I need to vent. My boys are going to be flying out to visit their Dad for the first time, during Thanksgiving break. We agreed that since it’s the first time, one of us would accompany them there and the other one, back home. For reference, they are going from Orlando to Dallas and their ages are 13 in January, 11 in December, and 8. Well, when Dad booked their tickets he did so as unaccompanied minors and I am terrified. My older boys did this a couple of times when they were younger and while I didn’t like it, I was ok. My issues now are that one, this isn’t what we agreed on and two, that the world we live in now, is just not what it was back then. I wish I could fly with them but I’m recovering from surgery and can’t travel. I know I need to make peace with this but I was just blindsided with this today. Does anyone have any positive experiences with their kids flying alone that they can share? They’re flying Southwest. Thank you!
My daughter flew alone when she was 7. She did amazing and honestly loved it because he felt like a big girl. They assign a person to your kids that will be with them the whole time. They will never be on their own and they take great care of the kids during the flight as well. It’ll be ok. I promise. I was really worried about it too
My boys 9 & 10 loved it. They flew AZ to MD round-trip to spend this past summer with their grandmother. You are with them until they step on the plane & the other parent picks them up from the gate (which I’m sure you know). They took a cool picture in the cockpit & were looked after by a flight attendant during the flight.
As a former flight attendant they will be fine. They will sit in one of the first 3 rows. There are numerous signatures from beginning to end to ensure someone is always responsible. I have flown unaccompanied fro 5-12 almost every year to go see family. They will be fine.
My husband and his brother used to fly from HK to London to catch a train to go to school. His brother was eight. Unaccompanied minors are absolutely fine on planes and yours will have the benefit of a family member meeting them.
I flew alone when I was 13 they come and get you at the gate and seat you and same when landing and checked on me during the flight. Also you can go through security and to their gate with them
Is it court order they have to fly out to see him
My kids have been flying alone since they were 14 and 12. They’ve flown on Southwest, but not as Unaccompanied Minors. They just went. On their first few flights, we asked for a security pass so we could accompany them to the gate. Southwest was typically willing to provide that.
They had their phones if they needed anything. We stayed near the airport until their flights left. Southwest usually has free in-flight messaging, so we’d church with them periodically.
My kids always felt safe. We felt safe with them flying.
I can definitely see how that would upset you that he did it differently than planned. But I’d just like to point out the world is actually less violent than it was. Crime rates have dropped over 50% since the 90’s.
Southwest is amazing just walk them to the gate . Go to the desk and ask for a ticket to get through security with them . They can board after A group. And I stayed there till there plane took off . My grandparents met them at the gate when they landed .
I flew as an unaccompanied minor and it’s perfectly fine…
I used to fly to Mexico every year from age 8-13- you can request for an attendant to walk them to their gate and wait for them to
Get on.
I flew alone as a young child. There will 100000% be someone on that flight or multiple someone’s that will look out for them. In addition to the stewardess. They will do great momma! I know it’s scary, but there’s more good people out there then bad, and I guarantee someone will look out for them. Every time I flew as a young child I was adopted by someone during the flight and they looked out for me and made sure I was ok! Plus your kiddos will have each other. Just tell your older two they’re EACH be holding a hand of their little brother at all times. No exceptions. You should be able to walk them to the gate, and being unattended in the airport would be the scariest part.
Safer on a plane than in a school these days
If it’s in writing on a court order I’d talk to your lawyer.
My brother and I flew alone from Arkansas to California. I was about 9 and my brother was 5. They assigned a flight attendant to basically babysit us. My brother had wicked adhd, so that flight was fun. This was many moons ago. And you’re right, the world we live in now, I don’t think I’d ever send my kids on a flight alone.
The airlines have escorts for unaccompanied child travelers.
I (12) flew to Hawaii with a family friend (14) and it was fine, even though it became a sh!t show. This was in the late 90s and I guess the airline employees went on strike right as we got there. The flight attendants took care of everything. Which included flying from St Louis to Chicago to Minneapolis to Seattle to Oahu then finally to Kaui. We had to switch flights and airlines and it became a 16 hour ordeal, BUT we were first priority. They took care of everything because we were minors and they HAD to get us to our destination no matter what. And they did. And, all our bags made it too! And they gave us really good food too. 
. Long story short, minors come first, they know if there is some sort of issue children can’t stay in a hotel or airport overnight or for hours so they make it work. Hopefully this helps calm your nerves to know that if things do just go crazy, they will be taken care of. I have flown since a very young age, so I was super comfortable with flying and honestly could have gotten myself from one terminal to another without help if I had to. Just prepare them. And DON’T let them know you are freaking out because your anxiety will leak over to them. It will be fine! Seriously. They will get your children to you no matter what!! 
So just take a soothing breath and I know that if I was able to make it through multiple airlines and SIX different airports (where a lot could have gone wrong) they make a simple flight just fine! Breath momma, it will be ok!
Take a breath of relief Mamma- your kids will be great, and they will always have this wonderful experience, they will feel so accomplished! Bravo~
My kids used to fly back and forth between Las Vegas and New Mexico…they were 5 and 6 when they started flying alone. We never had any issues and I actually found it to be a good thing, boosting their confidence and mine.
I flew by myself at age 10 and up. I never had any issues. Just make sure your child knows where they are going and what flight numbers. Explain everything to them. Lay out the rules and expectations. You know your kids better than anyone. Can they be responsible enough and mature enough?
My oldest would always fly alone I mean they have an adult there to watch them
My 8 year old flew alone to see my mom in California a short flight and my 10 year old has flown twice to Virginia to see my in-laws with lay overs involved. He actually asked for longer lay overs because he likes the game snack room. They loved it. We do the unaccompanied minor.
Your kids will receive excellent care and more attention as unaccompanied minors. I always got cookies! And sometimes a tour of the cockpit! There are legal obligations, don’t worry mama.
Unaccompanied minors, you pay an extra fee and there is am employee who oversees them and makes sure they get to where they are going. They will be just fine. They have an adult watching over them.
I’m scared to fly myself and I’m 67.
My children grew up doing this. Maryland to Florida every summer. Started at 5. Now my granddaughter does it … and I pay extra and someone fight attendant stays w her. I’ve never had a problem
I fly southwest often. I just witnessed a dad accompany a minor to the gate. The boy was escorted on by a gate agent in the very beginning of boarding. It seemed very safe. If it would make you feel more comfortable tell the oldest to look out for another family and if they have any issues ask the mom for help.
I flew alone at 8. As long as it’s a direct flight with Dad or you at the other end there should be no problem. Your kids should stick together. Worrying doesn’t help anything, so let it go.
They be good they actually not going fly alone more likely the airlines will have a person sitting with them o checking on them through out the whole time and at the airport they will have a person help them from one plane to another
Your child will be taken care of as if she is a queen
My husband was acting strange again then he left me so I decided to leave then I found physics Lewis online and I explain everything to him he told me to send his picture and full name then I did and he told me I should hold on that he will be back, then he came and said that my husband loves me but there is a woman who is trying to separate our relationship that is why he cast a love spell on my husband but now we are living happily together now 
and once again All thanks to physics Lewis, if you are also in a situation I advise you to dm his page
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