8 Year Old Son Flying To The Uk Unaccompanied To Visit Grandparents

[MaiDong]

What are the procedures for this?

We would like to fly him over to the UK during the summer holidays to visit family for 3 weeks. My wife, our son & I have previously visited the UK and whilst my wife, undertsandably, needed a visa, my son didn't as he holds a British passport, would it be any different if he was travelling alone?

Our son will be 8 years old in March, he was born before me and his mum married, we have since married however - not sure if this is relevant?

I understand that according to the IATA that;

Minors:

- When arriving in, or departing from Thailand, minors aged

under 16 years, traveling unaccompanied or without one or

both parents are required to hold a letter of consent from

the non traveling parent(s). Additionally, unaccompanied

minors are required to hold a copy of their birth

certificate.

What other requirements are there?

Thanks for any recent experiences

MD

[Satcommlee]

For a fee, the airline will take care of the child from departure through to arrival, immigration and handing him over to guardians at the other end.

Special care will be taken on the aircraft also.

Thai Airways will do this for children aged between 5 - 11.

The airline is the best to speak to regarding the documentation requirements I think.

Edited February 14, 2013 by Satcommlee

[MaiDong]

For a fee, the airline will take care of the child from departure through to arrival, immigration and handing him over to guardians at the other end.

Special care will be taken on the aircraft also.

Thai Airways will do this for children aged between 5 - 11.

The airline is the best to speak to regarding the documentation requirements I think.

That's exactly what I said to my Mum, speak to the airline, I knew that airlines offered this service, perhaps Frats here^ didn't know such a service existed...

Thanks for your post

[Chicog]

For a fee, the airline will take care of the child from departure through to arrival, immigration and handing him over to guardians at the other end.

Special care will be taken on the aircraft also.

Thai Airways will do this for children aged between 5 - 11.

The airline is the best to speak to regarding the documentation requirements I think.

That's exactly what I said to my Mum, speak to the airline, I knew that airlines offered this service, perhaps Frats here^ didn't know such a service existed...

Thanks for your post

Most airlines I know handle loads of "uns", especially kids attending boarding schools. My lad used to love it, as they generally get made a right fuss of him.

Take no notice of witless snipes, with two working parents, sometimes you have no choice, but it's such a simple service and they've been doing it long enough for it to be a worry-free procedure.

Your "Un" will normally be taken from check-in to the lounge, then onto the aircraft; then met at the other end for arrival.

The airline will normally give you a form on request to provide contact details for those receiving him.

It's a doddle, don't worry about it.

[MaiDong]

For a fee, the airline will take care of the child from departure through to arrival, immigration and handing him over to guardians at the other end.

Special care will be taken on the aircraft also.

Thai Airways will do this for children aged between 5 - 11.

The airline is the best to speak to regarding the documentation requirements I think.

That's exactly what I said to my Mum, speak to the airline, I knew that airlines offered this service, perhaps Frats here^ didn't know such a service existed...

Thanks for your post

Most airlines I know handle loads of "uns", especially kids attending boarding schools. My lad used to love it, as they generally get made a right fuss of him.

Take no notice of witless snipes, with two working parents, sometimes you have no choice, but it's such a simple service and they've been doing it long enough for it to be a worry-free procedure.

Your "Un" will normally be taken from check-in to the lounge, then onto the aircraft; then met at the other end for arrival.

The airline will normally give you a form on request to provide contact details for those receiving him.

It's a doddle, don't worry about it.

Thanks, that's comforting

I'll ask my mum to call a couple of the airlines we've used in the past to find out what the proceedure is, she's just concerned about the potential for hurdles concerning paperwork etc

[Neeranam]

OP, thanks for asking this question as I'm thinking of sending my 10 y/o daughter to the UK by herself. She would get accompanied on the way back.

I've heard about some very good airlines that take care of minors. If I find out which ones, I'll post them.

[MaiDong]

OP, thanks for asking this question as I'm thinking of sending my 10 y/o daughter to the UK by herself. She would get accompanied on the way back.

I've heard about some very good airlines that take care of minors. If I find out which ones, I'll post them.

Thanks, I appreciate it

[Mario2008]

1 comment and a reply to it deleted as off topic. Stick to answering the question.

[Mario2008]

Major airlines will in general provide a better service than a price fighter. But basicaly any airline will take good care of unaccompanied minors and have established rules for transporting them. That will include that they will check the identity of the person who picks-up the child. If that is someone else than the person listed as picking up the minor, the child will not be released into their care. No airline will want to lose a child under their care.

[MaiDong]

I booked my sons 3 week return flight to the UK today - what a bad parent I am! Sending my boy to visit his grandmother and the rest of my doting UK family during his summer hols!

I booked with Thai Airways, I decided that my son would feel most at ease if the flight attendants spoke Thai to him, his English is perfect but as it's his first time flying alone I thought it would be a nice touch.

The flight cost B47,175, naturally it's a non-stop flight, that was a condition of us allowing him to fly alone - no stop-overs.

We paid an extra $60 each way for the Unaccompanied Minor service which ensures he's taken care of, from check-in at Swampy, during the flight, and to arrivals at Heathrow where he'll be taken to the meeting point by a member of Thai Airways staff to meet my mum.

I had originally tried to book through a travel agent but Thai Airways wouldn't accept the booking for a minor travelling alone unless I visited their offices towards the eastern end of Ratchadamnoen Road, this should be noted as it jeopardised the whole booking - there were only a few seats left when I booked and the booking wasn't confirmed until I'd handed the cash over at the Thai Airways offices, even though the travel agency made a preliminary booking for us.

Something else which should be noted: the $60 each-way charge for an unaccompanied minor isn't included in the original quote, I only just had enough cash on me to complete the booking, I don't want to imagine what would have happened if I hadn't had enough money on me

[Mario2008]

Eva Airways would also been very good.

Most airlines will have also Thai speaking staff on their crew when a flight originates/ends in Thailand, I know EVA always has Chinese and Thai staff on their flights from/to Thailand.

[MaiDong]

Eva was full