Is it ok for sixteen year old to have a layover in an airport with no parents with him???

Show all answers

AO 4 Yayo

its fine its not dangerous in an airport for the most part. but to warn you phillys airport is a monsterous one. if the layover is under an hour he has to move his @$$ if your terminal is too far away you can take a shuttle but it can take some time. takes a good ten minutes to get from gate A to F on a shuttle bus. bt it wont be a problem as long as your son knows what to expect.

hazeltine4

Generally, 16-year olds can be alone, but check with the airline about having him fly as an "Unaccompanied Minor." They will meet him at the counter, take him through security, and to the gate. They will escort him from the plane and to his next gate. He will be safe in their care. After his first trip that way, he may be OK on his own for future flights.

linav88

When I was young the airline used to assign someone to accompany a minor, I don't know if they still do that. I don't think it's too young, just make sure he understands exactly what he is supposed to do and to ask questions!!!

Quarter Midget Mom

My 12 year old stepdaughter flies regularly across the country between her mom & us. We pay an extra fee for an unaccompanied minor. (Continental charges about $50 each way - for a 16 year old, it might be optional, but I'd pay it. I wouldn't want a 16 year old wandering around an Airport alone - especially Philly.)

You set it up in advance, but then you also complete paperwork at the airport. The person dropping off gets a pass to go to the gate. When the flight boards, an airline employee takes responsibility for the child. If there is a layover, the airlines have a special area for minors - usually with food, tvs & games. The airline employees make sure your child gets to their connecting flight. When they reach their final destination, the person you designate to pick up your child must show ID at the airline counter & they are issued a gate pass. They go thru all the security like they are going on a flight, but they just wait at the gate for the child to get off the plane. Someone from the airline checks ID again & releases the child to the person you designated. It works the same way in reverse when the child gets home.

jack of all trades

You don't say how long the layovers will be. If they're long, boredom will be his biggest problem. Having a cell phone would be good for both of you. If you like, I'm sure he'd call you from each airport. Make sure he has some money for snacks and maybe a gameboy or something to occupy himself while he's waiting.

He'll be fine.

CopyThat

Sixteen year olds can fly by themself, but I would pay the extra 60$ and make him an unaccompanied minor, that way he will be escorted onto the airplane by an agent, if his flight is delayed and he misses his connection, the airline will take care of rebooking him or if it is a close connection time, I've seen them actually hold the plane for an UM. However, I think the teens don't really like sitting in the minor room between flights and he would have to sit in the room, with adult supervision provided by the airline.

fangtaiyang

The airlines will assign a guardian for him. It will be an airline employee that is flying anyway. He will be checked on and will be released to a particular person at the destination. There are usually a group of minors on most flights and they are all assigned to one person.

alphadeltha

You can buy some sort of program the airports offer for 18 below, which is basically having a mommy ( well someone to look over him ) with him to get him to a destination. ( Free meals, gets to ride a golf cart to all the gates )

You can ride alone at 16.

MB-n-KC

I think he will be fine! If would be great if he had a mobile phone in case of emergency.

Jaspreet S

yeah, but make sure he has a way to contact you.

MisMischievous

Only you can judge your son.

I can tell you that the Philly airport is relatively safe if he were to stay in the airport. The same type stuff applies as it would at the mall.....pay attention to your surroundings, watch your bag, put your wallet in front pocket...so on. Just common sense type stuff. I used to live in Philly suburb so we flew out of that airport often and had no trouble even returning late at night.

Philip

yea thats ok, but make sure that he has a way to contact you in case of something happens.

Alexis

I am afraid I don't know

Kitten2

~usually, the staff will keep an eye on him, and 16 is a fair age to go by himself. Now if it was your daughter, I'd probably have a different answer. ;)

Taurus

Can't you make arrangments with the airport to keep him safe?

a rectangle curve

How long is the layover? I did 2 hour ones when I was 15 and there were no problems. As long as he's atleast minimally responsible, I say it's fine.

Benny

Yes. Just make sure he has a cell phone with him so you can check up on him.

James Wrotten

I dont know what a "layover" is do you mean like a red eye? because i know they'll let like kids that age of 12 fly over to somewhere by them selfs.

*****

I would not recommend it.

Princess Penguin

yes i think its ok for him, ofcoarse you know him and his personality, and its a good start for him to face the world alone and figure things out alone..

Dart Swinger

Sixteen? Yes, it's absolutely okay.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: