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.

Message withdrawn

threads like this one are uuseful in that they remind me of why I avoid most threads and only post in one.
I thought it was a quite harmless and intersesting discussion.

emkana please let us know how it went. had enough now.

I reviewed the thread and kerrymum you were not attacked from the outset, it was only after you mentioned that particular airline having horrible crashes (not what someone wants to hear when considering sending there child alone on a plane, not helpful at all) that it was pointed out as a nasty point to make.

Ok you wouldnt send your child on a plane alone, fair enough. But im sorry, imo you asked to be attacked from all sides when mentioning plane crashes and posting links of crashes from 30 years ago.

Message withdrawn

But thats like saying, how could you think about geting on a plane full stop without thinking about it crashing or getting in a car, or on a bus, or crossing the road. If we all thought like that we wouldnt leave our houses.

I would be more worried that the child would not be well care for than the plane crashing.

How can you send your child to school and not think that a plane might crash on it. Or a meteorite. Or how can you ever get in a car and not worry about it crashing (a far more likely event thatn a plane crash).

Oh come on, how do you people ever leave the house?

x-posts trolleydolly71

Exactly Lucky underpants!

FWIW I've travelled on planes since I was a few months old and still do frequently (my carbon footprint must be huge)and in my 40 years have never encountered a problem, whereas I've been run over, knocked off my bike 3 times and been in 2 minor car accidents.

Yes but it was the potential crashes that you got attacked for, which is what i was pointing out after you complained about being attacked. you really are very argumentative arent you.

Sorry, go ahead, you can have the last word

Do it, Emkana. Your DD and her grandmother will have a lovely time.

My brother and I flew unaccompanied to see my grandma at the ages of 8 and 5 to give my single mum a break, and it was great. I remember being taken off the plane first and seeing my grandma!

I thought I was more neurotic than most people until I discovered Mumsnet.

No No! I DESERVE the last word...!

I was polite, helpful, disagreed (but in a reasoned, acceptable way I think).

But I don't think Emkana answered my Q - if MIL is so worried about it, why can't SHE go with DD?

(Also I would still seriously questions the 'warm fluffiness' of the service provided by the 'dedicated' air hostess.....but that's just me being bitter about my own experience )

I recently flew on my own with two children. Both children fell asleep on the flight, and I had a hard time transferring them both off the plane with no buggy at that point. There was a stewardess on the plan accompanying a girl of about 14 years old - and she was so nice she helped me as well!

Ver good experience.

I think the point of this thread is that the OP has had real life experiences from people we were unaccompanied minors at that age, and from people who work with children on flights as part of their job. I thought their posts were extremely interesting and reassuring. Just the sort of thing I'd find helpful in her situation. Other posts were less, well, helpful.

I would leave my child 'with someone I'd not met before'. Like their new teachers every term!

And for an hour, I'd happily put a six year old in a holiday club or at a health club creche.

If she wants to do it, I would let her. It will stand her in good stead for the future by starting her on the path to independence. Its not the other side of the world she's travelling to. What would it be? hour and twenty minutes? She wiould be from Mummy to Grandma in four hours at the most.