bealine
26th Jul 2004, 07:31
For those who are unaware, most airlines now make a charge for carrying "Unaccompanied Minors". In Britsh Airways' case, the charge is £32 per person for each sector. On BA metal, a child under 12 years old travels by him/herself, travelling as a "U.M." is compulsory, but whether a child over 12 years old is an"U.M. (escorted)" or travels totally without help is at the parents'/guardians' discretion.
It strikes me as disgraceful to see the teachers from well-known public schools depositing youngsters to infamous destinations and refusing to pay the "UM" charges.
For parents' / guardians' tempted to save the princely £32 fee, please consider the following:
1. "Meet and Assist" facilities will not be offered to young flyers and, in any case, a "Meet and Assist" request is not guaranteed (and with current staffing levels are unlikely).
2. The £32 fee makes BA legally responsible for the care of your child. In the unlikely event an aircraft diverts, or suffers an emergency evacuation, the first people the crew will look for are the "UM's". If overnight accommodation is necessary, BA will provide someone to remain with the UM's overnight.
3. All BA personnel responsible for "UM's" have undergone "Enhanced" criminal record checks and have been "cleared" by Disclosure Scotland to take responsibility for vulnerable people (children, elderly, disabled). Advising a child to ask other passengers for help could expose them to "nasty" prople.
4. The final responsibility lies with you! My children were fully street-wise and aware before they hit 12 years old, some of their friends I would not deem "responsible" even now that they are approaching 16! Even though I think my children can look after themselves, I would prefer to pay the £32 each for the peace of mind it would give!!!
It strikes me as disgraceful to see the teachers from well-known public schools depositing youngsters to infamous destinations and refusing to pay the "UM" charges.
For parents' / guardians' tempted to save the princely £32 fee, please consider the following:
1. "Meet and Assist" facilities will not be offered to young flyers and, in any case, a "Meet and Assist" request is not guaranteed (and with current staffing levels are unlikely).
2. The £32 fee makes BA legally responsible for the care of your child. In the unlikely event an aircraft diverts, or suffers an emergency evacuation, the first people the crew will look for are the "UM's". If overnight accommodation is necessary, BA will provide someone to remain with the UM's overnight.
3. All BA personnel responsible for "UM's" have undergone "Enhanced" criminal record checks and have been "cleared" by Disclosure Scotland to take responsibility for vulnerable people (children, elderly, disabled). Advising a child to ask other passengers for help could expose them to "nasty" prople.
4. The final responsibility lies with you! My children were fully street-wise and aware before they hit 12 years old, some of their friends I would not deem "responsible" even now that they are approaching 16! Even though I think my children can look after themselves, I would prefer to pay the £32 each for the peace of mind it would give!!!