I wouldn't do it. As a teacher of kids this age I think there are too many variables and unless it is an emergency I would leave it a few years. Even confident happy 5 yo's can fall in a heap on such a long flight. I flew to Perth a couple of years ago and was seated next to an unaccompanied kid. He was about 10 I reckon. Once the hosties realised I was chatting to him and playing squares and 0-X's with him they totally ignored him. It was quite a boring flight for me as I'd have loved to have read a book instead of entertaining that kid!
He was a lovely boy, very polite etc. but it was not my perfect flight and I am unsure if all passengers in my position would have been as kind to him.
There might be a cheaper way for you which was a system a friend's parents used to shuttle their children between Brissy and NZ.
They found responsible Uni students who wanted a cheap holiday in the destination and offered to pay half their fare if they travelled with the kids......cheaper than two parents going two ways and a good carer on location should anything go wrong.
There were good candidates tripping over themselves to "help out" and the kids got to know them before hand as babysitters..........
Just a thought.
No I wouldn't do it. Its not just emergencys but if you talk to air hostesses they can tell you a host of stories about normal kids being upset and scared. At 5 my kids couldn't do it. Some maybe not mine. 10yr old on a 4 hour flight ok.
Why is domestic different? Fly to nz takes 3-4hours.
Its sucks it costs so much even when you book way in advance.
Charlie is 6 and will be 7 in April and we still won't fly him unaccompanied. The ex and I have talked about it and we think he's too young still.
I think maybe towards the end of next year we'll try him unaccompanied. Because it is really expensive to pay for extra tickets all the time. And esp for you, when it's for 3. So I do sympathise.
Can't ex come to you for another year? For your kids' sakes?
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