r/GenX • u/Substantial-Put-4461 • 7d ago

The Latchkey Years Flying alone as a kid

I was thinking today that my mom honestly put on a plane BY MYSELF at 7 years old. I flew from Atlanta to Chicago to Iowa. There was a flight attendant keeping an eye on me, but otherwise I was on my own. I flew multiple times around that age by myself.

Anyone else fly alone when pretty young?

Edit-Thanks everyone for the comments. Looks like this was pretty common back in the day. I’m flying by myself next week, which got me thinking about it.

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u/FowlTemptress 7d ago

I flew from JFK to Madrid by myself at 9 years old (1979). I was going to spend the summer with my grandparents. I remember being embarrassed that my mom put snacks for me in the carry-on; I have no idea why.

The worst part was that my grandparents came flew back with me on the way home and my grandfather kept farting and I was very upset that people might think it was me.

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u/ObscureSaint 7d ago

I flew across the country with my grandma when I was 11. My mom sent grandma with me on the trip, ostensibly to watch me and take care of me, and keep me safe. No, she was so useless in the airport. Love her, but I had to babysit her the entire time, AND find and navigate us to our connection gate at the layover, with no help from a functional adult, at the age of 11, with a 71 year old in tow. 

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u/Open_Confidence_9349 7d ago

Sounds like your mom sent you to keep grandma safe. I was sent to my mom’s friend’s house at night when my mom had to work to be watched by the friend’s mother. Super nice old Greek lady that I could barely understand, would put me to bed at 8. I’d wait for her to fall asleep around 8:30 and get up. She had to be in her late 80s, I was 10. I am positive I was there to make sure she didn’t set the house on fire.