How old does a child have to be to fly alone?

[eleusis]

From London to Chicago. I'm being hounded by my sisters in Chicago to see my kids before they are grown. And so I'm thinking about sending her on her own next summer for a couple of weeks. She will be 5 in March. Is this old enough?

A friend of mine lives in NY and her stepdaughter regularly does the trip from Paris and has done since she was very little. I expect it depends on the airline - ring around?

www.britishairways.com/travel/childinfo/public/en_gb

Age Restrictions: All US airlines agree that all unaccompanied minors must be over 5 years old. The upper limit, though, is different depending on the airline. Some airlines?like AirTran, Spirit, and United Airlines?will allow children to travel alone at 12 years old. Others, like Delta, American, Northwest, and Frontier agree that 15 is a more appropriate age.

So yes she can do it, but do you think she would cope?

are you serious? sending a 5 yr old on a plane alone?
would you send her on a 10 minute bus journey alone?

omg am totally shocked that they would even allow a 5 yr old to travel alone! that's awful

She'll have to be six on BA, I'm afraid. They offer a service for children aged between 6 and 12, which we've used many times. Other airlines may have different policies, though.

I did it regularly as a child myself and thoroughly enjoyed it!

FWIW my sister and I didn't start until we were 8 and 9.

Sorry but I would not even think about putting my child into the hands of complete strangers for 12 hrs at that age . WOuld rather take her out and fly back myself or wait a few years.

Smartarse the BA website says from 5 upwards.

My only concern would be that the States isn't around the corner so it would hardly be for a weekend. How would she feel about being away from you for a while?

if your sisters are that desperate then why don't they come and visit you?

Oh, sorry CoV - I didnt' check. Thought it was 6. But thinking back, mine almost certainly did it at 5.

They're not unaccompanied, they have someone with them the whole time (you pay for the service). On each occasion, we've had delightful people - one even still sends them postcards from her travels, even though she only met them the once 4 years ago! - and aeroplanes are usually busy places.

But then I'm probably a cr@p parent.

DS was 12 when he went to NZ and back on his own at xmas
there was 5 and 6 yr old brothers flying out as far as Bangkok alone.
But as ds said, the airlines nannies were more watchful than parents of others he said!

Yep, basically, I'm considering sending a five year old on a 7 hour flight across the atlantic to see her extended family. I do actuallythink she could cope. She LOVES planes. And, the way there is an overnight flight so she'd sleep for most of it. I'll only do it if she wants to go. But, I dare say the 5 year old would be very much in favour of the plan.

And, no I wouldn't send her a bus alone down the street. But bus doors open and close along the way and she'll be hard pressed to make an unplanned exit from the plane.

Okay, so a couple of you think I'm crazy. Perhaps I am. But, then, I don't want her to grow up not knowing her cousins.

They do look after kids very well, but I would wait until 7 I think

And I don't think you are crazy at all! Much less dangerous than getting a bus I reckon...

I think it depends on the child in question. My dd is 5 and she would cope fine, she is very confident and good aat entertaining herself, where as my neice of the same age would never cope. I wouldn't ever send her, but then I have no need to anyway. As a child my parents lived all over the world and we travelled alone from the age of 8 right through to university every school holiday.

"if your sisters are that desperate then why don't they come and visit you?"

HA HA HA If only you knew how many times I have said that to them.

I'm with you, eleusis. Depends on the child and if she's up to the adventure, then good on her! I really don't see what harm can come to her on a plane. They get really well looked after and love all the one-to-one attention and freebies!

But as I say, I think some people might find my parenting style to be a little casual ...!

How well does your child know the extended family? And how long will she be away for?

I personally can't imagine my 5yo going off on a long haul plane journey by herself, and visiting family she doesn't know very well without me.

Oh, and every time I did it as a child, I was put in 1st Class at the front of the plane where they could keep an eye on me (although I don't think I ever got the free champagne, unfortunately!)