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.

my youngest two dd's have both flown quite regularly since they were very young so I would be quite happy for them to fly without me, dd1 (nearly 4) would be quite happy to do it now

I'd do it in a jiffy as long as child was okay with it. In fact I cannot wait to DD to grow up a bit to start (only 2.5 atm).

I really do not see what the problem is with a shorthaul.

but why Kerry? What would worry you about it?

that they'd be scared - dd1 has been on a plane plenty of times and is quietly confident with other people

that the plane would crash and they'd be alone - extremely unlikely

that they'd get eyeballed\oogled, etc. by some pervert - unlikely, and even if I was with her somebody might look and there's nothing I could do. Nobody would act on it though because the flight attendant will take care of her.

that they'd get lost - she will be looked after by airline staff

that they'd get bored - dd v v good at entertaining herself

that they'd get sick - luckily, unlikely with dd

that the airline would mess up and they'd be wandering around on their own and vulnerable to who knows who - unlikely, Lufthansa has done this thousands and thousands of times

that their bags would get lost - airline staff will deal with that if it happens

if you crash does it really make much difference if you're sat next to someone

I'm sorry but it makes me feel sick even imagining my dd on a plane alone .

But it's your child your call

You know what, I'm afraid I agree with Kerry. I wouldn't let my 8 year old DS do it.

What's amazes me about this thread is all the 'nice lady fussing over her' type stuff.
I used to fly a lot around Europe, and have seen various UMs in transit, and to be honest I'm surprised more of them aren't lost.

I've also had UMs 'foisted' on me during my trips by busy air stewards. One was too scared to used the loo and wet herself (a 7 year old), another was sat next to another UM (an older boy) who was really horrible to her the whole trip. Several spill drinks over themselves. One cried throughout a whole 2 hour flight despite the best attempts of all and sundry.
The stewardesses really don't have time to
'fuss' that much, and one confided to me that they 'all hate having to deal with the solo brats' .

I've also been on a plane in severe turbulence, and also on one when it made an emergency landing due to a bomb threat, and I wouldn't ever wish a young child to be alone during times like that.

Risks are probably low, but I wouldn't personally take them.

Kerry, I think that's quite nasty at this point.

"an AWFUL lot of confidence in people you don't know and haven't met"

isn't the same when you chose your childminder/school/babysitter/kids group on holiday? unless of course one is lucky (or unlucky one could argue) enough to live somewhere where you know everybody personally.

yeah they can watch mummy shit themselves too. I think that talking about crashes before emkana sends her dd is a bit sick tbh. A car is more likely to crash than a place, bloody hell ds1's school bus is more likely to crash than a plane. He still goes on it alone (aged 8).

I posted below that I'm glad about all the opinions on this thread, I did not start it because I wanted people to agree with me.

But to say Lufthansa has had spectacular crashes is just nasty. Can you name one???

I agree emkana. Disagreeing is one thing (I have no idea whether I'd do it or not tbh) but talking about how the plane will crash is vile.

not will, might.

Thanks yurt.

I better step away from this now. [upset]

kerry do you let your child go in someone elses's car. because the thought of her/him on her own before a crash (which is statistically more likely to happen) would makes my stomach turn as well. or for this matter the thought of my DD being without me if something bad happen makes me want to cry. what to do however?

that's 33 YEARS ago!

Well since this thread went suddenly gone melodramatic, can I join in to agree with the sensible consensus that says It Depends On The Child. I have a very sensible 7yo (girl) and a very unsensible 8yo (boy) and - so long as (i) I absolutely trusted the people meeting them at the other end and (ii) the airline could give me straight-in-the-eye chapter and verse on how they look after them (wouldn't mind my 8yo being made to wear an ankle tag, eg!) then I wouldn't think twice. They would both love the idea.