On board the plane there were 4 spanish boys aged 11 - 14 years old. This one guy sat by me, thats how come I got curious. It turned out these four boys were travelling alone. No parents, no travelling-alone information to air-hostess. She asked the boy if he was comfortable travelling alone (yes) - if somebody was meeting him (no) - if he was really travelling without parents (yes) and so on. He spoke english really well and seemed very nice and confident. Nicely dressed, reading his magazine.
The question is, what is legal here? Who is in responsible for these kids if anything should happen? The person letting the boys check in, the passport control?, the plane company? I sure know that if this was my 11 year old - he'd never be allowed to travel abroad without me and what if they did and parents didn't know???
2006-07-12 04:24:59 · 17 answers · asked by Tones 5 in Travel ➔ Other - Destinations
The air hostess was really confused. She did not have information on these boys travelling alone at all.
2006-07-12 04:32:32 · update #1
Children 8 through 14 years of age must travel with another passenger at least 15 years of age or they will be considered Unaccompanied Minors.
Unaccompanied Minors in this age range are permitted to make connections to other flights only when allowed by the Unaccompanied Minor rules of the connecting carrier (including American) and when confirmed to the destination.
However, Unaccompanied Minors in this age range will not be accepted for co-terminal connecting itineraries (such as changing from New York LaGuardia to New York Kennedy) because an unaccompanied child under 15 years may not use ground transportation unescorted.
2006-07-12 04:28:21 · answer #1 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
European parents are way less parinoid then North American. I lived in Germany for a year and noticed a big difference in how much people trust there children. If they were flying to Spain then they probably know the metro system enough to get home. I am not actually surprised at all. They really aren't that young. Also Europeans travel more then North Americans.
2006-07-12 04:45:16 · answer #2 · answered by Constant_Traveler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm 16 and I've been travelling around (with atleast one parent) for years. This summer I'm flying by myself and I'm very prepared and excited for it. Kids fly alone all the time (for example, between divorced parents) but they have attendants at the airports that take them to and from the gates (I was offered this but I know my way around) They could not have bought the tickets without an adult there to purchase them. I doubt that nobody was meeting them at the other airport, if no then I'm sure they still had a place to stay
2006-07-12 04:27:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's obviously more to this story than what you observed.
I'm not sure what the laws are in other areas, but around here, parents are responsible for their children until they are 18. So, if a minor stays home alone and something were to happen to that child, the parents would be held accountable.
2006-07-12 04:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by beckabee74 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spain
2016-03-27 02:29:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under 14 the law says they must be travelling with a responsible adult. This can be problematic to enforce as many parents will just grab a guy/lady at check in and ask them to pretend to be the responsible adult for the flight and possibly pay them. It really is a stupis system and there ought to be papers for consenting guardians on flights.
This is EU law
2006-07-12 04:27:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have traveled from India to US when I was 11, alone. No big deal. When checking in, my grandfather asked another older couple to watch me on the plane. The flight was direct with multiple stops. I also did Chicago-JFK-LONDON-NEW DELHI, changing flights and airlines at each leg when I was 13, by my self. Heck... I even took a taxi at JFK to change terminals from American Airlines to British. Thee was 4-hour layover at Heathrow... I had fun buying British Candies at the airport. I had no problems filling in my own immigration/customs forms. Besides, the officials help you when you are kid.
I did Amtrak and Greyhound, Chicago to New York (roundtrip) twice when I was 12 -13.
2006-07-12 04:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I traveled alone at 7 years old to Israel from New York but i did have someone meeting me on the other side and had a flight attendednt looking out for me.
2006-07-12 04:31:28 · answer #8 · answered by Yeababy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the United States you can babysit at age 14 but I do not believe they are allowed to travel into other countries or states without adult supervision. The parents would be incarcerated for negligence.
2006-07-12 04:35:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tones, that does sound odd.
I may be wrong but I think traveling without a parent or gaurdian depends on the carrier? Not sure.
If that's nto true and its a federal law, they obviously should be in big trouble.
I guess they think since he looks mature, it's no bother really, he'll be fine.
Hm, I guess that's why we have so many innocent and sweet looking serial killers, rapists, and molesters on the loose today.
2006-07-12 04:29:13 · answer #10 · answered by fiestygirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋