To say no to 16year olds flying alone

[Dreamholidaynot]

To America!

I have a set of twins that turned 16 last week. Their dad is American but lived in the UK most of his life, returned home to New York about 6 years ago when we divorced.

His birthday is at the end of the month so he would like to give them a fabulous holiday in New York for about 8 days starting next week. He has an amazing itinerary with every day packed which is awesome.

The problem is, he wants them to travel on their own from London to JFK. They've travelled to the US and other places with me, never on their own and I think it's too much for them to do! The whole airport palaver, 13hr flight, immigration, etc They have an visa waiver from when we traveled there last year but it was still a stressful journey. What if something happens in the way? Cancellations, turbulence, 'baddies'? I'm terrified but I don't want to ruin their lives because of my own anxiety.

I know 16year olds can travel on their own. My son's best friend just returned from France with another friend and I hear this is the age they do this on their own. I just can't imagine it. My ex feels they are more than capable and I'm 'restricting their growth'. He traveled a lot from a young age with the army. He also travels at very short notice due to his work but I usually need more time to prepare for things like this.

Am I being unreasonable to say no to this journey. Would you let your own 16yr old travel without a parent or guardian that far away?

Please be kind, I've posted here because I'm desperate for some real opinions but already feeling fragile because my son is already sulking at me and I the ex pressing me. Time is of the essence if they are going.

Thank you

Or add into family annual policy as I said earlier.

Not all family policies cover minors traveling without main policy holder Mine doesnt

We ended up taking out a single trip policy for DS travelling unaccompanied because if he isn't insured on the plane travelling unaccompanied, then neither would his luggage if something went wrong🤦‍♀️ so decided he'd better have his own policy. Its not expensive so he just paid for it himself.

I had to be named as the policy holder as under 18s cannot do this for obvious reasons.

We were going to do this but decided against it as he isn't insurance for the duration of the flight, only once he is met at his destination. If I had accompanied him though, he would have been fine.

Our insurance covers everything. It’s standard cover. I’m somewhat surprised they take the flight element out. It’s holiday cover - it includes a flight. DDs are in 20s now so not on our policy these days, I guess it depends on the policy but not including insurance for the flight sounds odd to me, How are dc meant to travel on the policy then? That really says only with parents if flights are excluded.

That's what I was told over the phone. Which seems utterly daft after consideration...so he now has his own single trip policy. This is why it's so important for people not to assume anything with insurance!

Absolutely. Read the policy. Ours comes with the bank account and I thinks it’s pretty good. Definitely not basic. The policy might actually say who is covered and when. Ours is different, as you can see, and would have covered the DC visiting a parent.