Would you alow your 9 or 10 year old child to go on a direct flight alone?

Question

This would be a direct flight, 2 hours in the plane,, and my sister-in law would be there to pick him up.

Thanks to everyone, I have decided to wait for them to go when they are a bit older. I appreciate everyones help!

Answer 1

I did it for 10 years from the age of 6, I went to school in one country and parents lived in another. Flew British Airways and was called an "unaccompanied minor". The BA staff were like a mom and took me everywhere, had a great time, this was 6 times a year too, never had a bad experience or a problem and I knew all the staff!

Maybe the rules have changed now, I can imagine that airlines would not want the risk of looking after a child.

Answer 2

Personally, I would not, but if you decide to go that route, check with the airline before booking a flight to find out what their policies and procedures are prior to booking.

A co-worker that had to deal with that situation with a child around that age (parents and child lived out of state and parents were critically injured in an auto accident I believe was what the scenario was) and If you call the airline and let them know the situation, they can arrange for a stewardess to meet the child with the people that are taking them to the airport, help the child get situated on the plane, keep an eye on the plane and make sure that they are delivered to the designated adult when they land (they check the adults ID's at both the departing and landing airports).

Answer 3

I don't have any kids but i know that if you tell them when you book the tickets that your child is going alone they have a flight attendant or someone sit with them... I would if i knew someone was going to keep an eye on them and they were ok with going by themselves and also only if I knew the person picking them up was very reliable and met them right at the gate on the plane side of the airport the person can get permission to pass over to pick the kid(s) up... Good luck hope this helps... Ask the carrier you are choosing they can best help you

Answer 4

Yes, I would. When such a young child travels alone, it is put in the care of a specially assigned stewardess. She takes over the child from the parents, keeps an eye on it during the flight and delivers it into the hands of the people who are waiting for it at the end of the journey.
It is done many times every day.

Answer 5

I've done that
My niece would fly from Boston the Santa Fe to spend summers with us. she was 10 when it first started.
what we did was make sure the flight was non stop.. and an adult family member waited at both ends of the flight.
you declare the child to be travailing alone and the attendants will keep an eye on them.

If we had to worry about connecting flights we wouldn't have done it. hard enough for a grown up to race across an airport trying to make the next plane....

Answer 6

Yes. You be there for the takeoff. Ensure the plan people know, the stuardesses or something, maybe even chat it up with an old person whos getting on the same flight, ensure there is someone waiting when the plan lands and no problem! Make sure the kid knowswho he can contact if anything.

Answer 7

I was on a 4 hour flight, and there was a girl about 10 flying by herself. The flight attendents brought her to her seat, checked on her often, and escorted her off the plane. If you feel your child is mature enough, I say go for it.

Answer 8

Ask the airline about their escort services. A relative of mine was abroad and she wasn't able to get back home on time for urgent reasons, so she used the escort service to send her kids who had school term starting. It was a direct flight. They look after them on the aircraft and hand them over personally to a relative at the other end.

Answer 9

It depends on the personality of the child -- unaccompanied childeren are given excellent treatment by all airlines. But the decision is yours in the long run. Personally, I wouldn't send my child unaccompanied unless I had no other option.

Answer 10

When I was a teenager, I flew overseas to see some relatives who lived there. My parents let the airline know that I was alone and who was allowed to pick me up when I got there and when I returned. Whoever picked me up had to show id to be allowed to pick me up. Check with the airline to see how they handle this situation. Then it would be up to you as to whether your child would be ok with this.