Adult child travelling with minor sibling

[hazel]

Hi
My adult son & his 14yo sister will be travelling together from CDG to LHR then to MEL in a couple of months. Someone mentioned to me that my son should have something that says he has permission to travel overseas with his sister. They also have different surnames.
I had a look at the DFAT info but I'm still unclear.
thanks

 

[Andyzx]

Suggest you talk directly with the Airline(s) and obtain very clear instructions on their requirments. I can see a whole heap of problems for an adult male and minor female, with different surnames, from checking in, sitting togeather and transfers - given some of the posts here and other forums. I hope they tolerate each other well - its a long flight(s).:shock:

Yes Dave is correct (thoughtit was older) but there are some requirments. Go to the Q website. Not sure about the transfer in LHR unless you have check them through from CDG.

 

[Dave Noble]

If the trip is on Qantas, then there is no issue. The 14 year old can travel unaccompanied anyway ; whether there is a relative around is of no issue

If it is another carrier, check the age at which they no longer need to be registered as an unaccompanied minor and if over that age then I would not worry

Dave

 

[chrisb]

If it is another carrier, check the age at which they no longer need to be registered as an unaccompanied minor and if over that age then I would not worry

Dave

I'd also look into potential immigration issues on departure and arrival, although being 14, she's probably old enough that they will listen to her.

 

[hazel]

thanks for the replies andyzx & DN - my main concern is immigration - this is what the dfat site says:
" you may be asked to provide documentary evidence or letter that proves the child has the permission of an absent lawful parent(s) or guardian to travel... "
Has anyone had to do one of these or been asked for one?
thanks

 

[dajop]

thanks for the replies andyzx & DN - my main concern is immigration - this is what the dfat site says:
" you may be asked to provide documentary evidence or letter that proves the child has the permission of an absent lawful parent(s) or guardian to travel... "
Has anyone had to do one of these or been asked for one?
thanks

Is it that difficult to provide one of these? I think erring on the side of caution would be the wise path to choose.

 

[Dave Noble]

there is no issue with a 12 year old travelling alone from UK-Australia from experience from collecting one that was doing the trip. I doubt that the connection in UK will be of any issue

 

[Must...Fly!]

Perhaps provide a signed letter and ensure the people meeting in MEL are at the airport, at worst immigration just go outside and make sure they're there and corroborate the story provided by your children.

 

[Cocitus23]

A few years ago I travelled to USA with my grand-daughter, then about 10 years old. I feared that authorities (government or airline or hotel) might have doubts about a middle-aged man travelling with a young girl, so I had my daughter and son-in-law jointly sign a letter saying that they consented to me taking their child on an international trip. They included their phone numbers beside their signatures.
The whole letter was only a few sentences long and very easy to prepare. I carried it with me for the entire trip, but I was did not have to produce it once. Still, I considered it good insurance and I would certainly do it again.

 

[hazel]

Thank you to all who posted advice. I will give No. 1 son a letter & if anyone needs to contact us I hope we can be contacted on our travels in Turkey. Thanks again

 

[holdenvxman]

I traveled SYD>DPS on Wednesday with my 4 year old step daughter as my partner and our daughter had to stay behind as she has an ear infection. After reading this post I got a signed letter from her mother, brought her birth cert and brought a copy of her itinerary to show she was going to join us a few days later. Being my step daughter she has a different surname, went through customs and they didnt bat an eyelid. Quite frankly im disgusted that they didnt even question it because I could have snatching her out of the country for all they knew. My mum (who lives in Bali) thinks I should make a complaint and I agree, But is it worth it? Has anyone had an experiance making a compaint to customs?

 

[markis10]

Quite frankly im disgusted that they didnt even question it because I could have snatching her out of the country for all they knew. My mum (who lives in Bali) thinks I should make a complaint and I agree, But is it worth it? Has anyone had an experiance making a compaint to customs?

I am not sure there is any reason to complain about immigration minding their own business, frequently its the opposite that gets the complaints. We live in a world of blended families, keep in mind that to get a passport issued you generally need the permission of both parents unless there is a court order in place that covers the missing parents permission.

Had you been questioned about a possible snatching it would have purely been without any facts to back it up, and I really doubt anyone would act on that basis, its far to common these days to see someone in this circumstance. Unless someone has been tipped off and thus raising a suspicion or there is a "do not leave order" in place, there is little they can do to prevent you leaving the country, I think its called freedom.

 

[hazel]

I just learnt that the AFP maintain an 'Airport Watch List' of childen who are subject to court orders. If the child is not on the AWL then I guess they must presume everything is OK.

 

[Maca44]

I just learnt that the AFP maintain an 'Airport Watch List' of childen who are subject to court orders. If the child is not on the AWL then I guess they must presume everything is OK.

If the AFP do have such a list, then the child's name would need to be specifically placed on that list because of the concern of one of the parents etc. I am divorced, and took my 13 yr old daughter and 12 yr old son to the USA several years ago, and never asked for any documentation to confirm I had the mother's permission to do so.

 

[Anna]

My mum (who lives in Bali) thinks I should make a complaint and I agree

Maybe you should think that through again. How would you frame the complaint? "Dear Sir or Madam, I wish to complain that I was allowed un-harassed through immigration on Wednesday 10 March 2010 when clearly I should have been stopped and questioned regarding ... ".

Would probably be an excellent way to ensure that you never have a trouble-free passage through immigration ever again!

 

[v8Statesman]

Maybe you should think that through again. How would you frame the complaint? "Dear Sir or Madam, I wish to complain that I was allowed un-harassed through immigration on Wednesday 10 March 2010 when clearly I should have been stopped and questioned regarding ... ".

Would probably be an excellent way to ensure that you never have a trouble-free passage through immigration ever again!

Knowing the person in question personally, I think he would like that!

 

[holdenvxman]

Knowing the person in question personally, I think he would like that!

ya funny