Free Flying from NYC?
Aug 2, 2012 | 3:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 19
Free Flying from NYC?
My 9 y.o. has never fly, he asked me to fly somewhere and come back just for the fun of flying. So I am wondering is there anyone/company offers free flying to any destination, such may be do a mileage run for someone or drop off baggages for some company? We live in NYC, about 30-40 minutes from JFK, EWR, and LGA.
Aug 2, 2012 | 4:58 pm
#5
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,927
Welcome to FlyerTalk. The story you heard was true and involved one of our members, but it was several years ago, took place in Thailand and involved circumstances that don't exist today.
Courier flights exist to avoid packages being held up in customs, but aren't free but slightly cheaper.
As this does not involve sweepstakes, I will move it to our TravelBuzz! forum.
l'etoile
senior moderator
Courier flights exist to avoid packages being held up in customs, but aren't free but slightly cheaper.
As this does not involve sweepstakes, I will move it to our TravelBuzz! forum.
l'etoile
senior moderator
Aug 3, 2012 | 1:01 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Seattle
Programs: Costco Club
Posts: 1,610
REMEMBER, he's 9 years old, so you'd have to have your son fly on an airline that allows 9 year olds to fly by themselves as an adult or you will be REQUIRED to pay an underage minor fee which can be as much as the ticket in this case.
Aug 3, 2012 | 11:10 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
I wouldn't even try the unaccompanied minor route. Probably just as cheap for you to go along.
If you simply want to give him the experience of flying, you could do a one-way flight in the morning to Boston for about $60 (I checked Saturdays in September) and then take MegaBus or a similar service back to NYC. Those tickets can often be had for $10 or less. Public transit from the airport to the bus station in Boston is cheap and frequent. That would bring down the cost of the excursion significantly and it's still an easy day trip. The flight would be short but would otherwise be the genuine article.
If you simply want to give him the experience of flying, you could do a one-way flight in the morning to Boston for about $60 (I checked Saturdays in September) and then take MegaBus or a similar service back to NYC. Those tickets can often be had for $10 or less. Public transit from the airport to the bus station in Boston is cheap and frequent. That would bring down the cost of the excursion significantly and it's still an easy day trip. The flight would be short but would otherwise be the genuine article.
Aug 3, 2012 | 11:26 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: MEL, PER, PBO, occasionally ships, oil rigs and other places that no sane human being should ever find themselves
Programs: IHG RA, PC Plat, QF Plat/LTS
Posts: 804
Unless you really want a big jet, you might want to go hang around the local aero club, make a friend or two, and offer to pay someone's fuel if they'll take you and your son for a ride. Someone will probably do it for free.
Aug 3, 2012 | 12:05 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 5,017
Do something silly like find a cheap ticket somewhere like DC and go for the day. Call it a birthday present. While in DC go to the Smithsonian and see the Space exhibits and some other fun thing. Fly home.
Make sure you stop by the cockpit and let your son talk with the Captain before taking your seats. And if you fly to DC get a window seat on the left side of the plane going down and the right side going up so he can see the eastern seaboard.
Make sure you stop by the cockpit and let your son talk with the Captain before taking your seats. And if you fly to DC get a window seat on the left side of the plane going down and the right side going up so he can see the eastern seaboard.
