Hi brains trust...have a q for you. I want to book Air Canada flight Kelowna - Brisbane (but will go through Vancouver). Can I get an unaccompanied fare to help my niece navigate Vancouver airport ??
Have never used it internationally but when my kids used to fly domestic as unmi’s they had to take direct flights.
How old? When my daughter was 14yo, she traveled as an unaccompanied minor with Qantas, Tokyo to Melbourne. They navigated her through Sydney airport and onto a Melbourne flight,and handled her documentation. They did however FORGET to give her passport back to her before she left for Melbourne!!! But she did get to the destination!! Usually, the airlines charge a fee. (Qantas $50 domestic, $90 international. I assume Air Canada will be similar)
She is 16, will be fine on flights it was just navigating the airports I thought it would be much better for her to have company. It would save us a drive back to Vancouver and an o/night stay before driving back inland again.
Don’t know about Air Canada (my least favourite airline), but my 15 year old daughter flew back unaccompanied from Osaka to Canberra via Singapore and Brisbane. She confidently elected to waive the “accompaniment” option provided by the airline, airily noting that she doesn’t miss planes (like her mother). Otherwise, it would have been $50 US per sector (which I was happy to pay).
I'm inclined to think that a 16yo would be more than capable of navigating an airport. Moreso than some adults. When my daughter went on Rotary Exchange at 17, she headed straight for the Qantas check in counter as she had Qantas tickets, only to be intercepted by a well-meaning Rotary lady who redirected her to the Virgin counter...
By the time my daughter turned 16 she had done at least 10 16 (I did a quick tot up - what a deprived childhood) international flights with her parents and school and god knows how many domestic flights (ex took her to Brisbane, so lots of access flights). I reckon she would have aced solo international travelling, although I would be a nervous wreck until I knew she had arrived. It all depends on familiarity and experience.
She has traveled extensively international as a child (they lived in PNG) so every opportunity to get out was taken. She has also done solo travel domestic .... she is confident and out going although but that's not the point. I am responsible for her and want to know she safely navigates Vancouver airport without the stress.
Get her a Mobile Sim with Data for Canada. Ask her to Skype you when she lands. Accompany her through the Airport virtually.
I did the accompanying minor thing for my son when he was 13. Now that he's 16 I reckon he's OK to navigate a transfer pretty much on his own. Hell, I even navigated a transfer between international and domestic at Heathrow by my lonesome when I was 15. All I remember was that I made it to the right place in time...but I was very sweaty!
