What age to fly internationally ALONE

[niccig]

So this isn't going to happen anytime soon, as DS is only 5 years old.

My mother in Australia said that when I go back to work full-time, we could send DS to her over the summer instead of daycamp etc. There is no way DS is flying 14+ hours by himself, yes I know the flight attendants watch them etc, but it's too far, too long by himself. I didn't take her comment seriously, so didn't address it with her - not worth the argument.

I suppose at some point we could have DS go there on his own, but I'm thinking 15 or so at the earliest.

If my mother wants to help out over the summer, she can come here (retired, in good health and can afford the airfare) or she can fly here and then fly back with him and we fly to pick him up and stay for a bit.

I think my mum is annoyed that MIL has looked after DS for a week, but she flew to us, so totally different situation.

Oh, and this is the grandmother that is too busy with tennis and friends to visit us this year, so why would I send my 5 yo to stay with her for a few weeks, when she can't make time to see him?

[Avispa]

I flew from Canada to Germany on my own when I was 9, and it wasn't a direct flight. My parents sent my brothers at an even younger age, 7 and 8, but they were together.
That said, I don't know if I would do the same with my DD, I have heard stories of children left on their own, forgotten by flight attendants, etc. I guess it depends on how much you trust the airline company to leave your child with them.

[JBaxter]

In this day and age no earlier than 12 w/ a direct flight probably more like 14.

[niccig]

I guess it depends on how much you trust the airline company to leave your child with them.

I don't trust them with my luggage!!

We flew alone across the country at young age, actually before the days of "unaccompanied minors", so we were pretty much on our own. But this is a very long flight, customs, immigration etc. DS has already done this trip 3 times and will do it many times more, so he'll be used to it, but still I want adult supervision that I can trust.

[niccig]

In this day and age no earlier than 12 w/ a direct flight probably more like 14.

Thanks Jeana. I was hoping someone with older kids would have an idea - I don't know what I could expect of DS when he's a teenager.

I know at some point he'll fly it alone, but thankfully not for a long time.

[JustMe]

Ugh, international flying can be tough even as an adult! No way before 14-15. IMHO, if your mom really wants this she can fly here to pick your ds up and then bring him back. Yes, I know that's expensive, but it would be the only option I could think of....unless of course you want to fly ds out and then go pick him up. Of if you and mom each did the part of the trip from your home to some flight change point with ds.

[AnnieW625]

I would say high school so 14 at the earliest. However this advice is coming from someone who at 16 (even though I had been flying since birth) didn't go on a class trip to France because I knew my parents couldn't afford to send me and pay for one of them to go to.

[TwinFoxes]

15 seems old to me. I was driving by then. I was going to say 12. At that age they're old enough to speak of if there's a creep next to them, if they've flown before they probably won't be afraid of the flying part, and they can keep themselves entertained. But it's also probably one of those things where it depends a lot on the kid.

Honestly, I don't think flight attendants even claim to look after unaccompanied minors on airplanes. I don't know when they'd have the time on most flights. 7 is waaay to young I think for such a long flight!

[Corie]

I can't see my husband EVER letting this happen!! :) He is a huge worrier!

[pinkmomagain]

I have a 13 yo and couldn't imagine sending her on a 14hr flight alone any time soon. My dh would say never!

[fauve01]

OP, i'm sorry but when i saw the title of your post, the first thing that popped into my head was "um, 30?" ;)

honestly, i was 27 when DH and i moved overseas for his job, and when i flew back to the US the first time by myself (with 2 plane changes), it was a little overwhelming for *me*.:bag I honestly can't imagine when i think i'll think DD can do it alone. i'm sure it'll be before she's 27... :rotflmao:

[niccig]

Ugh, international flying can be tough even as an adult! No way before 14-15. IMHO, if your mom really wants this she can fly here to pick your ds up and then bring him back. Yes, I know that's expensive, but it would be the only option I could think of....unless of course you want to fly ds out and then go pick him up. Of if you and mom each did the part of the trip from your home to some flight change point with ds.

This is all I can think off too. Airfare is so expensive though, that it makes it very difficult.

If she wants to help, I can only see her coming here, but seeing that she's never volunteered to have DS for a weekend when we visit them, I really don't see it happening. My younger sister lives in the UK and on our next visit to her, she said she'll have DS for 3-4 days so we can get away. Mum has never offered. I'll need her to do a couple of days on her own before I go for a couple of weeks - and besides, I don't want DS to be gone for that long....

[JBaxter]

I would only do direct flights. A teenager I would not have an issues with putting on a plane ( iPod / video game / book/ snacks) I would have to walk them to the plane and wait till the closed the door then make sure someone is able to walk through customs to get them from the plane.
I would have much less issue flying a 10-12 yr old cross country non stop. Customs would be the more tricky thing even if the child has been through customs a few times.

[TonFirst]

I flew from Houston to London alone when I was 15, with a connection in Atlanta. No big whoop. I was a mature and extremely confident 15-year-old, but really, it was fine. I had a ball being that independent, and I really don't think my parents worried at all.

[KpbS]

I imagine the airlines have a rule about this--esp. for intl. flights. SIL wanted to put a 14/15 yo DS on a domestic flight and they were going to charge her a ton extra b/c he would have been unaccompanied. She ended up going w/ him and it was still less money.

[niccig]

I looked up QANTAS's requirements as they have a direct flight. Children under 6 can not fly internationally unaccompanied. 5 year olds can fly unaccompanied but only if the flight is under 5 hours. 6-11 years must be accompanied minors and from 12-15 years you have the option of specifying unaccompanied minor. For international flights, someone escorts you from check-in to gate and then from gate to the person picking you up, so you do have help with customs/immigration.

I still will not be comfortable with this until DS is a lot older, how old I'm not sure. I do think maybe around 14 or 15 years old. He will be doing this flight every 12-18 months with us, so maybe familiarity will help. I think we'll do a domestic flight to MIL BEFORE any international flight. At his current age, I can't imagine him going anytime soon.

[macassi]

I have thought of the possibility for my 12 year old, so I think I'd be comfortable at 13. But, we live outside the U.S., so my kids are getting a lot of experience on international flights. And, they've been flying within the U.S. at least once a year since birth. I have sent 2 of my 3 kids on a flight from SFO to Atlanta by themselves before, but an international flight requires they make their own way through customs, so it is trickier.

[cilantromapuche]

I went to schooal abroad and flew back and forth from the age of 7. but those were different times. DS is a total scaredy cat and I can see him freaking out until maybe 19? DD (who is younger) would travel by herself at 4. she thinks we are superfluous. I did travel occcasionally with my brother and we played a lot of card games.

[elephantmeg]

I was 13 or 14 I think-but shorter flights-Jamaica to North Carolina I think. But I think I could have handled going to Europe by 15. But I was very old for my age!

[mommylamb]

Um... I was 20 the first time I flew internationally on my own, and it was a long long flight (Hartford Connecticut to Sydney Australia with two flight changes). I don't think I could have done it much earlier than that to be honest. And now with all the security... even harder. That said, DS will probably do it earlier than I did because his grandmother lives in England.

[egoldber]

Well older DD will fly by herself as an unaccompanied minor this summer. She will be not quite 9. I think she will be totally fine, but she is a frequent and experienced flyer, which I think makes a HUGE difference. It's one thing for a kid to fly alone when they have seldom or never flown and quite another when they have done dozens of flights.

For international and especially to Australia (which is such a long flight), hmm.... Personally, I think that *I* would probably be OK with older DD doing that at age 10 or so, especially if she had had recent international experiences so that she understood the process of customs and immigration.

[alexsmommy]

Like all answers, depends on the individual child's maturity and personality, but at least 12/13 AND able to handle it if the plane was grounded for some reason in a strange country. Terroism, mechanical issues, volcanic ash... things happen. Is my child one who would not be traumatized by having to land in a strange country and potentially be stuck there overnight? Even if the airline did the best job possible, that would be seen as the ultimate adventure to some kids and would be traumatic to others. So I wouldn't overthink it just yet, you'll have a feel for when he might be ready in the future. DSD is 17 and honestly, I think she wouldn't have been ready until last year.

[Asianmommy]

My first instinct is to say 18! :)
But that seems extreme, even for me. I would say 15.

[stillplayswithbarbies]

when we went to Taiwan, my older son had to work so he flew alone to join us later. He was just turned 18 and had experience flying but not internationally before. It went okay, but he did call us a few times.

He flew alone cross country at age 5, and flew alone home from Alaska at age 15.

It's individual. And depends also on how much experience they have.

edited to add: the most important skill is how to tell time on a 24 hour clock! He called us from L.A, to say his flight was boarding at 6:30 and I knew that wasn't right. Further questioning him revealed that the board said "16:30". duh!

[HIU8]

I was 7 or 8 the first time I flew alone, but it was a domestic flight. I was 14 when I flew on a short flight alone to Toronto and 15 when I flew alone to the middle east. Having said that, my children won't be flying alone at those ages. I think 15 would be my absolute youngest I would even entertain the idea and it would depend on their maturity level.