What age do you think a kid can fly without an adult?
 

My daughter (14) has been invited to travel within the states with a friend who is also 14. No adults but there will be family at their destination. What age do you think is ok to have kids travel by themselves?

If you arrange it with the airline very young children can fly.....by product of divorce

I flew from West to East coast when I was 9 solo. My parents didn't give a shit about me though. Just glad I was going to be gone for 3 months.

I flew from Canada to Germany alone when I was 8, no probs at all

Airlines are used to that kind of scenario, you just make sure the flight attendants etc are aware of the situation. It'll be even easier for your daughter since there's no tedious customs to clear.

a 14 yr old can handle this, no question

I think 14 is fine, but I would have a way to track where they are at all times like their user/pass to "Find my iPhone" or something.

I used to fly my son, (aged about 9 or 10) from the UK to LAX and back to see me, on multiple occasions back in the early 2000s...

He flew as an 'unaccompanied minor' and there was never an issue.

I traveled when young but it can suck.
The only problem is if there is a creep traveling and I did see a couple over a few trips.

When I was a kid if an adult tried to help me too much then I decided they were a creep.
I still think that makes sense.

Oh wait since you're her mother and she's a minor can't you just call the airline and get a "Gate pass" through security and be with her at the gate until she walks on the plane? Then its no problem at all.

21, minimum

No different than sending a package Fed/Ex.

Just be absolutely sure you have them sign for it upon delivery.

I flew to Scotland alone when i was 14. No big deal. Parents made sure i got on the plane, my aunt and uncle picked me up.

14 is old enough to fly alone. Just make sure Bill Cosby is not sitting next to them.

:1orglaugh

EDIT : To try to sale some of that pudding.


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There won't be any adults in the airplane?

Yea, since this is just state to state, I am leaning towards letting her go. Gotta let her grow up sometime I guess.

A family friend recently flew their 5 year old daughter to the UK from Africa solo. The airline arranged a chaperone and even the transfer in Amsterdam.

Like 15 hours or something.

I wasn't going to comment in this thread, but thats just ridiculous

My kid is 14 and I would let her go on her own. All they really have to do is find the gate and get on the plane in time, then find their way out to the baggage area. Easy enough for a 14 year old. And everyone has cell phones, and with the amount of security at the airports... She'll be fine.

What if she is actually travelling with her boyfriend and he wants to join the mile high club? I was banging teachers when I was 14.

Do you think she is capable of coping? - At 14 she should be...

If I was in charge of an airline, bus company, etc, I would want nothing to do with a minor. The positive is one ticket sold the negatives/liabilities are endless. To answer your question, 18, minimum.

I flew alone at 9. That was a long time ago, but I wouldn't have a problem with at that age, because airline staff has an eye on them from start to finish.

When I was in 3rd - 4th grade I would get on a bus in a St Louis suburb, ride downtown to the old Bush Stadium and watch the Cardinals have batting practice before games. My father would join me after work and we would watch the gave and drive home. Today my parents would probably be arrested for child endangerment.

I started at 5 years old :2 cents:

I think most airlines have a service that is free of charge where the stewardess will take them off the plane and give them to an airport employee who then goes with them through customs and hands them to the designated person. I could be wrong on the charge, but i see that haappening when i travel.

Has she flown before? My kids fly a lot and flew alone at about that age.

i flew alone when i was 8 or so - they put a sign on me and i got taken care of by the FAs

I flew "alone" (without parents) when I was 17. With bus much sooner. Although I have hunted alone since 15 years of old. For example my dad dropped me in the woods at friday and picked me up at sunday. Just later on, actually during this year he revealed that he then wondered whether it was good idea or not. I still think it was a good idea. There wasn't even that many wolves or bears. :)

I have no answer for your question per se; when you think your kids are ready, I don't know those background.

yup, they get a badge to wear on the plane and the airlines do look after them:2 cents:

I flew my grandson frequently alone when he was around 8 or 9, at first I was hesitant but once they explained the procedure to leave him with the FA's I was fine.

He loved it b because he got to hang out with all the pretty stewardesses.

When the flight arrived they delivered him to me upon seeing my ID.

14 is fine, let the airline know and they will even get a little special treatment.

Flying
 

When I saw the heading I thought you meant piloting a small plane. Seems every few months, in the news some kid about 12 gets their pilot's license.

When we've flown children we have to check in at the counter, where they get an ID card to wear. Once they have go through security, an air line employee escorts them onto the plane, where a crew member becomes responsible for them. I've seen grade school kids fly by themselves. 1st time I flew I was 16. Old enough for a drivers license, so I was treated as an adult.

I know last time my GF flew her daughter, there was a special charge for an unaccompanied child. Think is was $50.

I would think 14 is OK. Depends on the child really.

Depends on the kid.

dont quit your day job :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Wow, not sure about that - and here I am wondering about a 14 year old

Thanks my dear. You are right

She has flown a lot domestic and international but I have always been with her.