13 Year old flying alone

[restingbitchfarce]

Would you allow your 13 year old plane adoring child fly Gatwick to Edinburgh and back in a day without an adult?

For context he's done this flight accompanied many times and often flys to places and back in the same day accompanied but he's never gone solo, airline happy to take over 12's unaccompanied.

I said no and he's very upset so AIBU?

Hobbies are goid but think long term how it looks on personal statement or cv or at a job interview...much better to use the interest more productively learning flight skills and working in a team etc . 're direct the interest.

You would be amazed how many pilots, engineers, ground staff and cabin crew started off as stillare plane spotters. It's an very sound hobby if you support them as far as a career. That said, I wouldn't allow a 13yo to fly domestically alone for a hobby. There are other ways.

Why doesn’t he join CCF and learn to fly an actual plane? My DD’s babysitter did this in school about 10 years ago. My DDs were very impressed.

Yes of course, I flew plenty of times as an UM (Unaccompanied Minor) from age 8 onwards, he'll love it.

My son flew on his own from age 13 with BA (maybe a little younger) - Easyjet does not allow them to fly alone until they are a little older. This is NOT as an unaccompanied minor - just flying on his own from Gatwick to Faro. However, he was always dropped at the airport. I am not so sure I would be comfortable about him being at an airport and if there is any issue (it is not unusual sadly for there to be issues in airports these days - scares, even if not the real thing - think of the drone problem at Gatwick last year). So if there is no family at the other end, what are you going to do if there is an issue. For me (bearing in mind he has been flying alone since 12) I would not do what you are considering.

I wouldn’t let him in case there’s an issue an he gets stuck in Edinburgh. If he was being met at the other end or if you had friends in the city that could help him out in an emergency then I’d say fine. I loved flying as a child and joined the air cadets - through this i got a scholarship to learn how to fly gliders, which was amazing and much more environmentally friendly. Most gliding clubs are happy to take teenagers on, definitely worth finding out. I flew solo aged 16 after a week long residential that cost the grand sum of £50!

Yes of course, I flew plenty of times as an UM (Unaccompanied Minor) from age 8 onwards, he'll love it.

And you just hung around the airport alone and flew back later did you?

No? Not the same thing at all then.

When I first posted, I had not fully understood the plan. I agree now that given he has no one to help him in Edinburgh if something goes wrong, I would not be comfortable with this idea

Nooooooo. Flying unaccompanied was one met is one thing. This is another.

Well someone needs to meet him or how else will he get anywhere ? Will get get a cab ?

Why don't you show him this OP? His 'hobby' is a contributory factor and you are also complicit, by paying for it.

I have checked with the airline and they recommend being met but do not insist on it.

He's done all the flight sim stuff too to the point he last did a proper moving mock sim of a 737 and was told afterwards he'd have flown and landed perfectly well. He wants to be a pilot and is saving for flying lessons to get his private licence - his aim is to have this before his drivers licence!

He's read your replies too but I'm still not happy to let him go.

If he isn't leaving the airport I would say it's ok only if there was someone you knew in Edinburgh who could help him out if anything were to happen. This sounds really sweet actually.

In that case OP the money saved from not doing this hobby flight will help him achieve his pilots license quicker! Especially if he wants it before his driving licence! Good goal to have IMO.
I would also worry about the environmental impact - yes the flight will be ‘doing it anyway’ but I’d imagine 99.9% of the passengers will be doing it for a purpose, not to return two hours later!

They usually let the staff know there an unaccompanied child and take responsibility for them.

He wouldn't be classed as an unaccompanied child though, all the airlines seem to have stopped doing UMs within the UK, causes us lots of problems!
If he's done the journey before I can see no problems, other than the event of a cancellation and you're not there.

Have any of the people here posting “yes I flew alone to Timbuktu alone when I was 2 - he will be fine” actually read the thread?

HE WILL NOT BE FLYING AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR. VERY FEW EU BUDGET AIRLINES OFFER THIS SERVICE!

He would just be flying ALONE. Not looked after, not met at the other end, just flying alone.

To bring this thread to a close, for me at least.

The flight would have been over the weekend but I didn't let him go due to more than one reason. He was upset but totally understood my reasons.

So that's that!

I would.

I flew to the caribbean and back alone when i was 14 and was fine.

I flew to the caribbean and back alone when i was 14 and was fine.

And did you just hang about the airport while you were there?