AIBU to wonder why Manchester airport won't let me fly solo with 3 DCs aged 13, 10 and 3 yrs old ?

[Perspective21]

Tried to investigate tickets for flights to Italy in Summer. DH will take our car, bikes for all and all luggage. He will meet us at airport on our arrival in Italy. Jet2 seemed to allow us to book tickets, not confirmed, but nowhere in the process was this issue flagged up. However, Manchester airport information says I may not travel alone with 3 children. Anyone heard of this before? All will obviously have paid for seats and older daughters cope pretty independently, leaving me to handle 3yr old DS. Can anyone shed any light, we have emailed and are awaiting their response.

Thank you.

[Crawling]

That doesn't sound fair what about single parents?

[hillyhilly]

My friend travels regularly with three, aged 7, 5 and 2 so I don't see why not. I'm pretty sure she's gone from Manchester too.

[redexpat]

Is it the airport or the airline that won't let you fly?

[Eatingdoughnuts]

The only time I've flown from Manchester the staff were all incredibly rude. On going through security with a buggy I didn't hear what one of the staff said and she shouted 'OI! Buggy! Here! Now' to indicate I had to go into a different lane.

So my advice would be to fly from another airport, don't give your custom to Manchester airport!

[Verycold]

Where does it say that? I've travelked alone with three for years, though never from Manchester.

[Caitycat]

I am a teacher and have regularly taken groups of 20 with one other adult so technically in charge of 10 children (although they are all at least 12, but if anything I would say that made it harder as they all want to go off on their own). Always go from Manchester and never had any problems.

[VitoCorleone]

Thats a bit stupid, like somebody said, what about single parents?

[CaptChaos]

I can't see why the airport won't allow you to fly with 3 on your own, but I have known airlines to refuse passengers with 3 'children's' tickets. This is purely from a safety point of view, as their thinking is that you might not be able to deal with all 3 in an emergency on a plane.

[Perspective21]

Thanks everyone, my first thought was single parents too! Will let you know when we get their response. Interesting to know it hasn't been a problem for others. If no problem with airline and just a general guide fom Manchester, we will just ignore. I wondered if it was in light of the young lad who ran away from his Mum in a Manchester suburb last year and boarded a flight to Italy!! Last year our family was head counted and checked against passports more frequently than in previous years...

[notfarmingatthemo]

my friend flew on her own with her 3. Aged 6,8 and 10. Not to Manchester though

[queencat]

I always fly by myself with children younger than that as I'm a single mum. Only issue I've ever had is questioned on different surnames on way back into the country.

[LuluMai]

Weird, I've travelled alone with ds on two holidays, to and from manc airport, when he was four and six. Never had any problems!

[SissySpacekAteMyHamster]

I travel with my three all 8 and under regularly. I think there is a rule somewhere that you can't travel with three infants by yourself, but its late here and I haven't got time to investigate, but am pretty sure I've heard that somewhere! (Sorry to be vague). However, travelling with three the age your children are shouldn't be an issue.

[badtemperedaldbitch]

Is it because you aren't booking in any baggage and they fear a parental dispute?

[gordyslovesheep]

I have flown with my three - then aged 9,7 and 3 without any problems at all (not Manchester though)

[EuroShagmore]

If they maintain that this is a problem, book one in as an unaccompanied minor.

[LornMowa]

Four years ago my son (then aged 14) travelled all by himself from our home to an airport in southern Europe. He then travelled back home via a different airport (Gatwick). He said only on his return to the UK was he questioned and then only to ask whether he had travelled that route before.

[mamakoula]

Some countries may request a letter of permission from the non-traveling parent. We have done this before - must be notarised/official legal letter with details of all travel. Might be worth looking into. It was requested going through Heathrow

[Wallace]

That is strange. I've travelled alone with four children age 12,10,5 and 16 months.

[mamakoula]

That is, they asked for the letter as we entered into the UK

[mamakoula]

I guess it is to ensure it is not a case of child abduction or simular

[Scorps]

I've travelled alone with 4dc to France. They at first flight were 1,3,6 and 8. My surname is even different to theirs and I wasn't asked anything about it.

[SueFawley]

I'd be very interested to see a link to where you read this information, as I'd like to pass the information to someone else. Can you post it please?

[lightrain]

Where does it say that OP? Very interested in this!

[GrimmaTheNome]

I wondered if Manchester had got (overly, in your case) cautious about kids since that boy got from there to Italy. Seems unreasonable since presumably the 13 year old can help you.