Taking 14yo son on Intl trip??
 

My 14 year old is on spring break and wants to come with me on an INTL trip with me. There are plenty of D1 seats going and a few coming back but plenty of seats both ways in back.

What do I need to know from those who've done this? Will he get a D1 upgrade if he's listed as an unaccompanied minor (Is 14 considered UNAC?)

My biggest concern is something cancelling a day before coming back, or same day to another city and my flight fills up. It's making me a little sick to my stomach imagining a scenario where I have to leave him behind, however unlikely.

Has anyone done this and would you do it again?

Thanks for any advice. E

Before they’re old enough to go to a hotel by themselves, check in, check out, get to their next flight alone might not be worth it. Even with a positive space ticket I guess there is a risk that you could get re-routed or something. Maybe not as likely internationally.

As an aside, I heard somewhere a captain got fired years ago from somewhere for refusing cargo in Asia because the flight was payload optimized and she needed to get her kid onboard. Anyone else hear that story? Maybe at NW?

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more nervous I get. My flight has a history of payload optimization too. That would really ruin my day.

Depends on the kid, but sounds like a grand adventure. Compromise - Once you are on the outbound leg, buy him a ticket home.

Dont you have to be 15 not to be considered an unaccompanied minor? I’m pretty sure the FOM prohibits jumpseating while you have an unaccompanied minor with you in the back. I’d think the same would apply for a working crew member.

I was about to say "give it a shot. It'd be an epic story for your kiddo." My nerd side looked it up on Dnet under the HR>travel drop down. These quotes apply to kids 5-14yrs old.


May not travel unaccompanied on any international flight, including flights to Mexico, Central America or South America.
Keep the following in mind:

• On-duty employees cannot be the accompanying adult for a minor child pass rider.
• Jumpseat riders cannot be the accompanying adult for a minor child pass rider.

...next year it will be epic

Buy a fly confirmed for less ticket or wait til he's older if you want him to Nonrev.

what if he gets sick and can’t fly home? Or if he gets bumped to to an oversell? Or the pilot gets rerouted? Any number of scenarios where he gets stuck and the only real solution is to take your self off the flight? Then what happens?

14? I was too chicken. 17 is about the youngest I took mine, it wasn't quite that far. And there were other options to get him home if plan A fell apart

​​​​​​Can you drop the trip and just non rev it together? Built some amazing memories with my kids with one on one trips.

Good points. Might be wise to have another adult tag along and both Nonrev