Thread: uncompanied flights

Didn't know where to put this.

Has anyone ever sent there child on a uncompanied flight before.

OH has been looking into flight for his son to come spent more time with us in germany, instead of us traveling to the uk. He's 6ys at the moment 7 in 4 months.

Not sure who he spoke to but the army are willing to pay for his son too come over but won't pay for my OH to go over and collected him reason being because he can get on an uncompanied flight.

Is this right? or can someone direct me to a website site that will help.

In all honestly i'm more concerned about my step son traveling by himself, so was just wondering as well if anyone has ever done this before.

A lot of airlines won't take a child unaccompanied under the age of 13 or 14.

There is also no way I would put a child of that age on a plane alone. No chance in hell!

I've done this before, and the airlines really go out of their way with the little ones. It's not like he'll have to admin himself through security and passport control - basically his mum would hand him over to the airline on the UK side, where a stewardess will take him by the hand and shepherd him through all the admin and get him on the plane, and on the other side you'd collect him from the airline's special desk whatsit again because they keep him in their care until he is released to the correct person... I used to send my son to visit his nan unaccompanied and he always loved it because they make a big fuss of them - give them hamburgers and colouring books and nonsense and treat them like mini VIPs

There is no way I would put a child that young on a flight alone. I seem to remember that the minimum age for a child to fly alone was 12. (At least it was the last time I was speaking to someone about it) Not sure where you could find the infromation but even if it was allowed I would never do it.

At the end of the day it might be a cost and and hassle someone flying over to collect him but I would rather that than risk the safety of a child.

From the Lufthansa website:

Children aged between five and 12 may only fly unaccompanied if they are using our supervision service or if they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old.

Lufthansa ® - Unaccompanied minors

I had to double check but they take them from 5yrs. Which is still wrong in my eyes!!

My son has flown unaccompanied before. I didn't want him to fly alone until he was older than your stepson. He was ok about it in the end, but very very nervous before he flew, both ends. He was 10 and had a little cry to himself before each flight.

Also I would get your husband to double check about flying your stepson to you being paid for because as far as I am aware the Army will not pay (that is what the RAO told us when we wanted to do it - I have a stepson too).

I think what it is, is that he was trading in his get me home allowance to do it. But don't quote me on that.

Going to speak to the welfare because me and his mum agree it's not worth the stress and upset to do it. I'd rather pay the extra to get flights for one of us to collect him.

Just wanted to see if it was just me that thought it was wrong, personally i don't think a child should travel uncompanied till there at least 16.

My Niece used to fly to see me from the age of 8, and even though she let go of the stewardesses hand, shouted Auntie xxxxx and flew into my arms when she saw me, I had to have all the documentation that proved I was who I was, where I lived etc, before I could take her, the person (her mum and dad) putting her on the flight had to state who would pick her up, name address, telephone, inside leg measurements... well maybe not that.

Her only complaint on all the flights she took was once that "the annoying boy sat next to her tried to do her puzzles" but they get sat at the front, first on, first off, books, food and a stewardess to act as nanny to get them onto/off the plane safely.

I think 12 is the first age they can go unaccompanied and unsupervised, but there are lots of kids who fly to the UK to go so school (boarder) that use this, so airlines have the process pretty well tied down.

The children are looked after well, but, there are a maximum number of unaccompanied minors that are allowed to fly on one plane (basically because they need to be supervised) due to the steward/stewardess ratio needed and I think, the people they can use, are limited as they are vetted - not sure on this last point, but I seem to recall one saying she'd enjoyed the flight with my niece as she got moved from a flight she didn't really want to do because she was "qualified" so she could go out that night....

(I guess what I should have said is that essentially they aren't unaccompanied, they have a stewardess as a nanny)

I don't have kids but I'm currently a long-haul flight travel agent and I organise these all the time.

First: each airline has its own unique policies, check their websites for those. Most airlines will provide an unaccompanied minor service available for children from about 5 to 15. For this service you must pay the full adult rate for the seat, some also charge a supplement on top of that. The service will include a flight attendant being assigned to the minor, picking them up from a pre-determined adult and releasing them into the care of the pre-determined adult at the other end. Both adults involved have to sign for the child and provide photo ID at the exchange.

Obviously the level of care during the flight depends on the airline policy (again, check the website of your chosen airline) and can be anything from hourly check ups to a whole goody bag full of toys and treats and sitting next to the flight attendant for the duration.

A lot depends on whether there are any changes on the flight, as well- if it's a simple one leg flight I would be okay with it, but if there are changes I wouldn't until the kid was a teen. Obviously it's up to you as a parent as to what you're comfortable with. I can say that I've booked an unaccompanied 10 year old to go from Manchester to Australia, so people do it.

The airlines my OH told me too look at do take them from 5 years old. Maybe when he gets older we will look into it (hopefully will be back in the uk by that time) but for now one of flighting is the only option i would concerned.

We were going to sacrifice our yearly free flight as well, but the RAO said it is not possible. If you get it I would like to know though because then I can shout at our RAO.

My son used to travel on all his school holidays as an unaccompanied minor. The age limit depends on the airline. Absolutely no problem with it at all, they are really well looked after. First on, first off and as they are with airport staff...usually first out of immigration! Once checked in they are escorted throughout. With Virgin it was signature on handover at airport, escorted to plane, signed for by cabin crew, then cabin crew handover on arrival (another signature) then you have to proof you are who is registered to pick up the child....and sign again! My boy used to get extra food, treats......and even upgrades!