To think that I shouldn't be treated as some kind of 'pariah' because of this????

[tiredemma]

My Inlaws have asked if they can have our children over to stay with them in France for two weeks in August. Wonderful opportunity for them, great opportunity for Dp and I to go off and do something during that time. Great.

I made lots of sensible, rational enquiries and have arranged for them to fly as Unaccompanied Minors with Swissair. Lots of info online and it seems to be a very well planned service

I have made the huge mistake of telling a relative of mine this. She is fairly neurotic at the best of times and is now comparing me (in her words) "to the McCanns" FGS. She is also now obviously tying (for whatever reason) to make me "see sense" and cancel the flight "in case it crashes".
I am well aware of the risks involved with any mode of travel and took this into account when booking the flight. She has also told other relatives about it and seems quite keen to draw them into her hysteria.

I am actually quite pissed off at her attempts to make me feel like I am just dumping my kids at Heathrow airport without a care in the world.

I thought that this would be an exciting opportunity for them. Should I be feeling guilty now??

Hit me with it.

ski - that made me laugh too as if somehow the OP has the power to prevent plane crashes, as long as she's on board

Or perhaps she meant the whole family should go down together.

If I was (were?) OP I would have had a lot of fun with the nit, questioning them to get to the bottom of that.

and reading properly I see I am simply repeating Niandra. Sorry, N.

I hate it when people do that to me.

Your posts have enlightened me!!!

Im amazed honestly to see how many of you actually have first hand experience of UM flights.

I have decided not to entertain her paranoid ideas at all. My kids can't wait to go to France (alone), My Inlaws can't wait to see them (without us there) and we can't wait to go to Ibiza (childfree).

I showed DS1 (age 9) this thread last night and he is now more excited than ever as he feels he will be like some VIP on the flight.

My relatives attitude wont change, and no doubt my ears will be burning bright red in August but im really not bothered. Not one jot.

i also think your relative is jealous.
let them go, they will be fine
i flew alone as a child and absolutely loved it! i felt so grown up and it gave me a confidence that i still have now.
i would be happier for my ds to fly alone than catch a train alone: air travel is very safe, stranger danger and abduction are less of a worry with the service the airline provides etc. in fact, can ds come too please? he'd be really really good

unaccompanied minor service is bomb proof in my opinion.

far less chance of them wondering off around the airport than if they fly with parents.

if flight is late/diverted/grandparents late at other end/they will take care of them.

they will be treated like kings.

very jealous of 2 weeks child free

They wont be alone though- just because they are not going with relatives/parents doesnt mean they are just roaming free! Whats the point in you guys flying over to france and back again twice?

If the plane crashes better that you're not on it IMO. You couldn't do anything useful, so you might as well not die along with them.

Also, you're probably doing your kids a massive favour for their sense of self-worth treating them like mature individuals who can cope with new situations and an adventure rather than wrapping them in cotton wool and being terribly overprotective. Good on you.

My 12 year old niece will shortly travel as an UM from the UK to New Zealand! She is so excited about it, and her mum (my DS) is thrilled for her too - she travelled the world herself and wants her DCs to have the same sense of adventure.

Do tell your dotty relation and then she can fret about this instead.

Would love to know more about who she is and why she thinks she can criticise your decisions .

I flew as an UM when I was 8yo from Lyon to Manchester, changing in Paris. It was the MOST exciting thing EVER as it was the first time I had flown and I got treated like royalty, shown the cockpit etc etc, it was wonderful.

I'm not recommending this bit of the experience but the people I was staying with in France had naughtily put a bottle of wine in my suitcase for my dad, so I even had the thrill of lying to the customs officials and saying 'nothing to declare' just like in the card game 'Smuggle' (anyone remember Smuggle? this was back in the day when you had to declare things coming in from France, and anyway it was illegal for an 8yo to be carrying alcohol through customs). Oh the excitement! I thought a life of international crime was sure to follow. Alas how wrong I was...

I sent my then 9 year old (who has AS to boot) to Switzerland to stay with a German speaking cousin for a summer using an accompanied flight service (BA. Obviously they are out these days, but I think all the big national carriers offer an alternative)

He was better than fine, and was accompanied all the way for minimal charge...

Your relative is an arse, projecting their own anxieties on to you.

Ignore ignore ignore