Flying as an unaccompanied minor at age 7

[CrispyClo]

I’m posting on behalf of my sister as she is looking for some external views on the matter.

My niece is 7, birthday was in August. She started a new school in September, which closes for Christmas a week earlier than most state schools. There don’t seem to be a lot of options for childcare during that week as not many schools here close that early so there aren’t any holiday camps.
My sister has booked my niece onto a week long camp abroad for the week. The camp is well reviewed and offers a pick up service for children flying as an unaccompanied minor. My sister initially felt this was a good idea, and booked it.
Now she is having some concerns and is unsure it’s the right choice, mainly as she appreciates 7 is quite young and while the flight isn’t particularly long, they don’t actually have someone sat with them, just cabin crew checking in. She has admitted herself she was fine with it until other people seemed to think it was a reckless parenting choice. I think it will be fine, my sister and I flew as unaccompanied minors often as our dad lived abroad, we were a bit older (maybe 10 the first time) but managed it fine.

AIBU to think my niece will be fine? She’s looking forward to the camp and doesn’t seem phased by the thought of it.

I accompanied my 15 year old when she went away with her mates post gcse. At a distance and didn’t sit with them but even at that age it felt punchy letting them fly with no adult.

Yes. In the UK. Where you go and drop them off and collect them. Usually relatively speaking, close enough that you can get them in a couple of hours. They are not a flight away. And they do tend to skew a bit older.

the camp isn’t the issue (though it’s not the norm). It’s the overseas part, for a 7 year old.

I would not do it either. Is your sister a Lone parent? Do you have parents who can help out? What about her Father.
I honestly think she is too young.

I’ve taken many an unaccompanied minor to the plane when my airline used to do it! I think if it’s short flight it would be fine! Ours used to have the seat next to them blocked so they’d be on their own and the cabin crew would know they’re there and what they were!

They wouldn’t be on their own in the airport they’d be accompanied by a staff member from check in to the one and then from plane until meeting whomever was on the paperwork to met them the over end!

The youngest I’ve escorted through was 5 the youngest we used to take!

7 is very young imo but the swissair unaccompanied minors service wouldn’t be my main concern. My concern would be the fact it’s not a family member meeting her at the other end, it’s a randomer you don’t know from Adam. Add to that the fact at 7 years old she could well become distressed once there and not want to stay, the other kids might be horrible to her, or she could become unwell and there’s no easy access to get to her.

If this was a 7 year old travelling to meet their parent at the other end I may feel different, but for a camp absolutely not. I’m surprised a camp would even take on a seven year old from a foreign country with no family accessible by land.

This is batshit crazy!!
absolutely no way

We decided not to send my 7 year old on a girl guides camp, as it was for 2 nights. And I don't think any of the other girls that age went to the camp, only the teens appeared to go.

I don't know about your niece but my daughter still sometimes wakes with nightmares or if she mislaid her favourite toy she can get very upset. She was not happy when we told her she couldn't go but she got over it!

There's also the safeguarding concern, I did not feel we knew the leaders well enough to entrust her with them overnight.

What kind of camp is a week abroad?

I sat next to an unaccompanied minor who was around 7 or 8 on a Virgin Atlantic long haul flight year ago. They were fine. Cabin crew fussed over them relentlessly.

I wouldn’t have an issue sending my kids.

7 is not an unusual age for an unaccompanied minor on a flight. It happens all the time, and they're well looked after.

Absolutely not!

For the money they'd be paying l, surely a private nanny or childminder or something would be cheaper

Koru and many other agencies offer short term childcare and mant childminders would take.short term spaces

It’s a no from me.

If she was meeting family the other end and flew a fair bit then maybe. But a camp abroad with complete strangers absolutely nor

I can send you a message with the camp website and the Swissair unaccompanied minors policy. I assure this is not a troll thread and based on the fact the camp exists clearly not every is as stunned by it as you are!

Well. They shouldn't.

It’s not the flight that’s necessarily the issue

its the whole premise. Little girl going abroad to meet and stay with randoms she doesn’t know

how will she even know it’s the right person collecting her at the airport. What if she hates it or is alone - or something worse

its honestly so awful

This ⬆️. Poor little thing.

the Parent of your niece should be ashamed of themselves, what a horrible horrible idea. I can’t fathom it
Jesus Christ I actually don’t have words

I can believe it happens - I know lots of people who were unaccompanied minors from age 11, and before long it becomes a badge of honour to do without the accompanying.

No one needs to grow up this quickly. I don't care how legal it is, or how many others do it. I just think it's desperately unkind at 7.

The only person I know who boarded at 7 is now in their 50s and still traumatised.

It's cotton wool thinking some of the comments on here about not allowing one night away etc, or the child being too scared to sleep anywhere else.

if the child is happy & confident & wants to do it, then it's fine.

I actually think the airlines should ban it, it's ridiculous.

You and your sister clearly think it’s ok despite what others think so why even ask?

Yes I can’t believe it’s still a thing