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Original poster

How old does a child have to be to fly alone?

92 replies

eleusis · 24/09/2007 12:48

From London to Chicago. I'm being hounded by my sisters in Chicago to see my kids before they are grown. And so I'm thinking about sending her on her own next summer for a couple of weeks. She will be 5 in March. Is this old enough?

OP posts:

pooka · 24/09/2007 13:59

You know her better than anyone, and if the airlines offer the service, and you think she'd be comfortable, then why not give it a go. Even if the outward journey is unsettling, the return leg will be bringing her home so should be less so for her.
Can't believe someone got grief for sending an 11 year old on a train for 4 hours. Madness.

ComeOVeneer · 24/09/2007 14:01

"if you're willing to take that risk then fine." God I hate that phrase! It is so laced with opinions of bad parenting, gets my annoyed every time I read it.

pooka · 24/09/2007 14:02

But the risk is infinitessimally small. We're talking about a transatlantic flight with an employee of a major airline that has been CRB checked and would be fully in charge. Worse risk at school, at nursery, in your car, crossing the street.

And if you live your life and bring your children up in that way, I think it has the potential to be very constricting and life limiting.

bluejelly · 24/09/2007 14:05

Agree with pooka and comeon..

All of life's interesting activities involve some risk. No point panicking about minute chances...

TellusMater · 24/09/2007 14:06

What is the risk? She will presumably be escorted onto the plane and off the plane, and handed over to family at the other end? What wold yuo be afraid of?

ShrinkingViolet · 24/09/2007 14:08

on domestic BA flights (not sure if it's any different for non-domestic) the child is handed over to the cabin crew, the "Auntie" who flew with you service stopped a number of years ago. But they are escorted to their seat, and collected from their seat at the other end. IME well behaved and smiley children are spoiled rotten (DD2 ate her weight in extra KitKats at age 6 flying to Scotland, DD1 didn't have anything as she wouldn't say boo to a goose at that age, and had her nose in a book for 1.5 hours). The best bit (according to DD2) is skipping all the queues! DD1 is cross becasue now that she's over 12, she flies as an adult, so has to queue.

lisalisa · 24/09/2007 14:12

Message withdrawn

bluejelly · 24/09/2007 14:14

I think it also depends if you children are used to flying... my dd has flown an awful lot, never gets scared/vomits etc

She is 7 and I would send her long haul if I had to.

Hulababy · 24/09/2007 14:14

Have no problem with 11yo on train.

Not concerned about any percieved risk of plane journey.

My only concern would be my DD and how she'd cope with the journey alone and the holiday a long way from home with people she didn't know very well. Despite DD ebing a confident child here, I personally don't think my child would deal with it once reality set in, and I wouldn't feel happy about her being away for so long anyway.

However, that is just me and my child.

If the OP's daughter is happy and mum feels she will cope happily - then fine.

themildmanneredjanitor · 24/09/2007 14:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

belgo · 24/09/2007 14:15

I don't think there is an actual risk if you are following the airline's guidelines and paying for a child care service - but I would just be concerned about a five year old being away from her family for that length of time - the flight, and the holiday.

But I suppose you know your dd best, and if you think she'll cope with the whole thing, then why not.

I also think, what's the point? Why don't your sisters come over to you?

majorstress · 24/09/2007 14:16

go for it. tell us how it goes! my dh is a nervous nelly and won't stand for it, also we can't trust the aged relatives at the other end not to get in a muddle anymore, really.

Mum has been dragged over to collect dd2 from her last week of half-days in reception, and I gave her a new simple mobile phone for elderly people. so far she has accidentally rung emergency services and accidentally rung a taxi firm, but hung up on me whenever I call her. She DID manage to use it, when she locked herself out and called me. I had to go home from work to let her in.

So, do it while everyone has still got enough marbles to be any use!

TellusMater · 24/09/2007 14:17

Exactly hula.

The ins and outs of how well a child would cope are one thing, and there would be a lot of individual differences. That is a different issue to the risk to the safety of the child.

LoveMyGirls · 24/09/2007 14:27

I wouldn't do it for the simple reason that sometimes (occasionally) planes crash and if the plane did crash and I had put my child on it alone I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing she wasn't with someone she knew. (I know its like 1 in a billion chance or something but the chance is there)

BTW I have let my 7yr old on a plane without me but she was with her grandparents and next year both dd's will be going and dd2 will still be just under 3 so i'm up for my kids being independant etc.

Original poster

eleusis · 24/09/2007 15:22

Can we please stop referring to my syblings and parents as people whom my DD hardly knows? It's just making me feel guiltier by the minute and more inclined to send her.

I must say this thread has attracted a lot more opposing opinions than I expected.

As for the plane crashing, would you feel better if your DD and your parents dies in a plane crash than just your DD. That seems an odd sort of logic too me.

And as for the McCann comment... you are norty. We can't all live in a state of paranoia because of one family's tradgedy.

OP posts:

SmartArse · 24/09/2007 15:31

Eleusis, SHE'LL BE FINE! She'll have a huge adventure travelling by herself and whilst I'm sure she'll have the odd I-miss-my-mummy moment, she'll adore being the centre of attention. And I bet your family will keep her so busy that she'll hardly have time to be teary. I say go for it (because I would)! Don't feel guilty: you'd be doing it as an adventure/life enhancing treat for your DD, not for you.

NorthernRockCod · 24/09/2007 15:32

i flew a lone at 10 regularly

SmartArse · 24/09/2007 15:35

So did I. Never did me any harm. I loved being the centre of attention and was very disappointed when they stopped escorting me when I was about 12. Had to queue and sit in cattle class and never saw the inside of a cockpit again!!

Original poster

eleusis · 24/09/2007 15:59

Well, I'm pretty sure she won't get to see the inside of the cockpit. I believe the door is locked for the entire flight ever since 9/11. Not sure, though, how the pilot goes to the loo??? So maybe I'm wrong there.

OP posts:

WotsZePoint · 24/09/2007 16:08

You have to pay a higher flight rate to cover the cost of the escort, most of these bookings you can't do online, so call and speak to the airline or flight ticket agent who will give you the reasurance you are looking for.

Flying in and out of USA has far more restrictions than even a few years ago and you need to have all your paperwork in order.

SmartArse · 24/09/2007 16:14

Good point about the cockpit. Shame!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 24/09/2007 16:21

eleusis,

This will have to be a direct flight with no stopovers e.g London Heathrow to Chicago.

Also her paperwork is going to have to be completely in order. Yet another thing to consider is that you will have to go to the airport and remain there till her flight leaves.

Original poster

eleusis · 24/09/2007 16:30

The paper work is no problem She will travel on a US passport (if she goes).

And I'm quite happy to go to the airport and see her off. In fact I wouldn't miss it!

And, of course, a direct flight. I won't go there any other way. So it wouldn't be fair to make her do it.

OP posts:

belgo · 24/09/2007 16:31

Eleusis - Also something to consider is how will you feel when she's away? I certainly would be on edge the whole time, but then I'm the sort of parent who finds it hard to leave my children for even just one night.

Original poster

eleusis · 24/09/2007 16:33

Well, I'll miss her of course. But I feel it would be selfish to put my needs before hers.

OP posts:

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