Wakeboarder Forum Index

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   StatisticsStats   FavoritesFavorites   RegisterRegister   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages  Log inLog in 
BlogsBlogs   

Kids flying alone

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> Non-Wakeboarding
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 11:18 am    Post subject: Kids flying alone Reply with quote

I'm sure some of you may have dealt with your kids flying somewhere on their own. Any tips or lessons learned?

Our oldest has a chance to work on a ranch this summer where my in-laws live. It also works out for him to fly to where my family is first and the in-laws will get him from there, then fly back from their place.

My parents would like for our youngest to come visit them and we're looking to fly him out for that visit, as well.

The oldest is 15 and we feel he is capable of handling a connecting flight situation, so we are planning to go that route with him.

The youngest is 13 and it looks like we can go the direct flight option with him.

_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
nmballa
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Posts: 3906
City: Milwaukee

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 12:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think I was around 13 when I first flew on my own. A few more times on my own up till I was 16 and then quite a bit since then. Was never really a big deal. Most times were to Europe and back with one to two connections.
_________________
jt09 wrote:
I used to get all happy when the girlie would make a colonic appointment. That meant she was going to be breaking out the "fine china" soon.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=509037985&ref=profile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
Swass
Soul Rider
Soul Rider


Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 427

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My 11 year old recently flew unaccompanied. There's some paperwork involved, but you can escort your child to the gate and wait with them until they board the aircraft. Same deal on the other end - whoever is picking them up will be waiting at the gate when the plane lands.

This was a direct flight, though. No connecting flight issues. I would not be comfortable with the connecting flight situation. In fact, at that age, I'm not sure if the airline would've allowed that.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Swass, from what I found out, the magic age seems to be 12 with several of the airlines. Anything younger and they HAVE to use the Unaccompanied Minor service, which limits the type of flights (connections, potentially delayed, etc). We feel like our youngest would be best on a direct flight and that our oldest can handle doing a connecting flight.
_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Swass
Soul Rider
Soul Rider


Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 427

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 12:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought so. I was pretty sure that the unaccompanied minor deal was direct flight only. The days of airline staff escorting kids in the airport are long gone I think.

You know your kid, of course. If it was my 15 year old, I'd give him a 50/50 shot at best of getting there. Laughing


Last edited by Swass on Mar 10, 2015 1:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ohsix
PityDaFool Who Posts This Much
PityDaFool Who Posts This Much


Joined: 12 Jan 2003
Posts: 6837

PostPosted: Mar 09, 2015 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe I'm overestimating the brain power of a 13 year old, but I would think making a connecting flight would be easier than finding the rooms of the 7 or 8 classes on your first day of junior high school. It would be stupid easy if they've ever paid attention while changing gates and/or terminals on flights with their parents.

I have not traveled abroad extensively, but every airport I've ever been in has had pretty intuitive terminal and gate numbering sequences.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
chavez
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 27375
City: Roseville

PostPosted: Mar 10, 2015 7:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeebus... at 11yo (and on a daily basis) I had to negotiate 2 bus transfers with a half hour wait for the second transfer at a mall with my 10yo brother in tow. We figured it out.

I'm sure if that occurred now my parents would have been charged with child endangerment. Rolling Eyes

To add something constructive to the convo: my nieces and nephews have flown alone from Charlotte to Vegas numerous times. They get registered as unaccompanied minors and Dad walked them to gate in Charlotte and my MIL met them at gate in Vegas. I think the oldest has had to bounce in Dallas as well. They lived.

_________________
Quote:
That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole.


RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Blog Visit poster's website
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Mar 10, 2015 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

chavez wrote:
I'm sure if that occurred now my parents would have been charged with child endangerment. Rolling Eyes


LOL!

_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
jjaszkow
Wakeboarder.Commie
Wakeboarder.Commie


Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 2124
City: Some Airport

PostPosted: Mar 10, 2015 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've made arrangements to fly my niece home during holidays on a few flights using the unaccompanied minor service and can attest that the service works very well.

The service does vary quite a bit by carrier. For example, I am nearly certain United does not allow connecting flights, whereas Delta does allow this for children older than 8 years. American Airlines allows for connecting flights. I am not sure about other carriers, as those are the only three that I've used this service on. There is typically a nominal fee (~$150) and additional forms required. On connecting flights, the minor will be escorted between gates by an airline employee. Delta has a special lounge where they can hang out between flights as well which according to my niece is "fantastic".
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
STPHNSN23
Guest





PostPosted: Mar 10, 2015 4:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i had to do airport duty for the camp i worked at. lots of 9-17 year old kids from all over the world came in to o'hare without problems generally. use the unaccompanied minor service and hope the weather and mechanics cooperate.
Back to top
eeven73
PityDaFool Who Posts This Much
PityDaFool Who Posts This Much


Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 5377
City: Halfway

PostPosted: Mar 11, 2015 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not that I would let her, but if my 6 year old daughter couldn't find the next gate for a flight I would be shocked. I will take out situations where interterminal tram or bus rides are involved.

In fact this has piqued my curiosity. I am going to have her find the right gate the next time we fly.

_________________
Is President Obama a Keynesian?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Mar 11, 2015 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for all the info and advice. I'm not sure how we could even use the UM service with some of the flights we looked at. Several of the airline policies stated exceptions for connecting flights, etc. Anyone know about that?

We're leaning towards send the younger one on a direct flight and have my parents deal with the location on their end, which they are perfectly fine with. That would be a flight with Southwest and he is too old for their UM service, but qualifies for what they call Young Traveler (YT).

The oldest doesn't have a choice but to have connecting flights, and we feel he will handle it just fine.

Any suggestions on helping each of them be confident and ready? They have flown with us before, but not for several years now. We're planning to take them to their respective airports extra early and show them everything they need to know to navigate the airport and how to ask for help. We'll also escort both of them to their gate and have them picked up at the gate at the other end.

_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
chavez
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 27375
City: Roseville

PostPosted: Mar 11, 2015 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

eeven73 wrote:
Not that I would let her, but if my 6 year old daughter couldn't find the next gate for a flight I would be shocked. I will take out situations where interterminal tram or bus rides are involved.

In fact this has piqued my curiosity. I am going to have her find the right gate the next time we fly.

Same. My 4yo still remembers the gate number from the last flight we were on. Of course, he'd be a-ok with just riding the airport tram back and forth all day. He might stop to take a few rides on the glass elevators. I can only imagine traveling through somewhere like the ATL with him. He'd never let us leave the trams.

Okie - just go to google maps or the airport website and get him to check out the lay of the land before going. I always look over a map or two before heading to unfamiliar territory. Then people always ask me how the hell I know my way around if I've never been there before. Neutral

_________________
Quote:
That's Mr. Gingermex to you a$$hole.


RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Blog Visit poster's website
wakeboarderdave1
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 25 Apr 2005
Posts: 3161
City: St. Thomas, MO

PostPosted: Mar 12, 2015 4:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

chavez wrote:
Okie - just go to google maps or the airport website and get him to check out the lay of the land before going. I always look over a map or two before heading to unfamiliar territory. Then people always ask me how the hell I know my way around if I've never been there before. Neutral


If your kid has a smartphone he could even use google maps to navigate while in the airport. You could probably cache/backup the map so it would be available w/o a data connection as well.

_________________
RIP DLS.

"When you've got that many stars on your hat, you're pretty good." - Keith Jackson
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Blog Visit poster's website
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Mar 12, 2015 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those are both good ideas, thanks.
_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: Jun 24, 2015 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, both boys have now flown to their destinations. Our oldest left in late May, spent about a week in CA with family and has been in WY ever since. He's working hard and going through some growing pains in that area. My in-laws have already had to have a few talks with him about working with a joyful heart, not complaining and not worrying about what other people are doing, getting paid, etc. The youngest left yesterday and had a good flight. He is already enjoying some time with the family and doing some special things with my parents. He had some down time this afternoon and sent my wife a text saying "Mommy, I miss you and I want to come home". We figured he would deal with a bit more homesickness than the older one. We were very happy with the way their flights went and how they each dealt with it. It sounds like the flight attendants did give them some special attention, as well.
_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> Non-Wakeboarding All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Add To Favorites

Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
             


Copyright © 2012 - Wakeboarding - Wakeboarder.com - All Right Reserved
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group