Kids flying cross-country alone

It's not the plane trip so much. There's a protocol for "unaccompanied minors". It takes a little pre-arranging, is all. So don't be afraid of that, in other circumstances it works fine.

midnightprowler

Only if you want your children on the back of a milk carton. I can't believe in this day and age someone would even ask a question like this.

 

I couldn't agree more. You're a grown man, you should know better than to ask. Tell both of them your concerns and make them come down to see the kids themselves instead. Sounds like they're both nut cases who can't get their own life in order.

Hi;

    Well , I used to travel alone by train between 10 and 14 . Never had a problem . Years later I figure I had an unseen chaperone. After all it was 1953 .I wouldn't send my Grandchildren two Blocks on a city bus , much less on planes where we don't know if the pilot broke alcohol and sleep rules and on the other end , Disaster ! . I would advise against it .  T.B. 

Only if you want your children on the back of a milk carton. I can't believe in this day and age someone would even ask a question like this.

I have flown alone in my early teens, and even younger, localy and internationaly...back in '70-es and before cell phones talking driveres. My parents would put me on the plane and my relatives or friends would pick me up.

Your relatives are a dissaster waiting to happen. I work in a hospital and see the crap that happenes with distracted drivers, cyclists who "knew how to asses the traffic" so they didn't wear helmet etc. Your kids are worthmore then the 400 bucks and their time away won't be at all relaxing for you knowing to whom you are sending them. Don't do it...

Hell even I'm too scared to fly commercially and I'm a commercial pilot. I would never consider this senario for my 9 year old/6 year old...

Well... the tribe has spoken. Don't do it. Too many red flags....

What everyone else said.

But you have an uphill battle with your boss, bosses mom and sister planning this thing.

Your only way out of this whilst keeping the peace might be to offer to go along with the kiddies. I'll bet that'd put a damper on the whole thing pretty fast, Chris.

Too many concerns all the way around Chris.  I'd say no.

Jim

Well, when in doubt - DO find out! I think that you already have, and that you have answered  your own question. If your mom is having siezures, and driving, that alone should tell you that this is simply a recipe for disaster! Even if she takes medicine it's no safe bet. Your Auntie is no better for the wear if she too is a risk, and no amount of money can bring back your loved ones no matter how much hindsight you experience in your life! Just know this: today is a much more hostile, agressive, and unwelcoming world than it was when we were all kids. Terrorism is on the rise, people are just so damned rude, and stupidly so, and the unknown is so well, UNKNOWN, and therefore untrustworthy!

What's more important; your kids, an unused $400.00 plane ticket, or a lifetime of "what if?"(regret) that could've been, or knowing that your kids are safe at home? What does this all mean? It means that if you're asking yourself about this, then you already know that the answer is a resounding NO! DON'T DO IT!!! Remember when Nike had that idiotic slogan "Just do it!"? You can now see what  a hell of a mess that happens when you "just do it!".  Which is why this world is in such a state of discontent, and torment, and unhappiness.

~ Cobra Chris

If you end up not doing it, and can transfer it, might check to see if any of the area "Honor Flight" groups can use it before it expires. 

They take  Vets back to DC to visit the memorials.  The caretakers that go with each one have to pay all their expenses out of pocket, but the Vet's flight and expenses area all taken care of.

Take it from a retired police officer. With all the things I have seen, I would NEVER let my kids travel alone and unprotected. And as for the family care on the other side, too many issues to deal with. Better safe than sorry. 

That $400 credit could end up costing you a lot more than it's worth.  Do Grandma and Auntie know your concerns?  Do they care?  I don't think your issue has anything to do with concern over their flying alone.  Could anyone else you know use the credit?  Could it be donated to someone who needs a flight somewhere?

Short and to the point response. How would you feel if the kids were entrusted to someone that you have legitimate concerns about, then something terrible happened???

Too often, completely unintentional accidents do happen to folks that are not being deliberatly careless, even worse, some people are just an accident looking for place to happen.

Health issues, texting and driving, anorexia seizures controlled by meds, what could possibly go wrong?

HELL NO!

Patrick 

When I was 12 I spent the month of December in Norway with a friend of mine from school, also 12; at the family of a foreign student that my own friends family had hosted the year before. Back in the early 60's.

After a couple of weeks we got to fighting, young boys and all. So to separate us, the family bought me a five day ship ticket on a coastal steamer up to the Arctic Circle, to Trondheim, train return to Oslo. They owned the shipping line so I suspect they had someone keeping an eye on things.

I had a blast, shared a cabin with some of the hands, got to watch freight and mail be loaded/ unloaded several times a day.

When I was back home, I couldn't wait to tell my mom all about it while driving home from the airport. She nearly drove off the road.

I don't have kids,but I wouldn't do it.

I won't even leave my 10 yo and 7 yo at home alone, let alone put them on a commercial aircraft. I would say no, granted, I know my wife would agree with me.

Sounds like a disaster in waiting with the aunt, and grandma has her own issues to work through. I'll agree with G, a little too young IMO, and that is even if the airlines would let them go un-accompanied in this day and age.

I was around 13-14 when I went from Reno to Chicago to visit with all of Mom's sisters and families for a month.  Was a great adventure, but was 3-4 years older than your oldest, and was 60 years ago in a different time

I've been through all of that, too.

IMHO they're too young, even without the potential problems listed.

I can guarantee that you and the Missus will not be "de-stressing" while they are gone.

IMHO, too many issues out of your direct control. When in doubt,don't.