Booking a return ticket for a child (under 6) with different parent - is this possible?

[exLXCXFF]

Hi all - this is an odd one and I expect the answer to be no. But just checking anyway.

I want to book a return ticket for my son SIN - SYD. He is under 6 years old.

The idea is that on the way SIN - SYD, I fly down with him. But on the way back, SYD - SIN, his mom will accompany him. At the same time, I fly back to SIN at a different time, and his mom flies from SIN to SYD at another time as well, independent from me and my son.

As we all know, single fares on QF are more expensive than return tickets.

As such, is there any way for us to book him on a return ticket and then have different return tickets for us as parents with obviously overlapping legs?

Probably no, but just checking.

@madrooster - any insights from your field?

 

[madrooster]

As such, is there any way for us to book him on a return ticket and then have different return tickets for us as parents with obviously overlapping legs?

Yes absolutely you can do this.

I'm not sure how well versed the contact centre is in dealing with this scenario.

As an agent, I do it all the time for separated/divorced parents, whether it's all commercial or a mix of award and commercial (eg. adult A is on award, adult B is on award, child C is on commercial) or even all award.

You can even have one parent fly with the child in one direction and the child is a UMNR on the way back (although this is more complex).

 

[exLXCXFF]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I guess getting the ticket issued via call centre is the solution to this.

Is there any code word I could quote to Hobart that helps the understanding / doing this? I assume they should wave the fee as I am not able to book this online?

 

[madrooster]

Is there any code word I could quote to Hobart that helps the understanding / doing this? I assume they should wave the fee as I am not able to book this online?

There isn't. There's no standardised procedure that's listed in a reference article or anything like that.

 

[sudoer]

I guess getting the ticket issued via call centre is the solution to this.

Or drop madrooster a PM?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Friends did this with their award tickets. The parents were on separate itineraries. The child was on a paid ticket. The child’s ticket was linked with parent A for some flights, and linked with parent B for others. The linking was so the airline didn’t think the child was travelling unaccompanied.

While not qantas, it shows that it is possible to do, as madrooster points out If the call centre can’t, might need to go to a travel agent.

 

[exLXCXFF]

The way it worked out earlier today (with two Hobart consultants):

1. Parent 1 and Parent 2 book their individual itineraries online
2 Parent 1 calls Hobart with consent of Parent 2
3 Hobart creates child return ticket with 1 leg to be accompanied by Parent 1 and 2 leg to be accompanied with Parent 2. Practically, this means that Hobart “links” each leg with the respective Parent PNR
4 Hobart issues ticket and waives booking fee via phone.

Btw, first Hobart consultant said, this cannot be done, so had to do HUACA on Hobart .

Also, Qantas does allow a 5 year old to fly as unaccompanied minor (which I think is crazy!).

 

[Gremlin]

As a practical thing, carry a letter from the non-travelling parent giving their contact details, travel arrangements, etc. When MasterG and LittleMissG were younger, on occasions they would travel with one of MrsG or I but not the other. Most of the time, not an issue, but on one occasion we were pulled aside at the border for some further questions. Showed the letter, a couple of quick phone calls later and everyone was on their way.

 

[Katie]

Also, Qantas does allow a 5 year old to fly as unaccompanied minor (which I think is crazy!).

I flew as a UM at that age, though not international flights.

 

[exLXCXFF]

Thanks - yes, we normally travel with a stat dec that outlines exactly that. Although, so far, there was never any questioning.