, he was a good traveler). No one was beside me and across the aisle, there was a man who looked like the archetypical college professor (tweed jacket, trimmed beard, horn rim glasses, etc.) who glared at me when he realized that I was going to be sitting across the aisle from him WITH A BABY.
Just before they closed the doors, a couple jumped on board, and were separated — one by me, the other by the “professor”. When they realized they were going to be separated, I offered to switch seats with the husband so that they could sit together. The wife thought that was a marvelous idea, and the husband agreed, too. However, the “professor” chimed in, with a look of utter horror and disgust: “I DON’T AGREE WITH THAT ARRANGEMENT!” We all stared at him, and I finally told him, “Well, it’s not really your call, is it? You don’t get to decide who sits next to you unless you bought the seat!” But the wife and the husband were too embarrassed and decided to stay where they were.
The wife got even, though — she ended up talking across the “professor” to her husband the entire trip (two hours), interspersed with frequent, “Oh, look, honey, isn’t this baby adorable!” comments. We all got a giggle out of it — the professor was gritting his teeth so loudly I bet he ground off the top layer of enamel. And my son never uttered a peep the entire trip — he was asleep before the wheels were up. :-)
DB
July 29th, 2010
12:00 pm
@MJG: I don’t think A was pointing at you specifically, hon. But I’ve been on that Orlando flight several times, and I know what she means — mommy and daddy in first or business class getting free liquor, while the kids fight, bicker and scuffle in coach. The parents don’t have to put up with them — but the rest of us did. On one flight, I ended up leaning across the aisle, with my finger on the “Attendant Call” button and hissing, “If you two don’t settle down, I am calling the flight attendant and they will LAND this plane and escort you off. Got it?”
They settled down, although they weren’t happy about it. I saw the parents at the baggage carousel later — the mom was staggering, she was so tipsy, and the kids were jumping on and off the baggage carousel.
PHR
July 29th, 2010
12:09 pm
Ok, I don’t think I would let my 8 year old son fly alone, but it probably does depend on their maturity. My son is not mature enough to handle that. We went on a cruise last week and I had a hard time letting him go to the upper deck for the waterslide by himself. There were over 2,000 people on that ship plus the Carribean around us.
Theresa – I’m with you!
LWA
July 29th, 2010
12:11 pm
I started flying by myself when I was 4 years old. Yes, that was a long time ago. I left DC and flew to GA every summer until I was 15. Back then, my mother was allowed to put me in my seat on the plane, buckle me in and exit the plane at the last minute. I loved it. I flew Delta and always got a deck of cards and a pin from the captain. My sister joined me when I was about 10 and she was 5. We loved it. We use to go home by ourselves and I was 7 and my sister was 2. I was no big deal for me. I was more mature that most.
I waited until my own child was about 10 before she flew alone. There wasn’t a reason for her to fly alone until that time. Now she can get through Hartsfield without a problem and at 17 she doesn’t need mommy to go to the gate with her.
Remember all kids are different and mature at a different rate. My 4 year old can get his own bread and sandwich meat from the fridge and put together some sort of sandwich and I allow it. The 10 year old is at home right now alone and she loves it. I left some chicken in the fridge and told her to put it in the oven at 6pm. She said ok. Don’t under estimate kids. They will let you know when they are ready and if you are not a smothering parent, you should be okay with that.
Theresa I think we must be careful as parents to not make a big deal about things. Your kids may not want to EVER fly alone b/c of any hysteria caused by negative conversation regarding the other children who were traveling alone. Don’t make kids out to be “SCARED” about everything b/c the parents are.
Tami
July 29th, 2010
12:15 pm
I’m sorry….ages 5 & 7 are TOO YOUNG! Ages 9 & 11…..uhhhh, semi-too young. My nephs are 8-1/2 and 3-1/2. There’d be NO WAY they’d fly alone. Their extended family wouldn’t let that happen. But neither would their parents. And you know why? In our world, too many kids are being snatched by “animals”. And children are so vulnerable as it is, no matter how mature they are. I’d be half out of mind with worry wondering if they had safely reached their destination, and that a family member was there at the gate to receive them — with all the flight delays and gate changes that so often occur. No. I would not allow it.
LWA
July 29th, 2010
12:21 pm
How many times have we heard on the news of kids being snatched traveling on a plane alone vs. being snatched riding their bikes in their “safe” neighborhood??? Some kids aren’t ready and some are.
So, if you don’t agree kids traveling alone, save your money and buy a ticket to travel with them or drive the car.
However, MANY feel it is OK.
It is a matter of choice and/or opinion.
La
July 29th, 2010
12:22 pm
I wouldn’t let my daughter fly alone and she is both resourceful and has been flying since she was 6 months old (so, 10 years). After 8-12 air trips per year for the last 10 years with and without DD in tow, I have run into lots of complications that a kid cannot handle. I wouldn’t want my kid trying to reschedule a connection that is missed (happens in about 20% of my flights, more if the flight is in the Southeast in the summer, due to storms), or trying to book a room to stay over if the flight is cancelled for weather (has also happened to me several times). Direct flights may be okay – didn’t know you could accompany them to the gate – true on the pick up end, too? Does anyone know how rebooking or overnight stays are handled for unaccompanied minors, especially if it involves a cost for which a credit card number is needed?
Lori
July 29th, 2010
12:25 pm
No way I’d put my 7 year old on a plane by himself. You used to be able to pick your kid up at the gate, but now you can’t go there without a boarding pass, and I’m sorry, I’m not leaving some airport employee in charge of my child. As far as how old a kid needs to be I think depends on the ability level of the child. Sure a short flight is not that big a deal, but it’s not just the flight. The kid needs to be able to get to the plane, board when called, sit quietly alone, get off the plane, be responsible for his/her belongings, navigate the receiving airport, find his/her ride when they get there. Not only that, but what happens in an emergency? Can this kid handle landing in an unfamiliar airport in the event that the plane is diverted. Would they know who to call, how to place a long distance call from a payphone in the event of cell phone outage, explain to an adult who they are and that they are traveling alone….. and it goes on. I know my 7 year old could not do all these things and he is an extremely capable child. I’m thinking teenage maybe, but parents need to have a plan in place for any emergency that may pop up, so you child knows exactly what to do.
La
July 29th, 2010
12:25 pm
@LWA. There is a state law restricting how long your minor child can be home alone. If you are saying she is alone all day, and responsible for getting your meal ready at night, that is in violation of the law. Your kid may be ready, but the law says no.
Aquagirl
July 29th, 2010
12:29 pm
Why not? It’s not like pilots or flight attendants are, y’know, doing anything else.
I don’t think it’s a matter of helicopter-momming, it’s a matter of thinking others should be responsible for taking care of your kids. Maybe a surcharge for unattended children is in order.
LWA
July 29th, 2010
12:32 pm
@LA .. I have looked for the GA law and I can’t find where it says that there is a limit. Please send me the link. She is going to put the food on when her Dad is almost home. It is not a requirement for dinner. There is food there. Again, just want to see if she is ready. No worries if not.
Also, you can get a gate pass to pick up a minor who is traveling alone. I have done so lots of times so when my child exits, I was right there waiting for her. You can also get a ticket to take them to the gate. This applies if you pay the minor fee or not. I have done both.
LC
July 29th, 2010
1:20 pm
I think it depends on the maturity level of the child. My son started flying as an unacompanied minor on his 5th birthday. He flew from Atlanta to Chicago so much he actually became an elite member. Never had one issue. He is now 12 and flies alone. I still get a gate pass and meet him at the door. My son is more mature than most kids and he is a better traveller than most adults. Many people are forced to have their children fly alone due to the increased fees for airline tickets. I worry more about my son spending time in front of the TV or the computer than I do flying… but to each his own.
LC
July 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
@Lori BTW You can and do get gate passes with out flying…. Whether your child flies unaccompanied or not.
N
July 29th, 2010
1:24 pm
This blog gets more interesting everyday. You were surprised that an 11yr old was flying alone. Have you NEVER flown before??? This is not new. Agree with the other posters who think its appropriate and a good experience.
cewbee
July 29th, 2010
1:25 pm
Sometimes you don’t have a choice. My divorce decree required that my son spend every other weekend with his Dad even though he lived out-of-state. So we did the drill starting when he was age 10 where I would drive down to the airport, accompany him to the gate (the person who posted saying you cannot go to the gate is wrong – you can always get a gate pass for an unaccompanied minor) and stay there until “wheels up”. My son knew what to do if there were problems but we really never had any. Today he is a confident, competent, independent 20 year old who spent last summer in France by himself on a study abroad program. Need to trust your children. They are capable of far more than you ever dreamed!
LSUTiger
July 29th, 2010
1:26 pm
Parents Listen! Children should NEVER fly alone for any reason. Also, NO babies or children under 10 years of age should never fly with or without parents. When when parents learn that passengers HATE to hear screaming babies and children and it’s not always the fault of the child..it’s the poor upbringing by the parents.
Peachy
July 29th, 2010
1:30 pm
@Lori – all this, ” The kid needs to be able to get to the plane, board when called, sit quietly alone, get off the plane, be responsible for his/her belongings, navigate the receiving airport, find his/her ride when they get there. ” is not true. You are able to obtain a pass to take your minor to the gate or be able to pick them up. You don’t have to have a boarding pass. And the flight attendents help them with their belonings. Then when they reach the destination the other party is there to pick them up (with their special pass)…so not nearly that big of a deal.
Wow, what rock...
July 29th, 2010
1:46 pm
…doe LSUTiger live under where she/he thinks that no kid under age 10 should ever fly? Must be the Katrina hangover….
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
July 29th, 2010
1:49 pm
Not to be overly critical here, but when I read TWG’s reaction to these kids flying alone (i.e. “I literally had my hand over my mouth”…”I was freaking out” because her 10 year old couldn’t sit next to her on the plane), that lady in NYC who had her 10 year old learn to navigate the subways alone seems comparatively rational.
Cammi317
July 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
LWA the minimum legal age that a child can be left home for a couple of hours in Georgia is 12. At 14 a child can be left home for the day. I am going to look for that info and post it.
Angela
July 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
again: freerangekids . com
many will gain much insight and freedom from this site
additionally, people do pay a fee to fly kids unaccompanied. At 5 and 7, most kids may not be mature enough to handle a walk in the park, much less a plane ride. There are though MANY kids from 8 and up who are more than mature enough to fly alone under the eyes of the attendant.
Also, I didn’t quite understand T’s story about the gparents kissing them goodbye. Was this at the gate? at the ticket counter? I would request a gate pass and wait with the kids until they boarded the plane, but that is about it.
Old School
July 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
I think it also depends on the individual child. I’ve seen well-behaved young children who quite capably flew alone and I’ve seen teenagers & adults who should have flown in a cramped cat box in the cargo hold.
srh
July 29th, 2010
2:16 pm
I flew alone to Germany when I was 12, way back in the 70s. My parents were from Europe and my sisters and I (there were 3 of us) would each go every third year, alone. My relatives would be on the other side of course, but I also took the train and buses to other countries while I was there, on my own, like France, Belgium and Italy. Not sure I would do that now, but that is how things were in my family back then. One of my relatives would also come over here for the summer, so we traded out kids. I am very independent now, so maybe that’s how I became that way. When I travel now, I love to go off the beaten path and am comfortable in any language or culture.
TechMom
July 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
Even Delta thinks you can give your child a GREAT experience!
Children Traveling Alone: Learn ways to give your child (ages 5-14) a great, and safe, experience
Some highlights:
Unaccompanied service is required for all children 5–14 years old when not traveling in the same compartment with an adult at least 18 years old or the child’s parent/legal guardian.
Children ages 5–7 years can only fly on nonstop or direct flights with no change of planes.
Children ages 8–14 years can fly on nonstop or connecting flights, but may not connect to other airlines, with the exception of Delta Connection carriers.
Delta will allow unaccompanied minors to be interlined to/from KLM and Air France ONLY.
Children 15–17 are not required to have unaccompanied service but we will provide it when requested.
An unaccompanied child can not be booked on the last connecting flight of the evening. This is to prevent the need for an overnight stay in a hotel.
Unaccompanied minors will not be permitted on red eye flights greater than 2 hours in duration departing 9pm-5am.
One (only one) parent or guardian must accompany children ages 5–14 to the departure gate and must:
Obtain proper documentation from the Delta Ticket Counter to pass through airport security checkpoints.
Remain in the gate area until the plane takes off.
During Travel
A Delta flight attendant will keep tickets and other travel documents throughout the flight.
Children under the age of 15 will not be seated in an exit row.
Your child will not be released to anyone other than the person previously designated by the parent or guardian to pick them up.
The adult picking them up must:
Arrive at the airport early.
Obtain proper documentation from the Delta Ticket Counter to pass through security checkpoints.
Be in the gate area prior to the plane arriving to meet the child.
Show identification.
Sign an Acceptance of Responsibility form.
HB
July 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
Re: age a child can stay home alone
I’m pretty sure Georgia doesn’t have a law on this, but recommended guidelines. I want to say the recommended minimum age for being alone for short periods of time is 8 or 9. Definitely not 12.
Sam
July 29th, 2010
2:41 pm
You need to read the book “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee” – it would be helpful for any parent who has anxiety about their children.
You need to be okay with your children doing things without you. Trust that you have taught them the lessons they will need to be good people.
Becky
July 29th, 2010
2:49 pm
I’m all for kids learning to be independent, but no way in HADES would I leave a 10 year old at home all day alone..No where, no how, no way..
I thought it was a law that they couldn’t be left alone all day until 12 or 13..
TechMom
July 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
@HB, I think you are right in that GA does not have a law regarding the age a child can be left alone at home. In fact, very few states do.
The Red Cross has a babysitting course for 11-15 year olds. If an 11 year old is responsible enough to babysit, s/he was probably responsible enough to be home alone at 10.
Age restrictions should be treated as guidelines and parents shouldn’t use these rules or laws as anything more than a recommendation. If you don’t think your kid can handle a 2 hour flight alone at the age of 10, then they probably shouldn’t stay home by him/herself. Then again I had no qualms with putting my 5 year old on a flight to Dallas nor did I have an issue with letting him stay home for a couple of hours by himself when he was 10-11. I started babysitting at the age of 11 and while I trusted my son to stay by himself at that age, he didn’t have the ability to think about taking another human being at 11. It really depends on the kid.
Renee
July 29th, 2010
2:53 pm
There are too many weirdos out there. Who in their right mind sends their 5 or 7 year old someplace alone on an unsupervised flight across the country?! If they have to change planes, that’s even worse an offense. People leave their kids in the car alone, while they shop in stores, or run into daycares (and watch their cars get stolen). This ranks up there with that.
A
July 29th, 2010
3:01 pm
DB, we should really go have a beer somewhere. You’re pretty solid.
Bye.
catlady
July 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
My younger daughter few alone to England at 14. After the passengers were loaded she asked the flight attendant if, as an unaccompanied minor, she would ride first class if there was an empty seat, AND THEY GAVE HER THE ONE THAT WAS OPEN! (So, apparently, she was less innocent than I thought) I would have allowed her to fly with her older sister just about anywhere when big sis was about that age (little sis would have been 5, brother would have been 10).
DB
July 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
@A: Not a big beer drinker, but I’ll match you Diet Coke for beer!
catlady
July 29th, 2010
3:45 pm
MJg, I have sent t my info to forward to you.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
July 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
@Renee….I think you touched on the rub of this whole thing. One camp here feels as if the flight is “unsupervised”, in your words, because the PARENT is not there to supervise. The other camp feels as if the precautions set in place to have Flight Attendant and Airline personnel supervising their children to be adequate and reasonable. It’s evident that TWG and others don’t feel as if anyone other than themselves and those they’ve personally vetted at length (i.e. teachers who let them be classroom mommies, babysitters who are children of friends, and sometimes a spouse) can adequately supervise their children, whereas others feel as if strangers who are charged with the responsibility of supervising their children will carry out those duties professionally. TWG will never accept that those folks could supervise her children to her standards. And I believe she’s right..those folks will never meet HER standards. Of course, I think her standards are JACKED. I think if her children pulled half the crap on a stranger responsible for watching them as they do her (based on her own posts about her difficulty disciplining them and getting them to follow her rules), those kids might be in for a rude awakening when the FA tells them to sit down and shut up and act more mature than their years. To that extent, TWG would be appalled that the FA didn’t dote on them, ask them to explain to them all their concerns and fears, then make everything better by giving them a piece of candy or something like that.
So I think you exemplified the point well. Whereas many of us in this camp who might be inclined to send their child unaccompanied on a flight would have a SERIOUS discussion with our child that went somewhere along the lines of:
“Listen to me, that person right there is filling in for me on this flight….you will be polite and respectful and do everything he/she requests with the utmost manners. You will not misbehave and you will not cause him/her any problems, just like you wouldn’t do with me. You will stick with that person like glue when you are out of your seat. If you need anything, raise your hand to get his/her attention. If anyone approaches you and scares you, you should immediately leave your seat and find that person and tell them your concerns. But as long as you’re being left alone to play your DS and don’t need anything, then don’t bother him/her. You’re a great kid, and I love you very much, so just be as wonderfully well mannered for him/her as you are for me and your mother all the time and you’ll do fine. But make no mistake, if I hear from this person that you were in any way bratty, spoiled, or disrepectful, when you get home, you’re whole world is going to come down on top you. I love you, have a great trip and tell grandma and grandpa thank you for letting you visit.”
That would take care of things with my kid, but then again, treating my kid like he’s my age instead of his is probably not sensitive enough for those on the other side of the fence.
Cammi317
July 29th, 2010
4:41 pm
Got this from the Georgia DHR site “Children age 13 and older generally can be left home alone, but shouldn’t be left home overnight. Children under 8 years of age, however, should never be left home alone even for short periods of time. Parents must assess the maturity and responsibility of their children before deciding whether or not to leave a child alone. ” But it does not list a specific law…http://dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHS/menuitem.3d43c0fad7b3111b50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=fce338426162c010VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=5a236f865309b010VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD
Cammi317
July 29th, 2010
4:46 pm
This information from Georgia DHR is more specific about what age kids can be left alone and under what circumstances people should report someone. It specifically says children 9-12 may not be left home for more than 2 hours. http://www.odis.dhr.state.ga.us/…/3030_cps/Manuals/Chapter3/Lack%20of%20Supervision%20Reference%20Guide.doc – Text Version
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
July 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
when did tiger get so mean????
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
@catlady, I sent my info to T yesterday to send to you. Nothing yet. We will just have to sit and wait.
@ A…I will vouch for DB, she is very solid and can be fun too….:)
@ Renee…there are weirdos that live right in our neighborhoods too and they can come and go as they please. The airplane is a bit more controlled, plus each passenger’ s legal name is listed on the flight manifest ( is that it lakerat?).
There are folks playing in our neighborhood tennis court and at the pool who are completely random to me and no way would we be able to track them down if they snatched a children and took off in a vehicle with either no tag or the wrong tag.
@ Tiger…you will not be surprised to learn that I have had to have a few words with unsupervised children who are on the verge of impeding the flight plan. As we all know, some kids know how to behave and some do not.
Once, we were landing in DFW and on approach. The plane was filled with cheerleaders ( on the way home from a national competition) and NO they were not the Dallas Cowboy variety ( who we assume know how to travel). Anyway, the flight attendants reminded the passengers to buckle up and prepare for landing. Of course, the cheerleaders were exempt from that rule and were still able to romp down the aisles freely. NOT
The pilot came on and made this announcement:
“If you cheerleaders do not sit down immediately we will have to cancel our approach and lose our landing position. We need you to sit down NOW! ”
I am assuming the flight attendants had had enough of the scenario and spoke with the captain.
The mothers had also had enough of the girls and it appeared many of them had a few drinks en route.
Guess how I feel about MS and HS cheerleaders….:)
irisheyes
July 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
I want to meet the parents of the 5 yo and 7 yo to find out what they’ve done to make their kids so independent and capable! Those are two kids who I would be proud to call mine.
T, it’s time to start letting of your kids. Now, I don’t mean that you send them off to make their way in the world, but you need to believe that they can handle life without you. Your flight was a great teaching opportunity about how mommy and daddy won’t always be able to watch them, and that they need to practice behaving the way they have been taught.
Tiger Ochocinco Mellencamp
July 29th, 2010
5:16 pm
@TWG…oh come now…there’s a difference between being mean and critical. I’ll admit, on this topic I’m very critical of you. But I never resort to name calling or cheap shots that can’t be supported with precedent. You’re a journalist, you know the difference……were woodward and bernstein being mean when they completely trashed Nixon’s actions?? No, they were being critical when a subject matter called for it. I’ll give you I’m cynical and sarcastic, which may make my arguments appear a little more caustic than your average bear’s, but the bottom line is that any impression that I have gotten about you being an overprotective, hovering parent too concerned about them seeing the world through rose colored glasses, resulting in your kids frequently testing you and their teachers with disciplinary issues, is directly attributable to your posts.
We’ve all seen mean comments on this blog…and I mean really mean ones. On the rare ocassion have crossed that line…and those have been exclusively aimed at other bloggers..not you.
Now I’m going to go have a good cry about you calling me mean until I get an apology….;-)
Active Duty Mom
July 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
Tiger, great comments and too true! Heck, my first solo airplane trip was when I was 6 and my parents had just divorced. Granted, this was out of the old Atlanta airport and the flight time was only about an hour but it was still no big deal. My husband grew up in NYC and took the subway and the bus regularly as a kid because that is how you got around and went to school. We’re talking the 1970s-1980s when the city was pretty rough. Whether or not a child should travel alone depends on the maturity of the child, but the child is also going to take their cues from their parents as to how they will act and react to situations. Irisheyes, too true about kids being able to handle life without mommy and daddy being around all the time. Unfortunately I am now working with a lot of young adults who weren’t taught this when they were children and oh boy has it been interesting–UGH!
deidre_NC
July 29th, 2010
5:52 pm
it just all boils down to whether your kid is mature enough to fly alone. i know kids age 10 and up who shouldnt even be taken to a nice restaurant. you really need to prepare your kids to be self sufficient as early as possible. that doesnt mean they dont need you…it means that if a situation every arises they will have an idea of how to handle it. some of my kids friends scare me to death at their ignorance on how to handle anything out of the ordinary. most of the kids here where i live are very self sufficient. we live very rural and it is just how it is. they stay alone..they cook…they know how to take care of themselves. i would be more worried at my college age daughter going to a ‘beach weekend’ than i was when the 10 yo was flying alone. not that i would stop her from going…hopefully she has enough sense by now to know what ok or not ok…you just cant keep them on the sofa…and what about sleep over camps…to me that is more worrisome than flying alone.
motherjanegoose
July 29th, 2010
6:11 pm
@ tiger…I am pretty sure that was not Theresa posting. There was an imposter ( sp?) yesterday who spelled her last name wrong and perhaps learned his/her lesson. To my knowledge, T does not usually rag on anyone here. Not really her style. I could be wrong!
penguinmom
July 29th, 2010
6:22 pm
@cammi – read further, it says a child younger than 13 “who exhibits exceptional maturity and has participated in a course on babysitting may be left alone or to care for other children.”
Still doesn’t indicate that it is a law, just guidelines for DFACS workers if they run across one of these children.
We left our eldest home alone with the younger kids for short times starting when he was 10. He’s now 14 and for a year has been able to babysit the younger kids(ages 10 and 6) including fixing them dinner. Last week, my kids fixed dinner for my husband after I went to a mom’s meeting. Fortunately, the worst thing we have to worry about with our 3 kids is that they might decide to watch TV for too long or play too many Wii games while we are gone. Even that they tend to regulate each other to make sure they don’t end up getting into trouble when we get home.
Mika
July 30th, 2010
1:13 am
That’s exactly my problem right now.. I left my husband two wks ago bcoz of domestic violence and my daughter is not even citizen here yet.. Were supposed to file her paper but things went wrong coz i can’t stand my husband watching my daughter locking her in a closet or in a bathroom.. My problem now is she is going to be an illegal alien in three weeks time.. I’m thinking to put her n a plane and let her fly alone coz thats the only way i can do it.. since i left my husband and i dont have money to accompany me.. She is just 5 but very smart girl.. I’m confused and having trouble to decide.. I don’t know what’s gonna happen with us here either if i keep her with me when her visa’s run out.. What is the best thing to do?
La
July 30th, 2010
12:44 pm
Are there any flight attendants or cabin personnel out there who can comment on the responsibility of taking on an unaccompanied minor (or minors)? The kids I’ve seen on flights alone have been well behaved – sometimes the flight attendant paid them special attention and sometimes he or she was too busy to do so. In fact, I’ve seen more problems with kids flying with parents than without.
Maybe being away from the ‘rents gives kids an incentive to act more mature, or maybe those parents who planned to send their kids into the wild blue yonder unaccompanied were just really good at preparing them for the flight and the expectations for their behavior.
La
July 30th, 2010
12:50 pm
Penguinmom and LWA. Kudos for having “exceptionally mature” kids. I still wouldn’t have a 10-year old turning on an oven or taking on tasks that use potentially dangerous equipment. If there is a problem such as a fire or even smoke that draws a fire truck, you are going to have that child removed by DFACS for placing her at risk. In other words, you can leave your child alone and have her do risky tasks for you until “something happens”. Probably nothing bad will happen, but is it worth the risk just to get the casserole on the table 45 minutes earlier?
YJB
August 1st, 2010
12:25 am
I’m 11, turning 12 soon and I would LOVE to fly on an aeroplane alone to the USA from AU. But my parents will not budge. I ENVY ALL THE LAID-BACK PARENTS OUT THERE WITH KIDS LIKE ME.
Ole Guy
August 9th, 2010
8:33 am
I’ve seen kids on the aircraft, both accompanied and solo, behaving poorly and doing their best to be a general pain in the six. Quite possibly, the seemingly rude behavior of cabin crew toward the kid was simply a form of possitive, assertive communication toward a bratt accustomed to behaving any ole damn way the spirit may move. We certainly observe many adults displaying similar behavior, and all the crew can say is “yes sir no sir three bags full sir”.
My first solo flight (not at the controls), at age 9, was from Pensacola to Philadelphia. The ole Eastern Airlines Martin 404, known, in Eastern Livery as the Golden Falcon, took all day, with a coupla stops in between. When I mentioned, to the stewardess, that my Dad was a Naval Aviator and he had taken me up, a few times, in a small airplane, the Captain relinquished his seat, for a few moments, to a wide-eyed kid who knew, right then and there, what he wanted to do (in reality, that decision had been reached the first time Dad took me up in an ole Yellow Cub).
Unfortunately, the days of innocense are long-gone. The days when parents thought nothing of the kid disappearing all day on his bike to seek adventure with friends; to come home smelling like a wet rat and looking like hell, and all Mom had to say was “go get cleaned up for supper”. Of course, there would be no approaching the table until passing Dad’s inspection…but that’s another story for teary-eyed ole farts with boring tales of yesteryear.
terezie roberts
August 10th, 2010
8:56 am
I don’t know why everything is such a big problem over here.I love living in US but when I speak to my friends in Europe I envy them that they have the courage sending their kids walking to school or letting them play alone at the playground .
It is not less dangerous in Europe but for some reason people are not as freaked out .
I don’t understand why everybody is talking about the good old days when everything was safe and now it is not .For me the biggest difference is the information .We know what happened at the other site of the world in seconds and yet we don’t know the name of our neighbor .
I will try to raise my kids independently as much as I can without being called a bad mother by some “caring ” people . Kids will not learn how to be responsible for their own actions if we are standing
behind their backs at all times .
I am planning to send my kids over to Europe on their own.It is not a big deal though because their is a flight attendant watching over them until they reach my parents at their destination .
At least that is a service that Lufthansa offers and I have never heard any complaints .
I don’t want my children to be paranoid adults looking over their shoulders because there is danger lurking behind every corner.
Alert and knowledgable but not scared !
Kids flying alone? | Parenting Without a Manual | Work It, Mom!
August 11th, 2010
10:11 am
[...] as it is, that remote possibility is a big part of my 15%) I was surprised how many parents voice vociferous concern about kids flying alone. ANY kids; theirs, mine, and especially [...]