To say no to 16year olds flying alone

In two years they may just go without asking you. Better to prepare them and they are twins. Some people that young go by themselves. For their own sake and yours do not stop this amazing trip. You can be at the airport until the plane leaves and them getting there it is not as bad if someone is waiting for them.

Well done OP. Another one joining the unanimous voice - they’ll be absolutely fine. And they really can’t get lost if their Dad is meeting them at the other end. They just need to follow the crowd!

They’ll have an absolute ball - what an amazing way to celebrate their results!

I'm not sure if airport staff would bat an eyelid at two 16 year olds travelling. They will obviously help them if necessary though

If they want to go and are happy to go together, then yes, let them.

You could take them to the airport and do the initial check-in and bag drop with them and see them to the security gate. If they have flown before they will be familiar with the routine after that.

There will be plenty of people to ask in the airport, and you will be at the end of a phone if they need to check something.

Tell them to go to the gate as soon as one is allocated and wait there, rather than in the main departure area, then they should be fine and not get distracted.

They've flown before. They know what to do.

The whole system is designed to make it impossible to get wrong as long as you stay conscious. And actually, even that's not too much of a problem.

Let them go.

Sorry, but to my mind this is bonkers. One parent takes them to the airport, the other collects the other end. Airports are the most controlled and secure environments most civilians will ever encounter, and there are two of them!

I was flown to Australia as an unaccompanied minor at 11. You got VIP treatment and the air hostesses made an incredible fuss of you, but you were still flying alone. I was fine. At sixteen, I flew to Kenya and Australia alone and it was fine! Lots of kids in boarding schools fly alone, met at the other end, too.

They aren't even going to be alone. There are two of them. Two sixteen year olds - how are they ever going to manage at 18 if they go to university and live completely independently, if they can't even manage to sit on a plane together as a duo at 16? Turbulance - just warn them to keep seatbelts on in the plane unless they need the loo, as the only thing that helps if turbulence is bad is being restrained in the first place, but really severe turbulence is incredibly rare. Immigration is hardly taxing, either!

Not seeing any issue at all with this.

My daughter flew alone to Australia when she was 15.
I had flown many times with her before in Europe so she knew all about keeping an eye on the gate, what documents are needed when and everything. Airlines and Airports are very used to it.

You need to let them go or they will not forgive you.

I would have the same worries as you as a parent now but I went on my first holiday to Spain at 17 for 10 days with a group of friends (no parents) and I wasn't as well travelled as your children. All was great with no drama. Can you help check them in and stay at the airport so you know they boarded and are happy? I would let them go. Sounds great but I understand your reluctance. Good luck OP x

@Dreamholidaynot if they're flying from UK then it's more like 8 hour flight. Not 13.

But they'd be getting their GCSE results results Thursday if they were 16 last week. Does your ex know this? Where will they be? in US? Is there any chance they'll miss whatever entry qualifications they need for sixth form/college?

Yes, sorry, to use your own words 'you are the one with the problem'.

They will be fine. They are 16 and there are two of them. They have a parent meeting them at either end.

I think the short notice thing is a red herring, and actually I think it's probably better for you that it is short notice rather you having had months to stew over it. I don't think having more time would change your anxiety. And if it wasn't short notice, you'd be finding something else to fixate on. Let them go, and enjoy the break.

It seems a bit late to be worrying about this and saying you don’t want them to go if it’s next week. Has it only my just been arranged?

anyway, yes I do think you should let them go. As a PP said get them body / bum bags and instruct them not to take them off even when on board. Put their money and passport in it and then (very worse case scenario) they have to disembark quickly then they have everything they need on them.

walk them through the process and you can always write down the basic steps if you think they’ll forget and technology allows you to pretty much track their every step these days.

yes you have to let them go.

Definitely let them go, they will be fine and it will be great for giving them a bit of independence in a controlled environment.

they could go off travelling completely on their own in 2 years so this would be good preparation

Sounds like you are going to agree, which is the right thing. Your children sound great, they sound like capable, mature teenagers so well done you for bringing them up like that. Everyone gets nervous the first time their most precious people go off into the world but they'll flourish and it will be good for all of you. Enjoy the time they're away, organise nice treats for yourself and try to be proud of your kids and yourself.

Absolutely let them go! They’ll have each other and at 16 are plenty old enough to ask for help if they need it at the airport. It’ll be a wonderful experience for them and great to gain that independence and confidence.

Yup travelled unaccompanied younger than that (13 & 11) to family abroad by plane!

I would totally let mine go at 16.

I travelled on my own by plane at 16. It was very straightforward, and if I'd had a sibling there for moral support it would have been even easier. If anything, your twins are even better prepared because they've had the experience of travelling with you when you were stressed, so I suspect they're used to looking out for you as well.

Have you ever sought out counselling for your worries around travel?

Definitely old enough and Added bonus they have each other. Sounds like a great trip, let them go OP.

For those saying I'm letting my anxiety rule them: I live with anxiety and hate the airport bit of traveling and have a fear of flying but I was determined from their early age to override this for them so we travel frequently, long and short trips. In airplanes, by train, by coach and by sea

Good for you and you know what, now you’re reaping the rewards. Because you have two teenagers who are raring to go and totally unafraid of a trip like this. They don’t have any of your anxieties. Which is what you wanted for them, right?

I would hate the thought of one of the dc doing it alone (16 and 14). But I'd let them together as long as familiar with the airports.

My only condition would be stay together at all times. One of you needs to pee? You BOTH pee 😂 And I'd drum in the stay together rule many times!

I flew to NZ alone at 12, 14 and 17. Let them go!

To reassure you I grew up in the rurally and caught a plane by myself a similar distance age 12 (before I had caught a bus by myself).

They are going to have such a wonderful time! They sound like mature sensible girls, this won't be an issue.
When I was 16 my German exchange was cancelled due to low numbers, my friend and I were given permission to take a week off either side of the Easter holidays and travel to Berlin to stay in a youth hostel for a month. We had a cracking time and my German definitely improved. That was in the early 2000s so not a completely different time, but we didn't even have smart phones

I travelled to the US alone just after I turned 16 to visit family (many years ago). I navigated immigration, customs etc alone and transferred to an onward flight. They'll be fine.

Make sure they have all the contact details for their father (address, phone number etc), a printed copy of their ESTA waiver, and a document showing their return tickets. Prepare them to show it all at the border.

Great update!

It's ok to need a moment to get used to an idea like this.