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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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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:

AnyFucker · 14/03/2010 21:53

sarah, all I will add is "don't be pressured by your MIL and your DH"

BoffinMum · 14/03/2010 21:58

Mine have done a lot of UM travelling. They love it, and BA is our favourite as they have a brilliant lounge for UMs.

notcitrus · 14/03/2010 21:58

If they know Granny well, and aren't going to be in a foreign country where they know no-one, it would be just fine. UMs get collected at checkin by a responsible cabin crew person and then have to stick with them, usually waiting in the cabin crew's chillout area rather than being able to roam the main airport. And all the flight crew make an effort to check you're OK.

I used to fly as a UM to and from boarding school, sometimes with a friend but often alone, from age 9, and it was great. Although the one time it took 3 days to get home (2 hour flight but kept getting diverted) was pretty tedious as small Scandinavian airports have sod all reading material, but they got someone to phone my parents every few hours with an update.

giddly · 14/03/2010 22:08

What do your children think? Do they want to go (and do they know what flying entails)? Do they know their grandmother well, and this is the only way they'll get to see her? Depends completely on the children and the situation.

paisleyleaf · 14/03/2010 22:18

Have they flown before? Have they done that journey before?

thisisyesterday · 14/03/2010 22:30

bibbity... i don't want my children to have to "get over" missing me or their home.

LadyBiscuit · 14/03/2010 22:37

It was really fun when my sister and I travelled together as well. If your children are happy to do it then it will be a real adventure. They will take them from you and deliver them to their gran at the other end.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/03/2010 22:38

Well don't send them a long way away from you then!

wrinklyraisin · 14/03/2010 22:39

Would Granny fly over and get them? Or is the issue also the few weeks they would be away? TBH it sounds like you don't want them to do it at all, so maybe all this is moot.

NotQuiteCockney · 14/03/2010 22:41

I've seen UMs on flights, they seem to be taken care of well. If your kids are independent-minded, and used to flying, then why not?

thisisyesterday · 15/03/2010 09:12

bibbity, i wouldn't! which is my whole point!

specialmagiclady · 19/03/2010 11:23

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.

Oh. My. Word. This actually is the most terrifying thing I've read in ages. Children are allowed to have feelings. They do not all have to be positive. It sounds like a brilliant opportunity for the kids. It sounds fantastic for you, OP - 2 whole weeks to go away with your partner/shag on the kitchen table/get the decorating done. Whatever.

Take a risk, have a little fun. That's how life is! If you don't let the kids do some things on their own, they'll never learn to be self-reliant.

If Granny is fit to care for them (ie. not infirm) let them have a great time. Some of my happiest memories of childhood are time with Granny on my own. Others are of Doing It All By Myself.

GetOrfMoiLand · 19/03/2010 11:33

I think is purely dependent on the child isn't it?

My dd would have loved to fly somewhere on her own just for the sheer adventure of it. However as I child I would have been terrified.

OP - if your kids like the idea I would go for it.

GetOrfMoiLand · 19/03/2010 11:34

BUT only if you are happy with it as well. I think if you are unhappy about it you will have kittens and worry about them on the flight.

If you are not comfortanle with the idea veto it this year and perhaps suggest it can be done in a year or two.

Original poster

Sarahbee3 · 20/03/2010 11:11

Thanks so much for all the advice! Truly fab, so appreciated. Specialmagiclady takes the cake by looking at one upside- being alone with hubs for shagging on kitchen table or decorating. Love it!! Frankly not sure which one I'd be gunning for!

They love Granny n she's cool. Not super young but totally capable. I may see if she can maybe bring them back...(of course) that means a week with MIL which can be brutal at times bit in this case...will not go into MIL's here, I'm saving that for a novel baby.

OP posts:

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