what should I do???

[toodles]

my in-laws are wanting to fly my daughter up to see them. it would be a 1.5 hour flight, direct, and I am sure she would love to go and visit them, but she is only 6 years old. do you think I should let her do it? I don't know if she is too young???? I really think she would be ok...I know the flight attendants would be with her the whole time and make sure she is ok...but as her mom...I can't help but worry.

they have told me that if I do not feel ok with her flying up, that they would pay for me to come with her. but am I being too "over-protective"?? and I really don't think I can get away for a week.

i don't know...i'm really torn.

[goofywife]

If the flight is direct, you can have her fly the under 12 way. You wait at the gate with her, hand her to the stewardess, she stays with them, then they hand her to her grand parents on the other side.

The last flight I was on, I sat next too a little boy who proudly told me he was 7. I asked him if he was scared, he said na, I have done this about 22 times already. He goes back and forth from his Mom and Dad.

Are there any flight attendants on the 4WT?

[DianaB]

I'd be concerned about it if it was my child, but we haven't flown hardly at all. However the flight is a direct flight and not too terribly long so I might would consider it if you could hand her over directly to the stewardess like goofywife said. Another thing to consider should be is your child be ready to be gone from you for a week. I know at 6 years old that can be hard for some kids. Good luck with your decision.

[Janet]

I know that this type of thing is done everyday, but I personally could never do it. Maybe at 11 or 12, but not any younger. You do have to remember that I only have my son and even though he's 16 now and driving....I'm still way too over protective. I just love him more than life itself.

[Mandy]

I am sure she would be fine, but i too would think twice about it.

I do it all the time with my grandson. He lives in San Diego and I put him on the plane and send him back to his mom 3 times a year. He is always safe and I get to talk to him at each plane change. The flight attendants walk him where he needs to go (or a specially assigned person stays with him for the whole flight) Depends on which airline we use. I feel he is very safe, but I must admit that the first 2 times I did this, I was petrified.

His mom could care less, but I do. That's why he comes 3 times a year. Cause she doesn't want him around much. Another story for another time.

Originally Posted by toodles

my in-laws are wanting to fly my daughter up to see them. it would be a 1.5 hour flight, direct, and I am sure she would love to go and visit them, but she is only 6 years old. do you think I should let her do it? I don't know if she is too young???? I really think she would be ok...I know the flight attendants would be with her the whole time and make sure she is ok...but as her mom...I can't help but worry.

they have told me that if I do not feel ok with her flying up, that they would pay for me to come with her. but am I being too "over-protective"?? and I really don't think I can get away for a week.

i don't know...i'm really torn.

I wouldn't do it- 6 years old is way too young. Why can't the adults make the trip to see her?

[Passionfruition]

Yeah, 6 is pretty young for a trip like that. It is nice to know that they take good care of her, etc and it's only 1.5hr flight, but still....I don't have much advice for you. I'm sure I'll have to make similar decisions for my child one day, but I haven't crossed that bridge yet. Follow your gut feeling - Mom knows best!

and no matter how I think about all the 'what ifs' and how mature this child is- what would you do if she caught a sudden case of homesickness either on the flight or soon after landing or a day into her grandparents?
And.....when was the last time she spent any real time with them? Those would be some of my concerns no matter how common place this is becoming with split families and families all over the country..

[Gina]

Like most have mentioned, I would not feel comfortable letting my six year old fly alone on a plane, regardless of how the flight attendant would take care of her. God forbid something were to happen with that plane I would never forgive myself. I don't mean to scare you but that would be my feelings...

Like Passion said follow your gut feelings, it never fails you, Good Luck.

[toodles]

Originally Posted by green_sleeves

I wouldn't do it- 6 years old is way too young. Why can't the adults make the trip to see her?

well, they did come here for her birthday a few weeks ago to see her but they are going to their lake house and there are a lot of other kids there, they really wanted her to join them for the vacation. I will fly her up and they will bring her home...so i think we have it worked out I agree that she is too young, and I asked her and she didn't seem too thrilled about making the flight alone so I just trust that she knows what she feels ok with. so I will make the flight up with her and then come back home, let her stay for the week, and they will bring her home.

they are totally understanding and have offered to pay for everything. they are great people!!

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by toodles

well, they did come here for her birthday a few weeks ago to see her but they are going to their lake house and there are a lot of other kids there, they really wanted her to join them for the vacation. I will fly her up and they will bring her home...so i think we have it worked out I agree that she is too young, and I asked her and she didn't seem too thrilled about making the flight alone so I just trust that she knows what she feels ok with. so I will make the flight up with her and then come back home, let her stay for the week, and they will bring her home.

they are totally understanding and have offered to pay for everything. they are great people!!

I'm so glad it all worked out Toodles. I bet she'll have a wonderful time there.