Takes all kinds to make the world go around… In some countries, children are pretty much left to raise each other. When will we learn that we are the examples to these kids? Thanks for the interesting topic.
Under 14 the law says they must be travelling with a responsible adult. This can be problematic to enforce as many parents will just grab a guy/lady at check in and ask them to pretend to be the responsible adult for the flight and possibly pay them. It really is a stupis system and there ought to be papers for consenting guardians on flights.
I’m 16 and I’ve been travelling around (with atleast one parent) for years. This summer I’m flying by myself and I’m very prepared and excited for it. Kids fly alone all the time (for example, between divorced parents) but they have attendants at the airports that take them to and from the gates (I was offered this but I know my way around) They could not have bought the tickets without an adult there to purchase them. I doubt that nobody was meeting them at the other airport, if no then I’m sure they still had a place to stay
Children 8 through 14 years of age must travel with another passenger at least 15 years of age or they will be considered Unaccompanied Minors.
Unaccompanied Minors in this age range are permitted to make connections to other flights only when allowed by the Unaccompanied Minor rules of the connecting carrier (including American) and when confirmed to the destination.
However, Unaccompanied Minors in this age range will not be accepted for co-terminal connecting itineraries (such as changing from New York LaGuardia to New York Kennedy) because an unaccompanied child under 15 years may not use ground transportation unescorted.
Tones, that does sound odd.
I may be wrong but I think traveling without a parent or gaurdian depends on the carrier? Not sure.
If that’s nto true and its a federal law, they obviously should be in big trouble.
I guess they think since he looks mature, it’s no bother really, he’ll be fine.
Hm, I guess that’s why we have so many innocent and sweet looking serial killers, rapists, and molesters on the loose today.
There’s obviously more to this story than what you observed.
I’m not sure what the laws are in other areas, but around here, parents are responsible for their children until they are 18. So, if a minor stays home alone and something were to happen to that child, the parents would be held accountable.
I have traveled from India to US when I was 11, alone. No big deal. When checking in, my grandfather asked another older couple to watch me on the plane. The flight was direct with multiple stops. I also did Chicago-JFK-LONDON-NEW DELHI, changing flights and airlines at each leg when I was 13, by my self. Heck… I even took a taxi at JFK to change terminals from American Airlines to British. Thee was 4-hour layover at Heathrow… I had fun buying British Candies at the airport. I had no problems filling in my own immigration/customs forms. Besides, the officials help you when you are kid.
I did Amtrak and Greyhound, Chicago to New York (roundtrip) twice when I was 12 -13.
i guess in that case the oldest boy is the one in charge, but i’d also never send my child(ren) to another country without someone waiting for him. It does seem odd, but he may not have been giving you the full picture. There MUST have been a purpose to this journey, you dont just hop a plane with no plan/destination.
I traveled alone at 7 years old to Israel from New York but i did have someone meeting me on the other side and had a flight attendednt looking out for me.
I can only guess that it`s different rules for different countries. Where as in my country (Wales in UK) it would be OK for kids to go maybe 4 or 5 miles away from the home on their own, maybe in other countries the distance is far greater and this is just seen as the normal. Like in Scotland its normal to wear kilts or eat cows stomach, and in some countries I believe they eat grubs. All cultures are very different and this doesn`t mean that different rules for different places should be stopped.
In the United States you can babysit at age 14 but I do not believe they are allowed to travel into other countries or states without adult supervision. The parents would be incarcerated for negligence.
European parents are way less parinoid then North American. I lived in Germany for a year and noticed a big difference in how much people trust there children. If they were flying to Spain then they probably know the metro system enough to get home. I am not actually surprised at all. They really aren’t that young. Also Europeans travel more then North Americans.
From your details I did not pick up on the boys feeling insecure. Maybe they do this on a reqular basis. When I was they’re age I was flying by myself (within USA), and I become very comfortable, to the point I wasn’t ‘tagged’ as needing assistance.
19. October 2006 at 9:56 pm :
i don’t think this is a question
i could be wrong
22. October 2006 at 6:11 am :
Takes all kinds to make the world go around… In some countries, children are pretty much left to raise each other. When will we learn that we are the examples to these kids? Thanks for the interesting topic.
22. October 2006 at 8:02 am :
the law is 16 to travel abroad alone
22. October 2006 at 10:31 am :
Under 14 the law says they must be travelling with a responsible adult. This can be problematic to enforce as many parents will just grab a guy/lady at check in and ask them to pretend to be the responsible adult for the flight and possibly pay them. It really is a stupis system and there ought to be papers for consenting guardians on flights.
This is EU law
24. October 2006 at 8:10 pm :
I’m 16 and I’ve been travelling around (with atleast one parent) for years. This summer I’m flying by myself and I’m very prepared and excited for it. Kids fly alone all the time (for example, between divorced parents) but they have attendants at the airports that take them to and from the gates (I was offered this but I know my way around) They could not have bought the tickets without an adult there to purchase them. I doubt that nobody was meeting them at the other airport, if no then I’m sure they still had a place to stay
28. October 2006 at 1:48 am :
In certain Air Lines you can tavel alone. It is legal.
28. October 2006 at 6:40 am :
Children 8 through 14 years of age must travel with another passenger at least 15 years of age or they will be considered Unaccompanied Minors.
Unaccompanied Minors in this age range are permitted to make connections to other flights only when allowed by the Unaccompanied Minor rules of the connecting carrier (including American) and when confirmed to the destination.
However, Unaccompanied Minors in this age range will not be accepted for co-terminal connecting itineraries (such as changing from New York LaGuardia to New York Kennedy) because an unaccompanied child under 15 years may not use ground transportation unescorted.
28. October 2006 at 8:19 pm :
Tones, that does sound odd.
I may be wrong but I think traveling without a parent or gaurdian depends on the carrier? Not sure.
If that’s nto true and its a federal law, they obviously should be in big trouble.
I guess they think since he looks mature, it’s no bother really, he’ll be fine.
Hm, I guess that’s why we have so many innocent and sweet looking serial killers, rapists, and molesters on the loose today.
29. October 2006 at 11:43 pm :
There’s obviously more to this story than what you observed.
I’m not sure what the laws are in other areas, but around here, parents are responsible for their children until they are 18. So, if a minor stays home alone and something were to happen to that child, the parents would be held accountable.
31. October 2006 at 7:40 pm :
I have traveled from India to US when I was 11, alone. No big deal. When checking in, my grandfather asked another older couple to watch me on the plane. The flight was direct with multiple stops. I also did Chicago-JFK-LONDON-NEW DELHI, changing flights and airlines at each leg when I was 13, by my self. Heck… I even took a taxi at JFK to change terminals from American Airlines to British. Thee was 4-hour layover at Heathrow… I had fun buying British Candies at the airport. I had no problems filling in my own immigration/customs forms. Besides, the officials help you when you are kid.
I did Amtrak and Greyhound, Chicago to New York (roundtrip) twice when I was 12 -13.
2. November 2006 at 4:53 pm :
i guess in that case the oldest boy is the one in charge, but i’d also never send my child(ren) to another country without someone waiting for him. It does seem odd, but he may not have been giving you the full picture. There MUST have been a purpose to this journey, you dont just hop a plane with no plan/destination.
5. November 2006 at 3:49 pm :
I traveled alone at 7 years old to Israel from New York but i did have someone meeting me on the other side and had a flight attendednt looking out for me.
8. November 2006 at 12:15 pm :
I can only guess that it`s different rules for different countries. Where as in my country (Wales in UK) it would be OK for kids to go maybe 4 or 5 miles away from the home on their own, maybe in other countries the distance is far greater and this is just seen as the normal. Like in Scotland its normal to wear kilts or eat cows stomach, and in some countries I believe they eat grubs. All cultures are very different and this doesn`t mean that different rules for different places should be stopped.
8. November 2006 at 12:40 pm :
In the United States you can babysit at age 14 but I do not believe they are allowed to travel into other countries or states without adult supervision. The parents would be incarcerated for negligence.
8. November 2006 at 2:39 pm :
European parents are way less parinoid then North American. I lived in Germany for a year and noticed a big difference in how much people trust there children. If they were flying to Spain then they probably know the metro system enough to get home. I am not actually surprised at all. They really aren’t that young. Also Europeans travel more then North Americans.
10. November 2006 at 1:38 am :
From your details I did not pick up on the boys feeling insecure. Maybe they do this on a reqular basis. When I was they’re age I was flying by myself (within USA), and I become very comfortable, to the point I wasn’t ‘tagged’ as needing assistance.