Ariana Grande dilemma

I think some PPs are missing the point a bit, it's not about being able to take a 2 hour flight alone, which I agree should be fine, it's the whole getting themselves to and from the concert and staying overnight in a hotel part of be worried about. And it's not about the 19 year old going, as she should be more than capable, it's the 19 year old being responsible for their 16 yo cousin and whether that's fair/sensible. I'd be a bit in two minds, on the one hand an Ariana concert seems innocent enough and it could be a great adventure if they're both sensible, responsible girls and if they can be trusted to taxi from the airport to a safe, central hotel, then taxi to/from the concert then taxi back to the airport the next day. But on the other I'd worry about them doing silly things like accepting lifts from strangers or trying to use dodgy public transport or wander off on foot through dodgy neighbourhoods if there's a long wait for a taxi, or going off drinking or to meet friends or a hook-up (all things, I have to admit, I would potentially have done at 19 if the same situation, particularly if egged on by or trying to impress a giddy younger cousin). And I would want to trust them to have a sensible back-up plan for if they get split up or their phones die or get nicked, or they get locked out of their hotel - basically saying I wouldn't expect anything truly terrible or dramatic to happen but these are the kind of little things that can ruin a trip particularly if they fall out with one another over them!

You know your child best and so opinions from the internet aren't really going to help on this one!

I was 16 the first time I flew to America solo, 17 I went to Italy with a friend for a week again on our own, 19 I went and did camp America like a few have mentioned on this thread. I worked for an international school where 15-18 year olds travelled from their homes abroad to school multiple times a year unsupervised. It's really dependent on the individuals in question. Potentially they'd have a great time and make some wonderful memories together!

So why can't they do that

I was replying to a pp

You!

Goodness me ! What are you talking about ?

Last time we tried internal flights in the USA we had a weather related cancellation and were stuck in an airport for 24 hours before hiring a car and driving 11 hours from New York to Chicago so I’m probably over cautious but that was very stressful and I wouldn’t put that on a 19yo. Flights get cancelled a lot - like uk trains!

So if you where with them how would you get to the concert?

Is your 15 year old a childish brat who will likely storm of or is she normal op

Depends on the teenagers involved really. That was DDs a couple of years ago and they could have done it together without me.

Exactly. I was going to say as long as they’re both sensible and won’t be trying to sneak into nightclubs or something stupid after the show, I’d let them go. But then again I moved to the USA alone shortly after turning 18 to be an au pair for a couple of 3yo’s.

And I'm adding to this that 2 of my 3 DCs went to university across the ocean from us, so I'm not exactly someone who can't let them develop independence and I still wouldn't be comfortable with this. Atlanta and Schiphol airports and surrounds are not comparable, by the way.

I think this comes down to the 15yo, more than the 19yo. Obviously, a 19yo can travel the world. But can they control the 15yo if they are not cooperating? If the 15yo has an argument and storms off, refuses to do what is asked of them, etc, then there is not much a 19yo can do about it.

Surely its just a case of looking which bus/train they need to get and them getting of the plane and getting on it

I imagine she would just Google maps. That’s what I do when I go on holiday, it’s very simple.

Totally in support of you going too. Just stay in the hotel and work etc. Unless your 19yo niece has legal responsibility for your child, if there was an issue (accident/illness) she wouldn’t be able to act on your daughter’s behalf (at a hospital etc).

My youngest is 18 and will be taking his GF to a big gig over August bank holiday in London (we bought him the tickets). She is not very familiar or used to London, so either DH or I will be in town so that we are on hand in case needed. It’ll be the first time they’ll have gone to with adult ID and will be allowed to buy drinks unsupervised etc so we want him to enjoy that knowing we are nearish if it goes a bit pear-shaped. Obvs not expecting to be called and know this is the dummy run for uni/gigs in another city when he goes in September. But I’d def be travelling to Georgia in your circumstances.

How far is the concert from the airport

Yes but she's saying "who's right me or husband?" So it might be that she feels like she can't let them go alone but that doesn't mean she's "right" and he's wrong.