Qantas introduces "supervision fee" for unaccompanied minors

[Brettmcg]

Heads up about the introduction of this fee:

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="class: hlight"]
[TD="width: 85%"]Unaccompanied Minors Supervision Fee[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: right"]10 October 2014[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]At Qantas, we’re committed to providing children travelling alone with the highest levels of care and support to facilitate a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience.

Given the increasing demand for this extra support, and the increasing costs involved, effective for bookings ticketed in Australia and New Zealand on/after 3 November 2014, Qantas will introduce a Supervision Fee for children travelling on its flights unaccompanied.

The additional services we provide to Unaccompanied Minors include:

• Additional administration prior to and on arrival at the airport (including preparation of additional travel documents);
• Immigration and security processing for international flights;
• The provision of onboard assistance; and
• For connecting flights, ground staff who escort the child from arrival gate to departure gate.

These additional services are not required for children travelling with a parent, guardian or sibling 15 years or older.

In some ports, Qantas also provides dedicated waiting rooms for Unaccompanied Minors during transit, which have been set up to provide effective and secure care.

Unaccompanied Minors Supervision Fee
Effective for bookings ticketed in Australia and New Zealand on/after 3 November 2014, all Qantas operated domestic, international and regional* flight bookings for Unaccompanied Minors will incur a Supervision Fee as follows:
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flight[/TD]
[TD]Supervision Fee Per Unaccompanied Minor per booking[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Domestic and Regional* flights[/TD]
[TD]AUD$50[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]International[/TD]
[TD]AUD$90[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

More details here: http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn...onFeeforUnaccompaniedMinorsTravelAgentFAQ.pdf

 

[mrpooky]

Heads up about the introduction of this fee:

Given the extra work involved, I had always assumed that all airlines already charged a fee.

A quick Google search suggests that VA already charge a fee, as do a number of international carriers, so I guess it's reasonable for QF to follow suit.

mrpooky.

 

[UP4014]

Given the extra work involved, I had always assumed that all airlines already charged a fee.

A quick Google search suggests that VA already charge a fee, as do a number of international carriers, so I guess it's reasonable for QF to follow suit.

mrpooky.

Just because someone else does something does not make it reasonable, they just gave up their point of difference or their advantage.

Like having a passenger who needs a wheel chair on board, can't wait for the $40 charge for that because Air Congo changes for it. (imagine if there wasn't a law against discrimination what charges could be levied)


Matt

 

[Mattg]

As far as I am aware, there already is an indirect extra charge for booking flights for unaccompanied minors, because these flights cannot be booked online and must be booked over the phone or in person and - you guessed it - a booking fee of $35 domestically/trans-Tasman, and $60 for international flights is charged for doing so.

Will this "supervision fee" be in addition to the other unavoidable service fee?

 

[mrpooky]

Just because someone else does something does not make it reasonable, they just gave up their point of difference or their advantage.

Matt

I think it's perfectly reasonable to charge extra for providing an extra service.

Personally I'd much prefer Qantas differentiated themselves in other ways, but I understand that others may not feel this way.

mrpooky.

 

[TheInsider]

Considering you can book UMNRs online and avoiding the service fee, this isn't an issue.

 

[Shano]

Point to point there really isn't that much supervision - a few minutes each end for filling on paperwork and escorting on/off the plane.

Transits are a different proposition.

Although, as with adults, the demands of the child and the attention they may require during flight can vary dramatically.

The absence of the fee is why I have historically booked UMNR with QF.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I rang up for a quote for UM's for an Int flight (both under 12) and the operator couldn't book them without charging the adult fares. That's quite a premium already over the normal child fare. My regular TA eventually managed to book them as child fares. It is not possible at all to book Int travel for UM's online at Qantas.com

 

[Mattg]

Considering you can book UMNRs online and avoiding the service fee, this isn't an issue.

Only for domestic flights, and only if the child/ren is/are aged 5-11.

(i.e. Can't book UM flights online if an international flight is involved or if the child is aged 12-15.)

 

[Steelo]

I have no problem with a fee being charged. Potentially involves additional work for staff and given the number of unaccompanied minors travelling backwards and forwards to separated families, I suspect it also involves an additional element of risk management for the airline.

 

[russ]

For $90, I think I will book myself in as an unaccompanied major!

It would be great to have someone walk me between checkin/lounge/aircraft/car etc.

 

[JohnM]

For $90, I think I will book myself in as an unaccompanied major!

It would be great to have someone walk me between checkin/lounge/aircraft/car etc.

And fetch the drinks .