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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:
Hulababy · 05/01/2008 18:41

I wouldn't put my 5yo DD on a plane on her own in a year's time.

However that doesn't mean to say that you shouldn't do it.

MIL is just worried about it. But it is your choice and MIL's upset cannot be the deciding factor.

Some airlines won't take children this young alone, so you need to research which ones will and how it will all work.

You know your child best as to whether she will cope or not.

shoshe · 05/01/2008 18:42

I cant believe it but I'm agreeing with Cod!

send her , DS used to do it and loved it, as has been said you take them to the airport, hand them over to the hostess, who takes them to the plane (he used to get on first) and then accompanied off to his grandparents.

We used to do it all the time back and forward from school as well.

roisin · 05/01/2008 18:43

I would definitely do this (if we had a reason). It does depend on the child though. I don't think ds1 would have been ready at 6, but ds2 would have been definitely.

Go for it!

scanner · 05/01/2008 18:43

The only time it didn't work for me was when my father forgot to collect me at the airport in Germany .

harpsichordcarrier · 05/01/2008 18:48

emkana not read thread but yes I would do it. I think the child would be fine, it would only be a couple of hours and the airlines are well used to it.
and you have to put in th ebalance the chance to spend time with grandparents. v important imo.
tons of children do it.

somersetmum · 05/01/2008 18:48

My neices, aged 4 and 5, did a 3,000 mile plane journey without family accompaniment - they had a ball! I'm with Cod - and I think that's the first time I've said that

RustyBear · 05/01/2008 18:50

But the children are not just left alone in the busy airport with all those passengers, they don't have to navigate it by themselves.

And both my children are much more independent than I was at the same age.

harpsichordcarrier · 05/01/2008 18:51

blimey just read the LH guidelines - you get to stay at gate until the plane is airborne so she would only be away from you for an hour or two at most.
yes, I would do it. they get the nicest crew to do it

morningpaper · 05/01/2008 18:52

I agree with cod lol!

What an adventure, and what a great mum to let her do it

do it

do it

I was 21 and married before I even took a TRAIN by myself

harpsichordcarrier · 05/01/2008 18:52

oh come on people we are not talking about the child walking across the airport or anything.
you take them to the gate.
a chaperone gets on the plane with them.
somemone meets them off the plane.
what the big deal?

Wilkie · 05/01/2008 18:52

Not a cat in hell's chance. No way.

Too young IMO. Yes, she will have an escort but what if there is bad turbulance/she is sick/her ears hurt?

Why can't her grandmother fly to collect her?

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 18:53

Message withdrawn

foxinsocks · 05/01/2008 18:53

V exciting. Yes, I agree, child dependent and if you think she'd be fine, then go for it!

I used to fly unaccompanied and it was great fun (and I speak as someone who hates flying now!).

shoshe · 05/01/2008 18:54

Not likely

roisin · 05/01/2008 18:58

Oh, I didn't realise I was agreeing with Cod.
Can I retract?

FluffyMummy123 · 05/01/2008 18:59

Message withdrawn

franke · 05/01/2008 18:59

Don't see a problem if your dd is up for it. Presumably with family in Germany, she's used to flying, the flight time is about an hour, she is chaperoned all the way. Safer than being at school imo.

ivykaty44 · 05/01/2008 19:06

Can someone explain to me why you would not let your 6 year old child go on a flight with an airline hostess looking after your child through the flight and someone at the other end to pick the child up?

I am curious as to the reasoning behind this?

VictorianSqualor · 05/01/2008 19:12

I'd let DD go, she has just turned 7.
I'd just worry about how she felt when in the air without someone she knew so would want ehr to meet the airline staff beforehand.
But yh, send her, she'll love it.

Quattrocento · 05/01/2008 19:13

Well for a variety of reasons really. My DD is 9 and she is super-sensible. I would feel comfortable with her going on a plane. We are going away in July and there is one of those who-can-do-what-and-when-can-we-all-get-there scenarios going on.

So one plan I thought of was for her to to be taken to the airport by Granny and get on the plane to Nice and us meet her at the airport. DH thought I had lost my mind. I persisted and asked DD if she would feel comfortable. She said no. So that was the end of that really.

I wouldn't have even asked DS (7). He's a real baby.

megglevache · 05/01/2008 19:15

Message withdrawn

pollypumpkin · 05/01/2008 19:16

my cousins used to do it all the time as uncle was in the navy posted in Italy and they went to school in the UK

trixymalixmasy · 05/01/2008 19:17

When my uncle was in the army and was posted to germany my little cousin used to fly back and forward from the UK by herself when she was about 6 or 7. The airlines looked after her really well.

AnnakeyRules · 05/01/2008 19:18

She should be alright, but bear in mind that if it's a busy flight the crew will be paying attention to the other 100+ passengers, not attending to the needs of an UM, so if she wants any help at all she'll have to ask. If she's a sensible girl who will ring the call bell to ask for help on the flight if she needs it, she'll be fine.

Waswondering · 05/01/2008 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.