Ariana Grande dilemma

[coulditbeme2323]

OK we are spending the summer in Florida. Myself, husband, and children. As it is half work half holiday - we are taking our 19 year old niece for the 6 weeks to help out when we are working.

My girl is 15 and we have managed to get Ariana Grande tickets in Atlanta. For information it's about a two hour flight from Orlando.

Now my husband is happy for our 19 year old niece (who is very sensible) to go with our daughter.

I have said it's a big city, and I would rather go. Not to the concert, but just travel with them.

They only plan to be gone 48 hours.

Who is right?

then that will be a good time to learn. Not that I am clear what exactly are these "lessons" she need to learn

It's not unreasonable to warn her about the areas she really has to avoid in the city if it makes parents feel safer.

If you were in the UK and it was say, a train journey that took 2 hours from home to the music venue in a different city - would you let them go alone? I'm not sure what the difference is - just that it's on a plane rather than a different mode of transport?

I'd say you're being OTT. My DD went travelling fora month with her 18 yo friend to Asia and Aus. It was all planned and they were fine.

My kids flew to Bangladesh at 14 and 17 and changed in Dubai. Sure they would be fine.

Oh dear, summer in Florida - you’ll all be dripping sweat by ten in the morning. The last time I went to Florida, it was in February and everyone was in bikinis at the beach.

I think flying with the girls is a good idea. They would probably be okay on their own, but they’re in a foreign country and it won’t hurt to have you along in case something unexpected happens.

You know I've just been there and I didn't see one person dragged to the ground in Customs or any of the airports. 🙄

See, it's the opposite for me, I wouldn't have the slightest hesitation about a 15 year old taking a two hour flight alone, let alone with a 19 year old.

I wouldn't be worried about them getting an Uber to the hotel or the concert either.

But, I would be concerned about them walking around in Atlanta at night. Even if I was sure I'd found a hotel in a nice area, I'd feel happier going with them to make sure they were okay. If it was a city they had been to before and knew their way around, I might feel differently.

For me it would entirely depend on whether I could absolutely rely on the 15 yr old to do what he/she was told by the 19 yo whether they like it or not.

I don't know the logistics of getting from Atlanta airport to the venue, to a hotel and back again but given you are out there for the whole summer and presumably able to work while they see AG I see no reason not to give myself the comfort of travelling with them.

I am mystified why Atlanta is different from London. I am genuinely curious.

@Besafeeatcake could you elaborate on the sorts of situations where lack of cultural awareness" could get a 15/19 year old into hot soup?

@mindutopia, what do you mean "personal safety is a whole different planet"?

Have you heard of air conditioning ? Why are you pissing on their chips ?

Regarding the question I would probably go with them. It's only going to be an extra air fare.

And some of them are utterly shit at parenting.

Lots of gun crime maybe?

Some women (and men) of all ages are shit at parenting.

I've not encountered very many who would not be able to accompany a 15 yo on a short flight to a concert.

Of course a 19 year old and a 15 year old can travel together! You might need to check about anything, like staying in hotels you might need to be 21 for? I know America has stricter rules about that sort of thing.

There is aircon everywhere in Florida. You acclimatise and it is really not that bad in summer.
The locals would not have been in bikinis in February, they’re the ones in snow parkas, bobble hats and mittens looking cold and miserable. Which we found funny because a Florida winter is as warm as an English summer.
The ones at the beach will be the snowbirds…tourists from up north.
(I lived in Florida for a few years for work)

I thought this was about Ariana breaking up with her boyfriend.
I would go with her on plane.

You've literally brought the 19yo along to 'babysit' whilst you work, so surely that means you've already deemed her responsible enough to look after your almost adult child.

I think it’s not so much the flight as getting to and from the gig once they’re there I’d be concerned about.

What was your point in mentioning it then?

I'd trust the 19 year old alone. I'd probably trust the 15 to fly in certain circumstances alone too.

It's the combination of getting a 19 year old to be responsible for a 15 year old in a foreign country at a gig and flying that's an issue for me.

I've been to gigs all over the world and travelled alone.

If it was the 19 year olds old child it would be different too. She doesn't have legal responsibility for her 15 year old cousin.

The chances of their being a problem are minimal but I'd at least like to be in the same city and then let them get on with it.

I think your main issue is that a lot of hotels in the US don't allow under 21s to check in unaccompanied so just use that as the reasoning if you want to go.

I had a baby younger than 19 but no way would I think it was a sensible idea for a 19 and 15yo to go to a different country alone.

I would absolutely travel with them.

If they were both 19 then it would be different but they’re not.

Yabu 19 year olds are adults, this is exactly why young people have anxiety these days, because parents don't loosen their grip

Atlanta is a big airport and has its own metro station. It is pretty easy to get around safely.
If they’re concerned about the metro being unsafe, then pay for a taxi.

Don't be so ridiculous, with the 'ooooh its FRIGHTENING how anxious some people are...' followed by the nasty little judgment at the end. The OP doesn't sound like that at all, so maybe save your unpleasant dramatics for a different thread, where the OP won't leave a 18 year old alone for 10 minutes or something.

OP, you know Atlanta better than 90% of this thread, and several people who DO know Atlanta agree with you. I completely agree - it's a very different scenario to flying to a European country, or even to a different US airport, in fairness.

If everything goes according to plan, everything's fine, but if it doesn't, then your niece and DD might be placed in a vulnerable situation, and which could mar an otherwise exciting trip. I would go with them. Have a great trip.

I have to remind myself that what was 19 years old 25 years ago is now treated like a 12 year old now, infantalising. As for the person who wouldn't let a 26 year old travel alone, wow!