Unaccompanied Minor

[terryb]

Can my 14 year old son fly unaccompanied on Ryanair from Stansted to Niederhein? I would be meeting him at the destination, therefore unable to sign any forms at the departure point.

[thewillow]

Ryanair do not carry unaccompanied minors (under 16 years). Escort and special facilities are NOT available. However, Ryanair will carry minors aged between 14-15 years respectively (stet) on completion of a signed indemnity form at each departure airport, by a parent or guardian, when checking-in. Children under the age of 14 years must be accompanied on the same reservation by a passenger over the age of 16 years. Passengers aged between 14-15 years travelling unaccompanied must present the required valid photo-id prior to check-in. (From Ryanair's website).

[jamessavory]

I'm gessing that he is not going to go to the Airport by himself! If he is then I would'nt bother reading anymore! When I was 14 I would regularly fly from Spain to the UK to see my Aunty, We would not tell the airline that I was going to be unacompanied as this was a lot of bother on both ends. My dad would take me to the airport, find an earlderly couple and ask them very nicely if they would be prepared to stay with me untill I got to the other end to make sure that I would be alright and say that I was traveling with them. He would stay with me untill I whent through departures and on to the plane. At the other end my Aunty would be waiting for me the moment that I came through from lugage where I would leave the couple. I Think that this was a very good way of getting round the hole problem and might be worth considering if you have no other option!

[thewillow]

Can you really see anyone handing their child over to strangers in this day and age? Can you see anyone taking responsibility for a stranger's child? They would leave themselves open to accusations of - as my mother used to say - 'allsorts'.

[darth vader]

I don't think Jamessavoury's advice applies to your concerns, willow - the child is watched onto, and off from the plane by parents/relatives. There is just the "illusion" of adults travelling with the child, to bypass the rules. If it was a longhaul flight then i'd be concerned but Stans - Niederhein is about 1-1.5 hours flight?

Does he have to fly by Ryanair? I'm pretty sure BA and some of the other majors have a service for this sort of thing where they have a "guardian" look after the child on flight

[Kos]

I asked a similar question about minors travelling without parents in general and you need to be aware of what I found out from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office who informed me..'Owing to incidents of international child abduction it is becoming an increasing requirement for Children who are travelling overseas without both their legal guardians, to be in possession of a "Letter of Authorisation", witnessed by a Notary Public / Solicitor, from the guardian or guardians who is not travelling, granting their permission for the child to leave the country. In order to avoid and possibility of delay or disappointment it is recommended that such a letter be provided.