I was considering letting my 9 year old fly up to his grandparents' however, I have no idea what is happening now with the intense security restrictions (he's never flown alone before.) Do the kids have to go through security, etc. alone? (I remember, when I was a kid, my parents were able to take me right to the gate and my relatives where right at the gate to pick me up.)

This is a short, domestic, nonstop flight...but would be out of Newark, so I think he'd be a bit freaked out if he was pulled aside and frisked, etc. without a parent around (as I'd hope he would!)Anyone's kids fly by themselves lately? Thanks!!

I think that this is up to the airline, but I think you can get a pass to accompany a minor to the gate, as well as have someone meet him on the other side. It is an exception to the boarding pass rule; I have seen this with grandparents and parents/guardians on our Southwest flights within California. So check with the airline.

Thanks! I'll check with the different airlines.

Our girls are older but they flew CO down to Florida last spring from EWR. TSA could care less if the girls were flying solo or not - everyone goes through security (but if they're solo, they do need some ID I believe).

Here's the "problem". CO charges you $100 each way over and above the cost of the ticket for "escorting" your minor. What this meant, is if you get to the airport early enough, you could get a gate pass and escort your child to the gate (assuming the airport allows it - Newark does but make sure you have ID too), then they're supposed to help your child board (i.e., escort them on the plane), then they're supposed to escort your child off the plane and to the person meeting them at the destination. This person should have ID.

So on the way down we filled out the paperwork, paid the fee, and my husband escorted them to the gate (only one gate pass per family) and was supposed to wait until the plane departed (he didn't). No one escorted them on the plane, nor off the plane at their destination - they met their grandparents on their own. On the flight home, my parents didn't bother with the unescorted minor policy and the girls just walked themselves through security in PBI and got on the plane.

Since then though, I've seen CO has changed their policy (it used to be 14+ didn't need to use the escort service) now it's 12+, which is good b/c my 13 year-old has silver elite status with them - it's crazy - she knows more about flying than most people at this point.

Anyway, for a 9 year-old, it's a good thing - check with the airline as to their policy and if you can get a gate pass to walk him to the gate and make sure he knows to wait for a gate representative on the other end to take him to the party meeting him.

Musetta -- sigh - started this, then got a visitor, and now Kim has posted most of what I was going to say -- so here it is anyway. Our two grandsons (now "big kids" at the ages of 13 & 17) have travelled solo to visit us from the midwest several times, and we have been able to get gate passes to accompany them to their gate, even as recently as this Christmas. When they were younger, their mother had to fill out a form naming the person who would be picking up the kid(s) at the destination, and we had to do the same when they checked in for the trip home.

I would check the regulations for the airline you are considering. United's rules requires unaccompanied minor service for any child under 11 - and there is a charge for it.
American Airlines has similar rules - but conditions vary somewhat. These are the two airlines we have used most - I'm sure other airlines have similar conditions.

Judy

So this made me curious and I went to the Southwest site and doodled around. If I read them correctly, they charge $25/leg for a minor, and you can get a pass to both accompany the minor to the gate and again obtain a pass to wait for your minor at the arrival gate. The person/s meeting the minor at the other end can do same, with i.d., of course. Your minor will be escorted off the plane by a Southwest employee. So do check the airline policy.

Like I said, I have seen adults with minors at the departure gate and waiting for them at arrivals. I think you can also do this with someone requiring assistance, as in a wheelchair.

Casey (11) flew solo last October from San Diego to D.C. It was on United. United requires that unaccompanied minors be escorted and supervised by United employees. There was a $100 charge for this (each way if I remember correctly.) We needed to complete paperwork which included the names and info. about the person who would be waiting for him upon arrival.

It all worked well with no problems except I think the $100 fee is exorbitant. We felt very secure about it.

Jane is correct (especially about the price ), which varies between airlines. My kids fly unaccompanied to camp every summer and sometimes to Grandma's without problems.

Also, for a 9 yr old, the service would be mandatory, not optional.

The parent/guardians MUST accompany the child to the gate and wait until the plane pushes back. Upon arrival, the person named on the form MUST show ID to pick up the child.

Thanks! I was very relieved to know that the airlines would have me walk him to the gate.

As it turns out, we were able to get the very same flight to Venice leaving from Albany for the very same price as if we left form JFK...so, with the $100 fee for my child to fly up there alone, it didn't make sense for this trip - we'll drive him up and fly ourselves in/out from there. He was actually looking forward to it though, so we are going to let him try it in the Summer. Thanks again!