So, my daughter left for San Diego this morning. She is 15, and hasn’t traveled alone since she was 7 years old (her last flight was exactly 1 month prior to 9/11). Her flight was delayed and since her idiotic biological father booked it, she is going to miss her connecting flight in Houston. I caught it before they left the gate, and the nice check-in guy (what are they called?) re-booked her on a flight leaving 2 hours later from Houston to San Diego. Since she was already on the plane, I couldn’t tell her the changes, so that makes me nervous, but the guy went on the flight, told her the change and where to go – he said she looked “perplexed” but said she understood. Her flight landed in Houston about 10 minutes ago, and I am eagerly awaiting a call from her. Ugh. She’s a smart, put-together kid who is usually more adept at taking care of herself than people twice her age, I just don’t want her to have to stress, and I will be stressed until I hear from her and know she is ok. So, just reassure me that she is, ok?
Of course she is okay! 
I’m sure the airline folks will assist her in making the connection. It’s one thing they generally do well.
She’ll be OK.
She’s probably taking the time to use a real bathroom and maybe get some food and something to drink before she goes to the gate for her departing flight.
Thanks, everyone. I know her connecting flight is halfway across Houston (ok, not really, but it sure seems that way – it’s a HUGE airport!!), so it will take her a while to get to her new gate. If I haven’t heard from her before the flight is scheduled to leave, I will be calling the airport directly. Ugh. I really regret not sending her with a pay-as-you-go phone. She declined use of one, so we didn’t get it.
Yes, of course she’s okay! She’s a big girl, she can handle it. It’s probably actually easier on her with a little time between flights; I hate racing from one gate to the next for tight connections. This way, she can use a real bathroom and stretch her legs browsing the dustables shop before she has to get on another plane.
Intercontinental and Hobby are both what I’d consider safe, friendly airports. I’m no where near either but am a local call if she gets in a bind. I PM’d you my work number if I can be of help in any way. She’s going to be just fine though.
Thanks, everyone! She just called, she is good to go. Someone on the flight was also heading on the same connecting flight, so he let her use his cell phone, she is almost to her new gate and already has her ticket for the new flight, YAY! Still trying to get hold of her father, but I figure the worst case scenario, the dumbshit shows up at San Diego airport 2 hours early, right?
Heh - from your wording, it sounds like you should be more worried about her time here with her dad. 
Meh, once he gets her, he is an ok guy – just has never actually been a “dad.” We left him when she was 2, and although she has spent time with him since, the last time was in 2001. She’s way smarter than he is, so she will be ok, no matter how stupid he may be. I feel so much better having spoken to her, being reassured that she is fine, knows where she is going and when. She rocks.
She’ll be fine! (Ok, I realize this is a little late, but…well, I’m still telling my reassuring story. So there. Besides, there’s always the flight home to worry about. Where she will be fine!)
I traveled alone on Amtrak at 17 to visit my university open house. Talk about skeeviness and uncertain schedules. I was due to arrive at 7:00 am. It was delayed until 11:00 am. I got to campus and was rushed into a planned activity by 12:00.
I managed to call my mother at 2:00. After she’d killed me, I explored and made friends, figured out how to work the phone in my room, and managed to make my way home again. I think traveling alone, even between family, is great for teenagers. I hope to kick out my theoretical kids for a short trip like that around that age as well.
I feel for you, Litoris. My daughter is sixteen and is currently on a school trip to the Big Apple with a teacher and a bunch of classmates. She called us the first night saying she didn’t feel well, and my mom totally freaked out. How could we have sent this poor little girl off to the big city with no one who loved her??? (I didn’t say it because I didn’t think of it till much later, but obviously I should have told Mom, “Hey, if she can make it there, she’ll make it anywhere!”) Alex called again later feeling better, but personally, I’ve been good for nothing this week. Even more so than usual.
I’m impressed by your daughter’s skillz! I’m thirty-seven and I wouldn’t know what to do traveling alone.
Thanks for the story. She is still only half-way there, so I will continue to be reassured Funny enough, she is so much like I am that I should never have been concerned. When we had to go to IN to pick up a car, the car broke down halfway home. She and I had a grand adventure running around (on foot, near the garage to which we’d had the car towed). She takes things like this in stride. For my own story – when I was 18, I traveled from TN to WA on the Greyhound. I met all kinds of neat people and was never molested or whatever. She is my daughter, I know she will be fine, but hey, I am going to indulge in a little “poor me” today, anyway!
ETA – dungbeetle your daughter will be fine, too! I am always impressed with my daughter. She is planning on a career in law, and honestly I feel sorry for anyone who has to go up against her in court when she gets that degree! Once she has set her mind, she can be scary awesome! Oh, and don’tcha just HATE finding the perfect comeback after the fact?
So much that I called Mom and told her anyway. Wasn’t the same, though.
How would we have any interesting stories to tell each other if stuff like that never happened? My sister survived the 96/97 Death Flu on a class trip to Florence (the one in Italy). I have managed to get at least a bad cold on three continents so far in my life (North America, Europe, and Australia). She’ll survive. It’s not like they don’t have doctors and hospitals there if she needed one, not that she will of course. And they speak English (well, sort of- I can’t always get through the accent), so she won’t have to use a dictionary to figure out how to ask for Tylenol in a drug store.
Yeah, I know she’ll be okay, but she’s not “together” like Litoris’ girl. She’s all shy and sheltered and awkward…but that’s part of the reason I really wanted her to take this trip. It’s a challenge, but I think she can rise to it.
Ok, I just spoke to Continental. Her flight was delayed, but they have assured me that she is on the plane. She would have called me if she somehow managed to miss it. Now, I just have to wait 3 unbearably long hours to hear from her on touchdown in San Diego. Her father has called in the meantime, idiot left his phone in the car to charge, so just now got the bazillion messages. He is on the right page, though and now knows that he can (and should!) meet her at the gate instead of baggage claim. He thought that due to the increased security measures, he wouldn’t be able to do that, even though she’s a minor. Like I said, he’s a moron! So, I feel better for now. Will feel even much better (how’s that for an awkward turn of a phrase?) when she calls me from California!
Neither was I. Neither am I, for that matter. My mom is a very “together” person, and I’m sure she did (and possibly still does) worry.
So was I. I managed to learn the stuff I needed to know, even though I was really shy, sheltered, and awkward. I managed to grow up, get through college, become a productive member of society, and travel to four different continents. She’ll be OK, and I don’t just mean on this trip.
Don’t worry she will be fine! Air travel is incredibly safe, except of course when there’s gremlins on the wing.
YMMV and all that, but I haven’t found the flight attendants to be all that attentive to my kids when they fly solo. True, they had each other, but still! The last time they used this service (for which I paid $50), the FA didn’t even tell them her name or ask them if they needed anything. :rolleyes: Thank god my daughter is now 18 and #1 son is 16, so we can dispense with the FAs for #2 son (I’d never send him anywhere without one of us–he’s 9).
I’m glad she’s doing alright and I think she’ll learn a lot from the this trip. I think it’s good for teens to travel a bit.