unaccompanied minor - would you?

[kickassangel]

dd is 6 1/2. a family member, who she doesn't know too well, but does really love, has offered to have her to stay for a few days to give us a break. (We live 1000s miles from any family, so never have a day/night off).

dd would enjoy the trip, but i have two main concerns,

1. she hasn't ever been away from me for more than 2 nights, so homesickness could be a bit daunting for her.

1. she would have to take a 3 1/2 hr flight by herself. From what I've seen of these arrangements, once the child is on the plane, they are just expected to take care of themeselves. dd is an excellent traveller, plenty of flying experience, but I pity whoever she is put next to, and wouldn't be surprised if she just walked off with a new 'friend' at the end, without waiting to be collected.

Has anyone else used this service, and what were your (or your dc's) experiences like?

My stepdaughter flew on her own to LA when she was 10, 12 and 14. She was alwys well looked after, I htink thye sat her with other unaccompnaied children.
Dh used to stay with her until the last minute and she was escorted to her grandparents at th eother end.
She was always very happy to do it too.

how long ago?

from what i've observed, they do sit the children together, both when waiting for the plane & on it, but they kind of expect them to sit & behave, entertain themselves. with the flight we're thinking about, dd is likely to be alone, no other children. there would be about 2 hours from check in, then the flight itself. i doubt if i'd be allowed to go past security to sit with her before the flight leaves.

dh used to fly alone as a child, a lot, but back then he got his own air hostess who took him to see the pilot, sit at the controls etc.

My DS has done this since he was 11,admittedly only to The Isle of man,but still the care and supervision has been excellent.

After we check him in,someone comes to sit with him,gives him a vest to wear,(so he's identifiable)stay with him and then escort him to the plane where he is "handed over" to a particular Air Hostess,who keeps checking on him,and supplying Drinks and snacks throughout the flight.

At the other end,he is escorted from the plane,through arrivals and then handed over to his Father who has to sign for him,this is checked with a signature that is done when booking the flight.

This was with Flybe.
It is nerve wracking the first time,but their safety seems to be a high priority with the airline.

I'd recommend a backpack with lots to do inside.

I would seriously check out what the particular airline's practices are.

I'm sure it's possible, but I'd want lots of information about how they deal iwth it.

Update -

well, it costs $100 EACH WAY for the service, and for that they - hold onto dd's paperwork when she gets on the plane (I stay with her up to the gate) and walk her off the plane, where they check ID before handing her (and paperwork) over. No-one who is actually 'her' adult during the flight, she's just left there to entertain herself (which isn't too big a problem, except for the lucky person she sits next to), so they do very little for quite a lot of money.

The cost is making this a no-no, I'm not paying the total of $200 for 7 hours of doing nothing - I only pay $8 per hour for the babysitter, and she actually talks to dd.