How can my unaccompanied grandkids make their French connection?

Simon Calder answers your questions on cross-Channel travel for under-16s, the best route from Luxor to visit Abu Simbel, and the merits of July stopovers in Abu Dhabi

Flights are a problem for unaccompanied minors under 16, but once you get to London’s St Pancras terminal, Eurostar is obliging (Getty)

Q Can my granddaughters, aged 13 and 15, fly together, unaccompanied from Edinburgh to and from France? And do you recommend it?

Janet S

A There is a long tradition of teenagers flying on their own around Europe and further afield. Often this is for the purposes of seeing relatives. As the typical shape of families changes, demand for this option is increasing. In almost all cases, a teenager flying alone works out just fine. Airlines have outstanding safety and passenger care standards. Assuming the flight departs and arrives as expected, there should be no particular concern. Disruption is always possible, whether a long delay, cancellation or diversion. Good airlines will always prioritise looking after younger travellers in these circumstances. So, yes, I do recommend the practice.

Each carrier, though, makes its own rules about the ages of teenagers it will accept without an accompanying adult – widely defined as a person aged 16 or over.

Both the main airlines from Edinburgh will not be able to help: easyJet and Ryanair have a minimum age of 16. British Airways has a minimum of 14 years but specifies: “Children under 14 years old cannot travel alone with us. They must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over.” That means BA won’t work in this case.

Air France would allow the girls to fly within France but the minimum age internationally is 16. The carrier has an expensive “Kids Solo Option”, whereby the children are given extra care, but the minimum age for this internationally is 15.

I hoped the Spanish airline, Vueling, might come to the rescue. The airline says: “Children between ages 12 and 17 on the date of the flight may travel without an adult companion.” But that is only on direct flights. From Edinburgh to destinations in France, a change of planes in Barcelona is required, and the carrier says: “Minors under 16 who can travel alone cannot book connecting flights.”

The only solution I can propose is by rail, from Edinburgh Waverley to London King’s Cross, which is a two-minute walk from the Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras International. Eurostar says 12- to 15-year-olds can travel on their own on trains between London and Paris departing between 6am and 5pm, local time.

The twin temples at Abu Simbel in Egypt are dedicated to Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari (AFP/Getty)

Q I am planning to visit Egypt in October and want to go to Abu Simbel. What is the best way to get there from Luxor?

Yvonne P

A Abu Simbel is in the deep south of Egypt, overlooking Lake Nasser very close to the Sudanese border. Two astonishing rock-cut temples, dating from the reign of Ramesses II around 3,300 years ago, were located beside the Nile in Abu Simbel. But the building of the Aswan High Dam, downstream on Africa’s great river, placed them in peril of being lost beneath the rising waters of what would become Lake Nasser. So the temples – arguably Egypt’s greatest archaeological treasure after the Pyramids – were moved, 20-tonne block by 20-tonne block, to higher ground. Today they still comprise a magnificent sight, and are well worth the time and money required to see them.

The starting point for a visit to Abu Simbel is the fine city of Aswan, 120 miles south of Luxor – well worth a few days’ stay, even if you never make it to Abu Simbel. Ideally, you should take a three- or four-night cruise on Lake Nasser, of which Abu Simbel would be the highlight. These voyages can be organised by a specialist, Discover Egypt, which has excellent partners on the ground. I have travelled with the company and unreservedly recommend it.

If you can’t fit in a lake cruise, you still need to get yourself to Aswan – with rail providing the safest and most interesting way from Luxor. For a quick trip onwards to Abu Simbel, the safest, smoothest and most expensive option is to fly from Aswan as part of an organised day trip. The direct distance is 134 miles, and the flight takes only around half an hour each way. The best timings are to arrive at 8.10am and leave at 1.30pm. This will mean that you escape the worst of the afternoon heat. But you will depart wishing you could stay longer in this extraordinary location.

A goal of airline Etihad’s owner, the Abu Dhabi government, is that people who experience the capital between flights could be lured back for longer stays (Getty/iStock)

Q We are planning to go to Thailand in July. One of the cheapest deals from our nearest airport, London Heathrow, is on Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The airline also says we can have a free stopover, which sounds great. But will we be able to enjoy the place at the height of summer?

Richard V

A Etihad makes quite a promise to passengers who book return flights direct with the airline: “Break up a long flight with a free stopover in Abu Dhabi. Turn one holiday into two and stay for free for up to two nights at your choice of hotel in the bustling capital of the UAE.”

Such deals have long been part of the aviation landscape, with carriers as various as Malaysia Airlines and Balkan Bulgarian offering either free or very cheap (eg £1 per night) stays in hotels. These giveaways make the airline’s offer more attractive – and, in the case of Etihad, encourage passengers to book direct rather than through agents. They also help to promote tourism: a goal of Etihad’s owner, the Abu Dhabi government, is that people who experience the place between flights could be lured back for longer stays.

For an experience of extreme heat, you could certainly avail of the offer: the average daily high in the UAE in July is around 44C. On my one and only venture to neighbouring Dubai in July, I was reduced to taking taxis for a distance that would take only five minutes to walk (yes, call me a snowflake). Some Abu Dhabi attractions, such as the Louvre, have powerful air-conditioning. But one of the top activities – cycling the Formula One track – would not be realistic on a summer’s day.

I suggest you postpone the considerable pleasures of Abu Dhabi for winter. Instead, consider flying on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. The city is perfectly accessible in July, and the saving of £77 each in air passenger duty if you stop over for at least 24 hours on the outbound journey will help pay for your stay.

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