To say no to 16year olds flying alone

They’re 16. In 2 years they’ll possibly be leaving home to go live in a different city. Presumably you’ve been teaching them how to navigate an airport and all about personal safety each time you’ve travelled. They are plenty old enough to make the flight to JFK alone.

At 16 I went to my penfriends for a month - flew on my own (never flown before) to be met at the other end by my penfriends dad, who I'd never seen previously, it was only a 2 hour flight so not as far but your girls will be together, they'll be fine.

@Dreamholidaynot Is your ex American through a parent or because he was born there? Reason I ask is I’d be more concerned about the girls travelling if they are travelling on visa rather than a an American passport - they and you and your ex could get in serious trouble. If you have an American parent you are considered American and must travel to and out of the USA on an American passport. Look into it, as them getting held by US border agency would not be fun.
travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/us-citizenship/child-citizenship-act-of-2000.html#:~:text=Section%20320%20of%20the%20Immigration,immigrant%20for%20lawful%20permanent%20residence

Hi, I just wanted to pop on and say that I flew by myself when I was 16 and I bloody loved it. I could go to the gate when I wanted, I didn’t have to wait around for anyone else to finish doing what they wanted (it was very stressful flying with my mother - whole other story) and it proved to myself that I was capable of doing everything by myself. It will help your twins no end and it sounds like they will have a lovely holiday. If my little boy was in the same situation, I’d be dropping him off at the airport with a “phone me when you land” and treating myself to a well earned break!

Absolutely let them go.
I travelled alone from the uk to JFK alone when I was 15 and I had a change of flight in Dublin…. It was absolutely fine, no reason for any concern.
I’m with others who have said that it’s really important not to transfer fears, let your young adults experience independence and gain confidence so they feel they can master the world!

Of course you should let them go. They are 16 and have each other. I used to travel with my sister from when we were 8 & 6 from London to Ireland my mum checked us in at LHR and handed over to stewardesses then we were picked up the other end by family. LHR - JFK is an 8 hour flight not 13 and I am sure your ex will pick them up the other end. This is a great opportunity for them. YABU

They have each other. Give them credit where it's due. They will probably deal with it better than you appear to have done.

Sorry op I didn't mean to repeat what you've already heard. I thought I was just adding to the point it's a good idea to let them go. It's great you have said yes. Wishing them a lovely trip and I hope you enjoy the time to yourself as well.

Yep agreed her. I'm super cautious and a stress head but there's two of them. They are going to their dad. if there's an issue lots of staff on hand to help. You can even if you're worried (hopefully without embarrassing them) flag this when they check in I bet the staff will reassure you.

My sons nearly 18 and I wouldn't let him travel alone, but he has LD so I don't feel he could cope (he can just about cope with us there) however if they're responsible and able to do it, I'd let them.

@Whitestuanton At 16, airlines consider them adults.They will be fine to travel together.

I'd absolutely let them go

They are too old for unaccompanied minor

Initially yes, but he continued making that and similar journeys to see his DF through til about 18.

I used to travel alone to the south of France by ferry and train from about 15 (train to London, cross London, train to ferry, train to Paris, cross Paris, train to the south).
What is so difficult for two near adults to be deposited at one airport, direct flight, collected at the other end, both English speaking locations?

He would have been travelling UNMIN. There are no airlines that let children that young travel completely unsupervised. UNMIN is a service you pay extra for where the airline assigns staff to look after a child travelling without parents.

SEND THEM UNMIN then they are not "travelling alone"

Hoping you will see this. I traveled back and forth from Asia to the UK as a child for school up to 12 flights a year. My mother much like you was unhappy with me (even at 16) travelling alone which is why until I was 18 I traveled UNMIN. (unaccompanied minor). It is a service the airlines offer for children who need to travel without parents. You pay extra for it but your children are chaperoned through the airport and immigration. They are boarded first and handed over to cabin crew who are responsible for them on the flight. At the other end ground crew collect them off the plane and chaperone them through customs, immigration and baggage collection and hand them over to the adult collecting them at the other end.

I would let my 16 year old fly on his own. I did it at that age. I went to Canada myself to spend the summer with my Aunt and Uncle. I even had a connection.
its an amazing opportunity for them.

My friends son used to fly on his own to Japan from the age of 8 or 9, and not always direct flights.
You can take them to the UK airport, their DF is presumably collecting them at the other end. Presumably they have been through airports and have flown before?
Are they not able to read departure boards?

Your issues are not theirs and forcing your own fears on your children is unfair, they aren't alone they have each other .
2 years and they can do as they please and you have absolutely no say so cut the apron strings now

My cousin first did a 24 hour flight on her own at 13. Let them go.

I'd absolutely let them go!

My daughter to New Zealand on her own, aged 17 and that involved changing planes in a Brunei.

There's two of them together and it's a direct flight. This is a nothing. Please let them go and wish them a lovely time.

Majority of airlines class16 year olds as adults anyway

They could go on their own without question in 2 years. So yeah I'd allow it.

My 16 year old just flew with a friend to and from Hungary. I was a bit nervous because she can be a bit of a ditz, but she was fine. Teens really need adventures. Let them go.

It depends on the children concerned, I think 16 is a good age to do this, give some responsibility etc, and if they are mature sensible children it should be fine, if they want to go, I would let them, don't hold them back because of your anxiety, it will end up rubbing off on them and making them anxious too