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Original poster

DH wants to let 7 & 9 year old fly alone to NY...can they fly alone that young?

65 replies

Sarahbee3 · 14/03/2010 17:31

Even if they can fly alone that seems so young to me. I guess if it's direct maybe, hopefully Granny will be at the other end (yikes!). I'd love feedback from anyone who has let kids this young fly alone!! THANKS!!

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 14/03/2010 19:13

BA unaccompanied minor setup

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 19:14

They won't be alone. They will be with a chaperone and with each other. The alternative is to buy another ticket (£400?) and return straight away if this is a holiday for the dcs. Or stay for the duration of the holiday, which may not be what either parent wants.

I am sure that all airlines will look after unaccompanied minors brilliantly, they do it all the time.

tvfriend · 14/03/2010 19:16

Whwn I went (a LONG time ago) there was a specific person to keep an eye on the kids that looked after them form the minute they left their parents to when they were met at the other end. It wasn't a stewardess. Sometimes there were several. There would be up to 50 unaccompanied children on some of the flights I went on and those were in the days when a flight to Hong Kong involved usually a couple of stops and no videos etc .

AuntieMaggie · 14/03/2010 19:17

i think there is a huge difference between having to do this and doing it for a trip to see granny!

activate · 14/03/2010 19:17

the chaperone doesn't sit with them - they are plonked next to a likely looking female (not male, that's offensive on it's own isn't it) who is the lumbered with your kids - yes the air hostess keeps an eye on them in amongst their other job and if you're lucky they're good with kids. They do get met off the plane and escorted to where they need to go though

where are they going from that it's a 7 hour flight - what if they get earache? or air sickness? or cramp or diarrhea?

what if the person sitting next to them does not interact with them

what if they're scared

they aer far too young IMO

foxinsocks · 14/03/2010 19:18

I think it is child dependent tbh. One of mine would love this, one would hate it....so if they are your dcs, I guess only you will be able to know whether they would want to do it or be able to handle it!

wrinklyraisin · 14/03/2010 19:23

I've seen UM on flights from AMS and LHR to New York. They are escorted (very quickly)through everything, get treated like little royalty, have snacks and drinks etc whenever, and are at no point left alone if they feel upset or distressed. The youngest one I saw was a little girl about 7 from JFK to LHR, she was LOVING the attention and being made to feel important and at the other end of the spectrum my sister visited me at age 14 as an UM and as there were no suitable seats in coach she flew 1st Class!!!!!! For no extra cost! Oooh I was and she felt like Lindsay Lohan and hasn't stopped acting like her since

I think it depends on the child, if they are fairly confident they will do fine, and even if they are nervous or sad the chaperone is there to cheer them up. It's an adventure to most UM I have seen, particularly if there's something to look forward to at the other end.

activate · 14/03/2010 19:26

New York not New Zealand - aha - I read it wrong

still wouldn't do it for a good few years ie when youngest is 11 or so

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 19:30

Its, what, 7 hours to New York?

If you are not happy for your 7 and 9 year olds to be apart from you with people they don't know all that well for 7 hours (school trips, a day out with another child's parents for eg?) at any other time then yanbu.

If you are, then yabu.

Portofino · 14/03/2010 19:33

I have send dd, aged 5, off to the seaside/farm for a week on an organised holiday. I got a bit slated for that. NO WAY would I allow her to fly off to another country without me/DH. Not unless it was an emergency.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 19:36

But why?

AnyFucker · 14/03/2010 19:40

Bib...where my children are concerned I like to minimise risk

I don't mean risk of dying, or being lost and never seen again, or getting sat next to a weirdo with an over-fondness of children

I mean the risk of them feeling frightened, upset, out of control etc

why do that ? unless there is no other option, I just wouldn't do it

activate · 14/03/2010 19:47

school trips and out with parents of friends are people you know and can get hold of quickly

on a plane to a differnt country - totally different - you can't just drive over to get them if you need to can you?

don't see the similarity at all

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 19:56

In the other country these 7 and 9 year olds (not toddlers) are going to be with their Granny.

OP, I am with your dh on this occasion.

foreverastudent · 14/03/2010 20:02

If the kids are happy about it, and have flown fine before, then it's fine.

But, wasn't the British boy aboard the Air France flight that crashed over the Atlantic last year an UM?

As if dying in a plane crash isn't bad enough, the thought of a child dying alone like that does put me off the scenario a bit.

thisisyesterday · 14/03/2010 20:04

i'm with anyfucker on this one, there is no way i would let a 7yr old and 9yr old on a 7 hour flight by themselves.

ok, they'll be looked after- by strangers!

I just wouldn't, it seems totally unnecessary.

thisisyesterday · 14/03/2010 20:06

in fact, is this to go on a holiday by themselves with their Granny?

cos you know, it isn't just the flight that would worry me, it's the staying over there for however long, then the trip back again.
It's if they got upset while they were over there, even in Granny's capable hands, It's the worry that they'd feel homesick and couldn't do anything about it and you'd be so far away.

I just wouldn't even consider it

jollyma · 14/03/2010 20:07

I travelled to Sweden aged about 13 with my sister aged about 4 on a BA flight. We were handed over by my Mum at Gatwick and handed back to my Dad in Sweden. We were chaperoned all the way by a chain of people; Gatwick airport staff, air hostess and then Gothenberg airport staff.

In theory they will be supervised all the way and will be completely safe. However, personally I wouldn't want my DCs to do it at that age because the man at Gatwick was clearly lumped with the job and I had to drag my little sister along to keep up with his walking pace, we probably would have lost him if I hadn't! I would also be worried what would happen if either of them got upset. I suppose it depends if they are experienced travellers or not.

I should also mention that my memory of the experience is tainted by the desperate embarrasment at 13 of having to wear a bright red kids club bag.

Waswondering · 14/03/2010 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

megapixels · 14/03/2010 20:15

They can go as unaccompanied minors and it is very, very safe. When my nephew flew to see my parents not only was he not left alone at any point (except when he was in his seat on the aircrafts, and that's not really being alone) but they didn't even let him talk to anyone at any of the airports. (by coincidence he met a family on the stopover in Singapore that his parents knew). They also said that on the other end if the authorised person was not there in person to collect him he'd be flown back by return flight! They are very strict so it is safe, and quite possible. Whether you want to send them is a completely different matter. I personally wouldn't do it.

domesticslattern · 14/03/2010 20:16

I used to be an unaccompanied minor at that age. It was fiiiiiiine. In fact, it was quite exciting and I was treated like royalty. If there are two of them together then so much the better.
Have you asked your kids what they think?

LadyBiscuit · 14/03/2010 20:22

We used to do it all the time when we were young. How do you think the children of parents who live abroad get home during the holidays? Their parents don't fly back every time.

It's fun, it's exciting and they will be fine.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 21:05

thisisyesterday: they are 7 and 9. If they feel homesick, they will get over it!

We need the op to come back and see what this trip is in aid of

Original poster
Sarahbee3 · 14/03/2010 21:40

Choclab, they are my children, my Mother In Law wants to have them visit her for a few weeks. Chances are it probably would be fine but so many 'what ifs'. I'd be sick the whole time! Who knows, they could be happy as pigs in sh*t scarfing down candy, guzzling cokes, watching the Simpsons for 7 hours straight OR terrified if turbulence etc...aack!

Oh, to be a MOM, the WORRY! AND it must only get worse as they get older.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 14/03/2010 21:51

Although my 7y DD likes flying and has done long haul a few times before, including New York, I know that she really wouldn't like to do it alone, unaccompanied by me or DH or a grandparent.

Too far for my comfort, although TBH I wouldn't feel happy having DD travel by plane unaccompanied even on a domestic flight within the UK.