AIBU to plan a domestic birthday flight for my seven-year-old?

[Edinburghwomenonamisso8n26]

My ds7 birthday is coming up in June. He has asked to go on a plane ( he's obsessed with them ) Due to his brothers severe disability he hasn't been overseas or on a plane. Life is hard and his brother unfortunately is at the centre of everything we do due to the needs and appointments etc
Despite this ds7 is such a lovely boy who understands more then he should at his age tbh.

Anyway I really want to take him on a plane for the day. I have made peace with the environmental impact as we use public transport and haven't flown in 10ish yrs and won't for a very long time after.

Any ideas where obviously he doesn't have a passport so has to be domestic only. tia

flying from Edinburgh

You could get to Newquay. Have a break by the seaside? It’s not the best town but lots of beaches. Fish and chips, ice creams and arcades would be enjoyed by most at that age.

I don't fly very often but its still useful as a form of ID for other things.

A lot of suggestions for the Scottish islands with Loganair. I’ve checked their ID requirements

• A valid passport (an expired passport may be used up to five years after expiry)
• Valid photographic driving license (provisional or full)
• Young Scot Card
• Bus pass

So as long as your child has got their NEC bus pass you’d be fine to fly with them.

But flights to the islands are
extortionate.

so I’d recommend EasyJet to Belfast who dont require photo ID for under 16s

I’d do Belfast - take him to the Titanic exhibition while you’re there

https://www.runwayvisitorpark.co.uk/

I know Manchester Airport isn’t the most scenic but it has everything else he could ever wish for 🤪
I recommend the runway visitor park. We have taken the kids there many times and it’s a great day out. The runway is right next to it and the planes fly right over your head. Concord and lots of other planes you can physically go in but I think you may need advance tickets for Concord. There is a flight simulator, picnic area, refreshments & toilet etc.
It is a short taxi ride from the terminal.

Dublin or Belfast, so he also feels that he's left the country and then go and see a sight whilst there. Hope he has a lovely birthday OP.

I see that someone has already suggested Barra. I was going to ask if you can get to Glasgow airport and then fly Loganair to Tiree. It's the same type of tiny plane that they use for Barra but Tiree does have an airstrip and fire engines etc. I am absolutely sure that the pilot would talk to him and let him see the cockpit and the only time I have used the plane everyone was really friendly.

The turnaround on Tiree is fairly quick, you wouldn't be able to go sightseeing or go to the beach but on the other hand in the airport building he would be right beside the plane while it was checked, refuelled and loaded. The views from the plane on the journey are beautiful, white beaches and the bluest sea. Your son would have the big airport experience in Glasgow where you could do a bit of plane watching.

I think the return fare is about £150, which is a lot less than Orkney and the plane is much more fun!

https://www.solentsky.org/ Well I've been to Southampton and they have a wonderful child friendly aviation museum there where you can sit in a spitfire, a harrier jump jet, a boat plane and all sorts! Could be the perfect plane themed day out for him!

How about one of the Channel Islands?

Ok great but still an underwhelming present for a 7 year old if you don't plan to use it.

If you can do Gatwick, you are only half hour train from a day out in Brighton

I think I'd go for Belfast City. It's over water so will make it feel a bit more if an adventure, isn't too dear and it's very quick to get into Belfast. Plus you have choice in flight times (especially if you could go from Edinburgh or Glasgow) so could spend the day there. The Titanic museum is excellent and others have recommended W5.

Another vote for the Runway visitor experience at Manchester.

In future, if you’re ever in the south, I’d recommend the Duxford war museum. A Spitfire, Concorde, Harrier, U2, B52, fighter jets, and a piece of the world trade centre(I appreciate maybe approach this with sensitivity given his age), are all displayed, with a kids play area including a plane, with flight and cockpit experiences available.

We really enjoyed it.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford/whats-here

Does he definitely want to fly? I was looking at the Brookland Museum recently (in Weybridge) You get to go inside a decommissioned Concord, it looks so fun.

That’s not a thing anymore, a child must have their own passport. That changed many years ago.

Before you book check what ID is required, some airlines insist on a passport even for domestic flights, as we don't have ID cards.

Just to add - if you do choose Belfast, W5 and the Titanic Museum are a two minute walk from each other and both have cafés so you could do one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I’d do Titanic in the morning as you may want to linger in W5 for longer.

Amazing! My inner 7 yr old loves this (also plane mad!!) You could fly down to London cheaply - Gatwick or City I’d say. If you can fly to Isle of Man that is great. Bristol too.

Wherever you go - don’t forget to book him a window seat! don’t rely on check in allocation. If you’re on EasyJet go for 16A - it’s the perfect view of the wing flaps and ground on both types of plane they have.

And go and have a chat with the pilot when you’ve landed - they love that, and they’ll let you take some pics in the cockpit.

@Edinburghwomenonamisso8n26 you could fly into Stansted and then go to IWM duxford for a whole day of looking at planes?

Get him a passport. I have been to Venice, Stockholm & Pisa for the day; great fun

What documentation do you need for a domestic flight? I've always shown my passport. I appreciate it's not technically required for an internal flight but presumably you do have to show some ID for security? Just wondering what's used if not a passport.

Have you thought about a flying lesson experience?? Not sure of the age implications but they used to be quite cheap!

It would be easy to fit in the Titanic museum, lunch and a stroll around the centre.

If you do end up going to London, I would recommend that you fly into London City, or failing that, Heathrow, with BA.

I wouldn’t even consider a flight into Stanstead or Gatwick (unless you were getting on a connecting flight). They are too far out from central London and you’d just be wasting time doing more travelling, when you could be doing sightseeing, or whatever your son enjoys.

I hope you both have a lovely time whatever you decide, and Happy Birthday to your sweet boy when it comes 💙

It sounds like a lovely idea but you may need to check with the airline operator as some do require passports as ID even for domestic flights.
(I'm looking at flights to Scotland for myself at the moment and came across this)