I have done a few flights this year and always sit in the back row where the unaccompanied minors are seated, right by the toilts and galley. In all seriousness the attendants have been great with the kids and the kids themselves not bothrred at all.
no I wouldnt. Not unless it was a total emergency and I couldnt work out an alternative. First time I flew alone I was 8 or 9. The reason why I did was because my poppy died, whilst we were on holiday with my other pop. My mum was able to get a flight asap for herself and my brother who was an infant at the time, but there wasnt a flight for me. I flew home just in time for the funeral. That in my mind was an emergency that couldnt be avoided.
But if you feel comfortable with it, then do it. If your dd doesnt like it, he can fly her back. You can get him to call you as soon as he picks her up.
Logically, the age requirement is set at 5 for a reason - from experience, they must know that the kids are OK. I'm sure the attendants go through all the "variables" with them eg. to press x button if they need to go to the toilet.
I think I'd be OK with it for DD. She's very outgoing and wouldn't hesitate to speak up. Plus at 5, you can explain a lot beforehand.
I think in your situation, I'd commit to doing it once as a trial and seeing how it goes. I'd arrange to talk to her as soon as she got off the plane to see what her immediate feelings were.
No. TBH I wouldn't. My kids are also FFs and often as the mum with 3 kids I get seated up the back with the unaccompanied minors. I've had far too many convos with hosties who think they should raise the allowed age to 8. Yes mostly they can cope. But leaving them for that long with people you don't even know, let alone know how they're going to treat your kiddo if things go to poo? They don't know your child either or how to help her if she needs anything more than basic.
For a short flight, yes, but four hours is probably stretching it. I would wait until she was a bit older personally. My six and a half year old is mature enough and spends all day at school, but I know she'd be a bit shy about asking to go to the toilet, or for food and drinks, not to mention amusing herself for that long in one spot.
But I think it's up to the two of you as her parents. I would think by seven she'd be okay for a long flight alone.
Last year my two (at the time 5 and 9) flew to Perth to visit their grandparents. They came back with Sushee. But they flew over with a steward. There was another couple of girls about the same ages flying to see their dad in Perth. They had the best time. And even though I cried at the airport I would have done it again in a heartbeat. They had an adult the whole time and as DD said they were attended to way more than if they had flown with us.
But. Heres's my but. Alone at 5? Maybe not. Only because if they get scared they might not feel safe mentioning it. That's the only reason. My kids behave really well so that's not an issue. It's more the emotional stuff of being away from someone they could trust if they got scared.
Maybe talk to the airline and quiz them to help you make up your mind?
As far as I am aware, they are pretty well looked after. Is your DD fairly good around people she doesn't know? If so, then I would say she would probably be ok. You would be with her until she got on the plane and then her Dad would pick her up as soon as she gets off. I can imagine it wouldn't be an easy thing to do as a parent, but I do think she would be ok.
Yes. I used to fly all the time at that age on my own. I have no problem with it. But this is your daughter and you know her better.
It is very safe, you drop them off at the departure gate to a flight attendant, you sign. They are put on the plane. At the other end they are handed into the person you have named on the form (they must have ID) and that person only & they must sign as well.
I would say no... I couldn't do it. The what if's are far to much. and knowing my DD who is a quite confident little thing wouldn't cope in that situation.
Yes. My children have flown unaccompanied.
The hostesses take them on the flight after all the other passengers have loaded and put them in a seat at the back near the galley. At the other end they accompany them to meet the person who is picking them up.
Whilst they are unaccompanied they are not unsupervised and only the people who are nominated can do the drop-off and pick up.
If your daughter is familiar is a happy flyer I'm sure she will have a great time. They get spoilt rotten by the flight attendants.
No. Not on her own. Maybe, if like Rouge, there was on older sibling. But my almost 5 year old who flies frequently would not cope on her own. For me there are too many situations that could arise that she would not deal with. I don't have much experience with other 5 year olds though. Maybe mine is high maintenance!! ;-)
I know I am a helicopter parent (hovers over my children, and yes unnecessarily sometimes) but no, not on your nelly.
I wont let my 15 yr old go back to NZ by himself yet
I know my fears are irrational and maybe my controlling issues are coming into play as well, but I know I would fret and worry the entire time so I just couldnt do it.
Not a snowball's chance, and my 5.5 yr old is extremely mature, independent and outgoing. If she had an older sibling then no problems (although I would still worry!). Yes, the flight attendants watch them but not constantly. Your lone child will also likely be next to another unaccompanied kid who could be a ratbag, behave inappropriately or whatever. Perth to anywhere is a long flight, not to mention further delays that are always possible.
I probably would, BUT I would be hesitant to start off on a 4hr flight in case DD would get upset or uncomfortable.
But like others have said, you see them off at the gates, and they are picked up by your ex on the other end. And they are often more tended to than normal passengers because they are young.
That's just me though. I am quite attached, but it also depends on circumstances as to what I would and wouldn't do
As the mother of a 5 almost 6 year old, no. She is very friend and outgoing and everyone who meet her loves her. She is confident and mature yet silly at the same time (but I'm 31 and still silly!). I know that if I stick my daughter in a strange or new situation ON HER OWN, she would freak out completely. I can take her somewhere she has been a million times and something be different, and she changes. For example, she has been to a play centre more times than I care to count. But recently she went to a party there with a bunch of kids she sees every day, and suddenly she became clingier than cling film! So I wouldn't let her fly unaccompanied. Not yet.
My 5yo would point blank refuse to go on his own so it would be a non issue here. But maybe call the airline and have a thorough chat with them about the procedures involved. That might help you make a decision.
Not at 5 no, at 10 then probably yes. I flew a lot when I was younger but most of the time it was with my brother and sister not on my own, and it was a 2.5 hour flight from the north west of WA to Perth. I think its hard because you are in a sticky situation with your ex. If you think your daughter would be ok and you are comfortable with it, then go for it.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks