sending a nearly seven year old alone on a plane to Germany...

[emkana]

... for a holiday with her grandmother, for five nights?

Dd1 keen to go and not scared. Have never done this before, but as I understand it airline will look after child?

MIL so upset at the thought that she can't even talk about it.

Have to go now, but will check back later.

this is MIL in UK btw

Yes I think you are, but hey your child, your choice!

so so unreasonable.

i'm sorry emkana, but no way would i be letting a six year old fly alone.

Its a bit young

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Have heard of this, i think the airhostess's look after the child the whole way till the other person picks up at the other end, not 100% sure though.

I however would never ever send a 6 year old on a plane on her won with strangers no matter what!

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If it's a direct flight, and if she's done the flight before with you, and if she's really happy about it, then I would probably let her go. I don't have a problem with it.

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Good grief - I wouldn't consider it for a single second

Do you have a specific airline in mind emkana?

I think it is a bit too much - travelling can be bewildering for an adult - imagine how scary it could be for a 7 yr old - also - although the airlines do have an "unacompanied minor" programme, the children generally sit on their own on the plane etc - not fun ..

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Hmmmm a hard one, as your DD is confident about it I would say let her go. She will be escorted every minute of the time from hand over to pick up. But I certainly wouldn't do it for train or bus.

To be devils advocate, if anything innappropriate was to happen (not likely with the escort) one little squeak from DD would have the perpetrator thrown out at 30,000 feet. Or would they think of jumping as being a way out.

7 is the borderline, for some its still a big NO NO, but for others, including you a careful planning stage and preparation of DD will ensure a trouble free happy globehopping daughter.

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I think it would all be very exciting - from what I've seen at airports the steward collects and delivers the child, will spoil them rotten on board and they get preferential treatment.

My DS1 would hate it but Ds2 would jump at the chance

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My God I thought you'd all say go for it!

Look at www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/uk/info_and_services/travel_preparation?nodeid=1770716&l=en&cid=1 000243 - procedure for children flying alone, sounds good to me?

yes cod, there are probably more risks sending a child to school by school bus every day.

I was thinking Lufthansa, so very reputable airline

I think an 8 or 9 year old will be ok

I think 6 nearly 7 (same as DS) is unreasonable .. sorry

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If properly arranged and grandparent was to meet at other end then its fine so long as you are happy with it.

But looking on google, it seems that low cost airlines do not accept unaccompanied minors, and the airlines that do will charge extra. So it could be cheaper to accompany her yourself on a low cost flight than pay for a more expensive flight and the surcharge IYSWIM?