Thai Entry - Unaccompanied Minors

[jonnyscot]

Hi, just back from a holiday in UK, but maybe next year I would possibly consider the option of flying my 2 sons from UK to BKK for a couple of weeks holiday,, are there any hurdles to get through re immigration and any others there may be,, I know that most airlines do provide a service escorting minors through airports, but just wondering whether anyone has experienced this and can offer feedback re whether these services extend to include assistance with immigration too ??

thanks in advance.

[Mario2008]

These services include immigration and customs all the way to the arrival hall. Normally they also check if the person collecting the children is indeed who he claims to be by checking the ID/or asking the children if they know that person.

All major airlines consider this an important matter and do not wish to see headlines with "child missing" by their fault.

[jonnyscot]

Hi Mario, thanks for the reply and very helpful info

These services include immigration and customs all the way to the arrival hall. Normally they also check if the person collecting the children is indeed who he claims to be by checking the ID/or asking the children if they know that person.

All major airlines consider this an important matter and do not wish to see headlines with "child missing" by their fault.

[beano2274]

I used to do it with my kids but only from the UK to Germany. I had to tell the staff at Check-in, then we would meet a girl who would take them through Immigration and everything else, she also made us fill out forms, and on the forms we had to identify the name of the person picking up the kids, who would also have to produce ID. The kids were then taken through Immigration and to the Airplane accompanied by the girl, on the airplane the girl would depart and the Stewardesses were made aware that they were travelling unaccompanied. At the other end, a member of the Ground crew would board the plane and pick them up, pass through Immigration with them and collect their baggage, then proceed to the pick up point, the names on the document I signed would be checked against the person picking them up, they would then sign the document to say they had picked them up.

[TommyDee]

my daughter is 15, 16 in a few weeks. for the past 4 years she has flown "unaccompanied minor" with Thai air. I had wanted Eva as i use them all the time but they have an age limit ( according to them).

She is met at the ticket desk and fastracked thru to the plane. taken care of on the plane and then escorted from the plane to me here. same on return.

As my number one person in all the world, i was a little concerned when she was 12 but never ever a problem and i think it costs 1500 baht each way extra. bearing in mind we buy her ticket in the UK, that still keeps it under the cost of a return from here.

next trip she will fly alone as she is older, but she "likes" the VIP bit, and anything that puts a smile on a teenagers face is worthwhile

Big recommend for thai air.

[jonnyscot]

Great stuff,, thanks to you all for your informative replies,, it just gives me further options since it cost me nearly 3k UK for the wife, daughter and I on our flights alone from BKK to UK last time and i'm sure to get a better deal flying the boys over to LOS next time although school holidays are always going to be more expensive,, and as you say TommyDee, it would give them a bit of an adventure too.

thanks again to you all

my daughter is 15, 16 in a few weeks. for the past 4 years she has flown "unaccompanied minor" with Thai air. I had wanted Eva as i use them all the time but they have an age limit ( according to them).

She is met at the ticket desk and fastracked thru to the plane. taken care of on the plane and then escorted from the plane to me here. same on return.

As my number one person in all the world, i was a little concerned when she was 12 but never ever a problem and i think it costs 1500 baht each way extra. bearing in mind we buy her ticket in the UK, that still keeps it under the cost of a return from here.

next trip she will fly alone as she is older, but she "likes" the VIP bit, and anything that puts a smile on a teenagers face is worthwhile

Big recommend for thai air.

[theoldgit]

My kids flew unaccompanied with BA when from London to Australia to visit their grandparents, absolutely no problem whatsoever and, as others have said, they quite enjoyed the experience.

The only downside, BA brought them back again.

[7by7]

Not asking about visas, so moving to travel.