Flying alone question

[Chevy_Gurl]

What age do you think is to young to fly alone?

I am supposed to get Timmy, he'll be 5 this may, this summer and our agreement in the custody papers is that I fly out to get him and bring him back. Asshat is to fly out here to cali to get him and bring him back to IA. Well now he's saying that he can't afford to fly out here to get Timmy this smmer and that I have to come up with the airfare to pick him up, timmy's ticket and a ticket to take timmy back to asshat. I don't have the funds for that. Im already looking at a $438 ticket for a round trip one day ticket just for myself. I would fly into O'Hara at 10am and would turn around and fly out of there at 5pm. Timmy's ticket is looking to be around 300. If i have to buy three tickets Ill be looking at close to 1000 dollars. Up until this week Asshat has always promised to help me get timmy out here and now is saying its not his fault I left him. So last night I ended up bawling on the phone begging him to let Timmy fly back to him alone. I would still fly out there to get Timmy but when it was time to go home, he woud just do a straight flught alone. Asshat is fighting me on this saying that "How would I feel if Timmy got kidnapped while flying on the plane?" "Or what if he got killed?" :mad

Anya flew by herself and it was super safe. They are attached to a stewardess seated by the front of the plane and are not allowed to get up or anything without an escort.

This is my only option if I want to see him this summer. Am I pushing Timmy to grow up because of my own inabilities to come up with the fiances to get him here and there safely.

[ash]

i think it would be fine. maybe pay the extra to get a flight attendant to watch him... it would still be cheaper than you flying with him... right?

[Debra]

My DS is 6 1/2 & 4. I absolutely will not let either of them fly alone, regardless if a flight attendant is with them or not. I seriously don't know when I will ever let them fly alone. There are very few people I trust my children with in the first place & I definately would not trust someone I've never even met before. JMO!

[harrisonsdream]

yeah an attendant on the plane will watch him make sure he's okay and that sort of thing and they will have someone to escort him to wherever you will be waiting if they don't let you come down to the gate to get him. i saw a kid on the plane last week around 7 or 8 flying by himself and he was fine.

[Shaky]

I'm sorry, I don't think I understood very well. You are suppose to go and get him and he is suppose to come and get him back but he doesnt have the money to come and get him?

[Chevy_Gurl]

Originally Posted by Shaky I'm sorry, I don't think I understood very well. You are suppose to go and get him and he is suppose to come and get him back but he doesnt have the money to come and get him?

Yupp pretty much. He says he didn't think it was this hard to make a living in the civi world and he's dead broke and struggling. If I have a problem with it take him back to court which I really dont want to do becuase the judge already dislikes me as it is.

[Brandi]

I used to fly alone all the time when I was little, starting at the age of 5. Let me tell you about security... I seriously doubt you have ANYTHING to worry about short of a plane crashing. Children who fly alone MUSt sit in the very front so they can be watched and escorted at all times, including bathroom time, layovers, etc. I actually did have several lay overs and I was walked hand in hand by two people the whole time.

If he needs to fly alone, I wouldn't worry about his safety short of the plane dropping out of the sky or something.

[MW5M]

If its in your papers that he has to come pick him up, I wouldnt worry about whether he says he has the money or not. Thats not YOUR problem. I would go get him, and let your ex worry about it. You arent in contempt if he doesnt hold up to HIS end of the custody agreement. He can drive out if flying is too expensive. Sounds like he just doesnt care if you see your son. Of course that is JMO

[IgglesmumX2]

Originally Posted by MW5M If its in your papers that he has to come pick him up, I wouldnt worry about whether he says he has the money or not. Thats not YOUR problem. I would go get him, and let your ex worry about it. You arent in contempt if he doesnt hold up to HIS end of the custody agreement. He can drive out if flying is too expensive. Sounds like he just doesnt care if you see your son. Of course that is JMO

I agree...but to answer your question. I flew alone the first time at 4 1/2 and like all the PP said I was very closely escorted. My sister is 16 and when she flies alone she is still esorted as an "unnaompanied minor". I will let my kids fly alone when they are around 5. 100% though it needs to be something you are comfortable with or you will worry yourself sick. I'm sorry you have to deal with all this BS.

[Chevy_Gurl]

Originally Posted by Brandi I used to fly alone all the time when I was little, starting at the age of 5. Let me tell you about security... I seriously doubt you have ANYTHING to worry about short of a plane crashing. Children who fly alone MUSt sit in the very front so they can be watched and escorted at all times, including bathroom time, layovers, etc. I actually did have several lay overs and I was walked hand in hand by two people the whole time. If he needs to fly alone, I wouldn't worry about his safety short of the plane dropping out of the sky or something.

That's what Anya said. She flew from her to O'hara last year and had a blast. Said they were a little too protective but it was okay and she even got to meet the airmarshall on the flight as well. But he's attitude and questioning got me worried that maybe I am more worried about seeing my son then his own safety.