Why can't my teen fly to Europe alone?
Mar 12th, 2004, 08:48 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why can't my teen fly to Europe alone?
I am trying to snag a deal price for my teen to meet me in France at the end of my 6 week study abroad program. The discount/consolidator sites refuse to sell a ticket for anyone under 18 flying without being accompanied by an adult. I have never heard of such, have you?
Mar 12th, 2004, 08:56 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Never heard that crepe..During my years of travels going back and forth to Europe,I saw many children travelling alone on the Internationals flight.
As a matter of fact,once there was a little boy going to Greece to spend the summerwith his grandparents,he was around 5 or 6 years old..
As a matter of fact,once there was a little boy going to Greece to spend the summerwith his grandparents,he was around 5 or 6 years old..
Mar 12th, 2004, 09:14 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's very normal. You have to go directly through the airline. There will be an extra charge for "taking care" of the child, so that's why discounters will not sell you a ticket. It is possible, it's just not possible on the cheap. Call any airline directly and you will have your son with you.
Mar 12th, 2004, 09:17 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For example this is from AA.COM -
Children Traveling Alone
The guidelines for children traveling alone vary depending on the age of the child. For the specific guidelines, please refer to Age Ranges For Travel above.
Please note that Unaccompanied Minors cannot be booked on AA.com. Please call Reservations for assistance.
Fees For Unaccompanied Minors
NOTE: The fees listed below are in addition to the applicable airfare.
Children who will be traveling alone within the United States, between the United States and Canada or between the United States or Canada and Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands will be required to use the Unaccompanied Minor service subject to the following fees:
$40 each way for nonstop or same plane service
$75 each way for itineraries that include connecting segments
Children who will be traveling alone outside of the United States will be required to use the Unaccompanied Minor service subject to the following fees:
$60 each way for nonstop/direct flights to/from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean (including Jamaica) and TransAtlantic/TransPacific flights
$90 each way connecting flights to/from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean (including Jamaica) and for itineraries that include connecting segments on TransAtlantic/TransPacific flights
The Unaccompanied Minor fees for TransAtlantic/TransPacific travel apply to all customers.
Children Traveling Alone
The guidelines for children traveling alone vary depending on the age of the child. For the specific guidelines, please refer to Age Ranges For Travel above.
Please note that Unaccompanied Minors cannot be booked on AA.com. Please call Reservations for assistance.
Fees For Unaccompanied Minors
NOTE: The fees listed below are in addition to the applicable airfare.
Children who will be traveling alone within the United States, between the United States and Canada or between the United States or Canada and Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands will be required to use the Unaccompanied Minor service subject to the following fees:
$40 each way for nonstop or same plane service
$75 each way for itineraries that include connecting segments
Children who will be traveling alone outside of the United States will be required to use the Unaccompanied Minor service subject to the following fees:
$60 each way for nonstop/direct flights to/from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean (including Jamaica) and TransAtlantic/TransPacific flights
$90 each way connecting flights to/from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean (including Jamaica) and for itineraries that include connecting segments on TransAtlantic/TransPacific flights
The Unaccompanied Minor fees for TransAtlantic/TransPacific travel apply to all customers.
Mar 12th, 2004, 09:22 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are agencies that specialize in student travel which may be able to help you.
www.studentuniverse.com/fly/
www.statravel.com/
www.internationalstudent.com/travel/
www.smarterliving.com/student/
www.studentuniverse.com/fly/
www.statravel.com/
www.internationalstudent.com/travel/
www.smarterliving.com/student/
Mar 12th, 2004, 09:41 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi AA,
The child is traveling alone. Who is going to coerce the child?
Way back in the old days, when trains had just been invented, my mother would put a baggage ticket on me and send me off to my grandmother.
Puppies rode free in a shoebox.
The child is traveling alone. Who is going to coerce the child?
Way back in the old days, when trains had just been invented, my mother would put a baggage ticket on me and send me off to my grandmother.
Puppies rode free in a shoebox.
Mar 12th, 2004, 10:21 AM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sorry but are you living in a shoebox?
It happens everyday, and if something were to go wrong these "new" days, our legal beagals would take the airline to the cleaners.
It's probably more of an insurance requirenment than anything else.
It happens everyday, and if something were to go wrong these "new" days, our legal beagals would take the airline to the cleaners.
It's probably more of an insurance requirenment than anything else.
Mar 12th, 2004, 10:25 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AA - I have heard of these sex-slave kidnappings, but have not read of them happening in US Airports (nor CDG for that matter) to boys of his size. And speaking of size, the only thing about me that would fit in a shoebox is my foot, which by the way, I usually store in my mouth!!!!!!!!!
Mar 12th, 2004, 10:28 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the eyes of the law, he's still a minor. Besides any criminal possibility there are new international laws drawn up because of what's going on in today's world with child smuggling, etc...
The airlines are not going to make a decision based on how tall, big the child is. It's easier to follow the age rules.
And to the parent, if you will tell me that you would not sue the airline if something were to happen to your son, I would say you're lying. Sorry to be so forward, but let's all be honest here, it's the "new" reality.
The airlines are not going to make a decision based on how tall, big the child is. It's easier to follow the age rules.
And to the parent, if you will tell me that you would not sue the airline if something were to happen to your son, I would say you're lying. Sorry to be so forward, but let's all be honest here, it's the "new" reality.
Mar 12th, 2004, 10:33 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, I did say there are other possibilities, not necessarly sex thing only. The other parent kidnapping the child to a foreign country, he child running on their own. It takes extra person now for the airlines to secure themselves from possible lawsuits. They have to make sure the child could travel on their own, with the permission of the parents, not running away, ect.
Please be realistic about today's world.
Please be realistic about today's world.
Mar 12th, 2004, 11:08 AM
#17
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just booked a ticket for my 14 yr old to fly home from Paris alone. I originally tried to book it via Air France's website but couldn't do it online without adding the adult. So I called Air France and booked easily and there was no extra charge at his age. Also, the website price was a few dollars lower than the phone price (I didn't care- didn't haggle) but somehow I ended up with the lower web price.
BTW, don't take offense with one another's comments. Remember that it is difficult to know the intent of a message when you don't have body language to help you figure it out. Play nice. We all benefit greatly from these boards.
BTW, don't take offense with one another's comments. Remember that it is difficult to know the intent of a message when you don't have body language to help you figure it out. Play nice. We all benefit greatly from these boards.
Mar 12th, 2004, 11:26 AM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for that knowledgeable reply. I am flying AirFrance myself, but could not afford their fare without buying thru a discounter. But I will call the airline and see if I can get something affordable so he can join me.
Mar 12th, 2004, 12:39 PM
#19
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crepes,
When my daughter was sixteen, she flew from the States alone to join us in Paris. I don't remember there being any issue made of it at all.
USair's website says that children ages 15-17 are considered young adults and are not required to use their unaccompanied minor service,
Air France's web site describes their unaccompanied minor service as being for children ages 4 to 12.
The only thing that you should provide is signed permission of both parents for him to travel out of the country, and I would have it notarized.
When my daughter was sixteen, she flew from the States alone to join us in Paris. I don't remember there being any issue made of it at all.
USair's website says that children ages 15-17 are considered young adults and are not required to use their unaccompanied minor service,
Air France's web site describes their unaccompanied minor service as being for children ages 4 to 12.
The only thing that you should provide is signed permission of both parents for him to travel out of the country, and I would have it notarized.
Mar 12th, 2004, 01:03 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,506
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Remember a year or so ago when that little girl (she was probably around 12) flew around all day on her own, because one of her flights was either cancelled or changed in some way? Her parents were frantic and were on TV complaining about it afterwards. She flew several hours longer than she should have and the airline couldn`t tell the parents what was going on. I don`t remember all the details. They tightened up the regulations after that.
