The article says it was United Airlines.

Next time read the article. It mentioned several times that it was a United flight, United attendant, etc.

I think the parents ought to be responsible for the kids, not the airlines.

I bet if the children were allowed to have a voice in this they would say," I want my mommy" or "I want my daddy". Get it mom and dad? They are you responsibility first.

Ellen22831 Have you ever hired a babysitter for your kids?

This is NOT about the parents. The boy was traveling alone from one parent to see the other parent. The procedure is called "Unaccompanied Minor" and there is a fee, and a *tracking* of these passengers, with a flight attendant turning him over to the next responsible agent along the way. Like a lost piece of luggage, they didn't monitor him. There is also a strict *release form* about who they can turn him over to at the end, etc (in cases of custody battles). United just dropped the ball.

i think what happened is uncalled for, and the child should have been able to have called his mother the moment he was not able to connect flights. it is still unclear as to why this connection was not made as of no fault to the boy. with all the child abductions and trafficing going on in the world, children should be carefully monitored and that is an important component of the airlines. Children continue to be the "gems" of our lives and families. i was baffled by one comment i read earlier about the parents should be together and not be separated. that is totally ridiculous! it was a senseless comment and has nothing to do with what happened to the nine-year old boy and how the airlines handled his 8 hour layover or containment in a room with other children. the airlines not only need to publicly address this wrong but some kind of conpensation is warranted.

This incidents 1st responsibility goes to there parents who should be taking care of there kids cuz when parents are single they live there lives there own way but when they bring kids in this world then there kids should be there lives. Secondly its airlines responsibility to look after there customers. So in this case nobody fullfill there duties

This is why I will not allow our children to fly as Unaccompanied Minors (and I used to work for United).

You know what Richard? I'm the mother of a 9 year old , and NO, I have NEVER hired a baby sitter. I don't trust children to watch children. Fortunately we have family that lives fairly close by that we are able to leave our son with occasionally.

And I would NEVER send my son to fly alone at his age. Never. I don't care how safe it supposedly is. There are far too many ways a kid can fall through the cracks - and I just wouldn't take a chance like that.

another typical case of entrustment ignored..when it comes to a service being paid extra for, then that service s/b provided to one's best ability..like; our economic meltdown, No one doing their job effectively..glad to see this as happy ending though........

Can anyone say "Home Alone IV"?

I have never had such a problem when my child has flown. You pay upwards of 100 to 150 dollars each way to ensure that your child is transported in a safe and timely manner. To have lost a child and make him wait 8 hours on top of his regular wait for another flight (without contacting the parents, even) is a breach of trust. And what, they are going to waive the childcare fee? That fee was caused by them forgetting about transporting said minor. Saying they will 'waive' it is lame. They are definitely responsible for the extra child care, so there shouldn't even BE a question of them charging the parents for this.

And this might just be the preschool teacher in me, but keeping a child in one room for eight hours or more is NOT a good thing. If any center were to do that to a child, it would be shut down. Obviously this room was not well monitored if a child could be there for hours on end and no one caring for these kids is concerned enough to check things out. My center calls if a child falls down and acquires an injury, it would seem that missing a flight would be more of a crisis situation than a skinned knee.

I think that making a public statement about this situation is probably the only way to call enough attention to this to make a difference. There needs to be a change in policy and a priority put on keeping track of minors. I can say that Delta has NEVER been this lax with their responsibilities with my child.

United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy told the Ottawa Citizen that the airline apologized for the inconvenience and planned to offer Harte a refund for the child care fee and an undisclosed goodwill gesture.

That's all they had to say and offer. They should fire the people responsible for this fiasco.

The father lives in San Francisco, and the child,(9 years old), has made the decision to become a vegetarian? Enough said. LOL

the saddest part is, this child is shuttled SIX times a year!!!!! Go parents!

GI JOE-1977278

The father lives in San Francisco, and the child,(9 years old), has made the decision to become a vegetarian? Enough said. LOL

my thoughts too. I'll bet this kid made that decision... eyes rolling... there's the abuse, making a kid a vegetarian.

This is BS they didn't even bother to call the mother saying the child would be on the next flight if the child would have never called or had that prepaid phone the mother would be going crazy looking for her child. She trusted the airline to do their job but instead bumped the child for an adult. An adult can make other arraignments to get another flight, reschedule etc. What if the child needed medication, what if the child had allergies, etc. They didn't even inform the kid about what was going on. For 8hrs he waited this is unacceptable

my eyes are rolling at you two. so the kid is a vegetarian...much healthier choice than being a meat eater (no, i am not vegetarian). and his dad lives in San Franciso... it is a great city full of diverese people. the kid is lucky to have exposure to such a wonderful city.

GI Joe:

"The father lives in San Francisco, and the child,(9 years old), has made the decision to become a vegetarian? Enough said. LOL"

I was a vegetarian at the age of 2. As a child, I hated the taste of meat, and I refused to even eat the little processed meats they made for toddlers. I still don't eat any red meat or seafood because I don't like the taste or the consistency, but I started eating chicken when I was 23. When my family would take my sisters to McDonald's as a treat, they would make a separate dinner for me and bring it with us because I refused to eat anything from that restaurant. My parents made me try meat every time they had meat for dinner, but I just couldn't stomach it. And finally when I was old enough to make my own meals, my parents gave up making me try it.

So it's very possible for a child to be a vegetarian by choice. Not everyone likes the taste or texture of meat.

what does the father living in San Fran have to do with anything? Apparently he is with the mother most of the time since the article state he makes the trip 6 times a year, so that would say that the mother is the one that would have the most influence on his eating habits.....and so what if he is a vegetarian, has nothing to do with the fact that the airline dropped the ball and forgot about the kid.

I'm not sure what the child's food lifestyle and the father's city of residence have to do with United Airlines being completely irresponsible in fulfilling a paid for service for a customer. It is likely the 1 or both of the parents are vegetarian and that is why the child is. There is no harm in it. I actually thought it was awesome that the parents live so far away from each other, in different countries at that, and go the extra mile to make sure the child sees his father 6 times a year. My father lived in driving distance from me while I was growing up and I only saw him 1 time a year if that.

Bottom line Unaccompanied Minor is a service paid for and United has an incompetent employee for a very serious responsibility. My child flew alone at an age not much older than that and I would have been livid if not calling a lawyer in that situation. I think United owes this family big time.

This story tells me that my nieces will have to travel with an adult to come and visit. There is no way I want them stuck in this kind of situation.

I like United because they have more leg room in coach, but thank God this child is unharmed and OK.

I remember in the old days of Eastern, when I was a young flyer--and I always had an airline escort. And my mom taught me to always speak up. Julien, at age 9, was old enough to carry a cell phone but not to speak up and say: "hey, I'm traveling alone and I'm supposed to be on this flight." Seems to be he was "shuffled" along and he didn't say much, either. Most kids would've made a stink.

Well, this speaks volumes of the service you can expect from airlines nowadays. And I'm not just talking United--I mean all airlines. So, be proactive--and teach your kids to speak up, because service is going downhill in a hurry.

No....I disagree. I personally do not like kids on planes because it represents un needed travel. Kids did not often fly on planes until the last few decades...when parents decided to tow them around because flying became cheap (too cheap imo). Let me guess, mom and dad divorced, moved to different parts of the continent, and want to use cheap airline prices (the source of the cattle car experience, and over worked underpaid staff) to serve their new lifes.

Parents won't like this post...to bad....it has become a kid centriic US culture.

rotflol...nothing changes around here..I am gone for a month and I come back to the same old bs...but it is always good for a laugh..especially when there is a happy ending. Child home safely and parents get compensation...

and I would be willing to bet that the attendant who's responsibility it was to care for the child while under United's custody and care will be censored if not fired...unless this was the third warning they would have received.

and the remarks about San Fransisco and the child being a vegatarian was so off the Newsvine COH I am wondering if all the Moderators left when I did(roll-eyes)

have a great day everyone and play nice;)

United lost my kid too on a straight flight with no connections. Took 3 hours for the airline to find him asleep in a back room at Dulles airport. I was frantic and no one seemed to care there was a lost child. Total losers!

the child being a vegatarian was so off the Newsvine COH I am wondering if all the Moderators left when I did(roll-eyes)

thank god the nanny is here. the kid being a vegetarian is fair game since the 'journalist' mentioned it in the article in an attempt to make the kid's ordeal seem even more horrific. "he was force fed mcdonalds for crying out loud!!!!!!!" that's the subtext.

but when is the kid going to start taking responcibility for his actions?

Oh, the memories! I spent eight hours in that same room in Chicago in the early eighties. I was 12 years old, the oldest they take as an unaccompanied minor, missed my connecting flight (it was a memorable run through the airport with my airline escort), and the next flight was eight hours later. I'm pretty sure they played the TV on a loop back then, too, because the only thing I remember being on was Soul Train. At least they brought food for the kids, because none was offered to me back then. Luckily we had gone to a county fair the day before flying and I'd brought my leftover cotton candy with me. Eight hours in a room with kids mostly much younger than me, with only cotton candy to eat and Soul Train to watch. It is not my favorite childhood memory, but weather was the culprit on that day.

Those blaming the parents for allowing their child to fly alone are completely off the mark. Not everyone's life is ideal and sometimes parents live states, or even countries, away from each other. The money for an extra adult ticket would likely preclude many parental visits, when there are, in fact, very, very few of these incidents that occur.

Actually, is anyone thinking about the situation these parents are in? That they might not be able to drop everything six times a year to travel with their child?

As a woman, I know if I were divorced and having to raise a son, I would have to work. And I don't know of any employers out there who would allow me time off more than once a year to travel cross-country with my child. Dad, if he pays child support, is probably in the same position: he has to work, too.

Not to mention that a round-trip flight of that distance for an adult would probably cost around $600. That would be $3,600 a year just to walk your child through a couple of airports. The parents are probably already paying close to that amount every year for the child's tickets and handling fees. Yes, it's better and more responsible for parents to travel with their children, but it isn't always feasible.

So should the child be punished by not being allowed to see his father? I know if it were me, I'd want my son to see his father more than once or twice a year. Boys need their fathers to give them manly guidance, and the statistics concerning children raised in fatherless homes proves it. I'm sure the child is benefiting far more from seeing his father than he is "hurting" by traveling alone.

I sat next to an UM (11 yo) on a flight once. I could tell he was a little frightened as it was his first flight. I broke out a deck of cards and we made up games to play. We talked and we had fun. As we landed, he took my hand and asked me be the one to take him to his mom who was waiting for him. I told him I would walk with both him and the attendant as his mom might not understand a complete stranger being with her son. I met his mom, a lovely woman and just before my new friend and I parted ways, he took a rabbits foot from his pocket and handed it to me. I asked him why he wanted to give up his good luck piece. This is what he told me. "I did not need luck, I had a guardian angel sitting next to me." That was 1982 and I still have that rabbits foot.

Well then let your child LIVE with his father then! I doubt seeing his father only SIX times a YEAR (as is the case here) would wield much influence.

Jayrock:

"Well then let your child LIVE with his father then! I doubt seeing his father only SIX times a YEAR (as is the case here) would wield much influence."

Actually, seeing your father at all wields a lot of influence. I say this as someone who very rarely saw her father after the divorce. And my father only lived an hour away, but that was my father's fault. He couldn't be bothered to come see me and my sisters. I was very close with him (much closer than my sisters) before the divorce. It hurt so much to think that my father didn't care and didn't want me around. I would've loved to see my father as much as six times a year. Turns out my dad was going through some emotional problems that he needed to work out, and he and I have since mended our relationship. It's still not where I would like it to be, but it's as good as it's going to get, and as an adult, I've accepted that.

Having contact with both parents is extremely important to a kid's development, especially in dealing with a divorce. I don't know how many times I thought it was my fault my dad didn't want to see me.

How do you send a 9 yr old without an adult on a connecting flight across the country- ARE THOSE PARENTS CRAZY or JUST STUPID!!!!!

Obviously keith-753629 you are not a single parent. Not everyone can just drop everything in order to send their children to see the other parent for visitation. I am a single mom of 4 and have sent my kids to see their dad many times and on 3 seperate occasions I had to use the same service this woman did. Don't judge someone until you are walking in their shoes.

Um, it happens literally thousand of times a day. I did it from 5 to about 17 to see my father every summer and occasionally during the year, then I started taking Greyhound. It was actually pretty fun, and generally they do a good job of looking after you. Even this story the kid was safe, they just neglected to notify the people they should have. When was the last time one was ever lost by an airline?

Indeed Magnolia, anytime spent with the other parent is precious to a kid, it's why I grew up without a lot of the issues some of my friends from split families have. I didn't resent either of them because my mom encouraged my relationship with my dad, and he obviously wanted me around as much as possible. That's EXACTLY how you deal with a bad situation, too many people would use the distance as an excuse to cut off a kid or neglect their responsibility. The parents here are not the issue, they seem to be doing it the right way.

Who are you to say how much influence a child would receive by seeing his father so many times a year? The important thing here is maintaining a relationship between the child and each parent. If you never see someone, you can't have a very good relationship with them, especially where a child is concerned. Children are deeply affected by their parents' presence, moods, mannerisms, lifestyles, etc., as they are easily influenced. They need structured environments in which to interact with their parents in order to assess who the parents are and how they feel about their children. If a child never sees a parent, the child usually concludes that the parent does not care about him, which damages his self-esteem. They don't understand distance, work obligations, family obligations, etc. as an adequate excuse for an absent parent.

Like I said, the boy is benefiting more from having a relationship with BOTH parents than he is "hurting" by traveling alone.

I agree, Capt. I was a happily unaccompanied minor for a few years myself, with no mishaps. Only one extended stay (see above post) at O'Hare due to a weather delay.

oh yeah, let's entirely blame the airline (which WAS wrong) and let's reward the kid with food.

Why didn't the kid speak up? at 9 he was certainly capable of asking somebody what was going on!!!

Not to long ago an airline mixed up two children and sent them on the wrong flights. I would say that qualifies for losing two children.

Dude, he's 9. I think we are more than appropriate dismissing him from any culpability or responsibility for this situation. He no doubt initially just trusted that they knew what they were doing, he probably watched the movie they played 2 or 3 times before he even realized something was wrong. He's 9. It's not even worth discussing what he did or thought.

The reason why it can not be decided whether the airlines or the parents are responsible is because the age to shuttle unaccompanied children around should be higher, like more like 12 years of age.

fgh:

"The reason why it can not be decided whether the airlines or the parents are responsible is because the age to shuttle unaccompanied children around should be higher, like more like 12 years of age."

Airlines consider kids 12 years old and older are able to take care of themselves in the airport. Unaccompanied minors usually max out at 12 on a lot of airlines. Personally, I think that's a little young to expect a child to be able to care for themselves in an airport, especially those that have never flown before, but that's not my call. Some airlines offer unaccompanied minor services up to the age of 17, but for most, it's around 12 or 14. Most airlines require children under 7 to fly on only direct flights, and most won't take unattended children under the age of 5 to fly alone.

I don't think the child did anything wrong here. He was supposed to be cared for by the airline, and his age doesn't really factor in here. He could have been 12 or he could have been 9, or even 7... either way, the airline was responsible for making sure he made his next flight, and they dropped the ball.

I think everyone is overlooking the most important point here.

As a stepparent I have to fly my stepson to see his father in CA. every summer. His father and I decided in the beginning that the UM would never be put on a connecting flight. We also did the research and found Southwest the most reliable airline for UM, they not only accompany the minor but both his father and I have to show proper ID and then sign for the child at each end. Southwest requires that we stay at the airport until the flight is airborne just in case the child has to return to the gate for unexpected reasons.

I think it is much more important that my stepson gets to spend time with his father.

Here are the guide lines we follow to ensure the safety of our son:

1. Straight through flights only and always Southwest

2. We supply the airline with each others Drivers License number and our son is only released to that person. We also provide a secondary person and ID that is acceptable.

3. We both carry cell phones and we call each other when we arrive at the airport first so that we know the boy is being placed on the flight and also that there is some one there to receive him when he arrives.

We have never had any problems with this system. And my stepson gets to enjoy quality time with his father, after all isn't that the most important thing "the child".

"Where's Kevin?...... Kevin!!!!!!!!!

Whether the airlines offer it or not, a 9 year old should not be placed on an airplane by himself. Make the parent who left the marriage travel to see the child if they want and love them. I have an 8 year old boy and can't imagine placing him on an airplane and saying Daddy will meet you on the other end! The parents and the airlines should be ashamed of themselves!

Larry - Just FYI - all airlines require the personal information of the people dropping off and picking up. The child will not be released to anyone except who is on the the paperwork ( ID is always required). Also all the airlines will not allow a UM to travel on evening flights - just in case of delays. And up until a certain age - most airlines will not accept a child unless it is on a direct flight. Traveling with a cell phone is a great idea! Parents aside and his eating habits aside (So not the point!) - United dropped the ball - Big Time!!!

My kids are 14 and 15 and still travel as unaccompanied minors to visit their father. They always have an airline escort and are marked with large buttons stating they are UM so they can be identified easily by the flight attendants. My kids have never been shuffled off to a back room and forgotten and they have been traveling this way for years. Their father is military, so him living across the country was the Army's choice not his. Although we both work, neither of us can afford to accompany our children to fly them for a visit. We pay the extra fees and make sure they have a cell phone. I (me personally) check in with my kids when they are supposed to land at any connecting airport. They also have instructions to call me when they land and if there is a delay. I have been called by flight attendants personally for delays and once just to say how polite my kids are. I am a VERY responsible and protective parent and do not feel the parents did anything wrong in allowing this child to fly. As a parent, you check them in, walk them through security and to the gate. They board the plane first with a flight attendant and you are required to wait to leave until the plane is in the air. At their destination the person picking them up is required to show ID that matches the forms the first parent completed and meet them at the gate to sign them out from teh attendant. If handled correctly it is very safe. No issues with Delta or UsAir...ever.

Seems to be he was "shuffled" along and he didn't say much, either. Most kids would've made a stink.

I completely disagree with this comment. I know ZERO kids this age that would have made a stink. I don't even think they would be able to figure out the gate let alone the flight leaving from the gate. When do kids start reading these days?

Little Sure Shot

Your story in 1.31 brought me to tears. You are a wonderful guardian angel.

@ Lori, when I was 12 years old and my sister was 8, we had to travel for the first time by ourselves to visit our father who was stationed in Alaska. Should my mother have been required to buy a $1500 ticket to fly from NC to Alaska to chaperone us when she was divorced from my father? Does it make her an unfit and delinquent parent? No it does not. We live in a time when divorce rates are high and parents often live in separate states or countries in this case. If a child is to maintain a relationship with both parents, then issues of children traveling by themselves are going to come up. Airlines have provided the service of chaperoning children from one gate to the other for years...I traveled by myself with my sister in 1991. The bottom line is if they don't want to provide this service and do so committed to a child's complete safety, then they should not offer it. Period. The parents trusted that their child would safely travel with this airline and that the employees would escort them to their gates on time and safely. I am sure that this service is not free as nothing is free on airlines anymore. If the parents paid for their child to be accounted for and escorted, then they were being as responsible as they could be without having to pay the extra money for a plane ticket. Could you afford two extra round trip tickets to escort your child to their father only to turn right around when you got there? If so, good for you.

As a child sent unattended on airlines dozens of time from when I was 6 on I would say it is probably one of the safest environments for a kid. You're behind metal detectors, with armed TSA federal agents, and airline attendants PAID to watch you. I suppose you don't send you kid to school on the bus either?

No! The airline IS responsible for the child. They take on that responsibility when they charge, and accept the fee paid by the parent, for the unaccompanied child. They are supposed to make sure the child(ren) meet the proper connecting flight!

This occurance happens more and more. What the airlines should do is have regional liasons at the airports they service specifically for this reason. Any child traveling to specific regions of the country/int'l, should be accompanied to and from their repspective gates.

WTF is the airline charging additional fees for if they can't do what they are paid to do.

You probably don't have kids and don't know how kids travel alone in US.

Airline employees have enough to worry about

Then, they shouldn't offer the service. If they offer the service, they should follow through on it. The kid was supposed to be "attended" by airline personnel - he was not sent "unattended".

Loripuff, do you ever pay a babysitter to care for your children? I guess you don't expect them to provide your children with the care you're paying for. God almighty, don't ever send your children to school... the teachers surely won't be responsible for them either. Some children aren't as lucky as yours might be to have both parents with them. And most parents that aren't together try to do everything they can so that the children can maintain a relationship with both parents. Get off your lucky little high horse in your perfect little world and get a grip on reality!

The unaccompanied minor fee that the airline charges is not an insignificant amount. For what they charge, they should be doing a much better job of taking care of the UMs entrusted to them and make sure they get on their connecting flights. A UM is the last person that should be involuntarily bumped from a flight. The airline has no idea what the situation is for the person picking up the child at the other end. If a child is bumped to a later flight the parent may have difficulty getting to the airport at the new arrival time to pick them up. What United did is inexcusable and they need to do a lot more than refund the UM fee to make up for this.

As a grandmother I have paid to fly my grandson to visit me unattended since he was five years old. I have only flown him on direct flights where his mother takes him to the gate and I pick him up from the gate. This has worked out find for us. If the airlines did not offer this service then I would only get to see him once in a while. I cannot afford to pay the extra plane fair to escort him myself and neither can my daughter. She had to move away because of her husbands job. You don't know the situation here so you shouldn't be so quick to judge. Everyone has a different case. The airline was wrong and should be held accoutable for their mistake. Let's all thank God that the boy made it home all right in the end and that the airline corrects their procedures for the future.

Loripuff, I will not send my 13yr old as an Unaccompanied Minor even though she's a very experienced traveler (we do a whole lot of flying as a family). But I still disagree w/ you whole heartedly. The airline is being paid to provide a service and all airlines says that passanger and employee safety is their top priority. If the child missed his connecting flight (United's fault) and the airline was unaware that he was not on his flight - in limbo sort of for hours - the boy was at risk. And the boy was United's responsibility. If a babysitter is negligent and a child is injured in their care, the sitter is held responsible; not the parent. And most sitters are not multimillion dollar corporations, how much more should United be held responsible.

Lori,

Lets say that my husband and I are finally able to plan a relaxing vacation in Europe for just the two of us. My sister, who lives on the opposite side of the country from me has offered to take both my sons, age 6 and 8 for the week. Are you saying I shouldn't send my sons to see their relatives or have a vacation without them because that would make me a neglectful parent? Are you suggesting I fly them to the West coast only to fly back so I can take my trip and then fly out to pick them up later?

Sarah, Lori may not be willing to say it but I am. You are free to do what you choose to do in that situation - but if it was me? No friggin' way would I do that. It's one thing when a child has to travel to see a parent who lives a distance away from them. But your situation is all about putting your needs ahead of your children's and doing what's easiest and best for you.

It is ABSOLUTELY the airlines responsibilty to make sure that child makes it to the connecting flight, baggage claim and finally to the adult that is picking that child up. Airlines charge a fee for this service. I am aware of a friend that was flying his 12 year old daughter across country to visit family and the airline charged him $100 to have someone walk his daughter from the gate to the baggage claim. That's right...$100. That's on top of the cost of the flight. It's not always possible for the parent to fly with the child. If the airline offers a service and charges an astronomical amount for said service then it is only fair that that service actually be fulfilled.

@Lori - get a clue!!!! How can you blame the mother being one yourself???? Should a mother have to take on the cost of a round trip flight for herself so that her child can see his/her father? What if the parents are divorced and the father moved away? Should that child not see his father? As an unaccompanied minor you pay and extra fee to the airline similar to that of paying a daycare. The airline accepts the responsibility when it accepts the fee and the child. Would you say that if your child was in daycare and on a field trip and the day care forgot the child is that your fault? After all you chose the day care, you allowed your child to attend the field trip. Get a grip on reality, it is not feasible for any parent to always accompany a child to see family or for that parent to be with the child 24/7 !

Lori, It appears to me that your view of the real world is very, very small. I would not be so quick to judge, if I were you. The only thing you know about this incident is what you just read........unless, of course, you are the mother's sister.

Do you know what karma is?

Sarah Claire, I see no probs with sending the kids to see your sister. These little self-righteous nuts that feel they have to live every moment for the kids and not take any time for themselves to enjoy life, are leading sad lives indeed. There is NOTHING wrong with parents wanting some time out for themselves, and to let off some steam. It's the parents that don't take the time off that are setting bad examples for their children - children that are pandered to every waking moment are the ones that develop entitlement issues. Children need to see that parents are people and have needs/desires as well.

The airline was at fault here, and luckily the boy got home in the end. At least United is coping to it being their fault and are willing to rectify it.

Sarah, you have got to be the most uncaring, selfish person I have ever come across on the net. Someone needs to take those kids from you and yank your damn uterus out so you can not have any more kids of which you can cast aside for your own selfish wants.

If anyone is selfish and uncaring, not to mention ignorant and misogynistic, it's you Glenda.

Sarah has a right to go on a vacation. All parents have a right to take a break from parenting and relax. And she's not just leaving her children with anyone, she's leaving them with a trusted relative. How is that selfish and uncaring? Get over yourself and stfu.

I personally would pay whatever the price to fly with mine. I am the parent. I am the responsible party.

I don't condemn anyone who does do this.

But I do find the this question to be a little silly...

Are you suggesting I fly them to the West coast only to fly back so I can take my trip and then fly out to pick them up later?

Easily the answer is yes. They are your kids. You're the one that wants the vacation. Why should it be the airline's problem or anyone else's problem?

The flip side of that is, that airlines do provide this service and if someone wants to take advantage of it that is their right.

No offense but that is just the way I see that being answered because I don't understand why anyone thought this was a good idea to begin with. I just think parents should be the ones to accompany their kids so little-Johnny-the-vegetarian doesn't end up having nothing to eat, stuck and ignored and being treated who knows how by these people.

People go through great pains to check out their daycares and baby-sitters. The idea of passing off my kid to someone I don't know crap about and knowing he/she will be passed onto someone else I don't know crap about.... just doesn't sit well with me personally.

I love how people here are completely excluding the airline of any responsibility. It's always the parent's fault.

The problem here is found across the board in all service industries, lack of responsibility and lack of attention to details. Passing the buck is unacceptable. If I pay for a particular service, whether it be dining out, having my car washed, having my child assisted with traveling, or having my teeth filled, I expect to have it all done professionally and to my standards and requirements.

As of late, the only work I have found acceptable is from my dentist. Restaurant service is deplorable; I've had more errors than correct service, with things as simple as soup and salad (they forgot the soup). Many mechanics know less than I do about a car (I actually had to explain to one how to read the side of a tire to get air pressure standards and tire size). I fired my doctor, he couldn't even read the x-ray of a very obviously broken bone. The car wash is clueless about detailing, let alone washing the wheel rims. And now United can't even "babysit" a child in their structured Unaccompanied Minor program. Do we even need to discuss airlines' luggage problems? We ALL pay for these services, but by and large, we are getting short shrift from the providers. (BTW, I'm probably the least demanding person I know. I understand that accidents happen, and things slip through the cracks, but it's now becoming the rule, instead of the exception.)

I think we all need to become more demanding and get what we pay for. Lax management, ignorance/stupidity, surly providers, people who just plain don't care, and not taking pride in good work are all just symptoms of bigger problems. We, as a populace, have shifted from being glad to have a job where we can give the best we can, to just selfishly demanding a paycheck for our time spent. It has become more about us than about doing a good job. (Please don't blame unions--don't even bring it up; this is about personal pride and respect in a job well done.)

Every day at my job, I give the best I can. I dot my i's and cross my t's. I return every single message and call in a timely manner, and I give the caller the requested information. I double check my numbers for accurancy. (Sure, I make mistakes, but they are few and far between.) I'm one of the few who does give the best I can. However, more and more, the ball is being dropped by others who just feel entitled to a warm-body paycheck. And until we start getting what we pay for, I think we should raise a stink about it.

Well Lori then what do you suppose would be the best way for the father to see this child or any parents out there that have kids that don't live near them. My step-daughter flighs once a month and we pay the airline to take care of the child. No as far as this particular child goes, I am not sure why he is on a connecting flight. We fly my step-daughter on Southwest and they don't allow the kids to fly on connecting flights until they are 12 I believe. Stop judging... I suppose you have this perfect little life where you don't ever have to worry about this kind of thing.. try being away from your child and then you may comment because you have knowledge of what it is like not living in the same place as your child.

IT'S THE CHILD'S FAULT! he makes this trip 6 times a year, has a cell and doesn't call when he misses a connection?! spank the crap outta him!

seriously, normally I'm one of the blame the parents people, but, as stated above, the airline takes that fee in order to escort unattended kids, it's not rocket science. do your job united, or stop providing the service if it's too much for you.

Did you forget about the FATHER??? Or is it ALWAYS a single MOTHERS responsibility ONLY to take care of kids?

I suppose all of these beacons of fantastic parenting (fiscalconservative and glenda05) spend so much time on their soap box judging other people that they fail to realize that when your life revolves that much around your kids that you feel it's child abuse to send them on a plane utilizing a service that the airlines provide, that your're the ones who are terrible parents.

Your job as parents is to raise a child who will grow into an independent adult that can take care of themselves. All these people are doing is raising needy, helpless, fearful of everything, kids who unable to deal with the harshness of reality and will need their mothers to take care of them long into their adult lives. If that's what they want so be it- if they want to take care of their 30 year old "kid" who still lives at home so be it- but to all the other parents out there who are raising kids to be adults that can stand on their own 2 feet, ill lead the charge and say that these other types of parents need to butt out of what normal parents are doing.

You can raise a child into an adult AND have a personal life as well. Any person who believes that once you have a child EVERY waking second is devoted to that child is insane. A child takes up a majority of your life yes- but if you arrange and plan a vacation for yourself and take care to see that a family member or babysitter can take care of your child how does that make you a bad parent? A bad parent would just up and leave and make no plans to see that their children are cared for.

Judging by the vehement nature of the comments that all of these stand up parents are posting it seems to me that they need a vacation themselves, and need to let a babysitter watch over their 30year old kid whose on their couch asking when dinner is!

Sarah Claire don't ever let these miserable people make you feel bad because your able to live your life AND take care of you children. Just because they feel that proper parenting is to smother and then have the nerve to judge people who understand that smothering is wrong and its okay to let your children grow, doesn't mean you have let them make you feel bad for being a good parent!

As parent of four, I would NEVER consider putting my kids on a plane or a bus by themselves. I saw some kids as young as 5 traveled alone. I would never let my child seat next to strangers and travel 1000 of miles alone. Something is wrong with these parents.

To ZAPPER, all I can say is....BRAVO....BRAVO, well said...that's the problem in this society...we don't have any pride anymore...we don't want to excel in quality, but in quantity...I sincerely applaud you...

It seems like divorced people have all kinds of excuses for their behavior, only they don't realize that their kids paid the price for their selfishness.

Airlines charge a LOT of money for a child to fly as "unaccompanied minor" where a flight attendant makes sure someone is at the airport to pick up that child (and checks I.D.). They don't "babysit" but just make sure the child gets on and off safely and they usually sit near where the employees are working. It isn't that big a deal. My child went to Calif. to visit grandparents at age 12 and was treated like lost luggage. We received horrid treatment from United!

When my ex and I divorced I was given sole custody of our son. When the judge heard I was planning on moving from Texas to Michigan, he put it in the divorce papers that I would put my son on an airplane to visit his dad, and his dad would put him on an airplane back to me. I didn't have any choice in the matter, as my ex frequently pointed out to me. The only way I was able to change it was because my ex was 45 minutes late picking my son up at the airport, and my son was only 6 at the time. Only then did the judge agree that my ex would have to pick our son up for visits, and I would have to pick him up to return home.

I'm the adult child of divorced parents and a veteran UM. Do you know what happened to me and my younger sister from flying over seas yearly for almost a decade? We achieved a wonderful sense of self confidence, awareness, street smarts and independence. And thats carried over into more than just travel. It was a rush learning how to speak up for ourselves to the attendants, hold our own against busy body passengers, and learn responsibility by making the "we're here safe" phone call that would wake dad up at 4 am ( though he never slept those nights).

So I understand a parents desire to protect their child from lifes dangers but it needs to be remembered that in an attempt to protect them the may be denied the opportunity to experience something that could help them grow and learn more about who they are becoming as a person.

I think children shouldn't fly alone unless they are 12.

For those of you who are justifing sending your child alone because, cost, time, take your own vacation, or it's just easier- you have 12-13 years to take care of your child you have the rest of your life to take it easy and save money.

Bottom line, it's about the child not YOU!!!!

Well lori you must be the mother of the year. I guess moms like me who can't stop working in order to support her four kids shouldn't be parents in your eyes. Get off your high horse.

Keith - seriously, get over yourself. I flew alone from 5-to whenever. It's no that dangerous, traumatic or neglectful. It's no different than putting your child on a bus for school. People don't need to justify it, it happens constantly and I can't honestly remember the last time child was put in any serious danger - even in this instance they knew where the kid was, he was being watched, etc, they just failed to notify his mother, and never should have bumped a minor from his flight. I feel kind of certain that policy, if it didn't already actually exist, is now being written. The kid wasn't LOST, misplaced or whatever, nor was he alone or outside supervision.

Amen SansSerif!

For all you perfect parents (Lori, Glenda and [not]Mybestfriend, etc) I'm so glad you haven't had kids or didn't get divorced or have a spouce who makes enough that you don't have to work or what ever your situation is that you don't ever have to hire a babysitter. (I guess you homeschool too, right?)

Unfortunatelyr, MOST parents require hire some kind of childcare. There is a contract made with the exchange of money that requires the caregiver to take responsibility for what happens to the child while in their care. That is what has happened here, however lame it is, United offered some kind of compensation for their poor performance. That is what the story is about... the poor performance of this airline in this particular event. It's not about lame parents, lame kids, lame society, etc.

After ready these posts from people coming down hard on these 2 parents, I have a feeling it's your kids that has caused "child-free" restaurants to become the next best thing in dining out. I can't wait for one to open in my town cuz I am so there!! Nothing worse than sitting next to children who have never been away from mommy and daddy or granny, who's social skills are limited to running, screaming, crying, sneezing on the food on the buffet (or touching it to show which items they want)

Seriously, we need to shelter our children from the ills of society, but we need to teach them respect, independence, and self-reliance to give them confidence to speak up for themselves in a way that lets others know they are not just being smart @ss potty mouths.

I know a 38 year woman whose parents monitored her every move up until she got married at the age of 22. She was never allowed to do anything for herself. They cleaned up after her and coddled every little move she made. They even went to her fast food restaurant workplace and sat in the lobby and watched her work....when she was 20 years old!!

Well, she expected her new husband to do the same as her parents. Clean up after her and tell her how great she was and so on. He couldn't do it because that's not normal! Needless to say, the marriage ended 4 years later (can't believe it lasted that long) and her parents picked up full time coddling responsibilities.

Like I said, she is now 38 and still works fast food jobs, because she can't stick to anything else. She doesn't do a lot of work while on the clock, because she expects everyone to take care of her, just like mommy & daddy do, and is "let go" often. Oh, and yes, they do still go check on her at her work to make sure she's doing okay.

She is completely worthless because mommy & daddy never let her experience anything on her own. What's funny is, they sometimes express how they'd like to stop supporting her so much, but she isn't capable of making it on her own, and they just can't understand why. Well, maybe if you would have had her do chores, let her go places on her own, etc when she was a kid, she would have developed into a responsible adult.

I think everyone is overlooking the most important point here.

As a stepparent I have to fly my stepson to see his father in CA. every summer. His father and I decided in the beginning that the UM would never be put on a connecting flight. We also did the research and found Southwest the most reliable airline for UM, they not only accompany the minor but both his father and I have to show proper ID and then sign for the child at each end. Southwest requires that we stay at the airport until the flight is airborne just in case the child has to return to the gate for unexpected reasons.

I think it is much more important that my stepson gets to spend time with his father.

Here are the guide lines we follow to ensure the safety of our son:

1. Straight through flights only and always Southwest

2. We supply the airline with each others Drivers License number and our son is only released to that person. We also provide a secondary person and ID that is acceptable.

3. We both carry cell phones and we call each other when we arrive at the airport first so that we know the boy is being placed on the flight and also that there is some one there to receive him when he arrives.

We have never had any problems with this system. And my stepson gets to enjoy quality time with his father, after all isn't that the most important thing "the child".

@Anthony-2074708 Where do you live because I have never seen armed TSA agents? Is that something new and do they work in the regular passenger terminals or are they a special division at select airports?

Just curious!

Lori, Was my friend a bad mother to send her 9 year old away to boarding school when hers was the only black family in a small town where the racism in the school was so bad that the child did not want to go to school? Because of work contracts, leaving immediately was not an option. so what were they to do?

Count yourself and family very fortunate. So many of us do not have your good fortune. Regardless, of all else, ANY adult or organization taking on the guardianship of a child, joins in a legal contract as well as a moral obligation. That the child was not put on the plane for the connecting flight means that the person monitoring the holding area did not do his/her job, the assigned transporter also dropped the ball, and both the ground crew AND flight crew of the out-going flight were also st fault. Once his ticket was issued, he was listed. So how could he be missed by so many people? Don't forget, they count the noses and even check that people have not changed seats! So I believe his mother's read on this one.

I am not a parent so I can't guarantee my feelings about letting my kids fly as UMs but I used to fly as a UM. I flew everywhere from DC to California and several places in between. It wasn't just that my parents stuck me on a flight and sent me to random places. I was visiting my dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and older siblings. I personally really enjoyed this freedom.

The attendents that were responsible for me always made sure I arrived safely to where I needed to be. And for the person who said that they wouldn't allow their child to sit next to a stranger you need to understand they're on a plane and monitored the entire flight. Most of the time they sat me next to another UM and I made a couple of good friends that I talk to now, 10+ years after flying.

Flying alone was part of my becoming a self reliant adult. It made me more responsible. I have also been fortunate enough to see most of the United States. It has been an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

For those parents who don't want to stick your child on a flight alone, I think thats fine. As their parent you are best able to make the right call on the safety of your child and you also know what they are capable of. However I do feel that there comes a time when you need to cut the cord.

My favorite comments on here are the ones about divorced parents being selfish and the kids paying the price...

Seriously? As a divorced woman, perhaps it would have been better for my children if I had stayed in a marriage where my ex had girlfriends in all the surrounding towns and was a binge drinker. That would have been a fine example for my daughter on how a wife should be treated and hey if my son follows in his dad's footsteps with how tobe a husband/father all the better right? After all staying married is what is most important.

Don't presume to know other peoples situations and pass judgment on them. Peoples choice to divorce is their choice and my kids are far better off now than they were when i was married to their dad.

IT'S THE CHILD'S FAULT! he makes this trip 6 times a year, has a cell and doesn't call when he misses a connection?! spank the crap outta him!

Oh yeah. Because beating children solves everything.

What, the mother doesn't have a voice to speak with? How is it the sole fault of the father? If the mother agreed to it, then she is complicit, period, end of discussion.

Here's my thoughts on this. Parents should come visit the child, not the other way around, or better yet, NOT move away from their children. I would flip burgers at McDonalds to make ends meet, rather than move away from a kid for a job or remarriage. Kids are ALWAYS your first responsibility...everything else is a distant second. Tell me this, would you hand your child over to a complete stranger to escort across the country? My answer is HAIL NO!!! I don't give a crap if they paid for a service, it doesn't make using such a service the responsible thing to do. Give them a refund...fine, chastise the company for not providing a service which was paid for...fine, but this is ridiculous.

you are one smart A$$ aren't you, can't wait til your huby leaves you and TAKES your child/children and you can't see them.

Lori, I agree with you totally. When my 18-yr old son was 13, I allowed him to attend a football camp in Georgia. I took off from work for an entire week and DROVE him by myself to Georgia. I checked into a hotel near the college campus where he stayed, and I went to his two-a-days. When I told my boss I was going to Georgia, he asked me why didn't I just put him on a plane and let the camp counselors pick him up (a service that was available to me), I told him to call his wife and ask her why she wouldn't do something so ridiculous. Then, I reminded him that I was a wife, a mother, then his assistant (in that order), and if ever the responsibilities as an assistant outweighed the responsibilities of being a wife and mother, I would no longer be an assistant. We never had that type of conversation again.

I'm glad all of you can risk your jobs like that!

Lori, let me ask...do you send your kids to school? Do you let the teacher "take care" of them, or do you keep them at your side 24/7? Sometimes you have to let them go, in order to grow!

And sometimes, you have no choice!

A teacher is different than an anonymous airline employee.

Respectfully, Lori you're off topic. This isn't a forum to pass judgement on allowing our children to fly alone. This is a story about an airline's violation of its responsibility. United made a big mistake and with all the bad press and excessive charges that airlines impose upon fliers nowdays, they should be made to pay much more than a mere refund.

Again, Lori, get in the real world. People have to make a living. Flipping burgers will NOT make ends meet, especially when courts order huge child support payments, and possibly alimony. The man has every right to see his child. Him taking off of work to travel to see him, adding travel, food, hotel, rental car, etc, may mean he cant pay his rent/mortgage. As for teachers, how many of them abuse children, you know the nice teacher that everyone likes, ends up on here as a sexual molester? Not to mention your priest that you have known all your life. Glad I didnt have you as a mother, I probably would have been as screwed up as Charlie Manson.

I would rather have an airline employee watch my kid than some teacher. All airline employee's have to have 10 year background checks and have their fingerprints ran through the FBI. Thats more than most teachers are checked.

A teacher is different than an anonymous airline employee.

Did you know your kids teacher on the first day of school? Or did you leave your child with a 'stranger' for 8 hours?

The point is that you do leave your kids. You do rely on sitters! And an airline employee is no different! Lay blame where it lies...with United!

When I was 13 I flew from Frankfurt, Germany back home to Seattle. I had gone over with them but stayed longer than they did so I could visit with an aunt. This took me by way of London, New York and Los Angeles. My parents paid for a service so the airline would get me from one gate to another in London but no one was there to meet me. I made my way from one gate across the airport to the other with little problem. I was kind of glad they'd forgotten me because I was proud of myself for having done it myself.

When I was 18 my parents let me vacation in Mexico alone and again I made it to my destination and back with no problem even though I don't speak the language. I don't think my parents were irresponsible in the least and I thank them for the opportunity to travel on my own and learn to be self-sufficient.

I think everyone should stop forcing their nipples down their kids' throats and let them do things on their own! Coddled children are the ones that get made fun of. You think you're keeping them safe but you're opening them to ridicule and crippling them for adulthood. I'm moving to China now; my parents and I have confidence in my ability to handle myself because I had the opportunity to practice as a child.

Lori,

You are very quick to judge. I am sure that you would do all the things you say (such as flip burgers, drive for 14 hours, what have you) however other people make other choices and that doesn't mean they are wrong or even taking risks (since children fly alone all the time and have for decades). Your piety is misplaced.

NC Mama touches on a good point. If the other parent is serving their country does that mean they are bad parents? They are not there with them and by your account that would make them bad parents.

But take it one step further. Let's say that I stay and take a job at McDonald's instead of taking a job abroad. My child's well being will suffer. A minimum job at full-time hours would only pay roughly $1300 per month. That's less than $16,000/yr. To make ends meet you would need to move and more than likely work a second job. This happens all the time with poor families. And if you are not at home because you're working then does that not also make you a neglegent parent? And when you are home you still have to cook, clean, rest.

I think that your comments are made from an easy location. Stable home, steady income, support from family and friends. However not everyone has that and choices must be made that will not be easy and not in everyone's best interest.

Roger--if this was just about an airline not providing a service that was paid for, there would be no story. Service not provided, incompetent employee, restitution given...big deal. If I paid for an upgraded seat, but didn't get it, I would expect an apology and a refund. Mistakes happen. This is about more than an upgrade, it's about the care of a child and who is responsible for that child. I'm off topic because I'm being attacked for having an opinion by a bunch of people who seem to have their own issues. To that end, I'm not going to waste any more time on this blog.

Lori, I do have to agree with you. When my wife and I split and our children were 7 and 14, I drove over 1200 miles one weekend each month to see them and in the summer to pick them up and take them home. My ex offered to pay half one time to fly them and I flat refused, knowing that there are regular mistakes made all the time we don't hear about. The safety of my kids was above erverything else, if I hadcontrol of the situation, like choosing between flying them with strangersor taking the responsibiliy to drive it myself. My company understood and I worked a lot of extea time to make up for the time they let me off early to do this. When I read it was United, I was notin the least bit surprised, had the
ABSOLUTE worst flight ever with them just lately, still arguing for them destroying my luggage, over two months now. on a 6 hour (total time) round trip, delayed for 8.5 hours! all the United attendants workers were very rude to any passengers trying to rebook, find out reasons, etc. I guess thats their rule for 'courtesy'. I for one will never book a flight with them again!

Liam McDonald--I'm just saying the parent's made this decision to fly their child alone, knowing that pitfalls can happen. No system is perfect and no parent is perfect, but I think it's ridiculous for a parent to go all media crazy when this non-perfect system fails without acknowledging that they themselves are complicit in this situation by letting their child fly without a parent accompanying them in the first place. It sounds like the parents are just trying to extort more compensation out of the airline instead of acknowledging the mistake and being grateful for a fortunate overall outcome. You all can say I'm being self righteously indignant about this, but at the end of the day, I just have to parent in a way that I can live with. If parents are comfortable taking the risk of flying their children without accompanying them, that is their prerogative. I don't agree with it at all, but it is their choice. I am making a judgment about other parenting choices, but these hostile parents need to think about why the opinion of an anonymous blogger matters so much that they need to be so angry and rude.

Hey I like the nuance, loripuff has an 'opinion' but everyone else has 'issues'. I'm so glad she more evolved than everyone else.

Jennifer Norris, are you aware that every teacher is required to have a background check with the FBI every time they get a teaching license in a new state. I have gone through it twice in my home state and again in the new state I am teaching in. You are a fool to think teachers haven't had their prints run.

loripuff, I am divorced and live in one state while my ex lives in another. We meet in the middle to have her go to her dad's house. I don't know that I would put her on a plane to go to her dad's, but if he lived half way across the country it would have to be an option. We can go on for hours about how things should be and that parents should be close by their children after divorce, but it is not always possible. My child talks to her dad more than most kids whose dads live in the same house. He reads her a bedtime story by phone every night and they talk daily after school and special activities. Ideal? No. Flying your kid across the country unattended -- Ideal? No, but it might be necessary in order for parents and kids to see each other.

thank you for making my point b-895713

Basic, basic stuff here, people. If you do not feel comfortable sending your child unattended on an airline, on a bus, to public school, then, oh well, you never do. And if you never do, then honestly, you don't get to voice an opinion, let alone a judgement on people who do. Are these children screaming and crying and traumatized by the experience? No. Like stated many times before, this has been going on probably for as long as flying in airplanes. The airlines offer this as well as safeguards. I've flown enough to see many children flying alone and being escourted by airline staff, and my stepkids flew solo to visit their dad and me when we lived out of state. The vast, vast majority of the time, everything goes smoothly. The simple, simple fact of the story is that the airline somehow forgot him, and it needs to be investigated as to how that happened so that it does not happen again. All the other aspects of him flying solo and safely were handled- he as well as the other children were kept in a secure, child friendly room- which I have been completely unaware even existed. They were fed. And myself being a vegetarian, I still can't fault them for McDonald's. He's a child- he's not going to be checking the time and going to inquire why he wasn't on his plane at the stated departure time. He's a child, therefore it is all up to the adult in charge of watching out for him, and for him, that included the whole airline. The airline forgetting him is in no way the fault of either parent! How dare anyone say that the parents are bad because they are keeping up seperated relationships! OMG! And no, it is not an alternative for either parent to travel and stay in the other state to visit their child for a couple days, in a motel?, rather than their child be given a vacation where they can enjoy 'living' with their parent for however long. Sometimes children even fly solo to see grandparents or other extended family members, too. OMG, now what's the world coming to? Such selfish people, to want to maintain long distance relationships with the youngest members of their family. Hell is surely freezing over. I'm divorced, and about to leave state due to the crappy economy and housing situation of my current state- like so many other unlucky parents out there. Say all you want about how much better you'd handle the same situation, because trust me, should you find yourself here, you will collapse and say holy s***t. Divorce sucks, for the parents, too. You do the best you can. You live where you can offer them the best. Will I send my children on solo flights? I haven't a clue yet. However, point of the matter is you don't see us divorced parents running around saying how ridiculous and unproductive it is for mothers to stay at home and merely raise their children while we struggle with at least one job? Or unprovoked-ly sneering at parents who won't let their children ride a bus or who are homeschooled? Remember that: if you are not in this situation, if you and everyone else in your immediate or extended family all live in the same city, if you have a happy, healthy marriage, if you are divorced and don't need to do this, if you can quit your job at the drop of a hat or take a whole week off for a one day event, then you are ignorantly lucky and blessed (and I honestly mean that very sincerely and in a non-condescending way). But, if you are in any of those situations, then you are also meant to keep your criticisms to yourselves.

@Loripuff: I take it that you are happily married (as in, everything is peachy-keen & hunky-dory in your little world), your husband is presumably the father of your child(ren) & you are a stay-at-home mommy who dotes on her Baby Sweetums, correct? Unfortunately, "Loripuff," not everybody has that kind of idyllic life that you are purporting to have. My parents divorced when I was 4. My father was transferred to Colorado for his job and my mother refused to move again, plus the marriage was irreparable & a divorce was inevitable. I was reconnected with my father at age 8 (I was never told the circumstances for such a long gap in visitation). I flew to Colorado EVERY YEAR during the summer, all by myself, from the age of 9 until the age of 16. I was never accompanied by an adult. I never sat in a "special room" until a connecting flight was ready.

My parents loved me a GREAT DEAL, but could not stand the sight of each other! On those few occasions that they were together, the majority of the time, they ended up yelling & screaming bloody murder at each other. (Thankfully, not at my wedding.) My parents never accompanied me on any flights; there was no need, as my father would be waiting for me at the Denver airport & my mother would be waiting for me at SeaTac.

Does this make them "bad parents" for divorcing each other when they hated each other? No, it doesn't! I'd say this would make them HUMAN, because they decided not to let their children grow up in a violent household with constant arguments & possibly a lot of assaults on each other. A lot of parents have to leave the towns and even states that their child(ren) reside in because they need a job that provides a family income, especially when the noncustodial parent is paying child support and may have another family to support as well!

I agree with the majority of commentators, Loripuff. The airline is at fault; the child was a hapless victim of neglect by United Airlines (which I flew more often as a child & still fly on occasionally as an adult). The father did what he could to ensure his child was returned safely to his mother by entrusting his child to the care of a PAID EMPLOYEE of United Airlines. The mother had NO CONTROL over the situation.

If airlines provide this service(child traveling alone), they should see to it that it is followed through. It has nothing to do with parents, or rate of divorces, or flipping burgers at McDonalds, or my aunt's hat for that matter. Airline is responsible.

A teacher is different than an anonymous airline employee.

Hardly. Teachers can be just as negligent.

Loripuff is an overbearing overly-opinionated, under experienced, ideological, utopian spouting dolt. When I was sent to Japan as an exchange student, was my mommy or daddy supposed to pay out an additional $3200 for a ticket just to hold my hand? No. They paid the airline to do it. They entrusted my well being into the hands of trained, decently paid individuals, who's exact job, was to watch over me. The same as many day care givers, teachers, baby sitters, and many other job positions are to do. They are no more or less qualified as your everyday babysitter, but they are watching you much more closely. The child was left in a well watched room with other children. He was NOT left unattended. How many children are abused, molested, hurt due to neglect or even killed by the high and mighty "more qualified" officials you put on a pedistal? A lot more, I can guarantee you that. My mother was more of a mother than you could ever be. She quit her career she had worked 19 years for to raise me. Her and my father spent god knows how much educating me. She taught me to cook, she taught me etiquitte, which is NOT always needed, this being a case in point, and she raised one hell of a child. I know MANY other parents similar to her, and NONE of them are inept, incompetent, or neglectful. You ma'am, need to learn what the hell it is you're talking abbout before you open that overly opinionated and exaggerated mouth of yours.

Teachers are fingerprinted and background checked by the FBI. Any offense can keep you from certification, it does not have to be related to children. However, teachers can also turn out to be abusive or someone who preys on the young. There is no guarantee that a child is safe 100% of the time, even if the parents are with them 24-7-365.

The fact of the matter is that is "takes a village" to raise a child and there are times when those other than the parent must be entrusted with a child's safety. The people entrusted with this child's safety (United Airlines employees) did a poor job of fulfilling that responsibility and that is all there is to it.

I just dropped my son off at camp for two weeks, my daughter leaves in one week for her camp. Am I a bad parent for trusting the YMCA and Girl Scouts to watch my kids?

Parents need to let your kids be kids. You need to allow them to experience different things. Cut the cord and let go, your kids are the weird ones that can not think for themselves.

So lori what you are saying is since my ex is in the military I should follow him around everytime he is transferred so my children don't have to fly alone? Yeah you know what you are talking about.

Lori, I agree with you totally. When my 18-yr old son was 13, I allowed him to attend a football camp in Georgia. I took off from work for an entire week and DROVE him by myself to Georgia. I checked into a hotel near the college campus where he stayed, and I went to his two-a-days. When I told my boss I was going to Georgia, he asked me why didn't I just put him on a plane and let the camp counselors pick him up (a service that was available to me), I told him to call his wife and ask her why she wouldn't do something so ridiculous. Then, I reminded him that I was a wife, a mother, then his assistant (in that order), and if ever the responsibilities as an assistant outweighed the responsibilities of being a wife and mother, I would no longer be an assistant. We never had that type of conversation again.

Honestly, that sounds kind of obsessive and sad, and you probably got your kid picked on relentlessly for being a momma's boy. I don't know why people forget what it was like to be that age and have your parent's constantly hovering around. I remember, and it @!$%#ing sucked. You can be responsible without smothering your children.

Fact of the matter is the MOST dangerous thing you will do with your child is put him/her in the car with you and go driving. Life is all about making choices, and it is admirable both these parents are maintaining a relationship with their child despite the large distance.

The airline royally screwed up, and I am appalled they were so careless. I am glad the child was safe.

Capt- Right on. I can not imagine the crap that kid must have taken when Mommy showed up at his two-a-day's. Football players feed on the perceived weakness of others and start picking. This kid must have gone through hell.

ladies, please grow up. Times have changed.

Oh, yeah, I doubt most parents would be able to afford the camp and the hotel and the potential loss of job. And then there's the fact that this kid is going to grow up. Believe me. And then you're going to be forced to let go. I'd say you need to learn how to do that now. One way would be to send him to camp on his own next time!

Lori, when I left my now ex-husband, he was in the Navy and we were living on a Naval installation. I moved back to my home state, halfway across the country. He was on deployment in Spain at the time and I certainly wasn't going to abandon our 2 year old daughter. He continued to live there until about two or three years ago when he completed his service requirements and moved back to our home state. Stuff happens. It isn't always that the parent moves away from the child. Some things are beyond the control of the parent who is separated from the child.

Jennifer Norris, know facts before you start spouting off foolishness about teachers. Most teachers in this country, in public school, at least, are given extensive FBI background checks and have our fingerprints run through AFIS. In my particular school district, subs are run through the same checks, as well. I can't see how you could have possibly made the illogical leap between what happened to this child and teachers.

In this case, a mistake was made -- a big one. If it were my children, I would be upset and horrified, and I would expect reparations to be made by the airline -- which, from the article, appears to be happening. Blaming the parents?? Really? I think it is great that they have a system that allows the child to see both of them. Their system cannot be cheap if he flies back and forth several times a year. The airline leaving him for 8 hours is egregious -- blaming the parents and/or the child is just plain silly.

this is to jennifer norris your full of b/s i hope you dont have kids of your own cause if you do i feel really sorry for them and they should be taken away from you your an inconciderate person and needs to see a proffesional to work out whatever cobwebs you have in that head of yours i wouldnt leave my son with noone i dont care who the heck you i love my parents but i wouldnt even trust them with him never the less a goddamn stranger

Now that's funny! You made me flash that scene from "Home Alone"!! Good on ya, Dragonwagon5!

too funny!!

Home Alone has been playing on HBO thismonth. The kids watch whenever we allow the TV on. Their favorite scene? Kevin!!! Too funny, Dragonwagon5.

I'm not a fan of frivilous lawsuits, but in this case, all bets are off!!! Sue this airline and make an example of them that as loving and concerned parents, no matter what the living arrangements are between the parents, we WILL NOT ACCEPT such irresponsible, indifferent, callous, and potentially child-endangering behavior from any airline. I'm sure there's a pitbull like attorney out there willing to bite off a very large chunk of United Airlines ass.

I hardly think staying in a playroom with other kids and McDonalds is neglectful. As for the frivilous lawsuit comment.....who do you think is going to end up paying for that? United? I don't think so, it will just be added on to the price of your ticket.

@Mellon: It is neglectful for not getting the boy on his PROPER FLIGHT. On top of that, the boy is vegetarian and he was told to eat McDonald's food?? Even their fries would not be included in a vegetarian meal!! It doesn't say that the boy mentioned his "special diet" to the person in charge; it sounds like Happy Meals were probably given to the kids and thus he may have been left to go hungry if he wouldn't eat McDonald's food. I would call that neglectful on behalf of the airlines! As for a lawsuit, I'd say suing on behalf of the child's emotional distress would be a good thing (the kids were yelled at by an attendant to "stop being kids").

This particular Saturday was very chaotic at Chicago O'Hare. Due to bad weather (rainstorms that poured down about 8 inches of rain) many, many flights were delayed. Along with hundreds of other passengers, we found ourselves in limbo after delays flying into the airport caused us to miss our connecting flight. We stood in line for two full hours waiting to get scheduled onto another flight. Even once we had tickets for a replacement flight, it was subsequently delayed two more times. I imagine that it was those kinds of constant rescheduling of flights that led to the United employee overlooking the fact that this child had not been placed onto his flight. I am not excusing their mistake. There should be better systems to track the children in the care of their airline. But there are numerous different scenarios that can cause unexpected complications to air travel. It is those kinds of scenarios that would make me hesitate to have my own child fly without me. It is good that the parents provided this young child with a cell phone so that he had that resource available in case something unexpected did occur.

There is a simple solution for airlines when children are flying unaccompanied. (2)The person who checks your ticket at the gateway would have on her list the name of the child in bold red letters. If she doesn't have the child checked off when the last passenger passes her..........it is an all out alarm to find that child! (3.)The flight attendants inside would also have the child on a "special" list with his/her seat number and the flight doesn't leave until the child is accounted for.
One more idea. (1.) When the flight is delayed, someone makes sure they know where the child is at. When the flight is delayed, the child is paged and someone is actively looking for the child.

If the flight is delayed because the child isn't on the plane, it means that their employees didn't do the job that they were paid to do.

Zapper, from one Type A personality to another.....high 5.

All I have to say is you are full of BS!!

They aren't flying unattended. When I was 10 I did the same thing this kid did and a attendant was assigned to me and paid very good attention. They took good care of me. You pay extra for this service. This was just one instance where the airline company dropped the ball. United was very irresponsible, but that doesn't mean you should condemn the whole program.

Sometimes a parent cannot afford to fly with their kid to their destination. What if the kid was traveling to visit a relative for a longer period of time? The parent would have to fly their kid there, fly back, and then repeat the process to retrieve him. If you are loaded with cash, sure thats great, but many cannot afford that.

Angel, it is disrespectful of you to yell at us. I never read the posts that are capitalized.

Pat, yelling or not -- though I do find it easy to imagine that there are flecks of spittle covering his/her keyboard -- Angell might be easier to take if what he/she was yelling actually made sense:

"You don't need to be a rocket science here . . ." (I think he/she means "scientist"?)

"ULTIMATES RESPONSIBILITY IS THE PARENTS." (Someone in control of his or her emotions and understanding the conventions of written English might have said, "The ultimate responsibility is with the parents.")

That said, Pat, it's very hard to want to read the CAPS LOCK people.

Angel, typing in all caps is considered shouting and against the CoH I believe. You prolly will get deleted.

Things going wrong is not confined to "these days". Things have always gone wrong, we just haven't had the means of communicating them so fast.

My son started flying by himself to see his Grandparents in MO every summer when he was 9. The 2 years previously his father took him.

Before the flight I got a floor plan of the airport that he was leaving from and going to. He knew exactly where to go and what the flight numbers, gates and times were. He did fine and was very proud of himself. *I* flew regularly from the time I was about 7. although until I was about 10 it was with my family.

Don't blame the parents. This was United's fault. They were paid for a service that they botched.

As for the person who seems to think that everyone in San Fran is gay - they are not. The SF Bay area is one of the most diverse areas that I've ever lived (and I've lived a lot of places). While the press, and politician's, like to pretend that SF is a completely gay area, it's far from it. It is, as almost everywhere else, made up of hetero's, not homo's. Of course, as with everywhere else, there are the asexuals and the bisexuals.

No, I'm saying that this service shouldn't be offered.

Just because you don't use it doesn't mean a thing, you're not the the only person on earth, you dumb A$$.

First I'm a smart A$$, then I'm a dumb A$$ according to Silverbutterfly. Make up your mind, and while you're at it, make an intelligent comment about this discussion. Your lack of content in your responses coupled with the bitter overtones has helped me decide what "type" of A$$ you are. No shocker why you are divorced!

Lori - after reading all these posts, yours are the ones that keep standing out, because you are the type of parent that is causing children of all ages to rely on mommy and daddy to always be there and rescue them - and you are also living in a bubble if you think the world always works so that two parents can be in the same town. Wake up and join the real world. I was 6 when I flew for the first time solo to visit my grandparents and it was no big deal - my mom had already cut the cord 6 years prior when I was born. :)

There is a phenomenon we in education particularly like to call "Helicopter Parents." My guess is that you are the parent that calls teachers about everything, emails them consistently and don't let you child learn to handle some things on their own. As a young teacher who saw a lot of my friends struggle through college and is now seeing high school students who expect mom and dad to get them out of everything - it is my advice to you, to let go a little bit. You're not doing your child any favors by sheltering them, fixing all their problems, or preventing them from growing some independence.

Well said TeacherLady...

I am amazed at some of the comments here. Parents divorce and sometimes they have no choice but to move away from where the child lives (i.e. people in the military). When my son was little, my husband and I were together and raised my son together. But his grandparents were in a different state. I let him fly unaccompanied many times to visit his grandparents during the summer. I made every effort to get him on a direct flight so he didn't have to change planes. And when we traveled together as a family, we "let" him find our way to the connecting gate. It was a good learning experience for him to navigate from one flight to the other with us "tagging along".

I agree with the comments that if the airline doesn't want to assume the responsibility for unaccompanied minors, they should discontinue the service. If they get paid to provide the service, then they are obligated to do it right!!!!!

I agree with Lori. Parents owe their kids, to take care of them and love them - not pawn them off to the responsibility of the airlines because they can't cart their butts off to visit their kids in another state. Very selfish parents. I hope the kids grow up with more maturity than the Gen X "all about ME" generation did.

Ellen, I travelled on an airline ALONE between the ages of 9 to 16. I would fly from SeaTac International Airport to Denver's airport. My mother could not fly with me because she has a major phobia about flying (and don't say that she needed to get over it; phobias are a medical condition--she couldn't fly when she found out her own mother was dying!). My father couldn't fly out to meet me me, then fly back with me, then fly me home, then fly back to his home (3 round trip airplane tickets were a bit much for him financially). I had a stewardess who checked on me during all the flights to make sure that I was okay (which I was). I was almost always seated next to an older person (a grandmotherly-type person) or somebody who was close to my age (another teenager).

My parents were FAR FROM SELFISH & they were definitely not too lazy to "cart their butts off to visit their kids in another state!" My parents despised each other and it was better for all of us when they divorced!! The fact that the custodial parent (my mother) lives in WA and the noncustodial parent (my father) lived in CO does not make them selfish!! My father was transferred to Colorado by his job because he could not live in WA State due to health reasons. My mother stayed in WA State because the marriage was irreparable, the divorce was imminent, & she was happy here.

They are obviously not the Gen X "All About Me" group. That is further down the history timeline (those who are in their 20s). You have NO CLUE what you are even talking about. Both "Loripuff" & you should really stop smoking/injecting whatever it is you two are doing 'cuz you are CERTAINLY not living in the Real World and you can't see the forest for the trees.

Parents owe their kids, to take care of them and love them - not pawn them off to the responsibility of the airlines because they can't cart their butts off to visit their kids in another state.

Most likely you've never traveled as a UM. Do a little research and talk with other parents who've sent their kids on planes as UM's before you start spreading your ignorance and judging others.

I'll also add that you should talk to real kids who've traveled as UM's.

Also...this would not just be traveling to another state, but another country. The mom lives in Ottawa...Canada...

For another perspective, I've talked with someone who has often been seated near unaccompanied minors -- and he dreads the experience. The last time, the kid behind him kept kicking his seat. The kid was old enough that you would think he would know better -- and he was definitely old enough that when my friend turned around and said, "Could you please stop kicking my seat?" that the child should have said, "Oh, sorry" and stopped. Instead, the kid gave him a look like, "Who are you to tell me what to do?" and continued to jostle my friend's seat. With no parents around to tell the kid to behave, my friend had to choose between flagging down a stewardess in the hopes that she could get the kid to listen...or to sit for hours trying to tolerate bump, bump, bump. Oh, and my friend is not some cranky old guy who hates kids; he actually *loves* kids, even new kids that he just meets. But after several unpleasant experiences sitting near unaccompanied minors, he dreads flying with unaccompanied minors.

Ha, cal. I have the opposite perspective. I was an UM for many years and I was used to adults expecting the worst from me. However my parents actuallly instructed my sister and I on proper public behavior.
The only bad experiences I had on a plane were once when another pasanger tried to force me to eat the provided meal. I told her if she wanted me to be air sick she was welcome to keep shoving food in my face.
Then the worst. Was on a red eye when I put my seat back to go to sleep and the woman behind me compleatly fliped her lid and demanded I "get my seet out of her lap" I at the age of 12 told her that my parents paid for my seat and if she had a problem with me using it she should take it up with a flight attendant.

Every other UM I met in my travels was just as self sufficient. I think it's more adults assuming the worst of kids and parents coddling them.

As a single mom I can tell you from experience that there are always tough choices. I would LOVE to be in a situation where I could protect my daughter from all possible harm, but that is not reality. As I have read the comments on here I am appalled at how judgemental many of you can be. I wonder if you've ever thought of ..."There but by the Grace of God go I?" I didn't choose to be in the situation I'm in and heaven knows my daughter didn't but all anyone can do is make the best possible choice in their current situation. Just because a parent let's their child fly as a UM doesn't mean they are irresponsible.

What would be irresponsible of me is not to let me daughter have some good quality time with her father who chose to move several states away. I let her go for the summer even though I don't have to by the custody papers, and I miss her dreadfully when she's gone. But I would be hurting HER by not letting her have that time with him. What would be irresponsible of me is to jeapordize my job and my means of supporting her by taking off work to drive for 18 hours to take her to her dad's.

I am not in a financial postition to fly with her and turn around and fly back when she goes for the summer. For those of you who are, I hope you realize how blessed you are. If I were in that position it would be a no brainer that I would. That is not the reality for most single parents.

I am blessed in the sense she does not always have to fly. Whenever we can we both drive halfway or he will come into town and visit his mother and bring her back. Sometimes his mother will even fly down with her or fly back with her after a visit. But sometimes she does have to fly as a UM. I don't like it and we've had a similar experience as the family in this article. I can tell you it's a terror you NEVER want to experience.

A years ago another major airline "lost" my daughter for about 2 hours. My ex-husband put her on the plane and watched the plane taxi from the gate. There were no longer any gate attendents at the gate and he left. When her flight was delayed I waited at a coffee house by the airport (since I live 2 hours from the airport) when I went to pick her up they could not confirm if she made the flight. She was 8 at the time and no they are not supposed to put them on non-direct flights if you have booked a direct flight. The flight was supposed to stop in one city but she was not to get off. Basically the flight her dad watched taxi away had mechanical problems and came back to the gate 20 minutes later. She then had to wait at the airport by herself for another flight. The airline has 3 phone numbers and did not contact any of us as they were supposed to with any flight changes. They then put her on a different flight that had connections. Until the plane landed the airline could not confirm she was on it. My ex-husband had to drive back to the original airport and show them id before they would tell any of us where she was, even though I was listed to pick her up and showed my ID. The airline at first tried to blame my ex-husband because he left the gate, he is supposed to ask the gate attendant if the flight is airborne before leaving, however their employee's left the gate so there was no one to ask. They later apologized for how the situation was handled and offered us quite a few free flights for her but I will never use that airline again.

The point I want to make is while everyone has the right to and to express their own opinion, judging someone who is in an entirely different situation is to be blunt, asinine. And the airlines MARKET this service as safe and state all precaustions are taken. Just remember to read the fine print and remember humans make errors so take all the precautions you can. My daughter had a cell phone at the time that I gave her but her dad put it with her checked baggage.....

You are a wonderful mother and thank God she has you. But your ex-husband is the irresponsible one for moving several states away from his kid...and for packing the cell phone.

Lyn, the blame dance is what really makes divorce the worst and makes it hardest on the children. Yeah the kids wouldn't have to travel of parent x hadn't moved so far. but that's life,you build a bridge and live the best you can.
My mother moved to another country. As an adult I relize this is one of the best things she has ever done in her life and looking back We both had opportunities to grow that we wouldn't have had. And she is in better health and more independent than she would be I she stayed put. Some times being selfish is the good choice even if it's not immediately apparent. And I'm saying this as the child.
The airline was who messed up here andthe little boy will surely remember to speak up next time.

I don't disagree with your assesment of the ex, but the point is while it is incredibly unfair to me (the time i loose with my daughter) and to my daughter, it is my responsibility as her mother, to make sure she has every oportunity to have that relationship with her dad, whether I like it or him or not. It is with that reality that sometimes I'm forced into less than ideal situations with my daughter, ie flying as a UM. For those here who do not have to deal with these situations, you are blessed beyond measure but that still doesn't give you the right to judge those of us who do. I just have to give her the right tools to know what she should do...which does include keeping her cell phone on her at all times...

I've talked with someone who has often been seated near unaccompanied minors -- and he dreads the experience. The last time, the kid behind him kept kicking his seat.

Funny. I traveled as a UM and I never kicked anyone's seat. If anything the only problem I had was that the old people I sat next to always felt the need to talk to me and I didn't want to talk to them so to shut them up I'd take a nap.

My sibs and I were taught how to behave in public by my parents and Grandparents. I have found that quite a few people have neglected that in the last 10 years or so. They are not doing their children any favors. My Grandson, and his sibs, are taught. It's not like there are lessons or anything. They are just taught, usually by example, that there are certain things that you do in public and certain things that you don't do. Kicking chairs is one of them. Getting up and running or even walking around a restaurant after you are done eating is another.

One of the hardest things that I had to learn as a parent was to slowly let my child do things for himself. You want to keep them close, very close, to you. But they don't learn how to deal with other people, and the world, that way. It is vital that they learn. Their future depends on it.

I have a wonderful son (IMO) who is now 28. I had several people during his teenage years come and tell me that they had seen him in public and he was respectful of other people. I felt very proud of him, and myself. You don't actually know if what you have taught them will stick until they are in public without you.

wow...very "not cool" to blame the kid.

I think Nancy has a point. You have to teach kids how to look out for themselves, know how to speak up and talk to adults, and how to handle emergency situations. He should have known the time of his flight and spoke up when he noticed it getting close. That's what I would tell my kid to do. He's a kid and shouldn't be blamed for the situation but if he knew what time he should be heading out the whole situation would have been avoided.

Actually, I was wondering the same thing. Why didn't the kid call when he was left hour after hour? Why didn't Mom or Dad call once in a while "just to check in"? What the heck did he have a phone for if none of them used it?

I'm not blaming the parents or the kid for what happened, I had kids with cells at age10 so I just thought it a little strange that the parents didn't check up on him.

it's about time someone blamed the kid. he's made this trip 6 times a year for how many years? he has a cell phone, it has a clock. didn't they have a system of "call me if anything happens"? he acted like he was so bored for the article, but doesn't call in 8 hrs???!!!

If the airline says it will take unattended children, and charge a fee for so doing, then the airline has assumed reponsibility. However, the kid had cell phone with him and (apparently) knew how to use it. The parents could have been calling from time to time to see how things were going.

And, no, I would not have sent my nine-year-old on a flight by herself; fortunately, I'm married to her father.

And that "one worker" represents the entire airline at that point!!

Exactly!!! My employees are told they represent my company at all times when at work or on company business.

Okay, one worker of the airline "forgot" about the child. So where were the safety checks?

As was mentioned before why didn't the alarm go up at the gate of the flight the child missed?

If one employee made a mistake, why wasn't there a "safety net" in place to catch the mistake and correct it IMMEDIATELY!!! and not 8 hours later AFTER little Johnny called mom?

The responsibility for the safety of this child was placed with the Airline. They messed up.

Above and beyond the "compensation" I think the F.A.A. should investigate.

True, it started with the error of one employee, but the airline's procedure policy for unattended minors should have also included the additional steps of accounting for every passenger on the said flight. If that procedure had been in place it would have been known before the flight left that the child was not on it. Or this could have been an error of a second employee, etc. As a parent, yes we are ultimately responsible for our minor children, but taking that guilt trip away from these parents leaves the only real issue at hand and that is the neglect on the part of the airline. This incident will hopefully cause all airlines to review their policies and provide for better service in the future for this very necessary service to continue.

Nancy, if the parent had forgotten that child for 8 hours in the airport, CPS would be after them, take the child away and press charges. How does a multi million dollar corpoaration get away with this?

Juan - good point, you would think, especially since the missing passenger was a child, they would have double checked the "kid room" before taking off.

NO WAY that it was just one person who forgot the child!

Someone had responsibility to care for him and would have his ticket info. The next person would have responsibility to move him from A to B. #3 would have responsibility to check him in at B. #4 should have known if his/her passenger manifest and actual passengers did not accurately match. #5 should have had the word from #4 that they had a match of passengers and manifest. Those are the checks and balances for UMs as well as PWDs requiring assistance. This was a remarkable comedy of errors or a bump!

You clicked on the link to read the story you frikking idiot. Go back under your rock.

and you actually took the time to write that comment. I would rather read this on the front page than something about how lindsay lohan is going to jail blah blah blah.

and you actually took the time to write that comment. I would rather read this on the front page than something about how lindsay lohan is going to jail blah blah blah.

Rebecca and Brian, the airlines charge a big fee for accompanying a child, to make sure they get to their destination. They are supposed to release the child to only 1 person, providing id that the airline has been instructed to release them to. Don't blame the parents, they trusted the airlines to do what they were supposed to do.

So... you're saying parents should stay married and be miserable? Divorce happens, whether you like it or not. Many times spouses just grow apart.

Airlines charge an additional fee to 'babysit' any child flying alone. So in a sense, they are babysitters. The usual fee is $50 per child.

Parents are taking responsibility by paying the airline and making arrangements for the child. WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST PARENTS ON OPPOSITE COASTS DO SO THEIR CHILD CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH PARENTS?

Lemme guess... you're single, not a parent and well, stupidly naive. Don't criticize parents until you've walked in their shoes.

It's just as tough on a child to live with parents who hate each other but remain married "for the sake of the kids."

Artsylady, you have it all wong. The fact that the parents are on opposite coasts says it all, they are too selfish, period. Cannot find a job in the same town/state as your child, really?

No, my dear artsylady, it is not anyones responsibility of the parents........I have walked in these shoes, and it is still the same, those kids are the parents job to take care of, absolutely no one elses.

Last time I purrchased a ticket for an underage child it was $100 EACH WAY!! They USUALLY look after the child and are real picky on how things run. I had to go through security (with a special pass) and show ID to pick up said child.

Well, let's see Linda......I divorced with a small child. We stayed in the same city. I eventually met another man and remarried. Still in the same city, by the way! My husband, who has a wonderful job with a major organization, was transferred to another city, 800 miles away!! So, now what? Was he supposed to turn down a 6 figure job because of my son? Was I supposed to divorce him? Or do I move and allow my son to fly back and forth? Hmmmm, lets see!

You know, until you know why they are in different cities, quit judging. Lay the blame where the blame lies...with the airline! NOT THE PARENTS!

As a divorced mom I don't see a reason to change my life and upset my children's lives because of what my X husband chooses to do. In the mean time I must follow court ordered child visitation requirements. The bottom line is that the airline has provided the service and therefore MUST act responsibly. And they did not. I hope those "extra gifts" were hefty, because if I were the mom, my voice about this occurance would be very loud.

Uh------sorry the airline is suppose to be babysitting and watching the child. (THEY ARE PAID EXTRA MONEY, IN CASH, BEFORE THE CHILD IS ALLOWED ON THE FLIGHT). Wow, I guess you never had anyone ever watch your children while you went to dinner or an event. If you did, guess what, you paid them and trusted them to watch your child...such as these parents did.

The airlines need to take action on this. First, yes the attendant does need to be let go, this is an unexcuseable mistake. Second the airlines need to take action to make sure this does not happen again.

Until you are in the situation these parents are in, you have no right to judge them. Everyone has a different and difficult situation with divorces. You need to do the best you can and what each individual parent feels is the right thing to do.

Do not think for one minute the parents will not have a difficult time with this. As I am sure each and everyone of us has had a difficult time with a poor decision we have made for our child throught their lives. This is no different.

Linda, I am not sure if you are aware of this, but we no longer live in 1952. Over half of the children under 18 are children of divorced/unwed parents. This is now reality. People get divorced... and guess what? Many of these children end up to be well adjusted adults.

Perhaps the airline should do what they are paid to do. They offered the service, they should be held responsible for their actions.

So let me guess Linda...you home schooled your children. Which means they never once went on a field trip where the teacher was ultimately responsible for the entire group of children. An entire day at the museum or zoo or whatever...you were there at all times. Your child never had to rely on some "employee" to see to his or her safety??? Get off your high horse.

linda-805404

"The fact that the parents are on opposite coasts says it all, they are too selfish, period. Cannot find a job in the same town/state as your child, really?"

You have no idea!!! After my husband I divorced, I moved half way across the country with our daughter because I had NO support system where we had been living. I couldn't do it on my own as a single working parent -- I needed to be where I had family to help.

Before you make such rediculous statements, maybe you should walk a mile or two in the other person's shoes.

The airline charges a HUGE fee for this service!!!! Some airlines charge almost the amount of a regular airline ticket so this is not some small $25 babysitting fee. The airline should be held responsible for their actions. This is not the child's fault for not speaking up earlier... the child is 9! This is not the parent's fault!!! They paid for the service to make sure their child was safe and monitored during travel time! Stop criticizing the parents and put the blame where it should be!

Linda, consensus seems to be that you have no idea what reality is... or that you are stupid. Take your pick. Parents do what they have to do to support their children. If that means a job on the opposite coast, you take it. You cannot be choosy in this economy. Period. It's not about the job, it's about supporting your family.

I could make $24,000 a year in PA or $58,000 in NV. It's a no brainer. Live in a one bedroom apt (in a bad neighborhood) with 2 kids or buy a house (in a good neighborhood) in NV. You do what you have to do to provide a better life for you kids.

I job searched for 18 mos before moving. Did I want to move. No. Did I want to be homeless? No. Like I said. No brainer. Wake up and smell the unselfish parents doing the best they can for their kids.

Oh, and before I forget... bite me.

u said it artsylady. im a teenager and i know a bunch of kids who moved here (New York) for that reason. their parents said to em on movng day "we can live in squalor here or in modest comfort in new york."

oh, and linda get off ur goddamn high horse and start livin on a place to call Earth

Rebecca, I have a great idea for you! You sound like you know everything about every parent in the world, so I am appointing you to become the "at-large marriage counselor" .

Aren't you smart?

Ok linda so I am selfish because I don't want to uproot my kids every 3 years and have to move everytime my ex gets transferred to a new base and hope I can find a new job? Get a clue what the real world is lady.

It is EXACTLY the parent's fault BECAUSE they were not present!

I'm going to guess you are a stay at home mother who never lets her kids go anywhere. You already said they don't ride the bus. Obviously you have never paid anyone to watch them, daycare or babysitter, since you think it is the parents responsibility to be there at all times. What a mess your kids will be when something happens that forces you to cut the apron springs, unless you plan to attend college with them or live forever. The article does not state why the parents are so far apart and while you are laying blame, there is probably a judge out there who ordered this young child to fly. Want to blame the judicial system too?

What I'm saying is I never let strangers care for a minor child. Actually, I am not a stay at home mother, I work full time as a professional, but I never leave my child with anyone I DON'T KNOW. That isn't being overbearing or sheltering...that's just being smart and responsible.

So when you put your child in daycare, you "knew" them all? When they went to school, you "knew" all the teachers? Or did you blindly trust based on the fact they were teachers? You arguments don't hold water! Sorry, puff, but I'm sure you've left your kids with babysitters, daycare, etc. Same difference!! Quit judging and try to be a little more understanding! And blame the airline; not the parents! Oh, and let your kids grow up! Quit hovering!

First off, it's a proven statistic that a child is more likely to be hurt or abused by a "loved" one and not a stranger. I.E. a father who molested their daughter, a teacher who has sex with a student, a priest need I say more, or a caregiver who you trust with your child's life while you are at work looks away for just one moment and your child is gone or hurt. Now if this happens then you as a parent should be fully responsible and not these people who YOU yourself have left them with?? It's the airlines responsibility to give the service in which it is paid to do. It's paying for a babysitter and they should be held responsible for the child while in their custody, just as it's the responsibility of those you leave your kids with to watch and protect these children!!

Someone declared that all school teachers are "vetted" by the schools (who uses professionals) before they are hired. Here in Texas we have had tons of arrests of teachers because the schools have hired teachers who have been prosecuted as a "child molester" and felons.

So, Lori, how are you going to fix this problem for your children? I don't care whether you live in Texas or not because you have had criticism and opinions about world-wide parenting. (or lack of)

Loripuff, you're a moron, clearly. You have decided what is right and wrong, and painted them their corresponding colors of black and white. No grey is allowed in your opinion, regardless of the situation, because your world is only black and white. It is NOT the parents' fault or responsibility, because they took ALL the required steps to ensure their son's safety, and allow him to have that precious time that a child needs with both parents. The airline, which has offered the service for over 40 years (I had friends who flew alone when I was a child to see family), completely dropped the ball and failed to fulfill their legal (hear that? LEGAL) requirements according to the contract that they agreed to.

People wouldn't be so quick to call you names and be so insulting if you weren't so intractible and inflexible. You state your opinion as though it was carved in stone and handed down by God, when in fact it is simply your opinion, based on your own lack of experience with the situations people find themselves in. Shame on you for being so judgmental yourself! You really should learn to broaden your horizons and find out what other people in the world have to experience.

Most of us do experience bad situations where we literally do the best we can. Sometimes that involves giving our children a bit more experience than we would prefer they have at a younger age, but we take precautions to make sure they are cared for on the way. If that offends your sense of black and white...er, right and wrong, oh, well. You'll get over it. Or you won't. Whatever. Either way, you have no business trying to force your viewpoints down other peoples' throats simply because you are unable to empathize with anyone else.

But I will tell you this: If you insist on coddling your children and trying to protect them 24/7 from the Big Bad World at their door, they will not appreciate it, they will resent it. When they are teenagers, they will despise the fact that "Mommy won't let me go". And they will be either 1) very vocal about it, causing fights in the house constantly, or 2) they will vanish as soon as they're old enough, because of the stifling environment you are raising them in. Even worse is option 3. They will live with you the rest of their lives because they are unable to handle living in the real world on their own, because you FAILED your RESPONSIBILITY to PREPARE them for the REAL WORLD.

Take your pick. My children are well-adjusted and living adult lives with families of their own, mostly because I prepared them for real life when they were kids. Will you be able to say the same when your children are the age of mine? Somehow I doubt it very much.

patA....I am a teacher in Texas. Before being hired in a Texas school district, employees must be fingerprinted and have a background check done. When I was hired it was free. Incoming teachers are now required to pay for this service.

Loripuff - questions for you:

If your child were abducted from your trusted friend's home while they were watching your children, whose fault would it be? Yours, because you left them with someone? Or your friend's, because they dropped the ball when you trusted them to watch your kids?

If your child were injured at said friend's home and required a trip to the emergency room., who should be responsible for those bills? You, because they're your children and you made the choice to abandon them at a friends house where you couldn't make sure they were safe? Or your friend's because they were negligent while they were responsible for your children.

Most of the time when a child flies alone it is because of custody visitation. I wouldn't have missed seeing my daughter for anything, but I honestly couldn't afford 3 round trip tickets every time she came so her mother could bring her and I could take her back.

These children aren't supposed to be flying alone....they're supposed to have a company liaison attending them at all times. It's part of the service that parents pay for when they send an "Unaccompanied Minor" on a flight. They're not supposed to be left unattended for any period of time, from the time they check in and their guardians leave, until the time they deplane and meet up with their guardians on the other end. United dropped the ball and we can only be thankful that boredom was the only thing this kid suffered as a result of their negligence.

I agree. Those who insist the parent should take time off work and buy another ticket to accompany the child really need to learn how the real world operates. It's not the same for everyone. I don't suppose they've considered the cost of hotel, meals, etc. for the travelling parent. Or do they think the mother and father would gladly share a home for the holidays/summer/whenever to comply with court-ordered visitation?

Our society has changed drastically. Rules and responsibilities have changed accordingly. What was unheard of a generation ago is essential today. Parents are responsible for teaching their children as much as possible to help them safely maneuver their way through life, but the system has changed to accomodate the needs of our society. Using available services in a responsible way is another way of teaching your child that each parent's love for the child surpasses the circumstances which preclude their being together all the time.

This incident obviously will be followed through by the FAA, the airline, child advocates and anyone else who has an interest in it.

I started do that when I was 10, well over 30 years ago. It wasn't to see a parent though, it was to see my Grandparents.

When my son flew alone he was not given a companion. There was a flight attendant assigned to the children flying unaccompanied minor. The flight attendent made sure they made any connecting flights and the kids flying "UM" were all seated together in one section of the plane.

Hey Susan John "no one would leave their most prized possessions in the care of strangers ...why your child!!"

Sure they do. Children are often left with daycare centers , babysitters or afterschool programs. Parents often pay to have someone else watch their child. That is NOT bad parenting. Get real. The airline was entrustred with the welfare of the child and it should have taken better care of him. This is a service lots of parents use and has been offered by airlines for decades.

People have to trust other to take care of their children sometimes -- it's just a fact of modern life. No one should place blame on the parents since it sounds like they make all the proper arrangements. My granddaughter traveled once, sometimes twice, a year alone by plane to go visit her father. Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do. She started making the trip, by herself, when she was seven. She had to change plans in Denver or Minneapolis depending on the airline. She was met by an airline employee and escorted to her next flight. The escort stayed with her from plane to plane so she was never alone in an airport waiting room. The airlines were great and she was never lost or left behind. But, you know, people are only human and s**t happens -- that's not an excuse but just a recognition that the world isn't perfect. In this case, I think the airline should be very generous or they might face a lawsuit out of the deal. Fortunately the child was safe and was eventually delivered to his destination. But somebody blew it and maybe they shouldn't have a job or at least not one that involves being responsible for other people's children.

My sons are now grown but when they were children they flew to Texas each summer to visit their grandparents. Only one time was there a problem when Texas Air put them on a connecting flight in Houston which arrived several hours before they were supposed to arrive. The airline did not notify us and they had to watch 3 very active boys for several hours. It took them over an hour to find the boys after I arrived to pick them up. They boys were fine and having to watch them was punishment enough for the airline. It did not stop me from letting them go to see their grandparents each summer as they wanted to visit. The next year the airline was very careful with them. The boys went to visit for 10 years and loved being able to fly. It became easier as they were older. Children need to be able to do things for themselves. I travelled from California to Louisiana on a train when I was 11 and loved every minute of it. The more experioences children and the more they are able to do for themselves the better it is for them.

Love the comment that having to watch 3 boys was "punishment enough for the airline." I think that would have been me with my stepsiblings if they had flown with me anywhere, lol!! My stepbrother (2 years younger than me) argued all the time; by the end of those 3 hours, the attendant would have been bald & in a rubber room!!

Your child is most likely to be hurt by a relative then a stranger!!

First, children are NOT "possessions"! They are human beings who need love and support, and time with BOTH parents if possible! Quit thinking of your kids as property, and perhaps they'll have a chance to have a real life when they grow up!

Second, "what kind of parent" would abide by the custody agreement handed down by a JUDGE, and take care of their children in such a way that they are still able to provide them with a home to come back to? Tell you what, Sunshine: You go ahead and use the rent money to fly with your kids. Might as well leave them there, because they won't have a home to come back to! How's that, Sugarpie? Does that make you happy?

Get off your soapbox, honey, you're sounding as wacky as the homeless people who stand on park benches and lecture people about how they're going to hell for working. Better yet, have kids first, then go through a divorce, then try to find a way to get your kids to their father from Pennsylvania when his job moved him to California. THEN you'll be able to judge, Cupcake!

SusanJohn, we put our prized possession in the care of strangers....we leave our cars in parking garages, or with a valet, we leave our houses (and everything in them) unattended, at least some part of every day, and we send out children to school on a bus. If the bus driver or teacher is absent a substitute does their job. Therefore a complete stranger is responsible for those children. Just sayin...

Susan,

Your question of what kind of parent would do that, seems to demonstrate a rather narrow, judgmental attitude. There are all types of possibilities. This family, despite living separately, apparently believe it's critical for a child to have 2 parents. I think it's admirable that they are willing and able to pay for the flights, and we have no idea the financial hardship that may cause. Boys need to have caring fathers, and that he wants to have time with his son is critical. Because he flies 6 times a year, my guess is that it's the boy's desire to spend time with his dad, or he wouldn't go. 9 year olds are not 2 year olds, and depending on parental teaching can demonstrate maturity. The airline offers an expensive service and they need to be responsible for it. It doesn't appear that he was left alone wandering around the terminal, he was in a kids area with an attendant present, some time of entertainment provided, and food. Certainly not an ideal one, but not unsafe. Traveling by car over long distances for vacations isn't ideal either. In fact as a child, I thought it was the worst. He was not put on his correct flight, which is clearly the fault of the airline's employee, and thus the airline. The boy knows how to use a cell phone, and clearly knows how to follow a vegetarian diet. His Mother checked online to follow the flight, and knew there was a delay. There are delays on flights and I'm sure they were both familiar with that, and as I said he was not left unattended.

We also don't know the circumstances of the parents living far apart, so we're really not in a position to judge whether they're caring or selfish. Until you know every detail of this families life, then don't judge it by yours. Parents can live together and create very unhealthy and selfish environments, and there are worse things than traveling to be with a parent. My guess is that he will grow up knowing that he had 2 parents who loved him, and wanted to have him in their lives. Many don't.

And its not the bus driver or the 2nd grade teacher to watch the children only to stop at the bus stops and talk at the front of the class room..... I don't suppose you accompany your kid on the bus to school each day?

No Tony, I arrange to drive them, yes me......I arrange my whole live around taking care of the babies that I decided to give birth to. Strange, Huh?

Great comment, linda-805404

I think Anthony is referring to the fact that you are not responsible for your kids 24 hours a day especially if they are in school. Unless you sit with them throughout the whole school day than someone else is responsible for them. Unless you accompany them on every field trip or every sleep over at friends house then you can say that someone else is responsible for them. In this economy not all parents can afford to buy all these roundtrip tickets. I wouldn't call that selfish. Sorry if you can afford to fly back and forth and then sit there and criticize other people.

Linda,

I totally agree that it is the responsibility of the parents to care for their young... however, in this case the parents were responsible to assign(remember delegate?) somebody to take care of their children. I understand that you are that over-protective mom who hawks their children and deprives them to think independently and forces your decision on them. Try to raise your kids in the real world so that they can take care of themselves if (god forbid) something were to happen to the parents... get real woman!!!.

And no... I am not divorced, I am a mom and proud of it and we don't send kids alone in the airplane alone... but if someboby needs to do it... they should. Quit judging!

You are the epitome of the "helicopter mom" - good luck to YOUR kids when they have to become independent adults! Part of raising you children is knowing how to let go and let them have a little independence so they can become healthy, independently functioning adults! Anyone who arranges to drive their kids to school themselves, rather than allow them on the school bus because they (parent) are afraid of allowing them on the bus - NEEDS A PSYCHIATRIST!

As to this child, it is a sad reality of life nowadays, that parents often live away from their non-custodial parent and have to travel to see them. It would be great if everyone were wealthy enough to have the time and money to personally accompany their children, but that's not the case for most people (there's a recession - in case you haven't heard!)

linda, are you perfect? is anyone in your family divorced? did you condemn them? any of your friends divorced? if so, don't have anything to do with them ever again.

lock your doors, linda.......they are everywhere!!

Actually, Linda, it IS their responsibility, when they sell a ticket they KNOW is meant for an unaccompanied minor, because they sign what's known as a CONTRACT to Big People. The CONTRACT tells them what they have to do, and part of it is making sure that the child is met at the gate and escorted either to their next flight or to the exit, where they are only allowed to give the child to the person named in the CONTRACT. I understand that you don't know about Big People Business yet, which is why you should probably STFU!

My BS tolerance level for the day has just about hit its limit, all from the comments to this one article about United blowing it yet again...ye gods.

Linda...as I posted previously above...if your child's teacher is absent, then a substitute teacher is called in. Even if you are familiar with your child's teacher, the sub is a complete stranger to you. Most of the time you will not even know there was a sub that day. For that matter, there could have been any number of subs throughout the building your child spends 8 hours of their day in. Not to mention there is an entire group of strangers that prepare food for your child to eat every day at school or any time you take them out to eat.

The point is, there is no way to be with your child 24-7-365, nor have absolute knowledge of every person's background that they may come into contact with. We as a society depend on the institutions we frequent to hire dependable, responsible people to provide services they offer. United Airline is one of those businesses and they were to provide a service. They did not fulfill their responsibility to their client, the parent of that child.

Linda, I think your system is flawed. For one, you could have 3 "flipping burger" jobs and still not be able to make it so your children have a good education/life. (which by the way would not be healthy for the children to never see their parents due to working all the time) People need to live in the area where work is. I am a very good mother who fully believes it is important for my children to be around "all of their family". If you are a person who is blessed with so much money and time on their hands to go to every where with their children at any given time.....maybe you should start sharing some of that wealth. Family is extremly important for a child.

You are right you should be a part of everything your children do. That is why you research about children flying alone. You check all of the different airlines. Don't think for one minute all of these parents who have had to send their children alone on a plane did not exstensivly check into it.........FYI to you Linda....that is good parenting. Is it selfish to move to an area where you can actually work to have money for your children to have a good education/life and be able to spend quality time with your children...as a parent should do. If you do as you suggest staying in the same town and working 2 jobs or more, the child never sees the parents and that is more tramatic and harmful to children than a child flying to see his or her parents. Childlren need physical hugs and love. I, for one, would not be a mother that would keep her children from any family due to my own selfishness. You my dear are a very selfish woman who is going to totaly regret some of the things you have done when those children grow older. I, for one like to teach my children age appropriate independance. What would happen if something happened to you....make your children strong Linda...this is a tuff world.

Guess what, you can cut all of us down all you want Linda. We are good parents trying to do the right thing for our children. The right thing is...having both parents/family in a childs life..and that parent doing everything in their power to give that child a good education and life..even if that means making an "unselfish" move in order to provide that. This is putting the child first!!! That is keeping family together, and that is what 2010 is about. If you stay stuck in time.....most of these children will never see their families. So, I for one, choose family first.

travel on the bus to school and travel 1000 of miles on planes is different. Yes, the airlines offer service for UM, but caring parents shouldn't put their child on the plane alone unless that child is old enough to know how to communicate with the attendants. The best case for divorced parents is "come pick up your child if you really want him to visit you" A child a not a cargo that can be sent back and forth with a stranger. These kids aready went through enough when theparents divorced. The parents should have a little bit compassion and do the right thing- go pick up your own child and show him/her how importance she/he is to you.

Linda,

It is not about just spending time with one parent or the other. Part of providing a well rounded environment for your child is to make sure they spend time with Grand Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. I am a single father, my 14 year old daughter lives with me. Before you start going off and telling me that my daughter must be lacking because she doesn't get her mother's love, in this case her mother has multiple sclerosis and I really am the only viable option to parent for my daughter. My daughter is a member of the National Honor Society, she plays at the district level for Clarinet, she also runs Track.

During the summer, I make sure that my daughter spends time with my parents (Her Grand Parents), her mom's parents (2 sets of Grand parents there), also Aunts and Uncles. It is not reasonable to expect that I fly from Dallas to Houston, California, Rhode Island, New York, etc. I don't have the vacation, or the money to do all of that. Thus the airlines have devised a system where you pay $150 each way and they will have someone accompany your daughter/son. Southwest doesn't charge for this service, so I have my daughter fly Southwest whenever possible.

So, I am a single parent (Personally, I will never marry again, It is women like you that make me realize that I have a great life being single), but I earn a 6 figure income, and I take darn good care of my daughter.

"It is not a coporate airlines responsibility to baby-sit kids" - Linda, yes it IS the responsibility of the airline if they've accepted that responsibility. If a friend asked you to give her kid a ride home from soccer practice and you agreed, then it's now YOUR responsibility to get that child from practice to home. Frankly, it doesn't matter if the "cargo" is a child or a pet or a loaf of bread. When you accept the responsibility, it becomes yours. The airline (United) accepted that job but didn't do it. Regardless of why the child was traveling (I used to fly unaccompanied when I was a kid to visit friends after we'd moved when I was nine) the airline is responsible the moment that child checks in. Period.

But a 9 year old shouldn't be too young, assuming someone is supervising.

I notice kids are remaining infantile much too long these days. I see women cutting up food for boys in restaurants all the time, and kids who are at least 8 years old talking baby talk.

In this case, the child apparently didn't know what to expect if he could sit there for 8 hours before calling his mom. 9 years is plenty old enough to have the sense to get on the right airplane, or even make a connecting flight. I used to fly alone at that age to meet my dad who sometimes traveled in his work, and back then there was no one to supervise. When he was finished with work, I would fly to meet him and we would spend a couple of days exploring the city he was in, then fly home together. It was wonderful.

Let your kids grow up, people. Teaching your kids to function in the world is what parents are for.

Direct flights are not always possible... Genius.

tooke: you definitely CAN NOT "walk your child to the gate and stay there until the plane leaves". Nor can you "pick up at the gate on the other end". FAA and TSA rules are very strict, especially since 9/11 that only TICKETED PASSENGERS are allowed through security into the gate area. That is precisely why the arilines provide the Unaccompanied Minor service. Nor can you always book a direct flight. Do you think there is an ariline that flies direct from, say, Fargo, ND to Winter Haven, FL?

This question that it is somehow the parents' fault is just ridiculous. The airlines provide the UM service and have done so for years. In this case, a grievous error was made....BY THE AIRLINE...not by the parents. There is nothing negligent about entrusting your child to the airline and expecting that the child will be delivered to the proper person at the end of the flight.

Yes you can go to the gate with them. My son has been flying as an unaccompanied minor since he was 9, and he's now 14. He has flown with several different airlines. Every single time I have waited with him at the gate and picked him up at the gate. Becasue my ex-husband gives the airline my information as the parent dropping him off/picking him up, I simply go to the ticketing counter where they check my ID and print me a special "boarding pass" that allows me to pass through security. I tell him I'm picking up a UM and give them his name, flight number, the name and address and phone number of the responsible person picking up/dropping off at the other end of the flight. My ID is checked again when the flight attendant has me sign forms in order to have him released to me when I pick him up. I have never had a problem doing this with any airline.

Also, we have never had an issue on with any of his flights or care. In fact, I'm due to pick him up at the airport this Thursday upon his return from his visit to his dad. :)

Yes, you can go absolutely go to the gate with your child, or anyone else for that matter. I always accompany my son to the gate and wait for the plane to take off before leaving the airport. I have also met my mother at the gate because she has difficulty finding her way around the airport. You just have to ask the ticketing/check-in agent to print you a security pass. It's that easy.

Both of his parents could have called--his dad could have called about the estimated arrival time to make sure he got home safe. Heck, I'm in my 50's and my husband and I call our moms to let them know that we've made our three hour drive home from their places. When Mom found out that the flight had been changed, she could have called him. What was the purpose of him having a cell phone if no one was going to use it?

You obviously don't have children...

my thoughts exactly.

No fault of the parents or kid that this happened, but they should have been calling to check up on him.

Parents wouldn't know that they would be able to call. They thought their son was on the plane where his cell phone would have to be turned off. The flight was delayed and the mother was just realizing something was wrong when the child called. The boy had obviously been making these trips for a while. He was used to being told to wait for varying lengths of time which probably seemed like forever to him. He wouldn't want to seem whiny or scared even if he was. He only called after it really seemed like an intolerable time had passed and he was really hungry. The only people who did anything wrong were the United Airlines people responsible for his care.