Anyones child flown to see family abroad as an unaccompanied minor?

[pinkmagic1]

DH's family all live abroad, we visit once a year for 2 weeks but obviously this is not really that long and we all miss them.
Yesterday DH mentioned how nice it would be for our eldest DS to go and stay with his family for the summer holidays. In theory I think this would be an excellent opportunity for him to spend some quality time with them and also improve on his 2nd language. Unfortunately we can't afford for the whole family to go and also 6 weeks is a long time to get off work. We have found out the airline that we use excepts unaccompanied minors from 6 years old, DS is 6.
DS is very keen to go but I am not sure if I am comfortable with him flying alone and it is a 5-6 hour flight. Has anyone else got any experience of sending their child to visit family abroad as an unaccompanied minor? Can you accompany your child to the aircraft? Can his grandmother meet him straight off the aircraft at the other end? Also do the staff watch out for him on the plane or just leave him to his own devices? Any advise much appreciated.

Although not technically 'abroad', my DD travels as an unaccompanied minor to visit her dad and/or my parents once every couple of months.

She is 6 and has been doing this since she was 5. She files with either BA or British Midland and they couldn't be nicer to her! The flight she travels on is only an hour though. I usually pack a little rucksack for her with some fruit, snack and books/pens and a magazine or little treat.

You cant take the child onto the plane though, the child needs to go through security with airport staff. When they reach their destination, the child usually collects their luggage before meeting their grandparents

If being honest it did take a couple of trips for my DD to get used to it but she is now totally unfazed by it. She was sitting next to one of the Billy Elliot's a few weeks ago who was also travelling alone and she had a great time looking at his script and trying on his ballet shoes!

I'm sure DS would be fine travelling alone

Haven't done it with my own child, but I can quite clearly remember going as an Unaccompanied Minor Transatlantic when I was either 7 or 8. I remember being really well looked after, but we are going back a few years though so it's a bit hazy... had some special fun stuff to do on the plane and I seem to remember that they sit you right next to the crew area and you have a BIG BADGE on you so no one can mistake the fact that you are a UM.

Unfortunately, I can't remember the detail about precise drop off/meeting arrangements.. Your airline should be able to answer all these questions. They do this all the time and should be able to give clear information and reassurances.

Good luck, hope it works out.

my husband's dd has been coming out to visit us from New Zealand each year since she was 9 or 10. Our dd has also travelled to her grandparents in New Zealand. The airline staff really look after UMs and our girls love it. They are accompanied to the plane (we usually go with them until security) and held on to until the named person collects them at other end. They are also supervised intransit.

There are often other children also travelling unaccompanied so they have company. My dd has also been bumped up to business class for part of the journey - a taste that she didn't need to know about .

I would say do it! You are always going to worry about your children .

Hi

My husband works for the Foreign Office, and we've lived abroad for about 9 years.

Although i'm pregnant at the moment with my first, I know a lot of families who have sent their kids back home to UK on their own.

I think most of the children enjoyed it, and the parents made sure they had plenty to occupy them for the flights, and the stweardesses always really looked after them.

My advice would be to do it - especially if your son is used to flying and not nervous about it - but of course, check with airline about age limit, etc.

Hope that helps.