Hi K,

>.it's just that potential "leaving her across the pond while I cross it" thing that bothers her father and me!

Is that really very different from leaving her in LAX and flying to ATL?

There will be someone who speaks English to take care of her, just in case.

I really do think that you are making this worse than it could be. :)

((I))

kellye,
imo your daughter will be fine. if for whatever reason, the flight doesn't take off that day, the airline normally provides accomodation and a shuttle service to/from the accomodation.

I'm a 30ish female who lives in London. What date is the flight? I'll be happy to give you and your daughter my phone number for emergencies.

Wow ssachida, that is an incredibly kind offer. We will be there the last week of July. I may get back in touch for tips on what we absolutely must not miss seeing too! :-) Thank you for your hospitality and courtesy.
Kellye

Kellye, I think you've made a wise decision. It will probably all be fine... but I would be stressed climbing onto a flight and not knowing whether or not hers took off (or at least departed). Especially since the flight home you are awake the entire time. You can't prepare for 100% of things -- you need to trust that your kid is wise in those extremely rare situations. You can made the odds work in your favor and I think you've done exactly that.

good luck!

I thought I would give an update on this one. I called Delta back at the end of May and asked to be waitlisted on my daughter's flights. It was $100 fee if the waitlist cleared....since that was also the fee for an unaccompanied minor, I figured I had to pay it somewhere anyway.

I got a call in late June that the flight from London to Atlanta had cleared, but not yet the one from Atlanta to Birmingham. I took it, figuring that was the hard part. If I absolutely had to, I could drive to Birmingham in just a few hours. They confirmed me on a flight from ATL to BHM the next day, but kept me waitlisted for her flight. I got a call earlier this week, just 3 days before I left for Europe clearing the waitlist on that last segment too, so we are coming all the way home together. Much better solution and costs the same! :-)

Good for you, K.

((I))