Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

51 replies

Perspective21 · 14/01/2013 09:14

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.

OP posts:
Crawling · 14/01/2013 09:16

That doesn't sound fair what about single parents?

hillyhilly · 14/01/2013 09:16

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 · 14/01/2013 09:19

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

Eatingdoughnuts · 14/01/2013 09:19

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 · 14/01/2013 09:20

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

Caitycat · 14/01/2013 09:23

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 · 14/01/2013 09:23

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

CaptChaos · 14/01/2013 09:26

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.

Original poster
Perspective21 · 14/01/2013 09:32

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...

OP posts:
notfarmingatthemo · 14/01/2013 18:20

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

queencat · 14/01/2013 18:22

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 · 14/01/2013 18:31

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 · 14/01/2013 18:34

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 · 14/01/2013 18:36

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

gordyslovesheep · 14/01/2013 18:37

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

EuroShagmore · 14/01/2013 18:41

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

LornMowa · 14/01/2013 18:46

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 · 14/01/2013 18:53

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 · 14/01/2013 18:54

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

mamakoula · 14/01/2013 18:54

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

mamakoula · 14/01/2013 18:55

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

Scorps · 14/01/2013 18:57

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 · 14/01/2013 18:58

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 · 14/01/2013 18:59

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

GrimmaTheNome · 14/01/2013 19:00

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.