[JustBarbara]

Ahhhh - NO! I would not let my 2 1/2 year old walk the three blocks to the store alone so no way would I even think of letting him on a plane full of strangers. Below is what I googled on the subject

Until recently, most of the major carriers generally let unaccompanied kids as young as 5 years old take connecting flights.
But in the last year, Delta and Northwest have raised the minimum age to 8 for kids traveling solo on connecting flights. US Airways last October bumped the age up to 15, matching the policy of merger partner America West. Airlines generally allow children as young as 5 to travel alone on non-stops. On direct flights with no change of planes, policies vary. Some airlines allow the younger children to travel, some don't.

[Waiting4Celeste]

I won't even let my 6 1/2 year old walk down the street in our VERY SAFE neighborhood to school... I can't imagine feeling OK putting my child on a plane alone.

I don't think I'll let our kids fly alone EVER - until they are adults. I would NEVER forgive myself if something happened.

There are TOO many variables in air travel... planes do sometimes arrive early (that happened to us on the way to Orlando) or what if the grandma is late to pick up the child? Who is responsible for making sure that the child isn't roaming around the airport alone? *shudder*

How will a stranger explain to a child the reasons the plane is sitting on the runway if there is a delay? How comforting could a stranger really be to that child? Again, I'd never forgive myself if I later found out my child was crying because would a 3 year old really understand why Mommy isn't there and can't be reached.

I just don't get people... a THREE YEAR OLD can hardly pee by themselves - WHY oh WHY would anyone think they could handle a flight? I can hardly handle flying and I'm an adult.

And why is the trend moving towards giving younger kids more responsibility than they are developmentally prepared for?

Sorry - but this just put a bee in my bonnet!
It only takes ONCE to make a decision that could cause a lifetime of regret.

[sak9645]

I have a very mature daughter. She was an "old soul" at three, and she's quite the young woman at 12.

She has never flown alone yet. I did allow her to fly, at 12, with a chaperone from her school and three other children, from DC to an Indian reservation in Montana; she and the other three kids won an essay contest entitling them to the trip, where they studied Indian culture and religion for four days. That was the first time she flew without me, and I knew she could handle it, as well as sharing a hotel room with the other girl.

At this time, I would definitely let Becca fly alone on a direct, nonstop flight, if the opportunity presented itself and a very reliable person was meeting her on the other end. She has taken a two hour train ride by herself and had no problems. I am NOT sure that I would allow her to fly alone if she had to change planes, no matter how much I paid for an airline "escort".

I must say, however, that I would not have considered letting Becca fly alone even three years ago, when she was nine.

I CERTAINLY would not have let her fly alone at three. She was barely toilet trained by day and in pullups at night, was so tiny that she would not be well protected by a seat belt, had stayed overnight with people other than me only on one occasion, when I shattered a kneecap, and so on.

I can't imagine a three year old flying alone, any more than I can imagine him/her going on an errand to the grocery store three blocks away. A three year old, no matter how mature, is still a baby in many ways. He/she needs lots of supervision, and especially parental supervision.

Sharon

[cbmstephanie]

Originally Posted by trixila

No disrespect to your MIL, but my first thought would be "she's gotta stop smoking that crack cocaine!"

I agree...she's on crack if she thinks I'm putting my 3 year old on any sort of transportation without me. She doesn't even ride her trike without me by her side. Do you really think she could sit on a plane during take off without her mama?? Not my kid, no way, no how!

[angel_bayou]

I think 18 would work for me!! I'm a freak when it comes to my kids going anyewhwere alone. I seriously have anxiety when I even think about it!! I hate to even let my son go to a public bathroom alone and I stnad outside the door the entire time watching who goes in and comes out! Seriously this is my WORST fear!!

[drjeanne]

"Tell your MIL, she is welcome to come visit you, book a hotel and take your child for an afternoon- but there is no way under the sun or over your dead body that you as the parent are putting pre-schooler/toddler on a plane alone. " posted by DEB!

OH MY GOSH Deb! The comment about "book a hotel" made me spit my water onto my monitor! hahahahahahahaha Hilarious! Your MIL doesn't even get the privilege to stay in your home huh? hahahahahahahahha

Good one!
Jeanne