AIBU to be surprised no one checked my 17yo had permission when travelling abroad without a parent?

[TeenageTravels]

We are British. My 17yo recently travelled abroad to an EU country for a holiday with another family (who live in the UK but are originally from the country they were travelling to). I sent her with a permission letter and provided my and DH's contact details and passport details and a copy of her birth certificate. She wasn't asked for any of this either in the UK or the other country, or any information about who she was travelling with or why. AIBU to be surprised by this? Obviously my daughter was completely safe but is this not a concern for trafficking or other reasons?

Not in England or Wales I don't think? It's 18. It's 16 in IOM as Tyson Fury's daughter married there but couldn't in where they lived before.

Yes it was common when I was that age too but I think safeguarding generally has moved on a lot since I was 16 as well as awareness of things like trafficking and modern slavery. This, I assumed, was why it was recommended to give written permission.

She's 17, with a valid passport, I don't see the problem.

My son went interrailing at 17, with a female friend. They were away for 3 weeks. Only 1 hostel wanted my passport details from him (in Paris). Mostly, they camped or stayed in AirB&B's.

I knew he was safe as he was keeping in touch with me and was with a friend.

This is interesting, thanks. So over 14 they just needed the passport. I guess within the EU area?

My 15 year old flew alone through Europe this year to meet me. Not a single question asked.

I'm pretty sure that over 16 they can travel alone. Certainly, my various neices and nephews have done so and DS is planning a trip with mates for the summer after GCSEs. So no, I wouldnt expect anyone to ask.

We have a holiday home in Spain and have taken the DCs firends with us and we were always asked for a permission letter right up until they were 18 by passport control. We sometimes flew to Portugal for cheaper/more frequent flights and were always checked there too. Once in Portugal i was told that it was good I had a letter from the friends parents (friend was 14) or it would be "a big problem"

Has your child been on a school, scouts/guides or orchestra trip overseas? None of them need parent letters. They all managed to get through passport control. The furtherest was my 14 year old going with school to Japan with a stop over in Hong Kong. It's a trip for Year 10s and 11s. They got through passport control in two foreign country in addition to the UK.

DC2 guide unit is going Paris next year. There will be 12 year old children. Guides are 11-14, but they are planning for next year.

Secondary school has overseas trips and many going are in Year 8. So again 12+.

You give signed permissions, but they aren't used at passport control. I bet the immigration officer in Japan can't read English. I don't believe they translated it to Japanese.

What I did though was filling out her electronic visa application online. However, I 'pretended' I was her. I never asked if I have given permission.

I’ve take my DD’s friend abroad several times, always had a letter from parents, but never been asked. Prob because the two girls looked happy and excited?

My DD went to Germany aged 16, alone. No one contacted me.

But no t everyone lives in England or wales.

My daughter was questioned as she has different surname to the rest of us, she has her dads surname and her brother has his dads surname so different I think she was about 16/17 at the time and we were going to Amsterdam. I think she just said my mum has 2 kids with different fathers and she married second x I don’t think we looked particularly suspicious just average family on holiday with 2 tired bickering teens

I lived alone at 17..who was I supposed to get a letter from?

No one asked me about my 8 year old DGS when I took him to Europe.

I’ve flown within the uk with a child aged 8 and they didn’t have a passport or ID. No one questioned it. Different surnames.

My children both inter railed alone through Europe at 17.

I provided a permission letter for booking into youth hostels but neither were asked for it.

It wouldn’t have occurred to me thst they would need permission just to travel though.

You sign a school permission slip to cover insurance.

In Scotland you can both leave home and get married without parental permission from 16

I moved abroad at 18 with a friend (Scottish) who was 17. No one checked anything! So no, I am not suprised. Many, many 16/17 year olds go on holiday alone with just their passport. But I don’t actually know what age the is is allowed!

Really???
My son & his girlfriend went to Greece last year when she was only 17. No one stopped them, why would they?

At 17 she’s old enough to travel the world on her own, she’s not four!

My 17 year old travelled alone to another European country and then took a train and a bus to reach a classical music event, complete with instrument and packing case. It never occurred to me to write a letter saying he had permission to travel.

I’ve provided a letter of permission for when my kids go away with their dad. Same surname though so probably why never asked. However it did dawn on me that anyone could write and sign a letter. How do they know it’s genuinely off the parent?? Seemed a pointless exercise. My 16 year old also went all the way to Nepal with guides. I assumed as they were in uniform etc they wouldn’t be asked but I will have signed a consent for at some point down the line. I’ve taken y6 to France to but back in the days when you could get a group passport so possibly proof needed for that.

She is 17, she has therefore less than a year before she can travel independently- the difference in look between a 17 and 18 year old is undetectable, I think the staff probably have bigger problems to track.

She could have done so at 16. Our 14 year old has travelled with his 16 year old brother with no issues as well. No note needed. If they suspect any issues they will ask questions.