Just so I understand, are you saying that theft of a blanket is okay if a child wants it?

I am saying the person would not be so clueless as to actually say what was reportedly said. It would serve no purpose and they would gain nothing.:cool:

It might indicate to the thieves that theft from an aircraft is inappropriate.

Not really. Cabinet officials CAN fly on military aircraft, but in only carefully controlled and limited to specific situations. The default for these officials is flying commercial.

Correct. that level of official may fly with the rest of us unwashed masses, but they get VIP treatment when it comes to security.

Couldn't agree more, but don't hold your breath.......

Seriously, anyone who lets a 6 year-old fly unaccompanied is an idiot. :td:

The airlines are even worse for letting this happen.

How many stories have we seen about kids being lost or forgotten?

Aside from that, now a flight attendant has to keep an eye out for her while taking care of everyone else.

Who is the child going to talk to? Certainly not someone familiar. I guess the author didn't want to mention that her family's absentee parenting is more stressful to the child than TSA.

This seems like an easy explanation, but it just isn't true. Most congresspeople and even senators have to put up with the same nonsense we do at the airport. Apart from a few superstars like hillary clinton or ted kennedy or john kerry, nobody even knows who these people are, and certainly wouldn't recognize them at a checkpoint.

Not only that, but many of these folks (congressmen, senators, executive branch officials below cabinet secretaries) fly coach, primarily, and not FC. I know a number of senators who play the upgrade game just like all the rest of us (most of them are high-level elites, for obvious reasons).

Yes, it is true. When I worked for a Cabinet level appointee, we routinely "facilitated" his bypass of the security checkpoint.

I love it when people talk about things they don't have personal knowledge of.

You are right about coach/FC. No FC unless the flight is over 14 hours, unless you use your own status/miles to get an upgrade.

What small airports don't have enough screeners to ensure both genders are represented? I fly in/out of some very small airports - for instance EAR - which has one gate but I've never seen less than four TSAs and certainly always at least one female TSA. My 4 year old has gone though a pat down when she's gone through with me and I alarmed (she was probably three then). I explained it the best that I can; I was with her and the agent was very good to her. I don't like the situation - I am no fan of the TSA, but what could happen to the child flying solo at six is worse than what happened in this TSA experience.

I'm with you on this one. So what if the kid had to endure a pat down, who lets their six year old fly alone? :confused::confused:

The UM age should be raised to at least 8 or 10. My stepdaughter is 10 and we don't let her fly UM. Would it be cheaper to - sure, but it's not worth the risk and we don't feel she's mature enough to handle it yet; even though it would be a direct flight. Each child is different and when we feel she can do it, we'll do it. MR BL flies to pick her up; brings her to IAH to be with us for the long breaks and then does the opposite on the return. We fly to be with her for weekends. Seeing such young UMs makes me so sad and summer is always rougher. I realize with flights being higher, people are trying to take some short cuts, but a child's safety shouldn't be one of those areas.

Have you ever been in a Turkish prison? ;)

11 is the youngest we've ever let our kids fly alone (to see Grandma/Gradmpa in LA), and then only on a non-stop.

If the 6 year old had an older sibling traveling with them, then I'd be less shocked.

I agree - a 6 year old with an older sibling would be different. Our 10 year old is just not mature enough to fly solo yet. She might be next year and it might be the year after. We've asked her when she feels she'll be ready to fly solo and she said maybe when she turns 12. We don't want to force her into a situation that would cause undue stress so we stick with our current plan and we'll take it from there. I think every child is different and some are ready to fly solo earlier than others. I just think 6 is cutting it way too early.

1. Ted Kennedy was routinely stopped because a T. Kennedy was on the "Do Not Fly" List. It took personal invention by Tom Ridge to get him off the list.

2. I flew a day or two after the attempted shoe-bomber. I and a pink-clad girl were singled out by security. They all but turned her upside down and shook her by her blonde pony tail. It was horrible to watch. And no it didn't make me feel any more safe.

3. This read like a letter to the editor, not a news article. But if the child/grand parent don't fly much they may not have realized the whole shoes have to go in the bin (see #2) and sent her off wearing just sandals or Crocs, hence how she ended up barefoot during her security check.

I've observed opposite sex patdowns at BLI and MGW - only once at each airport, and circa 2006 - 2007, not more recently. I presume it's because someone called in sick or similar, as there are "supposed to be" screeners of both genders available. Though not pleasant, I haven't observed or experienced any abusive or unprofessional behavior at patdowns, though I've seen some young teen UMs looking mortified by the procedure.

Point well-taken about other risks of young UMs. We haven't felt comfortable about our kids flying alone until at least one of them was over 12.