4 ms·

I used to fly a lot as an unaccompanied minor[1]. It's way different now in the post-911 aviation world, but on several of those flights the flight attendants

by cosmie 6y ago

I used to fly a lot as an unaccompanied minor[1]. It's way different now in the post-911 aviation world, but on several of those flights the flight attendants keeping tabs on me would take me up to the cockpit at some point during the flight to say hello to the pilots and get a wing pin[2]. And on one occasion I got to spend the majority of the flight in a cockpit jumpseat. Man, those were fun times. One trip I got pawned onto the maintenance crew afterwards due to the person picking me up being late, and got to drive the vehicle thing that pushes back planes from the gate. As a kid, I think I enjoyed that experience (and the feeling of power over an airplane) more than the jumpseat experience. [1] https://thepointsguy.com/news/airline-unaccompanied-minor-policies-and-fees-in-the-united-states/ https://thepointsguy.com/news/airline-unaccompanied-minor-po... [2] https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children/1437386-really-cool-perk-kids-southwest-airlines.html https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children/1437386-real...

elygre 6y ago
Yeah, the same! Flied unaccompanied every other weekend for probably ten years, even before “unaccompanied minor” was a thing. My highlight: At some point, late seventies or early eighties, I got to pull the lever to lower the landing gear! I can imagine that being legal, even then...
- cosmie 6y ago
  > I can imagine that being legal, even then... Ha! Yea, it's amazing how liberal pilots used to be (at least in relation to kids). As a parent now, I can't fathom the thought process of a pilot trusting a kid (even more so one they don't know) in the cockpit of an in-flight airliner. But as someone who was able to experience it, I'm forever grateful for those pilots with potentially questionable judgement. The few childhood memories I can recall are vague recollections at best, but those particular memories are so crystalized I still get a sense of elation just recalling the experiences.

by cosmie 6y ago

elygre 6y ago

Yeah, the same! Flied unaccompanied every other weekend for probably ten years, even before “unaccompanied minor” was a thing. My highlight: At some point, late seventies or early eighties, I got to pull the lever to lower the landing gear! I can imagine that being legal, even then...

cosmie 6y ago
> I can imagine that being legal, even then... Ha! Yea, it's amazing how liberal pilots used to be (at least in relation to kids). As a parent now, I can't fathom the thought process of a pilot trusting a kid (even more so one they don't know) in the cockpit of an in-flight airliner. But as someone who was able to experience it, I'm forever grateful for those pilots with potentially questionable judgement. The few childhood memories I can recall are vague recollections at best, but those particular memories are so crystalized I still get a sense of elation just recalling the experiences.