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?

Thank you.

And I agree, it's almost the hardest big city to navigate in The US.

New York, Chicago, although bigger are far easier to navigate.

It's either Atlanta or LA as the most difficult for me.

I’m sorry, but if you’re British, you don’t get to diagnose Chicago weather. 😂 There were no “bad storms” yesterday. It rained somewhat heavily for maybe like 20 minutes with a bit of thunder. O’Hare triggers massive ground stops and delays because it’s running at max capacity right now. You ran into airport gridlock, not a natural disaster.

I’d go because I like Atlanta more than Orlando. Seriously, the airport is a hop, skip and a jump from the stadium, so there is minimal risk of anything happening. So I would let them, it’ll be fun and something to treasure.

Yes that’s even harder. Getting out of Wembley is bad enough!

Is there that much getting around that needs to be done? Won’t they be flying in, getting an Uber to a hotel near to the venue (I had a little Google and there are loads), going to the concert and back to the hotel (where it will be busy with concert goers) and then an Uber back to the airport in the morning for the flight back. I’m assuming they won’t be doing much exploring, just a literal flying visit.

Not a chance in hell I’d let them travel themselves

Nope. Not something I said. Sorry if you're confused. Just airlifting the word 'vulnerable' and constructing your own sentence around it is a bit...odd.

You brought the drama - as you know - with your wittering about other people's anxieties and parenting. You have absolutely no clue about any of the people involved.

Maybe try to make an argument without dramatic projections and judgements - it's a bit more civilised.

Surely they aren't 'navigating' it though, they'll be getting a cab.

They aren't wandering round Kabul on foot here.

What is the actual problem with you going?

is this just a 'who is right' but it's not actually a problem whether I go or not?

As a 15 yo I was flying internationally by myself including the states & at 16 I took 2 under 7's as well. I'm 57 life was different then 🤣.

but given how the States is at the moment I'd be flying with them & taking them to & picking them up from the concert.

it might be over protective, but so what!? It's not like you can replace them if anything happens is it?

Definitely go. My Mother and Aunt both in their 60s went on a cruise. They had a shore day and took a road train around the mountains. The road train got caught in a traffic jam. The ship was going to set sail again at tea time. All their important documents and major money etc including passports were on the ship. Fortunately for them they made it back but they were both panicking by that point because it was cutting it very close. Both sensible, educated professionals with decades of life experience yet they almost got stranded in a foreign country with next to nothing. I’m sure your DD and DN will be glad you are going too.

How on earth is that story relevant to what these 19 and 15 year olds plan to do? 😂

We’ve all got stories of travel gone wrong. I once missed a plane whilst standing next to the gate with my AirPods on! But it’s not relevant.

I think my vote would be to go with them but let them do as much as possible by themselves- cab by themselves, hotel by themselves- and only be on hand if necessary. That way they get a bit of independence without being completely stuck if things go sideways

If you'd feel happier going with them, then its simple, go with them.
But I'd be wanting a ticket to go to the concert too... why miss out?

I don't understand the fuss pp are making about why not let them go alone, they are old enough etc/
I daresay they would manage.
's clear you trust them, but there are easier solo trips for them to take on first, especially your 15 year old/

Also. It sounds like a lot of fun the three of you could have together and a nice way to spend more "grown up" time with your 15 year old, outside of the school run/exams environment. Your dd has plenty of time ahead to go on adventurous trips in the future.

I’ve been there too. Often. Have family there. But I’ve never actually seen a shooting so by this token I now disbelieve all the reports of gun crime in the US. I have also never personally seen anyone arrested here in the uk so assuming our police are just phoning it in at this point. Look at the stats

Sensible and mature 15yo and 19yo this would be fine.

Some US hotels have a minimum 21 age limit to book rooms especially some of the bigger brand names. That could be your clincher.

Travelling in the US is very different to travelling in the UK. What if they were to be questioned and detained because one is a minor and they don’t share the same last name or for any other reason. Would the 19 YO know what to do? It’s just not worth the risk when the OP could easily be there.

19 is not an adult in the US.

Absolutely go. Yes your niece is an adult but she’s new to independence and travelling across America with a younger teenager is still a big deal. What if they miss their flight? Where will they stay after the concert? what if a weirdo follows them? Are they confident they’d be able to get themselves out of a tricky situation?

For me, it would be I go or no one goes.

From your other threads, I thought your kids are 5, 8 and 11, OP?

You are an adult at 18 in the US.

Just because you can’t buy alcohol, that doesn’t mean you’re not an adult.

Age of majority in the US is determined by states. It's definitely 18 in Georgia and in Florida and the vast majority of the remaining states. I believe a couple have 19 and one has 21.

By federal law, the voting age in every state is 18.

As previous posters have ppointed out, some hotels will not allow someone under the age of 21 to book a room even though they are an adult at 18.

Why would they be questioned and detained on a domestic flight? You literally just show your ID, scan your boarding pass and go on your merry way. That's it.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/weather/morning-storms-lead-to-ground-stop-at-ohare-with-more-storms-on-the-way/3945328/

Planes arrived late or not at all and there were knock on delays and cancellations all day due to this. When we did eventually leave, our flight path was rerouted to avoid the strong storm to the east. Or maybe our pilot was lying?

I'm American, by the way, and did both my MA and law degrees in Chicago. I don't think I said anything about a natural disaster? My point was how easily delays and cancellations stack up at these hub airports.

If you're going to be snide and superior at least know what you're talking about.

No, you said “bad storms,” spoken like someone who has no idea what a bad storm in Chicago actually looks like. Also, funny how my parents flew out of Chicago last night and my neighbor whose dog I’m watching flew in, and neither of them had delays. But sure, let’s pretend the entire hub collapsed over one “strong storm” to the east because your pilot made an announcement. Weather can affect some routes without becoming the grand unified theory of every delay at O’Hare. Maybe save the MA and law degree flex for an argument that isn’t being held together by a single cabin announcement and a weather app screenshot.

😂

Did someone put you in charge of weather or something? Were you clutching your lanyard really tightly as you composed this?