15 Year Old Flying Alone

[Luanne]

Update --
She is flying Southwest to her destination. On Southwest, she is considered a Young Traveler, not an Unaccompanied Minor. No fees and she does NOT need to escorted through security , to the gate, etc.

I'm paying the $150 fee to get her home on United as an Unaccompanied Minor.

Both flights are direct, non-stop.

I've read both airlines policies very closely and understand everything.

So we are all set and I feel very comfortable with the arrangements -- and so does she.

My younger dd has flown unaccompanied for years. Her "worst" experience was on Delta where she felt like she was treated like an infant. She was an experience solo flyer and felt babied. It was also the only airline that I remember having to pay a fee for.

A short (funny) story, in my mind. She attended high school in Pennsylvania, we were living in California. Her flight included a stop at Dulles airport. When we took her to school we had her lead us through the airport so that we'd all feel comfortable that she's be able to navigate it. It wasn't until she's flown back and forth a few times that I realized we'd never discussed what she should do if a flight was delayed, or cancelled. So I called her and told her I had a question, with no right or wrong answer. I asked her to walk me through what she'd do if her flight was delayed or cancelled. Her answer. "1. Call us so we'd know. 2. Call her school so they'd know. 3. Find a United agent and ask them HOW THE HELL THEY WERE GOING TO GET HER HOME!" Good answer.

 

[Cornell]

Luanne , Love this. These experiences are great for kids to give them the confidence. I'm not worried about my daughter one bit in this!

(Ok -- I'm a little worried that she'll leave her luggage in the airport bathroom!)

 

[LisaH]

Now you just need someone to vouch for me.

I’ll vouch for you anytime!

 

[Luanne]

Another travel story. Same daughter. She is hesitant about meeting up with people she doesn't know. There was one time she went to New York City on a school trip (high school) and I offered to put her in touch with some people I knew, but she'd never met. She said no. But...............on another school trip (this one in college) to Geneva, Switzerland they had a weekend off. I had an old family friend (male) who was living in Zurich at the time. Dd had NO hesitation to take up his offer of staying in his apartment for that weekend. Heck, a free place to stay, with a tour guide, in Zurich. She was all over that. As she said "Well you know him Mom". And I did, I'd pretty much grown up with him, our parents were best friends. She had a great time, by the way.

 

[PigsDad]

When we took her to school we had her lead us through the airport so that we'd all feel comfortable that she's be able to navigate it.

We started doing this with our daughter when she was about 5 years old. We would make it a game, and she would lead us through the airport, train station, etc. Always thought knowing how to navigate an airport or train station is a good life skill to have. She has flown unaccompanied since she was about 8 or 9 to visit grandparents, and it is nice not having to worry about her too much (she's 16 now).

Kurt

 

[Luanne]

We started doing this with our daughter when she was about 5 years old. We would make it a game, and she would lead us through the airport, train station, etc. Always thought knowing how to navigate an airport or train station is a good life skill to have. She has flown unaccompanied since she was about 8 or 9 to visit grandparents, and it is nice not having to worry about her too much (she's 16 now).

Kurt

My scariest experience with her was when she was in high school. She flew alone to the UK to stay with a friend. The friend is an adult who is teaching in Kent. My dd took the train into London several times, and saw a lot of the surrounding area. She and the friend took the train to Paris one weekend and my daughter then went on to Switzerland to spend some time with a family we'd known in California (her old Girl Scout leader). Okay, all of this was fine. What worried me was her trip alone back from Switzerland to the UK. She had to change trains, and train stations, in Paris. She doesn't speak French. But she was just fine. I did rest a lot easier when I got the message she was on the train back to the UK.

 

[PigsDad]

My scariest experience with her was when she was in high school. She flew alone to the UK to stay with a friend. The friend is an adult who is teaching in Kent. My dd took the train into London several times, and saw a lot of the surrounding area. She and the friend took the train to Paris one weekend and my daughter then went on to Switzerland to spend some time with a family we'd known in California (her old Girl Scout leader). Okay, all of this was fine. What worried me was her trip alone back from Switzerland to the UK. She had to change trains, and train stations, in Paris. She doesn't speak French. But she was just fine. I did rest a lot easier when I got the message she was on the train back to the UK.

Yes, as a parent that would also give me concerns, but it sounds like you did a good job teaching her. Congrats!

Kurt

 

[MULTIZ321]

Update --
She is flying Southwest to her destination. On Southwest, she is considered a Young Traveler, not an Unaccompanied Minor. No fees and she does NOT need to escorted through security , to the gate, etc.

I'm paying the $150 fee to get her home on United as an Unaccompanied Minor.

Both flights are direct, non-stop.

I've read both airlines policies very closely and understand everything.

So we are all set and I feel very comfortable with the arrangements -- and so does she.

Hi Cornell,

See this previous Tug Thread on the Difference Between Direct and NonStop Flights


Richard

 

[Talent312]

At 15 (in a former lifetime), I was the navigator for my family's month-long trip thru Europe.
No GPS, cell phones or Internet. But, of course, you need to know your own kid.
IMHO, the ability of 15 year olds to adapt to challenges is underrated.

 

[Cornell]

Hi Cornell,

See this previous Tug Thread on the Difference Between Direct and NonStop Flights


Richard

I know the difference! Not sure why people think I don't! Thanks anyways.

 

[MULTIZ321]

I know the difference! Not sure why people think I don't! Thanks anyways.

Hi Cornell,

Didn't mean to insult you - I posted that link because the wording in your post was ambiguous.

Best regards,
Richard

 

[Cornell]

^^ No problem. Just mis-understanding in the posts. I appreciate everyone's advice & thoughts. Great info for me and helpful in my planning. Thank you all.