Flying alone underage

fkt

It is possible for an under 16 to travel alone, on the basis they have a form signed at BOTH airports by an adult. In this persons case, he would have no-one to sign the return form.

So he thought: book for two people, check in online, and only he, who is 15, goes. Do the rest as normal. Would anyone stop him/notice?

It would be with ryanair Dublin-London. Anyone think it would be possible?

danindublin

fkt wrote: »

It is possible for an under 16 to travel alone, on the basis they have a form signed at BOTH airports by an adult. In this persons case, he would have no-one to sign the return form.

So he thought: book for two people, check in online, and only he, who is 15, goes. Do the rest as normal. Would anyone stop him/notice?

It would be with ryanair Dublin-London. Anyone think it would be possible?

Doesnt seem ok. Needs to be signed-in by an adult at the airport. From Ryanair.com:

Ryanair does not carry unaccompanied minors (under 14 years). Escort and special facilities are NOT available. Currently Ryanair carry unaccompanied minors aged 14 or 15 years ONLY upon completion and signature of a form of indemnity at check-in of EACH departure airport, by a parent or guardian. PLEASE NOTE - Ryanair will no longer be accepting unaccompanied minors under the age of 16 for travel from the 1st October 2009 onwards.

Children under the age of 14 years must always be accompanied on the same reservation by a passenger over 16 years. PLEASE NOTE FOR TRAVEL FROM THE 1st OCTOBER 2009 ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 YEARS MUST TRAVEL ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT (OVER 16 YEARS) BOOKED ON THE SAME RESERVATION.

PhoenixRising

Can you not just ask for 2 copies of the form and complete and sign both? Give him one to bring with him for the return leg.

fkt

PhoenixRising wrote: »

Can you not just ask for 2 copies of the form and complete and sign both? Give him one to bring with him for the return leg.

It has to be signed AT check in at EACH airport.

fkt

danindublin wrote: »

Doesnt seem ok. Needs to be signed-in by an adult at the airport. From Ryanair.com:

yes I know it does, I'm asking would it be possible to get around it by doing what I described in the original post(2nd paragraph)

jackofalltrades

fkt wrote:

So he thought: book for two people, check in online, and only he, who is 15, goes. Do the rest as normal. Would anyone stop him/notice?

fkt wrote:

I'm asking would it be possible to get around it by doing what I described in the original post(2nd paragraph)

From Ryanair.com

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=chk&quest=whoco

The following passengers do not qualify for Online Check-In:

* Passengers travelling with checked baggage
* Children aged between 14 to 17 years travelling alone

Looks like there's no way to get "around it", but you've got to wonder why a responsible parent would want to. Not meaning to sound judgemental.

PhoenixRising

fkt wrote: »

It has to be signed AT check in at EACH airport.

I doubt they'd be that sticky about it tbh. All they want is when a kid shows up to check in that he has a piece of paper with him signed by the parents to indemnify the airline should anything happen. It's just an arse covering exercise. Why don't you ring them and ask to be sure?

Del2005

fkt wrote: »

It is possible for an under 16 to travel alone, on the basis they have a form signed at BOTH airports by an adult. In this persons case, he would have no-one to sign the return form.

So he thought: book for two people, check in online, and only he, who is 15, goes. Do the rest as normal. Would anyone stop him/notice?

It would be with ryanair Dublin-London. Anyone think it would be possible?

How is the 15 year old going to get to and from the airport in London? Can whichever adult, and I really hope there is an adult, dropping them off not sign the form? Because from danindublin's post they can be signed in by a gaurdian.

fkt

PhoenixRising wrote: »

I doubt they'd be that sticky about it tbh. All they want is when a kid shows up to check in that he has a piece of paper with him signed by the parents to indemnify the airline should anything happen. It's just an arse covering exercise. Why don't you ring them and ask to be sure?

I have tried in the past about other things, hard to get through + quite expensive.

More importantly, it's not really a worry of mine. It's for someone else who just asked me. As for the "responsible parent" part some have mentioned, I don't have a clue about it, it's not relevent to me.

Thanks for your responses.

Tenger

Deleted at Tengers request by Mod

userfriendly2

If you are 17 and are travelling abroad for a weeks holiday in the sun and you are travelling with an 19yr old do you need a parents signature?????

I don't think you do but i don't want to buy a ticket and go through all the motions only to be told, 10 minutes before my flight, that i need to have a form filled out by a parent/ guardian.

Appreciate any advice!

Our man in Havana

A 17 year old is not going to be stopped.

Scalliwag

Beware, just to be sure to catch you again, it would seem that Ryanair is one of the very few, if not the only, airline that does not accept 13 year olds to travel alone. It accepts the reservation, but then does not allow you to print the boarding pass, says you must call CS = at what cost IF you can get through. My 13 year old niece made the reservation so now it's off to the airport to find a suitable adult and pay all the extra charges. :mad::mad::mad:

At the end of the day it simply not worth bothering with Ryanair unless you are completely desperate.

faceman

I travelled alone a few times long haul to East Africa when I was a teenager in the 90's but back then it was different! Airline crew did their best to look after you

munchkin_utd

seeing as this thread has arose from the dead anyhow, for anyone needing such a service then maybe consider a full service airline like Lufthansa who will allow a kid as young as 5 to travel unaccompanied but will have a minder from start to finish for a small fee.
http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/info_and_services/travel_preparation?nodeid=1770716&l=en

Only bothered to look it up as I was reading a kiddies book in German to the wee one earlier in the week about airports and flying and theres lots of mentioning of "Allein reisendes Kind" - unaccompanied child.
Anyhow, now that Lufthansa are flying to Munich direct 3 times a week I can see our kids using this service to visit the grandparents back in Ireland for their summer holidays.

Amirani

Yeah, I travelled alone a number of times when I was 15/16 on EI without any questions.

andy_g

When i worked in Aviance in dub in 06-08/9 the UM (unaccompanied minor) was signed in at the check-in desk by a adult then escorted to the aircraft, once there it was the cabin crews job to sign the paperwork then took charge of the um, when they got to their destination then it was the job of the gate crew receiving the UM.
Bring them to the collecting adult (name had to match the name on the paperwork)

Before being handed off.
This was the process for Bmi,BA,Turkish and Etihad.

Fagashlil

Scalliwag wrote: »

Beware, just to be sure to catch you again, it would seem that Ryanair is one of the very few, if not the only, airline that does not accept 13 year olds to travel alone. It accepts the reservation, but then does not allow you to print the boarding pass, says you must call CS = at what cost IF you can get through. My 13 year old niece made the reservation so now it's off to the airport to find a suitable adult and pay all the extra charges. :mad::mad::mad:

At the end of the day it simply not worth bothering with Ryanair unless you are completely desperate.

Would you not of thought to check the T&c's before making the reservation for an underage to travel alone? Would of thought that was the sensible thing to do!