Too young to fly on a plane alone?

[Medical Kid]

hey this is gonna sound like a weird question, but what age would you consider too young to fly on a plane? I would say why I'm asking......but its kinda personal......

[Josh69]

iwould probably say around 7- 9 but the flight attendant would help them so i dont really know.

[Oblivion]

I assume this is about a family member or friend, so i would say...

"*Airlines don't accept children as "unaccompanied minors" until they're over the age of 5. From approximately the ages of 5--12, children MUST fly as "unaccompanied minors." And, above that age, tweens and teens have the OPTION to fly unaccompanied with no special regulations...but they MAY unroll in the "unaccompanied minors" program until the age of 18." From http://www.family-vacation-getaways-at-los-angeles-theme-parks.com/child-flying-alone.html

If they are 5-12 they must fly/get on/off the plane with a flight attendant

Im pretty sure this is a verified resource as in legal stuff in the US, not positive though

[Techno Monster]

If they are not alone, I would say 9months to a year.

[Sakurachan]

I would say that as well.

I like this thread.

I consider kids aged 5-9 should be with an attendent IMO.

[Random_oso06]

i think it's 8-13

[Medical Kid]

thanks everyone, and especially yoda for the awesome website!!!!!

[Medical Kid]

oh! and since your all so nice, I think you deserve to hear the full story, ok so I wanna visit my cousin this summer, but my whole family cant go cuz were busy looking for a house, so last year my aunt is like "well you can visit us again next summer and just take a plane if your ok with flying by yourself" i was excited cuz i love that side of the family, there really nice, and my mom said that she thinks i can do it!!!!!!! but heres the bad part, my dad is REALLY uptight about things like this, so I'm afraid if I tell him, he wont let me and we'll get in argument AGAIN, because he always treats me like a baby about everything............but thanks again for being so supportive everyone

[The Batman]

I'd say anything under 16 not because of lack of trust with the youth but lack of trust with other people. I think that 16 is a good age because that teen would be more mature, more able to make smarter reactions to bad events, and a lot more able to defend themselves to to bad people. There are so many pedophiles, thieves, murderers, con artists, and just bad people in the world that pry on little kids that it's sad. I think that 13 is way too young because you are a lot more vulnerable and confused that someone could easily come up to you and say the right thing to gain your trust and then end up using you in some kind of way not just sexual, and most of the time it's someone you wouldn't expect doing something like that who is doing it. It could be the flight attendant, the pilot, the guy your sitting next to, or some random person waiting at the airport.

[Medical Kid]

*sighs* thats exactly what dads gonna say.....................

[The Batman]

I'm sorry

[Oblivion]

Tell him that if he pays a little extra, he can get a flight attendant to watch you and help you get on and off, and make sure you get to your aunt safely... Good luck :)

[Medical Kid]

Darkwing, dont be sorry, your just trying to be supportive and stuff...........I guess that flight attendant thing might work, and i will tell you guys all about his answer, but um, if you may, I need one more lil piece of advice, ok when hes angry at me,, he NEVER says yes, but when hes in a good mood he gradually excepts alot of stuff, so any ideas on how to put a dad in a really good mood?

[Oblivion]

Get him a ice cold beer :D

Help around the house, and do your chores and stuff... But don't be too obvious! :D

[Medical Kid]

errrr hes withdrawn from alcohol so the first one isnt a possibility.

[Oblivion]

Ahh ok, well try getting him his favorite drink, or even making it

[LifeIsMyJoke]

Medical my man! I tend to agree a little with Darkwing. It's not so much because YOU are untrustworthy on your own, its more that others can see a vulnerable child where you see yourself.

On my last trip overseas I saw a few kids sitting up the back, and the flight attendant aiding them, they looked around 10-12 years old, and they seemed to go fine. And I'm sure that in most cases you would too.

And as far as trying to keep Dad happy, I think the best thing to do is just stay well behaved, help around the house, ask him how his day was, etc. Don't go overboard, as he will guess what you are doing =D

At 13 I believe you are STARTING to become an adult. Unfortunately the world of travel is predominantly an adults world, where children are vulnerable, not that you are a child, but thats just how you might be perceived.

But help is available, and I wouldn't imagine any Air Hostesses or anyone taking any form of advantage of you. So I think its a fairly safe option, travelling by yourself at your age, but theres always a VERY MINOR risk involved. I'm sure you will be fine though man, and doing this would open a new chapter of responsibility in your young life which your Dad would surely be proud of =]

Its just that you cant trust other people.

[byee]

Of course, the larger issue is how you and your family determine your ability to take on more independence as you become more of an adult. If you talk with your dad more generally about that (and use the upcoming possibility of flying alone as an example), you're more likely to address THE issue, and avoid an argument over just an example of it (the flying alone). And, you'll likely be seen as more mature and responsible, too.

Parents, even the most 'uptight' ones, recognize that they have to allow more freedoms with age. How you bring it up and discuss it has a lot to do with the outcome, so remember to be calm and take a longer view of this, it's not just about this one flight.

[Medical Kid]

aw thanks, you guys are so supportive :D but thats my point i know when something isnt right, really i can just tell from a gut feeling on whether someone is ok to talk to but in this case i wouldnt talk to ANYONE on the plane, and if someone was bugging me like an adult, even someone my age, I'd ask the flight attendant to make sure they didnt bother me, sound like a good plan?

[LifeIsMyJoke]

Better to be safe than sorry bro =D

[gookmique]

i can't say i understand the question. i've rode on planes with babies before, so i don't think there's really any age you can't fly on a plane. or, do you mean by yourself? a friend of mine, from germany, says hes flown on planes at the age of 10 before, by himself. i guess at any age you can fly on a plane, it's just matters on the persons capacity to actually navigate through a terminal, LOL!

[Medical Kid]

Guess what everyone? I finally talked to my parents about it, they are actually considering it! plus my aunt said over the phone that she would love to have me over......things are going as planned, now all I need to do is find a cheap airline :yeah::yeah: :D

[kerry]

yougest i would say is 7 years old. Also if you are under a certain age you cant go on a plane anyways. most children should be accompanied by an adult ! :rolleyes: