11 year old flying by themselves

[Clive]

Good morning.

Can anyone please tell me a way an 11 year old can fly by themselves to BKK and be met by a relative at BKK airport.

Thank you

[impulse]

I'm going to be no help in any case. But I suggest you mention the departure country if you want the most appropriate advice.

[Clive]

Sorry, early here...haven't woken up.properly yet.

Departure from UK.

Thank you

[stoneyboy]

I believe most airlines will accommodate you in this respect.

I've been on numerous flights from the UK,EVA Air,Thai and several Middle East carriers where by youngsters have been alone.

Do you have an airline in mind that may clarify also.

It would be best to check as well with whom ever you decide to fly with by way of a phone call.

Edited August 18, 2015 by stoneyboy

[Upnotover]

BA does it, Skyflyer Solo, USD 150 on top of an adult fare ticket.

[Mrjlh]

Yes they can. you need to contact whichever airline you have in mind and ask them directly what their policy is and how you go about it. Asianna Air is one such airline. There is of coarse an additional cost envolved.

[tolsti]

The term is Unaccompanied Minors and are a regular service offered by most major airlines... here is the Thai Service Rules http://www.thaiairways.co.th/en/plan_my_trip/travel_information/Unaccompanied_Minors.page

[richard_smith237]

In this situation I'd seriously consider a direct flight only...

A layover with the Middle Eastern Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar etc would add too many potential variables including delays, gate changes, miscommunication etc...

Each individual Airline will have its own policy on acceptable age of the Unaccompanied Minor - its best to call them directly and get actual information.

That said: some members of this forum may have first hand information of their kids travelling as Unaccompanied Minors.

Information will be useful for many who may wish to receive relatives and young family on short visits etc...

[NickJ]

My friend flew his young son here and he was taken very good care of by everyone. Didnt get to sit in the cockpit like I got to as a solo kid once though.

[ianf]

My son did it many times and enjoyed the experience. Eva Air the best for this. They do what you call an accompanied flight and look after him throughout. Great experience for the child. Eva Air absolutely wonderful with this and hand him over to a pre-arranged person at the Meeting Point in BKK> Have fun.

[little mary sunshine]

US carriers require the child to be minimum of 15years old.

Probably the same on all International flights. $150 fee if

Not 15 and must do lots of paperwork and releases because

The child is escorted by members of flight crew

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Back some lots of years, I used to fly as an unaccompanied minor between Portland, OR and Seattle on a West Coast Airlines DC3. Then I turned 12, the fare when up to "adult" rate, and I was then sent via Greyhound Bus.

Fun.

Mac

[maderaroja]

I think that you will be required to have a pilots license to fly yourself.

[seesip]

I believe in the UK you'll need a letter authorizing consent to travel alone (i.e. the parents write and sign this and the kid travels with it). When my kid flew Bkk/Uk, we told them at the airport (no advance notice given) but they were very accommodating: someone came and escorted her through immigration and then to the gate, and same on arrival. I would recommend the non stop as someone else above mentioned.

[StevieDee]

Simple answer is yes. However, when booking flights, whether with airline direct or via travel agency, advise them of this. A lot of airlines will assist minors free of charge if known they are travelling alone, (finding gates etc). Agree with previous post though, only consider direct flights.

[csabo]

Does he or she have any flight experience? Seems a little young to be piloting a commercial aircraft?

[Skeptic7]

All major airlines have a UM (unaccompanied minor) program. It costs extra, maybe $100, but they have airline staff escort the UM to the plane where they are then attended to by the gate personnel, then the gate personnel escort them to the plane where they are attended to by the flight cabin staff. They will be escorted to their seat, given a personal briefing and told not to hesitate to call if they require something and especially not to leave their seat when the plane lands. On arrival at intermediate and/or final destination, the child has been informed to wait for a flight attendant to escort them off the plane. The child will then be transferred to airline ground staff who will then again escort them to their next flight (and repeat above process) or out through Immigration and Customs and assure they are given to the rightful parent or whomever is meeting them. ID will be required, as paperwork prior to departure will have been filled out by the parent or whomever was on the departing end of the trip, providing the name of whomever is picking the child up at the destination.

[chiang mai]

British Airways has their UM program, Unaccompanied Minors, very common.

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed.

Please read the Forum Rules that you agreed to when you signed up to Thai Visa, They can be found here

[Sudgirl]

A few years ago I was pulled out of the queue whilst waiting to board a BA flight and asked if I would mind sitting by a very young child who was travelling alone, I of course agreed I was alone too, and we were upgraded.

This little girl was very scared of take off and landing and just wanted a hand to hold but the crew were exceptional and also made sure this child was ok and had meals and drinks etc, upon landing they were right there as she then had another flight internally in the UK and she was escorted to the next flight and was well cared for. I think crews are experienced in kids travelling alone.

[Filadog]

I sent my 9 year old son from Washington DC to BKK on Emirates this summer and it was quite painless.......and FREE with the purchase of an adult fare. There was just one changeover in Dubai but my understanding is that Emirates has their own terminal there so the change of flights is easier as well. If they have suitable flights from London, I would recommend considering them.

Also, I had to change the return ticket and that was free (up to 6 months) too as long as there is no difference in fare.

[jacko45k]

Sorry, early here...haven't woken up.properly yet.

Departure from UK.

Thank you

Obviously you should pick a direct flight, no stops or change of aircraft if you can.

From the UK I think BA would take good care of the kid, I have seen them do it.

Thai, on the other hand, would likely try to spoon feed him and expect him to sleep with the crew.

[ExpatJ]

They also will seat the child next to a woman never a man.

[Clive]

Thank you all for so much help and advice.

You are such a great bunch of helpful, genuine people.

Thank you...Clive

[chickenrunCM]

many wrong or half information here,

1. You have to book an adult fare,

2. after booking you have to call the airline and ask for the service, for kids under 12 it is normaly free of charge because of adult fare,

they cant charge you 2 times.

3. if there is a stop over (not more than 5 hours - more than service not a vaible) they kids are in the lounge, with free food, videogames and internet.

4. the airlines request the name and data of the person who bring the kid to airport, this person has to wait until plain took off, then the information and contact of the person who will pick up the kid at airport. this person must confirm up to 7 days before that he(she will be at the airport.

5. at the airport you will fill out a sheet with all information, and this sheet will be signed at every stopover or final destination,

6. if the kids are older than 12 then anyway it is adult fare and mayn airlines charge or not offer this service.

Lufthansa charge 100 Euro/flight, if you have a stopover its 400 Euro return, only Emerates offer this service for free until 17 years old,they

will call you 1-2 hours before and make sure you come to airport.

Imigration, luggage, customs everything will be done and you meet your kid at meeting point!

my sons were flying Emerates about 10 times, everything fine all the time,

my youngest so (14) who lives now in CM he was flying from Frankfurt to BKK alone last month, and then to CM, first time alone,

little stress because my sister brought him to airport and they did want a confirmation that he is alowed to fly to Thailand, even he has an ED Visa,

what has to be applied by the parents, so little stress 2 hours before departure, and on the flight the steward served my son instead of Coke,

a Rum Coke can, :-) I guess in the air the under 20 years no alcohol law not count

[mike324]

A cousin of mine flew unaccompanied from Bangkok to US before int he 90s, during transit in the US they even have a lounge for kids with snacks and video games. I heard the supervisors were all pretty friends and professional. They will walk the kid to the gates and hand it over to flight attendants, vice versa.

[rocketboybkk]

Sorry, early here...haven't woken up.properly yet.

Departure from UK.

Thank you

For exact & clear info & rules speak with the airline

For me, sending an 11yo alone all the way relying on posts on a (good) forum is nonsensical

It must be 100% reliable info of which you can get from your chosen airline who you will have recourse with if things go wrong.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[IMA_FARANG]

I believe most airlines will accommodate you in this respect.

I've been on numerous flights from the UK,EVA Air,Thai and several Middle East carriers where by youngsters have been alone.

Do you have an airline in mind that may clarify also.

It would be best to check as well with whom ever you decide to fly with by way of a phone call.

------------------------------

Many airlines have a child hostess cabin staff that will escort children.

Contact the airline for details.

In many cases the person who meets the child will need proper verified I.D. for the airline to release the child to the person who meets the child at the end of the flight for security reasons.

Contract the airline before the child travels for details of that airlines rules for unaccompanied minors traveling.

Edited August 30, 2015 by IMA_FARANG