To let Dd fly by herself?

[alwaysflyingoff]

Would you let your 16 year old Dd catch a flight completely by herself if she wanted to? Short flight but still worried

Will somebody be meeting her at the other end?

It depends, who is she meeting at the other end and where is she flying to?

Yes. I don’t know which way you mean the voting to work.

Yes - she's not a child at 16

If I was to put them on the plane and knew someone was meeting them the other end yes. My cousin did this with their children too, he married a Canadian and they would often put their children on the plane this end and they would be met by grandparents in Canada.

Yes

She’d fly to somewhere nearby in Europe (very safe country) and be met by a close family member

Sorry about voting, I meant
YABU - don’t let her fly
YANBU - do let her fly

My 14 year old did this for the first time last year and was absolutely fine. More straightforward than getting a train!

I flew unaccompanied at 14 yrs old. Parents took me to the airport and my uncle met me at the other end. No issues and I wouldn’t hesitate for my child to do the same if being met by someone I trust.

Yes of course. What's the concern? She's 16 not 6.... is she worried, can you talk her through all the steps?

Yes! Mine have family abroad and travelled alone as soon as they could - 12 I think, back then. I think the rules have changed though, and the age depends on the airline. I've got a feeling it's 16 for Easyjet now. But yes, I would definitely let a 16 year old go alone. I flew to and from the UK to boarding school from 11 years old - though to be fair, that was a million years ago!

Do airlines allow 16 year olds to fly unaccompanied? And if so, then yes, I would. Having said that, how experienced she is at flying, where is she going to, the length of the flight would all have to be considered and would depend on the child.

Eg my children are fairly experienced flyers as we've travelled long haul to visit family regularly as well as regular flights for holidays etc so I can imagine that by 16 they'd be fine, particularly for short haul. But at the same age, I had no experience of flying and I think it would have been quite overwhelming for me to do alone.

I flew from America to Gatwick at 16 by myself, with a change in a US airport. It was only the second flight I’d ever been on. I’m sure she will be fine

Has she flown before? Is she familiar with airports? Large airports at busy fines can be daunting, smaller ones less so.

Yes, definitely, assuming she was confident and comfortable. I was flying alone at 14. At 16, I did a university visit that involved a flight, taxi and 2 night hotel stay by myself. My mum couldn’t afford to come with me, so she booked it and told them I was checking myself into the hotel. She dropped me off at the airport and picked me up 3 days later when I came back. Now not sure I’d do that personally, but I was absolutely fine!

I would let her if she’s up for it. Many airlines will let children fly alone from 12. As long as she know what she’s doing, an airport is just about following signs and making sure you turn up at the gate on time.

Just have a conversation with her about contingency plans, if the plane is redirected for example. Unlikely, but it might be useful to make sure she has a card to cover a hotel by herself if needed.

What are you worried is going to happen to her between leaving the secure environment of one airport and getting to the secure environment of another airport by short-haul flight? She'll literally be sitting watching a movie on her phone for a couple of hours!

Of course . My two dc have flown multiple times since they were 12. Flying is perfectly safe.

Haha okay thanks all, general consensus seems to be to let her go, she’ll be delighted 😂

In terms of border control, anyone who’s done this - would it be a good idea to provide her with some sort of letter of consent from us saying we allow her to fly? Or is this unnecessary?

Do it. I flew from London to Chile via connecting flight when I was 15 by myself and it was great. Remember 16 years old is old enough to have a job.

Most airlines allow unaccompanied minors from the age of 14. My niece and nephew regularly flew between europe and uk by themselves.

dd also travelled by coach from Scotland to London at around this age to visit family - she was met at the coach station in London though.

Yes I was 12 when I flew by myself.

Assuming no SEN and support at the other end yes.

To family at 16, absolutely yes.

(My DM does admit that putting me unaccompanied on a flight to Moscow at 14 when we’d only met my exchange and not her parents was perhaps a touch lax…I had a fabulous time!).

Sounds fine.