What age is reasonable to let a 13 year old travel by plane with two others both 11?

Depends if they have a pilot's licence!!!

This is not all "donkey's years ago". I have a friend whose daughter travels with supervision from the airline (a hostess is in charge of her) to and from mainland Spain, to one of the islands (short flight - 30 mins) about five times a year. So the regulations are much the same as years ago, only the budget airlines do not allow under 16s and dont have supervision. You need to travel with one of the more expensive airlines for that service. I have to say the catch is that this service is very expensive, or so i am told

Totally agree with you Jalima and for the record I don't live "oop" North anymore than anyone else might live "darn sarf"

My son flew from London to Canada on assisted travel when he was 14 years old and it worked out well.

There was a charge for my grandchildren going to USA and as someone else said they had to have solicitors letters agreeing to them going for which there also a charge.

Its one of those obvious things, it depends if the children can be chaperoned to the gate and on their personalities. Two of mine did a in UK flight at age 13 and 14, they loved it. We took them to the airport and escorted them to the departure section, the relatives they were to stay with met them at the other end.

I never paid a penny extra when my DD travelled unaccompanied either.

SORRY!!! It was NameChange!!! Not serkeen!

serkeen I hope no-one is going to leap up and say you are being "dialectist" by saying "Oop North"! I could take offence! ??

When I was a child I used to travel alone on the plane with my brother and sister, it was a great adventure.

However, obviously we had some take us to the airport and stay til we were safely on the plane and again the other end we had someone to greet us the minute we got off the plane

So IMHO it's ok

I think Jalima got my point about my rather unclear post . I dont think I would have let them go by themselves but they have arrived safely.

A young relative of mine aged 14 was travelling from Cardiff, changing at Bristol Parkway, on the way Oop North for summer holiday with Auntie NameChange.

Unfortunately they didn't realise there are TWO different Bristol stations. They went to Bristol Temple Meads, then changed on to the Oop North train. No real harm done but it added a whole hour on to an already more than 4 hour journey.

I am not really sure whether OP is talking about the kids going as unaccompanied minors (escorted by the airline) or just putting them on the plane alone? Most airlines have minimum ages for people travelling totally alone.

I did the unaccompanied minor thing for my niece a few years ago when she was 13 travelled home to the UK from a visit to Denmark. The trip was with SAS and involved 2 short flights (30 minutes and 1 hour 45). I had to take her with a special pass and paperwork to the departure gate where I handed her over to a member of the cabin crew. There were around 10 unaccompanied minors on her flight. The crew did not allow her out of their sight. At Copenhagen she had to sit in a special child room until the next flight (thwarting her plans to hit the shops!). She was escorted off at the other end until she was handed over to the named person on her paperwork.

BA is still on the list so they need to take themselves off.

Quite a number of airlines still do so BA will lose custom because there are still many ex-pat children flying to and from school in the UK and their parents/firms will choose other airlines for themselves as well if their DC cannot fly BA.

BA has stopped doing unaccompanied minors...b****rs. Now I can't have my grandson during summer holidays. Is this all part of cut backs, like no meals?

Air France have a scheme for 4years plus!

The main issue seems to be not would a 13 year old be responsible enough/allowed to travel alone but is it fair to put a 13 year old in charge of two 11 year olds on a plane journey.
(yes I did read and understand!)

Personally, I would say that is not fair on the 13 year old even if she feels herself that she could do it. You never know what would ensue if one or both of the 11 year olds felt that they didn't want to do what the 13 year old told them.

If they are to be escorted then that is fine.

I see what MawBroon means but it sounded a bit Welsh to me - anyone who thinks it is racist is ridiculous. I am married to a Welshman and the Welsh themselves are extremely good at making jokes about themselves (or the Welsh I know are)
eg
'Whose coat is that jacket?'
'I went to get on my bike and there it was - gone'
'I'll do it now - in a minute'
etc

If you read the heading of the OP you will see what MawBroon means - it doesn't really make sense
(but we know what you meant Stansgran )

Anyone trying to make something of it is being ridiculous.

It's unacceptable to post any kind of racist shite or hate speech.
I have zero tolerance for any kind of shite like that. Absolutely zero tolerance.

Saying something is "anything" reduces that thing to the stereotype and is an attempt to humiliate, or put down those who share that thing or identify as being that thing.

Sharing a nudge nudge wink wink laugh and saying someone is "bold" to say it is also hate speech, and also unacceptable.

We need to call out racists every time, and stamp out this insidious evil.
Let's make the world a better place for everyone.

I personally don't understand what Irish meant in maw's post?

Mawbloon and bluebell, I find your comments racist and hateful.

Try substituting "English" or "Paki" for example, for what you said and see how the shoe fits.

Talking disrespectfully and using a ooh "how bold are you" nudge nudge wink wink stereotype is blatant racism and it's absolutely unacceptable.

Shame on you both.

Grace Gran it doesn't matter what age we think is right or wrong if the airline don't do it there's no point in worrying that was my whole point

I have a very mature 14 year old luluaugust who wanted to come alone to visit me but Ryanair is the airline who flies from her city and they cant travel alone until they are 16 although the ticket price is virtually the same so I go and fetch her and take her back quiet unnecessarily

Again ICanhandthemback you are quoting escorted travel as far as I saw from the original post it is to travel ALONE not with an escort, no one would worry about a child being escorted whether it was 50 years ago or today

In the 70's my sister and I frequently flew unaccompanied to Norway. We were 8 and 10 (max) the first time. Somebody took us to the airport and handed us over to the flight company. They looked after us until we were picked up at the airport the other end. Nobody thought anything of it. Today's children are just as capable if they were just allowed. As long as they have a point of contact to ask if things start to go awry, where is the problem?

Two of my DGC, 14 and 10 travelled on their own, short haul but the eldest carried a letter with full details and permission which was looked at. The parents kept in touch by phone until they actually boarded and then on landing. Must admit this is a very mature 14 year old.