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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think dh is mad to seriously consider taking a 5yo and 2yo on a plane ... just to go on a plane?

66 replies

JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 11:35

DD1 and DD2 are aeroplane mad.

We can't afford a foreign holiday. We do not have valid passports.

Dh wants to fly to Scotland, Manchester, anywhere so the dds can experience a plane ride.

We are not exactly rolling in money. I can't imagine this not costing a small fortune.

AIBU to tell him is being daft and silly for getting the dcs hopes up about something we cannot afford?

OP posts:
Original poster
JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 11:57

Wow - hes a lucky boy Soda!

OP posts:
MumnGran · 09/07/2013 12:02

Why not take them to an air show for the day first. Kids go free ....... and it may even get some of the plane hype out of their systems Grin

mrsjay · 09/07/2013 12:03

just because he told her doesnt mean you need to do it yet he can keep saying soon ? dd flew to Belfast for buttons almost if you book ahead you can fly cheaply and a driving license does for ID , although i dont have one ,

Original poster
JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 12:04

We both have driving licences luckily.

OP posts:
mrsjay · 09/07/2013 12:07

We both have driving licences luckily.

well thats a start dd and her boyfriend took them to fly, you could go somewhere for the day perhaps?

SodaStreamy · 09/07/2013 12:07

Honestly give them a phone , explain your dd's are plane mad and it's more than likely they'll do it for you too. Go for luton though (much quiter than gatwick or heathrow)

You can actually fly internally without a passport (as long as you have proof of your indentity) however internal flights are really quite boring, although the flight into london always makes me smile as it does look eastenders opening.

Maybe make your way by alternative transport and fly back from edinburgh? That's the airport that us on the plane

flipchart · 09/07/2013 12:07

It's a nice idea, BUT it could end up being expensive. Go on skyscanner, put in Southampton in the way from box and United Kingdom in the destination. See what it comes up with.

I was looking for somewhere the other week from Manchester and it was cheaper to get a return flight to Switzerland, Poland or Norway than to a UK destination!

Original poster
JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 12:08

Oh just remembered I'm 10 wks pregnant Blush. I could never admit in RL how often I forget that - that's awful isn't it? I'm sure I never forgot when I was pg with dd1. Blush

Will that make a difference?

OP posts:
DiseasesOfTheSheep · 09/07/2013 12:13

Aw sodastreamy, that's lovely. How sweet of them to indulge him Smile

I have nothing constructive to add, but it doesn't sound like a ludicrous idea to me.

Bikelock · 09/07/2013 12:14

i think you can fly to Glasgow or Edinburgh from Southampton...

i would second (third, forth, fifth..?) everyone who has said 'do it!', its a brilliant experience, and one that will last far longer than buying a load of Disney tat.

if you're in Berkshire, look at White Waltham airport (assuming its still there...), you might well be able to get a short pleasure flight for not that much - often there will be student pilots looking to build flying hours, you lobbing them some cash will help defray the magificent costs of learning to fly.

ID requirements vary between airlines, certainly some of them will accept a driving licence photocard... do check though, and then check again.

assuming you can get to a mainline train station, you may find it cheaper (assuming you book well in advance) to go by train than petrol+airport parking. if you were to go to Bristol Temple Meads for example, there's bus every 15 mins to Bristol Airport, from where RyanAir go to Ireland (you may or may not need a passport because of the UK and Irelands' Common Travel Area agreement - check with the Airlines), as well as Glasgow and other places...

you are only being unreasonble if you dismiss it out of hand - if you give it good go and look at all the options and still find there's not one that fits the budget, then fine, but don't dismiss an idea before you look into it.

mrsjay · 09/07/2013 12:15

you cant fly after 34ish weeks i dont think oh congrats btw Smile

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 09/07/2013 12:15

From memory you can fly up to 28 weeks without any issue. You might need a doctors letter after that.

Original poster
JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 12:20

I am 27 weeks in their 'birthday week'. Their birthday falls in the same week so I could do it as a birthday surprise!

Still have no idea where to go or what to do when we get there mind you.

Edinburgh seems a long way to drive to or catch a train.

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Hasitfallendownagain · 09/07/2013 12:21

Sounds like a great idea to me.

How about going to a small local airfield and just watching the light aircraft. Are you anywhere near Blackbushe aerodrome?

Or I remember seeing a news clip on the BBC about a patch of grassland at the end of a street in Osterley, or Hayes or somewhere like that, which is popular with plane spotters, because it is right in the flight path as the planes are landing. It had amazing footage of enormous jets seeming to just skim over the roof of a row of suburban terraces. I quite fancied going there for a picnic myself to watch the planes . Would be a cheap day out, as long as you didn't mind being surrounded by middle aged men with long lens cameras! Grin

will see if I can find the video clip...

Hasitfallendownagain · 09/07/2013 12:22

found it!

Original poster
JumpingJacks · 09/07/2013 12:29

Wow hasitfallendown! They would love!

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woozlebear · 09/07/2013 12:36

You don't technically need a passport for domestic flights within the UK although airlines will insist on photographic ID. (Up to the airlines, and could vary between airlines). In reality this means that you need a passport or a driving license (unless you have something like forces or police ID) or a national ID card, which we don't have. Children on their parent's passports is fine, but I think this means that some/all of you would need passports.

Presumably little leisure flight from a small aerodrome would be different.

I think it's a great idea.

TooTabooToBoo · 09/07/2013 13:05

If it works out too expensive, Manchester airport is brilliant for budding plane spotters!

There's the official aviation viewing park, fee payable (can't remember how much) and you can walk around/in a few old planes. Concord lives there and for a further fee you can go on board. Excellent viewing platforms and a cafe and play area.

At the other end of the runway (Wythenshaw) there is a pub called (imaginatively) The Runway. For the price of parking you get a pub, a play area right at the top of the runway, usually a bouncy castle thrown in too. It does get very busy though.

I used to work for an aircraft maintenance company at Manchester and arranged access for my Granddad, brother and 2 cousins to the hangar where they wandered around/in/under an Airtours A320 and a Continental DC-10 . My Granddad said it was the best day of his life Lol!

Mckayz · 09/07/2013 13:07

I've just booked a flight from Newcastle to Bristol due to this thread. £58 for DS1 and myself for one way. PIL live near Bristol so DH will drive down to meet us. DS1 doesn't need a passport with EasyJet as is a domestic flight.

Tiredtrout · 09/07/2013 13:38

If you go up to brize norton there's a road between Carterton and Brampton where you can park up under the approach for the runway and watch the planes close up. The smaller local RAF camps have open days and air shows through the summer and kids are allowed in the planes

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 09/07/2013 13:58

Following on from Tiredtrout post

The Cotswold wildlife park is also near Brize Norton so you could do some plane spotting then go on there.

Holycowiloveyoureyes · 09/07/2013 14:02

OMG, thank you for that Manchester airport info. DS will die with excitement!

Mckayz · 09/07/2013 14:06

The Runway pub near Manchester airport is great. The food is nice and you can watch planes for ages.

ChutesTooNarrow · 09/07/2013 14:10

If you do go from Southampton, try and visit itchen valley country park. The park nearest the entrance has the most amazing views of the planes arriving and departing at Eastleigh airport. There is also an aviation museum in Southampton, that my DS loves.

moggle · 09/07/2013 14:12

just FYI Gatwick doesn't have a proper viewing area anymore :-( My friend's 20 month old is recently plane mad and they went for a day out at Shoreham on sea airport to watch the planes. Apparently it has a nice cafe!
If you're in Berkshire maybe try White Waltham airfield? It's near Windsor / Maidenhead.
My brother was mad on planes when he was little and for his 8th or so birthday (when we lived in the US) he, Dad and I went up in a flight in a small Cessna from a local airfield, lasted about 2 hours, we flew over our house and school, it was SO COOL, we actually still talk about it now, 22 years later! I don't know how much it cost but wonder if it wouldn't be much more than the total costs involved in 3 or 4 people to get even a cheap flight when you factor in transport to the airport as well. Of course you wouldn't need any baggage etc.

It's such a cool idea for a birthday present!