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Post by Hadia on Nov 17, 2012 8:29:28 GMT
Hi. Hoping to connect here or by PM with an Aramcon family who has recent experience flying a boarding school child unaccompanied to/from KSA and USA, under age 15. We're trying to determine which airlines, if any, would allow a 14 year old to fly from KSA to the US without unaccompanied minor procedures (i.e., having a parent with ID meet the child at the gate on both ends).
Need to transport responsible 14 year old son (very experienced with flying and airports) to New England region during summer, with as few interventions as possible from parents during transit and arrival. Child would likely need to get off the international flight once in the US and get onto a domestic carrier, and not sure how that works if the child is alone without a parent with ID to walk him out of international area and put him onto a domestic flight. We know from experience that Southwest lets kids that age fly without parents at the gate on either end, but we're unsure of the international aspect, and what to expect at passport control and customs during transit.
Any advice is welcome. Thank you.
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Post by soverydeb on Nov 17, 2012 19:25:41 GMT
Have you tried calling various airlines to see what their procedures are? I don't have young kids flying, so I can't be helpful there, but I would make some calls if I were you.
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Post by Hadia on Nov 18, 2012 3:06:37 GMT
The airline web sites have sections on unaccompanied minors, but I have learned from experience that not all policies and procedures posted on their web sites or given out on the phone are implemented the same way in person. I'm hoping to get input from parents who have kids flying this year. I know there are some families who send their kids out to boarding school early, before the airlines' magical age of 15. I was hoping to simply have our son fly with a family that would be booked on the same flights to the US, but he will need to get onto a a domestic flight in order to reach his final destination city, and I'm not sure how this would work as far as him being released at the gate upon arrival if we don't have someone there for him. I'd like to know if/how other families here have handled this with a 14 year old (and no, I'm not on Facebook to ask the domestically challenged moms).
UPDATE: It looks like Lufthansa may be our best option. They only require the unaccompanied minor program for kids 12 and under, so this should work. We know from past experience that Southwest and United Airlines let kids his age fly in the US without a minor program, too, so if we can coordinate cities, that should work out. Still seeking input from any parents out there with tips or thoughts on issues regarding going through passport control and customs lines, as it pertains to their students flying alone.
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Post by bolishfamily on Mar 23, 2013 14:53:34 GMT
Now when our son flew to/from Saudi to boarding school by himself for the 1st time happened to be 16 but prior to that we made sure we had flown that route he would take prior to him flying by himself. We hadn't been lived here all but 1 year before, we were sending him out so international travel was fairly new to him. As we traveled we tried to point out things to him and mentioned to him what he needed to do (example: filing out the custom cards). Always make sure they have the ability to call you if a problem should arise. For instance Delta out of Boston was not too educated on the Saudi Visa thing & our son had some issues but he did have his Iquama to show them that he was a resident so they finally issued his ticket. He now flies United and has never had a problem at Boston airport.
He's never had any problem with customs or immigration.
Hope that helps a little
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