How would you feel if you put your child on an airplane to go see their grandparents and discovered that the airline had messed up and sent the child to the wrong city?
That is just what happened to one family. Jonathan Kamas put his 10 year old daughter on an airplane in Boston to go visit with her grandparents in Ohio. When the child failed to show up at her destination, the grandparents called Mr. Kamas wondering where she was. And the airline had no idea. For almost an hour Mr Kamas did not know the whereabouts of his daughter, until HE figured out that maybe she had been put on the wrong plane because the gates were right next to each other. His daughter was in Newark, NJ.
And proving that this is not an isolated event, the very next day an 8 yr old was put on the wrong flight.
How do these things happen? You would think that airline workers wouldbe hypervigilant in the case of unaccompanied minors. Parents must pay extra fees for this service and trust that a system is in place that works.
My 10 yr old son was supposed to go visit a friend of his out of state this summer, but I think this latest news put the proverbial nail in the coffin on that trip. I just don’t feel comfortable sending him unescorted any longer.
What about you? Have you sent your child on an airplane alone? Is there a minimum age that you would consider allowing your child to fly unescorted? Or are you like me, a fence sitter who was just pushed over to one side by this latest news?
A lot depends on the child. If s/he is willing to ask other passengers if they are on the plane to Newark/Boston/Vegas/wherever it’s one thing, if the child walks around in a constant state of oblivion it’s another. OR you could buy a share in NetJets; my nephew flew a 10 year-old boy (and a cooler of salmon) on a leg of his trip from Alaska to CT.
Comment by Kathy from NJ — June 29, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
my best friend has sent her daughter (8) on the plane by herself a few time. Each time, she paid the “supervisory: fare, and extra fee to have someone assigned to watch her. Each time, they got their money back when the child reported that she could not tell you what the supervisory personnel looked like, and her bracelet was never signed off on. (each time she moves from person to person, they must sign a bracelet for tracking). Once, a mom, not airline personnel, walked her through security because she needed help.
I wouldn’t trust ANY minor to fly alone. EVER!
Comment by Claire — June 29, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
DS1 has been flying alone for 4 years now.. He is 11 years old. Currently he is in WA and I am still in the lovely state of WI. He has never had a problem yet.
Jonathan’s story about his daughter is my worst nightmare. I think thats why I bought him a cell phone. How scary.
Comment by DW — June 30, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
My friend’s child has been “mishandled” twice. The attendants left her unattended at age 7, and 8. Although they did get refunds for the fly alone fee, and coupons for further flights, they have yet to do this a 3rd time.
My recommendation – Don’t leave your children with ANYONE you don’t know, including airline personnel.
Comment by Claire — July 2, 2009 @ 11:34 am
I used to work for security for a lot of different airlines. We escorted the children from their flights,made sure that they had all their luggage and took them to their flights. At no time were they alone or mishandled. We even took them through customs. If God forbid, they missed a flight, they were escorted to a secure area and provided entertainment. The parents were notified, and provision was made for next available flight.
Comment by Linda Azzola — July 6, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
Or you could teach him how to ask the flight attendant “I’m supposed to go to _____ does this flight go to _____?”
The problem with reports like these is that they highlight the few cases where something went wrong and don’t mention how many times things go right. Then you have no way to tell what the chances are opf something happening to your kid. Is it 1 in 10? 1 in 1,000,000? If the former then yes, no way I’d let my kid fly, if the latter then yes, no problem.
Comment by Scott — July 15, 2009 @ 1:10 pm