As the school holidays draw near, many of us parents are deciding what's in store for the kids.
Some children need to make their way to another destination, perhaps to stay with family, and you might be wondering if travelling on a plane alone is the right option for your offspring.
What age can a child legally fly alone?
The first question is whether your little one will be allowed on a plane unaccompanied. "Most airlines require your child to be a minimum of five years old to fly on their own, but they each have their own policies so it's a good idea to look these up before you book your child's flight," says Bessie Hassan, Travel and Money Expert at finder.com.au.
Once your child is over 12 years old, they're considered an 'adult', although you can still request an unaccompanied minor service.
Does it cost extra for a child to fly alone?
Your budget may take an extra hit if your child is without you. "Some airlines offer unaccompanied minors service free of charge while others charge upwards of $120 for your child to travel alone," says Hassan.
Is your child ready to travel alone?
If all those pieces fall into place, how can you decide if this is the right thing for your child?
There are a few things to think about. "Consider how comfortable they are around strangers, confidence levels, and whether they can be particularly anxious or fussy," Hassan suggests.
For mum Amber, whose two children have flown between Melbourne and Hobart since the age of five to spend time with their grandparents, it's a positive experience that the kids enjoy. "They always seat unaccompanied children in the back row and there is a limit per flight so a flight attendant can adequately supervise. You meet the attendant before the flight, and everyone we have had has been delightful with the kids and made them feel very comfortable going on their adventure," says Amber.
Ultimately, you know how your child will cope with it. "While airline staff will keep a watchful eye and do everything they can to make it an enjoyable and comfortable journey for your child, only you as a parent can judge whether they are ready to travel on their own," says Hassan.
How do you get travel insurance for a child?
Travel insurance is always a good idea, but can you get it for a child who is travelling unaccompanied? "It is possible to take out travel insurance cover for children travelling alone, but the majority of insurers will require you to take out an adult travel insurance policy, as opposed to listing them as a dependent on your own travel insurance policy," says Hassan.
You'll also need to decide which level policy is right for your circumstances. "A basic travel insurance policy will cover the essentials like overseas medical emergencies and personal liability, while a comprehensive policy will provide broader cover for a range of incidents and events," Hassan says.
What else do you need to know?
- You'll need to stay at the airport until the plane departs (and some airlines ask you to stay for a little while after departure)
- A parent or guardian must be contactable at all times
- Mum of four Kelly, whose oldest child has flown overseas alone, says it's important to prepare your child for every step of the trip. "Downloading examples of the paperwork they will fill in (we found them online)," she suggests. "We talk through each process and then my daughter was fine and confident."
Comments