 Re: Father's Opinions Needed: Kid traveling alone.
Sorry, lady barging in to the clubhouse.
If your 14 year old is a fairly responsible kid, and it's a non-stop flight, putting him onboard (with requisite cell phone and all numbers/addresses, etc.) and having somebody meet him right at the gate should be fine. My 11 year old son travelled by himself in the same circumstance - I was kinda scared about it, but it went just fine. You can check with the airline - some of them have special services for younger "unaccompanied minors".
As far as the 14 year old being responsible for the 8 year old. Uh - I have two boys with a slightly bigger age range difference than yours and they peck at each other like crazy. I'm not keen on having the older one be responsible for the younger one in that manner yet - maybe when he's a slightly older teen it would work.
__________________ Enter these enchanted woods, You who dare. ~ George Meredith | 