Unaccompanied Minor Help!

[Notsurehow]

My daughter aged 8,has been invited to Australia to spend time with some people who have been/are very special in our lives,There is no way I can afford to travel with her. I totally and utterly trust the people she will be staying with (including her old nanny who has been part of our lives since she was born,and regularly stays with us).
My concern (and only concern) is the flight.
Does anyone have any experience of sending a child as an an uncompanied minor?
Any airlines better than others?
Any tips?
Any warnings?

Sorry not MMM - should be colditz

I don't know why I was so scared, it was nearly 20 years ago. But it isn't nonsense at all. It's true. I was that frightened, and I had been very confident about that trip. I couldn't have predicted myself that I would have reacted like that.

My brother was an 8 year old UM 35 years ago on a longhaul flight. His plane was delayed unexpectedly somewhere in Europe. The flight attendant took him back to her flat for the night. He loved it. Wouldn't happen now.

True Wonkylegs...it is all about the individual. Colditz....20yrs ago,life was a little different and I have no idea how much you had flown before.
DD has flown more times in her nearly 9yrs than many adults fly in their whole lives,including 2 trips to Australia (yes with me)...she SO wants to see her "family" in Australia and is beyond excited about it...not due to me...trust me,I would be happy not to spend the money and have the anxiety (thanks all of you who have heightened that) but she wants to go and I believe,will benefit immensely from it.
Of course I am terrified that "something" may go wrong but the realistic chances of this are minimal compared to even everyday activities.
She is as well prepared for this trip as I could hope for....the only thing she is (and always has been) not happy about is the loo.She has never liked the noise after flushing (who does?) but moreso the fact that the fasten seatbelt sign may go on when she is in there and she would need to rush back to her seat.
She will have a bag of wrapped presents to open every hour (advent calendar style),her ipod,books and colouring.She will undoubtedly sleep for some of the trip.
Parental responisibilty is dealt with by means of a document she will take with her along with it being emailed and I have total faith in the people she will be staying with.
Insurance...goes without saying..
I really am grateful for all the advice and suggestions I have received on here...it will only help (which is what I was asking for in the first place) in ensuring my gorgeous DD is as safe and happy as she can be without me travelling with her.....

my 8 year old has flown as um shorthaul to see MIL.
went with flybe, loved it and I had no problem getting the info I needed. she now wants to go again and take 4year old (not sure on that one! but more cause they are likely to argue).
They came accross as being well organised and secure. She was given a voucher to spend on food/drink on the plane as well.
My dd has no problem staying away from us. I think that only you know how your dd will cope with strangers for 24hours and thats then your answer.

Both my children have flown long haul as unmins since the age of 8/9. We've only ever used Virgin, and been very happy. As PP's have said, the unmins all sit together. They get checked on regularly, and accompanied on and off the flight.

A young relative of ours flew to Asia, including changing planes in Singapore as an unmin, on Singpapore Airlines. It all seemed to go very smoothly - they have a separate airport lounge for them to hang out in during the transit.

I hope she has a great trip!

Children were evacuated on a ship during WW2 from the UK to America. Without parents. That took a hell of a lot longer than 24 hours.

OP - you know your child. I think the idea is certainly feasible if you can find a good airline. Good luck!

Thanks for the links Wonky....I had obviously looked at the service "offered/paid for" but even if it is the DM,it is helpful to get genuine reviews.
OOOTOT and MrsSeed...your children sound like my DD....I haven't cut my apron strings....merely extended them for the benefit of my child.......

Thank you Freckled....until recently,due to some of the extreme,"anti"-posts,I was beginning to think that maybe I was in the wrong. I now know I am not and have an even greater conviction that what I am allowing my child to do,will be great for her.
She thrives on being allowed some independence,has been exposed to way more things than many children her age (especially those who are permanently tied to their Mother's apron strings whether they like it or not).
Life isn't a bed of roses for ANY adult or child...but I am not sending her off to a torture chamber...if I thought for one minute she wouldn't/couldn't cope...I would not send her.

It is lovely to hear so many positive views about how wonderfully children cope with these situations and also how much they benefit from them......they really help!

All booked and DD has made her own "advent calendar" as her countdown....she is very excited...thank you all for your comments,both positive and negative,I has helped immensely.

I hope she has a great time!

Less than 40 days till she goes....she cannot wait...I am dreading it but we both know she will have a brilliant time....will feedback on the flying experience in case it helps others.....

I hope she has a great time. My sister and I used to fly unaccompanied short-haul (UK to Switzerland) from the ages of 4 and 9 and we really liked it. Swiss Air were great and gave us little travelling kits with colouring books and stuff.

A longer flight would obviously be a lot harder, but if you've flown with her a lot before she probably knows what to expect.