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@blackbird: I can't imagine what a nightmare it would be for the airlines if kids were allowed to run solo through airports
picturing my wild stepson in particular high jacking a plane or riding the luggage carts
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@Anagram: I got stuck once overnight coming back from Paris at 16. My dad called the airline, so instead of getting to be put up in a hotel, they stuck me in their kid's room (a glorified playroom in the back of their workspace.) It was super awkward. I'd have preferred the airport floor. My next flight wasn't until the middle of the day the next day, and finally I had my dad call and "release" me from the room. Great contingency plan for a 10 year-old. A particularly sucky one for a 16 year-old.
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I would love my kids to be able to visit my parents unaccompanied, but it's three flights to get there which is a bit much. I think the minimum age is 9? I remember sitting beside a girl who was flying solo for the first time at Christmas to visit her dad. She told me allll about it.
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Never ever. There isn't anyone out of this state who they woukd need to fly to to see. Ever.
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I wish that I could say around 8, but I feel like I would want them to be closer to 10 and 12. I flew unaccompanied a few times around that age and felt totally fine. But it was easy--direct flights, accompanied by my parents to the gate, and then picked up at the other end.
I also went on an exchange to Ecuador when I was 16. This blows my MIND that I did that. I read my diary from that year a while back and at one point I brag about not having talked to my parents for 9 weeks. IMAGINE. Good lord.
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@mrbee: maybe, but one of my last flights I was stuck behind a woman who was upset to find out there was no way the airline would watch her 13-year-old son.
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I flew by myself the first time when I was 9, and it was totally fine. Though at that time my parents could accompany me all the way to the gate and I was met at the gate. Pretty sure you can't do that anymore (though honestly you would think with a young child you would). I would have to take into consideration LO's maturity, etc, but I think maybe 7 or 8?
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Wow i'm kind of surprised by the answers! I was flying unaccompanied with my sister from the age of 5 (France --> Canada) and I loved it!! I live in Australia and my family lives in Canada, and I know I will want to send him home to visit his grandparents and aunts and uncles when he has school holidays in June/July, but for the whole family to go we'd be looking at $10000+ and too much time off work. Qantas and Air Canada have great UM programs so I'm guessing I'll start sending him when he's school aged, 6 or 7?
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I honestly don't think I could face doing this until they were 16. But maybe that's because I didn't even fly for the first time until I was 17, that was without my parents though. I am scared of flying now so I would have major anxiety thinking of my kids on a plane without me or DH.
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Considering it's different now and more difficult/ impossible to have someone meet the child at the gate once they land, I wouldn't let my kids do that until at least 12 years old, and even then I feel that is quite young.
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I flew by myself every summer starting at 5. My parents are divorced (my mom and I live in CA and my dad in DC). The only thing I didn't like about it was having to spend so much time on the plane... they make you board first and you're the last to get off the plane.
This was pre-9/11, so my dad always met me at the gate and my mom actually came on the plane with me once or twice while I boarded.
picturing my wild stepson in particular high jacking a plane or riding the luggage carts
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