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BMI and an Unaccompanied minor problem

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BMI and an Unaccompanied minor problem

Old 4th Oct 2006, 07:46
  #21 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by lexxity
Leezy I think you will find that a lot of airlines charge for UM's these days. If the parents are too cheap to pay for it (and a lot are) then why should the airline have to take the blame? I believe BA charge and I know the US carriers do. If they didn't help an UM does that make their treatment appaling or does it make the parent irresponsible?
Airlines charge for tickets, too. Why should an unaccompanied minor with tickets paid but the UM fees not paid get any further than an UM with no tickets at all?
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 07:49
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Why blame themselves for their own irresponsibility when theres an airline that they can blame instead?....all to do with compensation culture. . All this fuss is merely a result of the parents own embarrasment at their own short comings through booking their CHILD on 2 separate tickets on a long haul journey and that child suffering as a result of the parents making a choice to book them in such manner.

Last edited by agent x; 4th Oct 2006 at 11:48.
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 08:49
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The poster mentioned problems with BMI when connecting with Virgin. I have had very similar problems. I had a single itinarary through ticket from regional to usa via BMI to LHR and then on to JFK with Virgin. Could not for the love of money get through checked. All I got from BMI staff was "we don't through check bags", despite my repeatedly pointing out the nature of my ticket -which was confirmed by both BMI and Virgin as being a single itinerary and therefore could be through-checked!!

It put me off using Virgin again,when connecting from anywhere other than LHR itself.

BMI are a budget airline now. Expect very little.
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 11:47
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One single itinarary does not constitute a through ticket. They are two different things entirely. Someone can hold a separate paper/eticket with one airline and a separate paper/eticket ticket with another airline for the same journey. The travel agent then takes it upon themselves to type the information onto a sheet of A4 thus producing one single itinarary and incorrectly tell the passenger that they will be through checked ......however both tickets still remain separate and through check-in is not an option!
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 13:25
  #25 (permalink)  

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In point of fact VS agents seem to be stars where linking seperate PNRs is concerned. They will eticket the sector from the regions to LHR and then issue paper tickets for the sector from LHR. This is not a through ticket, but will the agents be told?
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 18:40
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Angry idiots incorporated

It is obvious that most of you do not have one clue about real life, or you might show an ounce of empathy! In this day and time, families live in separate countries and long-haul flights for minors are necessary in certain instances. In this particular situation, there were extenuating circumstances that prevented the booking of the entire trip all at one time. HOWEVER, ALL the flights were linked via reference numbers and I was told that was all that was required...by the airlines, since I booked the tickets myself DIRECTLY with the airlines. ALL UM fees were paid for EVERY leg of the journey. As one of the parents involved, I can tell you that I took every precaution to make sure that my daughter would be looked after. Yes, I waited at the airport until the plane left! The problem here is that...like some of you...the airlines just don't care...and THAT is why they get sued, and why they should pay! She was given a camping bed to sleep on in the airport, and the idiots who were supposed to be watching her were so busy playing that they kept her awake with their raucous shrieks and laughter. Just reeks of responsibility, don't you think?

Sure...you could say that they did their duty because she eventually got to where she was supposed to be going, but why even have the need to watch her overnight when she actually could have been sent on a later flight...and with only a minor amount of adjustment, would have seen her to her destination that very night?! The main issue here is that no one cares. If an airline is not going to do all it can to look after a UM by getting them to their intended destination ASAP, then they should NOT take them in the first place! And yes, it is their responsibility to notify the parent if their child is going to be made to sleep in an airport overnight when that was not part of the schedule!

So...those of you who must work for BMI as you share the same attitude, it is NOT the parents who are at fault here. I paid a LOT of money to make sure that my daughter would be looked after and made a priority. She was not! And...can someone please explain to me how it is that a BMI employee would not know how to call a UK mobile from the States?!!!
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Old 4th Oct 2006, 19:18
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The ticket I had was valid for through check in, as later confirmed by both BMI and Virgin. I fly a lot on business and specifically discussed this point and had confirmation from Virgin themselves (with whom I made the booking direct), prior to flying.

For the record, on the return journey, checking through at Virgin check in in the USA, I got the same crap, and the situation was only remedied when I insisted I speak to a manager. I was of course correct.

It seems the check in staff for both BMI and Virgin, assume the ticket will not be valid for through checking, without even looking at the ticket.

Incidentally, if you are flying on from LHR after an overnight flight from West coast USA, ensuring bags are checked through is very important. I do not take the risk, and fly BA because of this.
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Old 10th Jan 2009, 20:12
  #28 (permalink)  
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A few years later

I started this thread a few years ago, but was wondering if things have improved? I still will not willingly buy a ticket from the airline I named on this thread, and neither do my colleagues, but it would be nice to hear if UM's are now being better cared for by all carriers. (mine has gotten older....)
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Old 11th Jan 2009, 18:56
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To be honest B412, UMs are being treated just the same as they were back in 2006 despite the cost cutting that is currently taking place. And that is that they are being treated well. Two years on and re-reading your post there still seems to be a question mark over the form of booking that you made. Regardless of whether the passenger is a UM or not I do not understand why they would not rebook the customer onto the next available flight after a missed connection unless of course that 16hour wait was the next available. Also, as for sleeping on a camper bed in the floor, well adults perhaps would have been offered a hotel but when it comes to UM I would imagine it would be very difficult to find an airline employee willing to babysit a UM in a hotel room in this day and age of random accusations! Sounds like they made do the best they can!

I personally would never book a UM via somewhere but if I did I would make sure it was with the same carrier. So for example if I needed to get someone from IAH to Lagos I would book with BA or KLM all the way so that the UM does not become a football being kicked from one agency/airline to another! Booking a UM via somewhere on airline A with a connection onto airline B via agency C and D is only going to create problems. Also with UM's, as they are generally held back during disembarkation etc it is best to ensure that their have sufficient time to make a connection, I personally would say minimum three hours in airports such as ORD or LHR!

You need to appreciate that perhaps your particular incident was unique and a product of a catalogue of errors that took place from the moment you made the booking instead of making a sweeping generalisation about treatment of UM's industry wide!
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Old 12th Jan 2009, 12:47
  #30 (permalink)  

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I realise this thread is old, but is a person aged 16 a minor??

He/she can have sex, get married (with permission), be arrested and charged etc.

Are you a minor up until the age of 18 then?
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Old 12th Jan 2009, 19:07
  #31 (permalink)  

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If the journey involves the US, then 18 and under is classed as an unaccompanied minor. You then end up in the ludicrous situation of escorting someone taller than you through the airport.
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