We booked airfares for our grandchildren 12 and 9 to fly over for christmas on line. Arriving at Christchurch International airport they were told they could not fly unaccompanied yet the online service asked their ages charged an adult fare for the 12 year old. One would think if an adult fare was charged they would be allowed to travel with the younger one. The grandchildren never arrived for christmas as there was a 16 day waiting period for the refund after we had to supply birth certificates to prove their ages and prove this was the reason they could not fly we eventuly got them over on Air New Zealand for a shorted holiday and back with Pacific Blue both of whom took the children thru customs to the plane. On the plane they didn't requre assistance but were sat in the back seat so if they needed assistance it was there on arrival they were bought back thru customs and up to us in the arrival lounge. Why could Jet Star not do this even if it was against their policy they were the ones who set up the web site and accepted the money
Comments
Just curious did you see the
Just curious did you see the clicky under are the initial booking box about children requiring assistance (or something like that?). A computer is not going to know (nor care, and it will take your money) an assumption, and a quite valid one is that the children were being accompanied by adults via other bookings etc. A computer wont know.
I assume with pacific blue and ANZ you notified of unaccompanied minors before the flights (in writing i think with virgin ), which is what you have to do with other airlines as you are passing over responsibility of the children to strangers?
More importantly, i hope the kids had a good (but shortened trip).
you may be 12 to fly by
you may be 12 to fly by yourselft, BUT you must be 15 to look after a child (under 12's)
Seems like someone needs to
Seems like someone needs to read the terms and conditions of a ticket before purchasing it.
All the information about children flying and the requirements are on the website.
Frankly, it's your own fault for not fully informing yourself before purchasing a ticket.
I've been going back and
I've been going back and forth to England via Singapore, Hong Kong & Frankfurt since I was 9 as a U.M., including long stopovers at all international airports. It seems Jetstar will do anything to take your money but not actually fly you!
There is a link that is very
There is a link that is very obvious on the booking page saying something like CHILDREN TRAVELLING ALONE. If you click it, it tells you all the requirements and regulations for children travelling alone and who can be an accompanying adult. Jetstar is a low cost carrier and doesn't have the facilities or staff to provide someone to accompany UM's.
The website shouldn't have processed the booking however if there was going to be an issue.