Originally Posted by
controller1
I never said I disapproved of sending UM's on a flight. You have read way too much into what I said.
I simply said that the responsibility for the children is with the parents. If you wish to send you children unaccompanied, that is your right and privilege (on some airlines).
Perhaps what you should have read into what I said is from the point of the child, I doubt the child will consider the airline the responsible party if failure occurs.
Not trying to wag a "moralistic finger".
But then there is really no point here.
Kids go to camp. Parents sign a contract with the camp in which the camp accepts responsibility for the welfare of the campers during their stay.
That's no different than an UM traveling on an airline.
From a contractual point of view.
Is there some kind of overriding "moral responsibility" on the part of parents? Absolutely, since the parents are the ones making the free choice to send their kids to camp or to put them without an adult guardian on an airplane.
But that's why we have contracts. Camps, little league teams, after-school ballet classes, and airlines all receive a fee for contractually assuring the well-being of the children while they are in their care.
But your original point appeared to imply that children are only the responsibility of parents and not the parties (such as airlines) contracted to supervise their children while they are involved in the various activities (air travel, sports, camp) away from their parents.
Obviously, that's simply not the case.