Hello!

Has anyone used this service on any airline?What happens during stop-overs?
We are hoping that rellies and friends will help us, but may have to go down this road.
Any advice greatfully recieved. THANKS

Jan

Hi Jan

it'll probably be best to speak to the airline, I think they all do things differently!

We're not having a 'Stopover', just changing planes at Singapore - 2 1/2 hrs between flights.

Jules :D

I am intrigued...what is a chaperoned flight? Sorry, I must sound very ignorant.

Friends of our sent their children to USA 12 years ago (they were 10 and 7) whilst we all went on a Far East tour. They were being picked up by an Uncle at Kennedy Airport but presumably they had some sort of chaperone during the flight.

I guess this is something I am not really 'up on!' :what?:

Who are you flying with Jan?

We are flying with Singapore Airlines.
We are leaving behind my step-son, and would obviously like to see him regularly. He is only 10, so will need someone to accompany him. We have two sets of friends who hope to fly out in the next couple of years who can help.
Must admit that I haven't talked to the airline yet, just wondering if anyone had a personal experience of this service?
Jan

I shall have to ask my friend in England. She's Greek, and her kids usually spend some time with Grandma in Greece each summer and have travelled unaccompanied a couple of times.

Elaine

Jan,

Sorry - I had forgotten about the young lad, I read it that you wanted chaperoning. Sorry, call it a 'senior moment' I have more and more of them!! :loopy:

As I said, our friends sent their youngsters to the states but that was 12 years ago. They have connections with people who work for one of the airlines, I'll see what I can find out.

Ooops!

When I was 5, I went on a chaperoned flight to Ireland - which was brilliant!! Okay, so it's only an hour and hardly comparable to the 24 hour hike to Oz, but I loved it!! :lol:

The air hostess took me to the plane from the gate and I sat next to her at the front. Had lots of fuss made of me and then they took me through customs and handed me over to my grandad. Excellent service by Aer Lingus!! :thumbs up:

Ooooh, and another 'claim to fame' - Eamonn Andrews (used to host This is Your Life) was on my flight!! :D

Julia x :)

p.s. Being so old and warty now, Jan, I expect things have changed somewhat since I was 5!!! :bouncing smiles:

Hi Jan,

This one seems to be quite informative and gives some sort of costing for 'escorts' but It doesn't say too much about the time during stop-overs. I guess, if it's only a couple of hours at the connecting Airport then they must have some arrangement for the child to be ascorted at all times.

http://www.independenttraveler.com/resourc...203&category=19

Thank you Anniegran, Thank you Elaine,
AG- The link was very informative,although worrying as it covered lots of things that I hadn't event thought about!!
Elaine- reassurring that your experience was a good one.
Liam is quite adult so hopefully all will be O.k,would be good to see him at Christmas.
Thanks alot, it's SO good to have other people to talk to.

Jan

Hi Jan
Just got a reply from the friend I mentioned earlier (normally she doesn't write for months, now I know I need to ask her an 'urgent' question :rolleyes: )

This is what she says:

first of all it's not all airlines that will accept unaccompanied children
under the age of 14, i believe, but don't quote me on the age front since
it had better be checked with the airline itself. as far as i can remember
it was only the big airlines such BA, olympic etc etc that would accept
the responsibility of handling young unaccompanied travellers and not their
charter equivalents. once we got to the airport, the kids went to a special
lounge where they had lots of interesting goodies for them to do. i think
we got there allowing the same sort of time before the flight as when we'd
be travelling all together but once we left the kids with the BA staff we
just hang around the airport for a while, checking on the flight information
just in case anything was cancelled/delayed etc...
it did feel as though the kids were safe and taken care off (their lounge
had doors with a security digi code that only staff could use) and from
what the children told me when they got back home, they were accompanied
to the plane and taken good care once they were flying. the same goes when
they were on their returning flight.

oh... yes... when we left them at the airport we were asked questions about
their luggage, meal requirements, contact numbers in case of an emergency
and that's just about it, i think!! hope you find this info of help...


Hope that helps!! This experience was London to Greece.

Elaine

Thanks Elaine (again! :rolleyes: )
I will get on the phone in the next few days to see who can offer what.
It's a bit of a worry sending him all that way on his own.At least no one who has posted has reported any unpleasant experiences with accompanied flights. His Mum thought she might get a free holiday <_< ......but were not that desperate yet!
Thanks Guys :D
Jan

Found this under Special Travel Needs on Singapore Airlines.....but I expect you've already seen it! I guess as you say, some phonecalls will give you all the info you require.....

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/app/saa?hi...rentSite=global

Unfortunately, we are booked to come over in October this year......a bit to early for Christmas otherwise he could have travelled with us! :loopy:

I guess the good thing is, within another 2-3 years he will be that bit older and much more confident, although of course they would still keep an eye on him as a 'Young Passenger'

Good Luck! Anne XX