[beth]

A colleague put his four year old son on a plane from Sydney to London to see his mother. It's a 25 hour trip. At what age would other parents feel confident about putting their child on a plane alone?

[seeemilywrite]

On a plane, I might be ok with a younger child. I can understand no wanting to buy 2 plane tickets for that journey, and it would be semi-pointless for dad to travel along. I would make sure the airline knew about my child well in advance. Most have special accomidations for younger children flying alone where the flight attendants give the child special attention and make sure they get off the plane where they need to and meet up with parents afterwards. It would depend on the child, but I might be ok with a 5 year old going to visit a parent on a plane alone.

[floridamama]

Oh my! I have a 4 year old son and I cannot imagine putting him on a plane alone. Not yet. But, I guess each child is different & mature in their own way. My little guy has Aspergers, and there is just NO way I'd feel ever remotely comfortable with him on a plane...alone. Maybe when he's 7.

[mamaip]

Oh my gosh! I cannot imagine that! I have a five-year-old and I'd never let him fly that trip alone. No matter what the cost, I'd either be on that plane or he wouldn't be!

[beth]

Yeah, all of this guy's work colleagues were pretty disbeleiving that he would do that. Twenty-five hours is a long time on a plane if the child should get distressed. Mind you, everyone who had strong feelings about it also had young children, and knew how their children reacted to a whole host of "home alone" type situations. He just laughed at anyone who expressed concern, but he's also into his career in a big way and barely knows his son. Basically, I don't think he cared all that much.

[mamaip]

That breaks my heart

[cesalima]

Wow - that is so hard to believe. I don't have children and am yet horrified at the thought of a four-year-old on ANY journey alone. The man has to be crazy and should not have custody of his child at any time if he is so cavalier with the care of that child. My word, I'm still shaking my head!

[beth]

Originally Posted by cesalima

Wow - that is so hard to believe. I don't have children and am yet horrified at the thought of a four-year-old on ANY journey alone. The man has to be crazy and should not have custody of his child at any time if he is so cavalier with the care of that child. My word, I'm still shaking my head!

I think his idea was that his son would be looked after by the crew and that he couldn't get lost on a plane. But he is completing missing the emotional aspects of sending a child on such a journey alone. Apart from any upsets on the plane, how does he think his son would feel to be in a foreign country at the airport and the person picking him up was late. Or worose, if there was some emergency on the plane. The staff wouldn't have time to sit with him during it, they would be too busy attending to everybody and everything. I don't think people like him think things through too much.

[hennypenny]

My step kids have travelled with the airline's chaperones from about the age of 7, interstate. This is their mother's choice. I'm one of those overprotective mums who would insist on going with my kids til they're 18 years of age lol. I just think of september 11, and would never be able to forgive myself if a scary/dangerous situation were to arise and my child had to face it on their own.

[shazbo]

with being from england we have different laws but wow come on most kids are just coming out of nappies at that age . we all the pervs over here i be bit funny letting an 16 year old