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Location: Prince Georges County, MD (formerly Long Island, NY)
1,558 posts, read 2,724,172 times
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You know, it'd be one thing if the child had been on a plane before and knew the people who'd be picking her up (I personally wouldn't do that, but to each his own...). But I have to imagine it'd be nerve wracking for a five year old to take their first airplane ride and not have anyone with her, then to go to a set of adults she doesn't know.
I remember my first time riding a plane (and I wasn't that young!), and I remember being nervous but feeling better knowing that my friend was going with me.
I agree with others that it seems to be a bad combination of first flight and meeting up with never-met grandparents. It's too bad the grandparents, or one of them, cannot fly out to her, spend a few days with her in her own home and then they fly back together.
I Would say maybe if parents were right on both ends of the gate.
UM's Drop'er and Pickup'er are required to go to the gate (they get a "Gate Pass" to get thru TSA) Drop'er are suppose to wait at the gate until the plane takes off.
If the weather is bad at either end that might cause a cancellation or diversion , they will re-book the UM for the next day, and try again. And send the child home with there parents/...
The idea of a 5 yr old flying alone as an unaccompanied minor doesn't bother me as much as the idea of sending her off to visit grandparents she doesn't know.
As much as I shudder at the idea of a 5 year old flying alone (my youngest is 6 1/2 and there's NO way I'd let her fly alone, even though she's a seasoned flyer!), it sounds as though she'd be far better off in the care of your parents (her grandparents) than in the care of her own parents. Since the end justifies the means I wouldn't say a single, solitary word about the method of transportation lest they decide to not let her go at all.
As much as I shudder at the idea of a 5 year old flying alone (my youngest is 6 1/2 and there's NO way I'd let her fly alone, even though she's a seasoned flyer!), it sounds as though she'd be far better off in the care of your parents (her grandparents) than in the care of her own parents. Since the end justifies the means I wouldn't say a single, solitary word about the method of transportation lest they decide to not let her go at all.
You think she'd be better off with people she has never even met?
I was wondering if I'm alone in thinking that it is completely insane to put a 5 year old on a flight alone... Not my child, its my niece. Its a 3 hour direct flight, she has never flown before, and at the other end of the trip are grandparents who she doesn't even know. So, would you put a 5 year old on plane by herself?
I was wondering if I'm alone in thinking that it is completely insane to put a 5 year old on a flight alone... Not my child, its my niece. Its a 3 hour direct flight, she has never flown before, and at the other end of the trip are grandparents who she doesn't even know. So, would you put a 5 year old on plane by herself?
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomparent
No. Absolutely not.
Thank goodness!
Read the entire thread from beginning to end and found a lot of interesting and different opinions, everybody entitled to their own, for their own reasons. I am not going to bore anyone with my opinion (my opinions ARE boring at times, trust me...I know) or details of who, what, where, and why.
I find it hard to fathom that someone could never take their eyes off this child during her flight and thru the airport. It's a big responsibility. I would never let my child fly alone..not at that age anyway. Once they hit 12 maybe. It must be
very scary for the child involved.
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