What is the British Airways policy for unaccompanied children?

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• Charlie says:

  8 Mar8 March 04:47

  It’s a shame how children cannot learn independence with BA at a young age any longer. 20 years ago, 13 year olds did not have mobile phones etc

  Contrast the BA attitude to Swiss, for example, who have an unaccompanied minors service under 12 and allow over 12s to travel themselves. On Swiss trains, children under 5 travel free – whether accompanied…. Or unaccompanied!

• Jonathan says:

  8 Mar8 March 05:13

  Heavy cost cutting measures aren’t the best idea, as they can ultimately lose your business custom, especially relatively little things like this, someone who gets caught out by the rules is likely to use a rival carrier(s) for future travel…

• Danny G says:

  8 Mar8 March 05:40

  Does anyone know what the rules are for children aged 16-17 trying to check in online? My then 16-year-old son was blocked from checking in online when he travelled on a different PNR from me on the BA flight from Hong Kong to London last year (even though I was able to check in online without any problems). He was only allowed to check in when we got to the airport and I explained to the check in agent that I was travelling on the same flight (albeit under a different PNR). And the check in agent explicitly told us that the reason my son wasn’t allowed to check in online was because he was a solo child passenger. I was quite surprised because I didn’t think this restriction applied to 16 year olds? He’s now 17 and will be travelling again on a separate PNR later this year (and this time I may not even be on the same flight as him)? Any advice on whether he’s likely to still face the same prohibition on online checking?

  • Roosit says:

    8 Mar8 March 11:25

    We definitely had the same with a 16-yr old last summer, also different PNR, online check-in did not work. So I am expecting that it will happen again this year. They were travelling alone on the way back (but we accompanied them to the airport).

    The following might help if they’re alone at the airport. I’m sure a similar site exists somewhere in English as well but Germans all over the world use this successfully: https://www.adac.de/reise-freizeit/ratgeber/reiserecht/reisevollmacht-kinder/
    All you need is to answer the relevant question about whether the child is travelling with only one parent (is probably more relevant for younger kids and those with different surnames, but the question seems to come up more often these days), on their own, or with an accompanying adult (not a parent):

    Ja, Kind reist mit einem Elternteil – Yes, child is travelling with one parent.
    Nein, Kind reist alleine – No, child is travelling on their own.
    Nein, aber Kind reist mit Begleitperson (mind. 18 Jahre) – No, but child is travelling with an accompanying adult (who is at least 18 years old)

    Then choose English under Sprache and you’ll get the PDF you need.

    • Danny G says:

      8 Mar8 March 15:32

      Thank you. Will give this a try.

• Susan says:

  8 Mar8 March 06:34

  Cue much nostalgia from us overseas brats who happily flitted unaccompanied RTW in the 70/80/90s.

  • G says:

    8 Mar8 March 09:51

    Before Brasseye uncovered it all.

• Bugalugs says:

  8 Mar8 March 07:08

  Having recently booked for a under 16 you cannot make a booking for them as they are too young. Any online booking errors and asks you to call.

  I was provided the form and guidance by email.

• Stan Calderwood says:

  8 Mar8 March 07:58

  What about their return journey when the parent is not there?

• Ross says:

  8 Mar8 March 08:15

  1994, aged 10, at Check In, you sat on some seats and waited till after Chrck In closes. An Air Steward picks you up, walks you through security, you sit at the gate, same Air Strward picks you up again and takes you to your seat, they might check up on on you once during a 8hr flight. Landing your last off. Walked through immigration by Air Steward. Waited with till you find your bag. Then stoid with at a collection point till someone you recognise waves at you.
  BA didn’t do much.
  Not sure what cost was saved.

• Bobby says:

  8 Mar8 March 08:18

  When you booked your daughter alone did you book as a young adult ie to get the correct APD? Or perhaps it was on avios so APD wasn’t a consideration?

  • Rob says:

    8 Mar8 March 09:39

    She was on Avios and in Business, so no APD impact for both reasons.

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