My son, is wanting to fly up to see some cousins and the only way he will get up there is to have a layover in Philly. If i let him he would fly from Charlotte NC to Philly PA then to BGM Binghamton NY, there is no NONSTOP because they have to switch to small jet. I have trust he will make it ok to the gates and everything, but will it be ok that he is ok in the airpor alone for a little bit.
please be free to tell me everything and anything
2007-07-23 03:40:57 · 21 answers · asked by Dan B 1 in Travel ➔ Air Travel
its fine its not dangerous in an airport for the most part. but to warn you phillys airport is a monsterous one. if the layover is under an hour he has to move his @$$ if your terminal is too far away you can take a shuttle but it can take some time. takes a good ten minutes to get from gate A to F on a shuttle bus. bt it wont be a problem as long as your son knows what to expect.
2007-07-23 03:49:45 · answer #1 · answered by AO 4 Yayo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My 12 year old stepdaughter flies regularly across the country between her mom & us. We pay an extra fee for an unaccompanied minor. (Continental charges about $50 each way - for a 16 year old, it might be optional, but I'd pay it. I wouldn't want a 16 year old wandering around an Airport alone - especially Philly.)
You set it up in advance, but then you also complete paperwork at the airport. The person dropping off gets a pass to go to the gate. When the flight boards, an airline employee takes responsibility for the child. If there is a layover, the airlines have a special area for minors - usually with food, tvs & games. The airline employees make sure your child gets to their connecting flight. When they reach their final destination, the person you designate to pick up your child must show ID at the airline counter & they are issued a gate pass. They go thru all the security like they are going on a flight, but they just wait at the gate for the child to get off the plane. Someone from the airline checks ID again & releases the child to the person you designated. It works the same way in reverse when the child gets home.
2007-07-23 10:53:55 · answer #2 · answered by Quarter Midget Mom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sixteen year olds can fly by themself, but I would pay the extra 60$ and make him an unaccompanied minor, that way he will be escorted onto the airplane by an agent, if his flight is delayed and he misses his connection, the airline will take care of rebooking him or if it is a close connection time, I've seen them actually hold the plane for an UM. However, I think the teens don't really like sitting in the minor room between flights and he would have to sit in the room, with adult supervision provided by the airline.
2007-07-23 11:15:29 · answer #3 · answered by CopyThat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say how long the layovers will be. If they're long, boredom will be his biggest problem. Having a cell phone would be good for both of you. If you like, I'm sure he'd call you from each airport. Make sure he has some money for snacks and maybe a gameboy or something to occupy himself while he's waiting.
He'll be fine.
2007-07-23 10:52:38 · answer #4 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, 16-year olds can be alone, but check with the airline about having him fly as an "Unaccompanied Minor." They will meet him at the counter, take him through security, and to the gate. They will escort him from the plane and to his next gate. He will be safe in their care. After his first trip that way, he may be OK on his own for future flights.
2007-07-23 10:45:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can buy some sort of program the airports offer for 18 below, which is basically having a mommy ( well someone to look over him ) with him to get him to a destination. ( Free meals, gets to ride a golf cart to all the gates )
You can ride alone at 16.
2007-07-23 10:45:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only you can judge your son.
I can tell you that the Philly airport is relatively safe if he were to stay in the airport. The same type stuff applies as it would at the mall.....pay attention to your surroundings, watch your bag, put your wallet in front pocket...so on. Just common sense type stuff. I used to live in Philly suburb so we flew out of that airport often and had no trouble even returning late at night.
2007-07-23 10:47:30 · answer #7 · answered by MisMischievous 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The airlines will assign a guardian for him. It will be an airline employee that is flying anyway. He will be checked on and will be released to a particular person at the destination. There are usually a group of minors on most flights and they are all assigned to one person.
2007-07-23 10:46:00 · answer #8 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long is the layover? I did 2 hour ones when I was 15 and there were no problems. As long as he's atleast minimally responsible, I say it's fine.
2007-07-23 10:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by a rectangle curve 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont know what a "layover" is do you mean like a red eye? because i know they'll let like kids that age of 12 fly over to somewhere by them selfs.
2007-07-23 10:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋