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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

423 replies

emkana · 05/01/2008 16:51

... 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.

OP posts:
Beetrootoyourself · 05/01/2008 17:07

'I want mummy' - don't worry sweetie, come and see the man who drives the plane - and look at those lovely drawings - aren't you a clever girl'

She spends all day at school alone - this is an hour and a half

Twiglett · 05/01/2008 17:07

well at the heart of it em you know her and it's your child, your decision

I wouldn't do it but if you want to .. do

ByTheSea · 05/01/2008 17:07

YANBU - sounds like she'll be fine and have a wonderful, memorable time.

Wisteria · 05/01/2008 17:07

I don't see how you can distinguish between the ages so closely, (ie at 6-7 no but 9 ok) to be honest. What is right for one child at 6 would be totally wrong for another at 9 and vice versa, just looking at my own two.

Children are so different that it's not comparable IMO.

Beetrootoyourself · 05/01/2008 17:08

pmsl at frogs

RustyBear · 05/01/2008 17:08

My sister's DH is a diplomat, so her children often flew unaccompanied to & from their boarding school. I think the youngest one of them flew was 7, from France, but DN2 was only 10 when they were going to & from Indonesia (though he was with DN 1 who was 13) They loved it because the unaccompanied minors lounge had Playstations at a time when they were still very expensive.

We usually used to take them to the airport & collect them on return and we were supposed to wait at the airport until the plane had taken off, in case it didn't, though often the stewardess would tell us we could go home, as we didn't live far away.

ChasingSquirrels · 05/01/2008 17:08

They could get earache at school - could take me an hour to get home to pick up.
Of course, she could get ear ache, and be uncomfortable for a short time.
Do we avoid ALL potential discomfort for our children and just wrap them in cotton woll?

pooka · 05/01/2008 17:09

BUt "aah my ear hurts" at school. I am a shopping centre. I drive to collect her. Would probably be as quick on the plane for Emkana's dd to get to a loved one as for me to get to pick up dd from her first saying "my ear hurts" to the teacher.

Twiglett · 05/01/2008 17:09

IME there is a huge leap between 6- 7 (KS1) and 9 (mid-KS2)

I just think there is .. but then again my eldest is 6 nearly 7 and I may well think a 9 year old is too young when he reaches 9

but it's a moot point

I'm sure she'll be fine

AngharadGoldenhand · 05/01/2008 17:09

Go for it. She'll have a great time.

pooka · 05/01/2008 17:09

Crossed posts, chasingsquirrels!

frogs · 05/01/2008 17:10

Oh, and they don't let you leave the airport until the plane is airborn, so you know there isn't a delay.

You wouldn't be allowed airside, though -- you have to say goodbye at Departures, when a lovely stewardess will pick up your dd from a special kids area with a little group of others, they'll get a special pack to hold their passport and ticket, and get VIP treatment all the way.

It's great fun, and a completely no-risk way of letting your child take first steps in independence. Much safer than sending them to the park alone.

stleger · 05/01/2008 17:11

Ds did it at 11, his friend at 10. No problems.

Beetrootoyourself · 05/01/2008 17:11

or crossing the road

Jzee · 05/01/2008 17:12

For me it would be too young, but we are all different.
How do the airline look after children? I only ask as once when I took a Spanish flight I had a little girl of about 7 sit next to me and throughout the flight the stewardesses were not attentive to her at all. In fact, I ended up looking after her during the flight. I didn't like the fact that they hadn't sat this little girl upfront for the staff to keep a closer eye on. I would check exactly how they cater for children flying alone.

Wisteria · 05/01/2008 17:12

that wasn't deliberately aimed at you Twig to be honest, just ages I picked but I see where you're coming from.

It's just I know really mature kids of 6 who could cope and an 11 yr old who wouldn't so as they mature so differently, it's hard to give advice for an age rather than specific ability/ life experience etc.

WanderingTrolley · 05/01/2008 17:12

I flew alone at about that age.

Loved it.

Was taken from parent at gate, sat with air hostess in departure lounge, first on and off the plane, free colouring books etc., handed over to waiting grandparents by air hostess. Sat with other children flying alone when there were any.

justabouttosplashoutinthesales · 05/01/2008 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 17:14

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FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 17:14

Message withdrawn

Spidermama · 05/01/2008 17:17

I would let her. I would be a bit scared but I would let her. Cod's right that she will be spoiled and well looked after by airline staff. What a fab adventure.

I've remember being on a plane to California and there was a much younger child unaccompanied. That was a fifteen hour flight and he was very unhappy and seemed very vulnerable but that's very different. He was about 4 .

hoxtonchick · 05/01/2008 17:20

well i just told my nearly 6 old about the possibility & he thinks it sounds great fun . i would have no qualms about sending him as an unaccompanied minor, i bet they have a ball. i think you should do it emkana.

Twiglett · 05/01/2008 17:21

I think that thereby hangs the rub .. 'first steps to independence' .. don't happen to want my nearly 7 year old to be independent when it comes to international travel tbh

am quite happy with the naive little boy who has been puking all day and needing his mummy

well not the puking part really

sb6699 · 05/01/2008 17:21

Sorry, totally x-posted with just about everybody

It seems like she will be safe as she possibly could be and as long as she is confident/comfortable I would have done this with DS at 7 (probably not any younger though).

Cocobear · 05/01/2008 17:21

I think I'd wait a couple years, but you know it really depends on how old Grandma is. Because it would be an amazing experience, and one she shouldn't miss out on if Grandma might be too old to go for in two or three years time. I think it will foster a lifelong love of travel and adventure and what a feeling of independence. You know, even if she does get scared/tummy hurts/has to wait an extra, unexpected half hour for Grandma to arrive/etc, she will have DONE it, all by herself, and will be absolutely fine. You can always give her a mobile phone with numbers for you and the responsible airline, so she justs needs to push a button if some irresponsible idiot "loses" her. This won't happen, it's just for your peace of mind!