<p>I realize I’m not a parent, but I’d like to contribute a different experience than it seems most people on here have had.</p>
<p>I was never homesick. I’ve always been independent and the transition to bs was not a problem at all. I know many people like me. As for my parents- my dad misses me, my mom doesn’t miss me but is excited when I’m coming home/likes me being home [I’m more similar to my mom in this regard]. I don’t really skype them enough [though there is slightly more communication over facebook], but in all honesty I’m just fine being away, and they’re fine with me being away. I don’t know if this is at all normal, but it seemed like a relevant post to this thread [the other end of the spectrum, if you will].</p>
<p>Just be aware that the separation might not be as bad as you think, and don’t feel like a bad parent if you don’t yearn for your daughter’s presence.</p>
<p>Also you need to look at the fact that many US airlines do not allow minors to fly connecting flights - so you might have to fly out each time there is a vacation.</p>
<p>Our child went to a school that was a 12 hour drive or 10 hour flight. I think she suffered from it. Second child to 70 min drive and it has been great. I get to go to her sports events and other school events.</p>
<p>Southwest airlines doesn’t charge for minors over 12 and allows them to make connecting flights. SW will also not bump a child from a flight. They offered my family great compensation to wait for a later flight so they could get several minors on the plane. Turns out the next flight left in an hour so I was thrilled.</p>
<p>They also don’t charge for bags ( I flew out to drop D off her first semester and used my baggage allowance for her extra bags), and they don’t charge when you need to change a ticket. If you cancel a ticket (even on the same day) you keep the money in a fund to apply to another ticket within a year.</p>
<p>So it’s worth it. I noticed a lot of my D’s friends meet up in connecting SW cities so there are buddies part of the way.</p>
<p>Theoretically they have a youth fare you can call for if the student is under 22, but we’ve never had to ask for it. I suppose I could if the low fares were sold out.</p>
<p>But that’s how our family “rolls”. They’re getting a bit less “discount” in price, but they are the most kid and family friendly. </p>
<p>Continental - on the other hand - charged me and extra $100 to fly her. They “surprised me” with the charge at the airport even though we’d bought a full price adult ticket. Claimed she was a minor because she was under 16. Could not have been more smarmy and the rules weren’t posted in an obvious place on the website even though we put her age in the calculator.</p>
<p>So I kicked them to the curb after that and refuse to fly Continental under any circumstances. Will donate my miles to charity.</p>
<p>Love the airline that loves your child. Southwest all the way. :-)</p>
<p>JetBlue also does not charge for minors and is a great airline. We have flown Southwest or Jetblue exclusively this year to get our son back and forth and never had any problems with his age. He was 14 and just turned 15 in February. Jetblue also allows free checked bags- one per flyer.</p>
<p>I agree Southwest is terrific! They have a great miles plan as well. I think it is after 8 flights you get a free ticket, and I love that you can change your plans last minute and travel with 2 bags (free). My son always changes planes somewhere to get to and from and usually has a group of friends that he hooks up with at the connecting airport. Southwest is very popular amongst his friends at school. I was somewhat worried that first time (he was only 14 and had never flown alone) but quickly got comfortable with it when I realized how great Southwest was and how many other kids from his school travel. He’s a pro now and is very comfortable traveling alone.</p>
<p>Heads up – The 8 flights free ticket plan is being phased out in favor of a more traditional “mileage” plan based on the price of the ticket. (those of us with old credits are grandfathered in). I’m really not happy about that. But they’re still a great way to fly a student with a lot of bags or whose schedule may change.</p>