Let’s be honest: few things strike fear into a mum’s heart quite like the words “long-haul flight” and “on my own” in the same sentence.

Maybe it’s the Christmas trip back to see the grandparents in the UK, and your partner can’t get the leave. So it’s you, two kids under five, a pram, three carry-ons and 23 hours in economy. Or maybe it’s the other way around: your mum is finally flying out to meet the new baby, and you’re quietly losing sleep over how she’ll manage a transit in Dubai by herself.

If any of that sounds familiar, you’ll want to meet Juurnee, a clever platform started by mums who have been exactly where you are.

It all started with a viral Facebook post

Juurnee founder Rachel Crampton, a British mum living in Sydney, found herself facing the flight from London to Sydney alone with her three children, all under five, after her partner had to head home unexpectedly. One adult, three little ones, 23 hours.

So she did what any resourceful mum would do. She posted on social media, offering $1,000 to anyone willing to fly with her and lend a hand.

The post went viral, and more than 1,000 people offered to help. Rachel chose a homesick young Aussie in London who couldn’t afford the fare home, and the journey went from dreaded to doable.

That’s when the penny dropped. There were loads of travellers who needed an extra pair of hands, and loads of people who would happily help in return for a cheaper flight. Nothing connected them. So Rachel built it.

She has since been joined by two co-founders with their own reasons to care. Aurélie Cornu flew solo from London to Sydney with two kids in the middle of an international move, and her own mum flies Paris to Sydney this summer. Anisha Imran, the technical co-founder, spent years as a caregiver for her sister, who has autism, and has built the platform around trust, safety and dignity.

So how does it actually work?

Think of it as matchmaking, but for your flight.

1. Post your journey for free. Add your route, dates, who’s travelling and what you’re offering. Many families offer to cover part or all of their companion’s airfare, or a set fee.
2. Companions apply. People already flying your route, or happy to, apply to help.
3. You choose. Read their profiles and video call your favourites. Nobody is assigned to you by an algorithm; you pick the person who feels right.
4. Land together. Your companion books a seat on the same flight, and payment is held securely until the trip is complete and you’re happy with how it went.

Once you’re in the air, your companion is your ally. They hold the baby while you dash to the loo, help wrangle bags through security, take a turn pacing the aisle at 3am and grab the spare nappies from the overhead locker without you having to wake a sleeping toddler.

“I didn’t want to say goodbye”

Sara, a Sydney mum, found Juurnee before her four-month-old’s first long-haul trip to the UK and back. She’d always assumed an in-flight helper was a luxury reserved for business class.

After one FaceTime call with her companion, Ella, she felt confident she’d found the right person. Over the 25-hour journey home, Ella fetched nappies, held the baby so Sara could use the bathroom and walked the aisles to settle him, always with a reassuring smile. By the time they touched down in Sydney, Sara said she didn’t want to say goodbye.

It’s not just for mums with little ones

Families use Juurnee for all sorts of reasons:

• Grandparents flying in. Want Mum or Dad to visit but worried about the logistics? A companion keeps them company and at ease the whole way.
• Students. Off to uni overseas, heading home for the holidays or flying solo for the first time? A companion helps with check-in, transits and the nerves that come with it.
• Travellers with a disability or injury. Airports, aircraft seating and hand luggage can be exhausting to navigate alone.
• Nervous flyers. More than one in ten people are anxious about flying, and a friendly face in the next seat can make all the difference.

The flip side: get paid to fly

Here’s where it gets interesting for the rest of the household. Got a uni-aged child who wants to backpack through Europe? A friend desperate to get home for Christmas but baulking at summer airfares? An au pair or nanny who’d love to visit family overseas?

Anyone friendly, kind and helpful can sign up as a Juurnee Companion. It’s free to join and browse journeys, and A$30 a year to apply for as many trips as you like. For example, a solo parent flying Sydney to London with two kids might offer $650, so the right match can take a real bite out of the cost of a flight.

Peace of mind, built in

Handing part of your family’s journey to someone new is a big deal, and Juurnee takes that seriously. Companions are vetted and reviewed, families interview them before choosing, and payment isn’t released until the trip is done. You can read exactly how it works on the Juurnee Trust & Safety page.

Ready for a calmer summer of travel?

We spend so much energy making sure everyone else in the family is looked after. This summer, let someone look after you, too.

If you’ve got a big trip coming up over the holidays, or a parent flying in to visit, post your journey on Juurnee for free and start meeting companions. The earlier you post, the more people have time to apply.

Because every journey is better with company.

Contact us: [email protected]