Is this feasible?

[PigletsMommy]

We are in the midst of planning our October 2011 trip. My mom is going with us & we have also invited my niece to go (will be 5 at the time). We are completely paying for all of her expenses. The issue is she lives in MI & we live in TN.

We basically have 2 options to pick her up.

1. We could drive & meet my brother half way. Then drive back home (total driving time, minimum of 10 hours) & catch a flight the next day from Nashville to Orlando. All of us would fly together, probably on Southwest.

2. My mom would fly from Nashville to Detroit. Meet my brother at the airport, get my niece, go back through security & then catch a flight to Orlando. Probably on Delta, my mom has a free ticket thru them. DH, DD & I would fly from Nashville to Orlando, probably Southwest (seem to be cheapest). We would all try to land around the same time so that we could all take ME to our resort together.

Option 2 seems more complicated, but would take less travel time overall. Do you think this would be too complicated? Do you think a 3 hour layover would be enough time to meet at the airport & then go back thru security?

Oh & we are getting her birth certificate, a letter from her parents stating we have permission to take her, and a letter for permission in case of medical emergency. Is there anything else we need?

 

[Traveliz]

We are in the midst of planning our October 2011 trip. My mom is going with us & we have also invited my niece to go (will be 5 at the time). We are completely paying for all of her expenses. The issue is she lives in MI & we live in TN.

We basically have 2 options to pick her up.

1. We could drive & meet my brother half way. Then drive back home (total driving time, minimum of 10 hours) & catch a flight the next day from Nashville to Orlando. All of us would fly together, probably on Southwest.

2. My mom would fly from Nashville to Detroit. Meet my brother at the airport, get my niece, go back through security & then catch a flight to Orlando. Probably on Delta, my mom has a free ticket thru them. DH, DD & I would fly from Nashville to Orlando, probably Southwest (seem to be cheapest). We would all try to land around the same time so that we could all take ME to our resort together.

Option 2 seems more complicated, but would take less travel time overall. Do you think this would be too complicated? Do you think a 3 hour layover would be enough time to meet at the airport & then go back thru security?

Oh & we are getting her birth certificate, a letter from her parents stating we have permission to take her, and a letter for permission in case of medical emergency. Is there anything else we need?

I think typically yes that would be long enough but you could most likely get permission for a parent to take her through security to meet Grandma. That would make things easier.

The only item you need is the medical permission form - you don't need permission to travel with a child or a birth certificate.

Liz

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree with the above. Why go through security twice? Your brother can get a pass to take his daughter through security. It's also true that you only need the medical form, not a birth certificate or permission to fly with your niece. Get her insurance card as well.

 

[PigletsMommy]

oh thats great!

I didn't know he could get a pass to go through security. I thought you had to have a boarding pass to get through security.

That will make the day a lot more simple! Thanks!

 

[phred52]

No doubt about it! Option @2!!

 

[Hannathy]

have you thought about flying her unaccompanied minor to Tennessee? If you get a non stop it would be very simple your brother would put her on there and you could pick her up at the airport.

 

[PigletsMommy]

have you thought about flying her unaccompanied minor to Tennessee? If you get a non stop it would be very simple your brother would put her on there and you could pick her up at the airport.

Not an option for him. My brother wouldn't go for it. He would worry too much about someone hurting her or taking her between Detroit & here. I know some people are ok with it, but he is just not one of those people.

He wont let me put her name on any of the Tshirts I'm making or personalize any of her bags. I'm getting the girls temporary tattoos...you know the ones that say "If I'm lost, Please call..." and he said those are fine as long as it doesn't have her name on it.

 

[Hannathy]

Not an option for him. My brother wouldn't go for it. He would worry too much about someone hurting her or taking her between Detroit & here. I know some people are ok with it, but he is just not one of those people.

He wont let me put her name on any of the Tshirts I'm making or personalize any of her bags. I'm getting the girls temporary tattoos...you know the ones that say "If I'm lost, Please call..." and he said those are fine as long as it doesn't have her name on it.

That's too bad for everyone. It is hard dealing with irrational people at times. I can sorta understand the flying altho mine fly as unacompanied minors but no names on the shirt ? does he think you are going to go all week without ever saying her name out loud?

Oh well you are being a nice aunt taking her. I took my nephew several times and we had a great time.

I mentioned the flying in because that is what we did with my nephew the one time. we actually met at the connecting airport and then continued on to Disney together.