Will your son be travelling from Heathrow? If so you have the choice of three major airlines, BA, Cathay and Air New Zealand. Comfort wise Air NZ are the best with both BA and Cathay having cramped seating. I'm not sure if Virgin fly to HK but they have very uncomfortable seating. Then again this may not bother your son.
You can book special needs for children up to 18years but you will have to pay extra for this service.
My nephew travelled quite extensively when he was 15years old and was really insulted when it was suggested that the airlines look after him, though his experience with BA when he was younger and travelling alone was very good.. It really depends on one sort of young person he is, if he is a self confident type he should be OK. If nervous then maybe you need to pay for him to be escorted. As long as you get to the airport early enough for him to get to departure gates in plenty of time there should't be a problem, he will probably treat it as a great adventure.

FinnAir are pretty good, but they don't do a direct flight from the UK.

It's Heathrow to Helsinki, then Helsinki to Hong Kong.

Pretty cheap as well, if you wanna fly on the 25th of Oct, It would cost in the region of £470, for a direct flight your talking £600 or more!

For me going direct from london it would be Cathay Pacific.

nivsy

Virgin do travel direct to HKG and are exceptional when looking after UM's(unacompanied minors) Seating is a individual preference and would rate virgins Heathrow based aircraft above average, If flying from Gatwick- avoid economy seating- but that is another topic.

Have a look at Virgin, Always my first choice in airline.

id try a stop over in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or evem singapore, even if tsi only one day, at least you can say you have been

I don't think Elaine would be happy with her son having a stopover, none of these places are suitable for a boy on his own. She is worried already about him flying alone, never mind spending time in Dubai or another destination en route.

If its direct you want to go, then i would recomend Air New Zealand, great seat, good food and good entertainment.
Indirect Emirates or Singapore Airlines

Hi

Would you like to say a massive thanks for all of your help and advice.

Cheapest direct flights so far are with British Airways - £652 return (direct flight).

Plucking up the courage now to actually book it and let him go!!!!!

Thanks again

Elaine