Your First Unaccompanied Flight?

B747forever · Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:10 am

Finally I will be flying all by myself for the first time ever on the 2nd of January from ARN to LAX via LHR with BA at a age of 16 years!! I am actually quite excited.

When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

bill142 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:26 am

When I was 18 CBR-SYD-SIN-NRT. Was quite excited.

NZ107 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:29 am

Thank you for sharing.

Haha ummm I was an unaccompanied minor on a short flight AKL-WLG on an NZ 733 in Apr 2001. Of course I was excited! Last full meal I got on a domestic flight in New Zealand. I've done it many times before but my first international will be next month.

akiss20 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:57 pm

I flew JFK-LHBP on my own (Malev) when I was 13ish. Was met by family at the airport of course, but I wasn't considered an unaccompanied minor in that I received no assistance from airport/airline staff. I had been traveling since I was 6 months (all my family is back in Hungary) so going through passport control/customs was pretty familiar.

Was fun!

AF340 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:12 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

Last July when I soloed in my Piper...

Congrats?

Liam spin

B747forever · Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:12 pm

Quoting AKiss20 (Reply 3):
Was fun!

Can imagine that!! I am really excited

vaporlock · Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:10 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
Finally I will be flying all by myself for the first time ever on the 2nd of January from ARN to LAX via LHR with BA at a age of 16 years!! I am actually quite excited

I'm sure you are excited and for a great reason!

Enjoy the flight and I know you'll never forget it!

Vaporlock bouncy

B747forever · Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:23 pm

Quoting Vaporlock (Reply 6):
I'm sure you are excited and for a great reason!

Enjoy the flight and I know you'll never forget it!

Thank you so much. I am pretty sure I will never forget it, it will be unforgettable Wink

ThePRGuy · Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:17 pm

I flew on my own back in 2000 over to Canada - I was 10 - of course I have flown alone many times since - age 14 upwards.

It was a great experience at 10 though - loads of attention - and before the 9/11 thing - frequent visits to the flight deck and helping hand out bread rolls etc.

I believe it was a 742 based on a couple of pictures I have.

Longhornmaniac · Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:24 pm

The first time I flew by myself I was 6, at most, flying NW from AUS-BNA through MEM. They stuck be in the back of a DC-9, right next to the engine.

Since then, I flew that route many times, mostly on WN. One of my (only) fond memories from WN was on a flight from AUS-BNA, with the lounge style seating. I had almost forgotten about that until someone brought it up awhile back.

Since then, I fly by myself all the time. A couple years ago, I flew AUS-DFW-CUN, this summer I'll be doing AUS-DFW-EZE. I've done all manner of domestic flights, too (usually more complicated than they should be, like my JFK-LAX-DFW-AUS this summer, just because I like to fly).

In any even, enjoy it! It's fun!

Cheers,
Cameron

QFA380 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:55 pm

The first time I flew by myself was when I was about 9 I think, flew from SYD-GFN on a QF Dash 8.

Internationally like 4 months ago SYD-LAX-ORD-SBN, rough...

I think though I've flown by myself more than I've flown with my parents or anyone else.

egmcman · Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:02 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

Only last year as until then I had always flown with my family other than a short helicopter trip at my local airports open day.

Yes, I enjoy the journey as I fly STN-AGP route four times per year to visit my parents now they live in Spain. I suppose I look forward to it as it means a much needed break from my busy professional life in the insolvency business as well being nice to visit my parents.

Gofly · Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:27 pm

I'm glad you're looking forward to it, Gabriel; I hope that you have a great flight. Smile

af773atmsp · Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:29 pm

Congrats! I haven't flown by myself but I hope to someday.

Doona · Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:41 pm

First time I flew alone was when I was travelling home from my dad's in Nashville, back to Sweden. Back in the summer of 1998, I was 13, and flew from BNA to STL on a TW 727, then from STL to CDG on a TW 767-300, and on to CPH on an SK MD-90. It was my first trip without family, and my first flight as a regular passenger, and not a UM. Last flight on the MD-90 as well.

Cheers
Mats

ual757 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:08 pm

I fly SEA-ORD-SEA alone quite a bit (since last year)...

So I guess 14 was my first time my parents let me free of their grasp Yeah sure

Have fun on your journey alone. This upcoming summer I might do SEA-CDG-NCE alone (99% chance).

jfk69 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:29 pm

JFK-FLL when I was 12.

JFK-AUA when I was 16

JFK-TLV when I was 17

Have fun my friend.

NWADC9 · Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:39 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

I was nine, and involved a four-hour layover in the old DTW terminal and my mom was the flight attendant on the DTW-MCI leg. All on NW's oh-so-common DC-Whines.
I've been flying on my own ever since then every summer to MCI, with 2004 being my last year as a UM; flew WN in '05 which has the cut-off age much lower than NW.

Quoting Longhornmaniac (Reply 9):
The first time I flew by myself I was 6, at most, flying NW from AUS-BNA through MEM. They stuck be in the back of a DC-9, right next to the engine.

How'd you go on a connecting flight as a UM when you can't make connections until you're 7-8?

Super80DFW · Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:08 am

My first unaccompanied flight(s) were on WN. DAL-MCI-DEN in August of 2007. I was 14 at the time. I've flown alone 3 times since then also.

aero145 · Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:13 am

As far as I remember, I was 12. From Paris I think. We refused assistance from the staffs, as we found it a waste of money and stupid.

HAWK21M · Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:10 am

When I read the title I thought.....1st flight as in Flying the aircraft.

However congrats.....I'm sure you will be a bit concerned,but in due course it would be a valuable experience to yourself.

Enjoy your trip,take some pics & don't forget the TR.

regds
MEL

atrude777 · Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:58 am

I first flew by myself as a passenger..

Southwest Airlines
Boeing 737-300
N399WN
STL-MCI-PHX same plane Flight 1827
July 22nd, 2001 Smile

I will never forget that! hahaha

Alex

ZBBYLW · Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:04 am

Quoting AF340 (Reply 4):
Last July when I soloed in my Piper...

That is how I read the topic. For me it would have been way back in 2005 - but for me it was a C152.

DFW13L · Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:05 am

My first flight alone was...

When my parents gave me an expiring AAdvantage certificate (used to be paper certificates in 1989!) in August of 1989 one month before I turned 15. I made a day-trip of it (not traveling as a UM..but as an airport-savvy 14-year-old!)

I went..
SHV-DFW-TUL-ORD (same plane and flight number the whole way) on an AA 727-223
connected to
ORD-MKE AA 727-023
returned on the same plane to ORD
MKE-ORD AA 727-023
and then
ORD-DFW-SHV on a 727-223 (same plane and flight number)

It was the most number of flights I could squeeze in without spending the night away anywhere.

I actually have a video of the takeoffs and landings on video tape...if the tape still works!

NorthstarBoy · Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:50 am

the first time i flew alone was at around age nine, on an AA 727-200 from LGA-DCA back in the mid 70s, i don't remember much about the experience except that i felt guilty because i bet my dad on whether it'd be a 727-100 or -200 and i won, so he gave me a dollar.

the next time after that was age 14 from Iad-Den on a UA DC-8-61, great experience because i got bored so the crew took me up on an offer to help collect/refill coffee cups, i can only imagine the looks on the passengers faces to see a 14 year old in jeans and a teeshirt asking if they wanted a refill, or asking to collect their coffee cup. the crew even allowed me to crack the back door when we got to Den, man those doors were heavy! Of course the line was drawn when i asked if we could park at an A gate on arrival, they were outdoor gates at that time and i was feeling a bit queasy, they laughed and said that wasnt under their control. the crew was really great and i took the time to write a very complimentary letter that i know was forwarded to the head of inflight services, Johnnie Redmond, because i got a personal response back thanking me for my letter, telling me what a great job i did helping the crew, and generally thanking me for flying UA and being glad i had such a memorable experience.

I didn't fly internationally by myself until my 2006 RTW trip, i'd taken two previous international trips without my parents but was part of an organized tour group with chaperones each time. I was 17 and 20 on those occasions.

iairallie · Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:14 am

Quoting NWADC9 (Reply 17):
Quoting Longhornmaniac (Reply 9):
The first time I flew by myself I was 6, at most, flying NW from AUS-BNA through MEM. They stuck be in the back of a DC-9, right next to the engine.

How'd you go on a connecting flight as a UM when you can't make connections until you're 7-8?

The rules have changed somewhat over the years.

I was 6. BOS-LGA I used to make that trip several times a year to visit Grandma.

B747forever · Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:39 am

Wow, thank you all for the comments!!

After reading all of this, it makes me more excited Wink

JetBlueAUS · Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:03 am

I was six. From HOU-MSY on WN. Smile

ag92 · Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:27 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

SIN - DEL on S2, umm a bit of both really, yes because I would be traveling alone at the age of something like 12 and no as well becasue this would be my first SQ flight after about 7 years (I know this becasue for those 7 years we only seemed to have gone to Delhi after looking at my passport)

pawsleykat · Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:54 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

I was 5. On a BA Boeing 757-200 GLA-LHR on 31/07/1997. My first flight ever and I was all my lonesome.

In 2008, I flew 35 times on my own.

When I was 13, I took my first flying lesson and got to take off without the aid of the trainer.
He did land it with me though Smile

JG

Mir · Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:55 pm

I was 9 or 10. Paris-EWR on an AF 742, but I can't remember whether it was CDG or ORY (leaning toward CDG though, since we always used to fly into ORY with DL, and I was looking forward to it being something different). They let me up in the cockpit, but I had no idea what was going on, so I couldn't appreciate it at all. Sad

Quoting NWADC9 (Reply 17):
How'd you go on a connecting flight as a UM when you can't make connections until you're 7-8?

Back in the day, services were different.

-Mir

FlyDeltaJets87 · Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:39 pm

ATL-CVG-ATL on DL in 2002 when I was 15. I still remember the dates, seats, and flight numbers, and I have the boarding passes and tickets somewhere too.

wn700driver · Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:50 pm

I was 14. IAD-BDL, UAL 732, seat 16A, perfect for watching the TRs.. Return was a UAX (Air Wisconsin, I think), DHC-8-300, seat 5F.

Pretty exciting. I remember not being able to see my home after takeoff, but clearly able to identify the nearby streets and shopping centers, etc...

B747forever · Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:46 pm

Quoting Pawsleykat (Reply 30):
I was 5. On a BA Boeing 757-200 GLA-LHR on 31/07/1997. My first flight ever and I was all my lonesome.

In 2008, I flew 35 times on my own.

When I was 13, I took my first flying lesson and got to take off without the aid of the trainer.

Wow, that is what I call impressive. I envy you!

JRadier · Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:03 pm

The first time I flew alone I was 14 on a non-rev daytrip to LHR (so I spent the day there on my own). My grandma wasn't too happy when she found out...

CO7e7 · Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:07 pm

Quoting B747forever (Thread starter):
When did you fly all by yourself for the first time, and were you excited?

TLV-JFK I was 17

staralliance38 · Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:13 pm

I flew United IAD-AMS and LHR-IAD when I was 13. Then again, I was with a group, lol Smile

I can't wait to fly by myself. I have some miles I can burn Smile

MDS · Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:13 am

My first unaccompanied flight (of course, I was accompanied by the airline crew to look after me) was when I was 10 years old in 2002 on a STL-ORD-LHR trip. Believe it or not I was terrified of flying at the time; my opinion has drastically changed.

From when I was 14 in 2006 I was regularly flying unaccompanied between STN-AGP-STN.

My first "flying with the destination being the origin" was about a month ago (aged 17), and that was AGP-MAD-PMI-BCN-MAD-AGP.. in a single day.

PlymSpotter · Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:26 am

PLH-BRS-PLH on Air Southwest when I was 16 or 17, I don't remember for sure. Just went up to BRS for a day's photography, where it was cold and wet all day grumpy

Dan

sebjacques92 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 1:05 am

My first solo flight was PRG - FCO to spend a week in the sun with some mates i knew who owned a house in Italia. I flew CSA Czech Airlines Boeing 737-500 and loved every minute of the trip! I had a window seat and the seat next to me was free aswell. The trip was 2 years ago when i turned 14 and was just 2 days after my birthday! Of course now i fly quite often on my own and have completed:

BA LHR-PRG Airbus A320 G-EUUO
BMI PRG-MAN Boeing 737-300 G-TOYE
BMI MAN-PRG Boeing 737-300 G-TOYG
CSA PRG-LHR Boeing 737-400
CSA LHR-PRG Boeing 737-400

And soon im going to complete my first solo flight in a Piper PA-28

Seb airplane

teo747 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:05 am

BZN-BTM-SEA-LHR on QX and BA at the young age of 24...I felt that the unaccompanied minor treatment was rather unnecessary, but my parents insisted. At least I got to board the planes early. smirk

Elite · Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:07 am

Quoting Teo747 (Reply 40):
BZN-BTM-SEA-LHR on QX and BA at the young age of 24

Do you mean 14?

I first flew unaccompanied from BOS - LGA, it was a great experience despite only being a short flight... great sense of independence at the age of 15!

teo747 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:10 am

Quoting Elite (Reply 41):
Do you mean 14?

No, I really was 24 the first time I took a flight on my own. The unaccompanied minor bit was apparently a poor attempt at humor given the extremely young ages for everyone else who has posted!

Even though I was well into adulthood, it was still rather exciting to travel internationally on my own for the first time.

[Edited 2009-01-01 21:22:18]

747m8te · Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:37 am

It wasn't actually that long ago for me, back in 2006, I was 20 when I took my first flight on my own (prior to that it had always been with family or friends). LST-MEL-AKL with DJ and QF.

What made the day better was not only was I flying by myself for the first time, it was also my first 747 flight to Big grin

Ahhh that was a happy day...

Elite · Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:47 am

Quoting Teo747 (Reply 42):

Ah, ok. Sorry I missed it! embarrassed

Does anyone feel like they move through the airport much quicker when they are traveling alone? That's what I love... you move so much faster!

HT · Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:56 am

My first unaccompanied flight was at the age of 14 flying HAJ to NAP to join up with my parents, spending a vacation on the island of Ischia. We had been there a year before, so I knew about all the special luggage procedures included in the transfer to this place.
And, No, there was no special UM-service for me.

Flight was on YP using a MD-80.
-HT

02hilliert · Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:52 pm

First flight on my own was to visit a friend in Ireland. I was aged 12 at the time. Details below:

18/08/2008 LHR-DUB EI163 Aer Lingus B737-448 EI-BXA

I was a little nervous actually, if I remember correctly. I have to say that the Aer Lingus staff made a fairly half-arsed job of looking after the solo flyers amongst us, although we did get to see the cockpit! The British Midland staff on the way home were much better. Return flight details below:

25/08/2008 DUB-LHR British Midland A321-231 G-MIDA

BAViscount · Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:17 pm

Not until I was 20. Until then I had always flown with family, but I was heading off to visit my cousin who was studying at UNH in Durham, NH. Not only was it my first flight alone, but also my first trip to the US, and my first flight on a 747. Flying on that Northwest Orient jumbo from LGW to BOS was one of my most exciting flights ever! I also did a side trip down to North Carolina to visit family while I was there, so I got to fly US domestics alone too, flying USAir BOS-PIT-CLT-PIT-BOS...I was in my element!!

bbinn333 · Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:09 pm

My first time was on WestJet from MCO-YYZ, I was very exited.

isitsafenow · Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:50 pm

Nov of 1959 I was a few weeks short of 15 years old. I had a three legger, the three of us did...
me, myself and I...

FNT-YIP Capital DC 4. ..came down from MBS and kinda full... left side widow seat over wing.
Flew just above low cloud bank
YIP-MDW Capital Viscount....very light load...10-15 pax at most...left side window seat very last row ..flew mostly between cloud layer.
MDW-MKC Braniff convair 340...Flight 51 to be exact! ...about 3/4 full. Great seat on left side just behind the wing so I could watch the flaps. Good weather all the way and landed toward north over river at MKC.
Ya just don't forget that stuff.
safe

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