age for flying

[carl1965hugh]

what is the minimum age for flying wiyhout parents consent

[Buenchico]

There is no statutory minimum age for unaccompanied air travel by minors. However the following considerations are important:

1. Most budget airlines won't carry unaccompanied minors below a certain age. This is often 14 but each airline is free to make its own rules. (Ryanair currently accepts unaccompanied 14 & 15 year olds on their flights but from 01/10/09 they won't allow anyone under 16 to travel without an adult).

2. Most airlines which carry under-16s require a parent or guardian to be present (and to sign a form) at each departure airport. (So even though an under-16 might theoretically be able to go on holiday on their own, they wouldn't be able to board the return flight).

3. Any 16 year old is free to walk out of their parents' home, and never have any contact with them again. (If the parents reported the young person as missing, and the police found them, the police would be prohibited from revealing the whereabouts of the young person). So it follows that UK 'officialdom' won't try to prevent a 16-year-old from travelling anywhere, either within the UK or abroad.

4. Continuing from the previous paragraph, it also follows that UK 'officialdom' would regard an under-16 as a possible 'runaway', and seek to return them to their home, unless it was completely clear that the young person was travelling with parental permission.

5. Some overseas countries have their own rules about allowing unaccompanied minors to enter their country. For example, Portugal will refuse entry to anyone who is under 18 unless there is an adult in Portugal who will take responsibility for them.

Chris

[buildersmate]

The Blue Tits in my box took off at 44 days, but it wasn't clear if the vigorous chirping constituted consent or not.