Airport Curfews

[Ikara]

The "White Paper" released during the week indicated that the curfew will remain in place at Adelaide Airport. I'm not going to discuss the merits or otherwise of that decision - I live near the airport and have a very liberal view on the subject. However the decision did generate some lively discussion on talk back radio. One caller raised a very interesting question and I'm curious if anyone knows the answer. The catalyst for most of the discussion was the Qantas flight from Sydney that was refused landing by (supposedly) a minute and redirected to Canberra (not Sydney where it came from). The question - what would happen if there was an un-accompanied minor on the flight? How would Qantas handle putting them up in a hotel for the night? Anyone had any experience??

JB

 

[dajop]

The question - what would happen if there was an un-accompanied minor on the flight? How would Qantas handle putting them up in a hotel for the night? Anyone had any experience??

It's an interesting question, don't know the answer. If it were a straight point to point flight, I imagine their first action would be attempt to contact the nominated guardian at the origin of the flight. If it was a connecting flight, or the guardian was uncontactable, that makes it more complicated.

 

[tuapekastar]

The question - what would happen if there was an un-accompanied minor on the flight? How would Qantas handle putting them up in a hotel for the night? Anyone had any experience??

JB

Sort of, though a very long time ago, so the memory is not crystal clear, and maybe (indeed, probably) the procedures have changed.

Was travelling BOAC (yes, that long ago ) SYD-SIN as a ~14 year old. My younger brother may have been travelling with me. A tech problem with the aircraft meant a 34 hour (!) delay.

Can't recall all the to-ing and fro-ing, but basically spent a day at one hotel and a night at another. The hotels were the Wentworth and the Menzies.

I/we were 'looked after' by an airline rep (no, she didn't share my/our room :shock. My attempts to get me/us swapped to another carrier were quickly and firmly dismissed, so had to wear the delay (and a 1 and 1/2 day delay to a ~16 day holiday is not insignificant).

 

[JohnK]

Very interesting question and I guess there is no easy, straight answer. As tuapekastar mentioned it will more than likely require a dedicated airline representative or perhaps even someone from community services.

OT slightly but I am all for curfews in place so that aircraft cannot be scheduled to depart and arrive at certain times of the night but when something like this situation occurs then the aircraft should be allowed to land. Would the airlines then abuse this situation? Who knows? But there has to be a better solution than sending a SYD-ADL flight back to CBR for the night and the inconvenience caused to all those involved.

 

[smithym]

Would be a very interesting situation indeed. I would imagine that if the child was stuck in a city with no family the safest solution would be for the airline to consult the relevant sate authority eg: in NSW it would be DOCS, who would in turn consult the family for the best option for the child eg: motel, nominated emergency community family care etc. I know we do within our organisation for similar circumstances.

Our kids child care centre also has the same policy if a parent doesn’t turn up to pick up their kids before closing time and the parent is not able to be contacted. DOCS have a number of families who have gone through the relevant checks that are able to look after kids in emergency situations for short periods.

 

[ejb]

Would be a very interesting situation indeed. I would imagine that if the child was stuck in a city with no family the safest solution would be for the airline to consult the relevant sate authority eg: in NSW it would be DOCS, who would in turn consult the family for the best option for the child eg: motel, nominated emergency community family care etc. I know we do within our organisation for similar circumstances.

Our kids child care centre also has the same policy if a parent doesn’t turn up to pick up their kids before closing time and the parent is not able to be contacted. DOCS have a number of families who have gone through the relevant checks that are able to look after kids in emergency situations for short periods.

I would rather have children left alone in an airport than with DOCS in NSW.:shock: It would be considerably safer.

end rant/

But it does raise an interesting question. Having never been an UM I can only assume that this situation is raised when booking the flights. Perhaps there are questions asked of the parents before the child leaves.

I can not imagine airlines would carry minors without plans for all possibilities.

ejb

 

[straitman]

I would rather have children left alone in an airport than with DOCS in NSW.:shock: It would be considerably safer.

end rant/

ejb

That thought had crossed my mind even before I read your post. Scary isn't it :!: :shock:

 

[harvyk]

I would rather have children left alone in an airport than with DOCS in NSW.:shock: It would be considerably safer.

end rant/

I agree 100%.

In regards to curfews, I'm not 100% against the idea of one, but I also believe that a curfew should be for scheduling purposes only. An airline may not schedule a take off or landing after curfew, however if an event has meant that a delay has occured then curfew should not apply.

 

[medhead]

I would rather have children left alone in an airport than with DOCS in NSW.:shock: It would be considerably safer.

end rant/
ejb

From the newspaper reporting here in S OZ. I thought the issue with DOCS is not so much the safer of the children in their care as actually getting DOCS to take responsiblity for at risk children in the first place.

That is if you reported a UM at SYD to DOCS they won't actually show up and the kid would end up left at the airport.