Kids flying alone on QF...

Status
Not open for further replies.

knoxd

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Posts
36
I flew back from PER today and there were a few kids flyng unaccompanied.

I was stuck behind a long line of pax boarding and an air hostee was looking after a young girl who was flying on her own.

I was quite surprised they way they looked after the kids on the flight. There turned out to be about 5 travelling on there own. I was really impressed at how they spoke to the kids and came to chat to them on the flight.

I was wondering if anyone has sent there kiddies alone on flights?
My cousin has to send hers to MEL in a few weeks and I'd be interested to hear peoples comments.
 
i don't have kids so cannot share any experiences from that way ...

what i can say, is that my expereinces match yours regarding the way in which the aircrew manage the unaccompanied minors. i have always been impressed and thought that i would recommend qantas to any of my friends if they were seeking this service.

most of the kids have been well behaved and managed themselves very well also, so i am sure that reflects their parents efforts to influence them to be so.
 
With the break-up of the traditional family, fathers and mothers are tending to live in different cities these days and therefore this UM service is becoming a well-used one.

I have been on many flights where UM's are onboard - easily identifiable by the UM tags on their shirts (red and black lines). Mostly there are seated down the back, but I've sat next to one on a flight. It's surprising that many are frequently travelling between their parents for school holidays/weekends, so they are immune to the "excitement" of flying...

At check-in, I have seen the parent or guardian often sign a release and then a Meet & Assist CSA takes the child through Security to the Gate lounge. They are then handed across at boarding to one of the on-flight FA's who upon arrival, then hand across to another Meet & Assist CSA or the nominated parent/guardian at the Gate (they have paperwork that nominates who the responsible person is). Not sure whether they are "signed for" at that point (I'm usually off to the exit and don't see what transpires). Often it's easy to see who the parent/guardian is, as the child (particularly younger ones) rush into their arms. That never fails to bring a smile to my face.
 
I have sent my children as UMs on QF a number of times, to visit grandparent or cousins overseas. I have been very happy with the service and the children like feeling "grown-up" by travelling alone. There is fairly rigorous documentation regarding who collects, contact details etc. Try to get the documentation done before you get to the airport.

MD
 
A long time ago in a land far far...oops...I was working in Tassie and flew my son SYD-LST where I met him and we had an Easter weekend driving about and flew back HBA-SYD at the end. QF was great. It involved a transfer in MEL and he was just at that too young/I'm old enough age but flying as an UM.

The crews looked after him, handed him over professionally and with just the right degree of control that he didn't feel "a kid". Sallest gripe would be he was last off the plane at LST where I had to sign for him...now thare might have been a lost opportunity! (Just kidding).
 
A couple who are friends of mine sent "her" daughter SYD-PER to her father on school holidays/christmas many times unaccompanied and did not once have a problem. She would accompany her daughter to the airport, airline staff would take over and her father would be waiting in perth to pick her up. Returning from perth her father would accompany her to the airport, then taken care of by the airline staff and picked up from the airport by her mother in sydney.

The UM service provided by the airlines is very good and is improving all the time.
 
Many, many years ago I was one of those UMs on a number of occasions, though I was designated not UM, but YPTA (Young Passenger Travelling Alone). Travel between MEL and SIN, combination of via SYD, via PER (pre-Tullamarine) and direct (post-Tulla), and mostly QF int and mixture of TN and AN dom. While most of the nitty gritty has faded from my memory I believe we were well looked after by airline staff. Got into flight deck on one or two occasions also.

Two recollections:

MEL-SYD on dom (probably TN), then SYD-SIN in F on a QF 707. I well recall being most impressed at the gallons of free coca-cola that washed down my throat, and the fact that the steward asked whether I wanted my roast beef rare or well done and proceeded to carve it in front of me on the silver trolley! I think I wrote a letter of praise to QF over that!

MEL-SYD dom, due to catch BOAC SYD-SIN for a 15 day holiday. Big aircraft problems, and resulting big delay with plane/flight. Decided to do what Dad would do, and politely but firmly (fixing the grown up minder's kneecap with an unflinching gaze) requested a transfer to another airline for us (had younger sibling in tow). Request equally politely and firmly denied. Ended up with a night at Menzies hotel and plane left 34 hours late! No letter of praise forthcoming this time!

Cheers
 
Hey Tuapekastar, I remember those YPTA, stuck on the ticket aand boarding pass, I don't think I remember wearing a tag but I do remember my younger brother coming off a flight with one.

I did several trips whit that on my ticket, NAN - SYD and v/v both QANTAS and BOAC/BA.

Always well looked after and ALWAYS taken to the coughpit!!

Cheers
 
I have seen plenty of UM's get on aircraft and have sat next to them. My experience is that they are better behaved than the kids flying with their parents.

Always wondered if it was because they had been read the 'riot act' :)
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Why is it that parents of misbehaving kids (read most accompanied ones) think they are cute and everyone should adore them?

I am a stong supporter of the "strap them to the wings" theory (and, yes at one time mine were the cutest too).

The worst recent occasion was flying F on SQ when the woman with a baby came and introduced the baby to all of us unbidden and proceeded to apologise for the kid's behaviour in advance. In the end the baby was OK but the mother was our worst nightmare for the next 8 hours.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top