Joining unaccompanied minors to gate?
Jul 10, 2014, 3:07 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,082
Do you have to pay extra for UM service? I have a very soon to be 9 and I am considering sending her UM to Hong Kong. I travelled as an UM 30 years ago when I was 9 with CX from HKG to TPE ~ off the grandmum and aunts and cousins for a month. I remember that we (me and another kid) were escorted by the same staff from before security until we were on board and then one of the crews took us from the aircraft all the way until I was handed over by my aunt.
I told Mr. about my idea and he thinks I am insane. He said just because I did it doesn't mean that I should force my own kids to do the same. I asked my girl about it and she said as long as she gets lounge access (we are all TK G except Mr.) she doesn't mind
I told Mr. about my idea and he thinks I am insane. He said just because I did it doesn't mean that I should force my own kids to do the same. I asked my girl about it and she said as long as she gets lounge access (we are all TK G except Mr.) she doesn't mind
Jul 10, 2014, 3:59 am
#32
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,155
Well SK doesn't fly to HKG so you have to get some info on UM policy from the concerned airline.
SK policy on UM is as follows:
On LH kids have their own UM lounge:
https://www.lufthansa.com/online/myp...l=en&cid=18002
SK policy on UM is as follows:
Unaccompanied Minors - General
Definition
An unaccompanied child/minor (UMNR) is:
A child 5-11 years (incl.) old, travelling without an adult.
Must be requested in advance.
A young person 12-15 years (incl.) old, travelling without an adult, and for whom the parent/guardian have requested UMNR handling.
A child 5-11 years must travel as UMNR when travelling together with a young person 12-15 years.
A child under the age of 5 years must travel together with a person 16 years or older.
A child 5-11 years must travel as UMNR when travelling together with an adult seated in a different class of service on the same aircraft.
Note: An adult is a person 16 years or older.
Age limits
Other airlines may have other rules for unaccompanied minors.
Airline Age limit
SK, WF 5-15 years A young person 12-15 years (incl.) old travelling alone and
for whom the parent/guardian have requested UMNR handling
Note: When leaving Romania and travelling alone, passengers under 18 years must be requested as UMNR. This is due to Romanian authority request.
Service onboard
SAS always offer unaccompanied children something to eat and drink on board. The child may choose one meal and one beverage.
UM service for intercontinental travel
After 01JUL11, SAS Unaccompanied Minor service is offered for Intercontinental travel on SK operated flights to/from SAS gateways only: BJS, SHA, BKK, TYO, CHI, NYC, SFO and WAS.
UM transfer to/from other airlines at these SAS gateways is not permitted. No changes are made for travel within Europe or Scandinavia.
UM throughout the journey
A child must be handled as an Unaccompanied Minor throughout the journey if UM service has been requested.
Parent and child might travel on the same flight to a transfer point. At the transfer point, they continue to different destinations. It may seem natural that the parent guards the child on the first sector and then hands over the child at the transfer point to ground service staff.
The child will be taken care of as UM also under these circumstances. Otherwise the child has to be handled as locally boarded at the transfer point. This means that the parent cannot continue his/her travel until the child's flight has taken off.
Transfer
Travel involving same day connection is permitted when change of airport is not required.
When connecting to other airlines, always check UM rules for the airline concerned, especially regarding transfer. Some airlines do not accept UMNR:s on the last direct or connecting flight of the day, and on some airlines UMNR:s must not be booked on flights with connections of more than 2 hours transfer time.
Night stop or change of airport
Night stop or change of airport is only allowed if the parent/guardian makes all arrangements for adult supervision during the entire ground stop.
Handling Advice Document
A Handling Advice with name, address and telephone number to the parents /guardian at place of departure and arrival, must be completed for each UM and signed by parent/guardian prior to check-in.
All three copies of the handling advice must be completed, one for outbound, one for homebound and one for the UM-wallet.
When mailing Handling Advice to customer: If billing address and address for Handling Advice differ, the address for Handling Advice should be updated separately in PNR: RM Handling Advice to Anne Jacobsen, Fjellgaten 1, 0771 Oslo
The parent/ guardian who accompanies the child to the airport must remain there until the flight has taken off. UM will not be accepted for carriage, if before departure bad weather conditions or other extraordinary circumstances indicate that it might be difficult to land at the scheduled place of arrival.
The parent/guardian must always present a valid identification document at check-in, regardless of the destination.
The person who meets the UM upon arrival, must prove his/her identity. This is required in order to make sure that the UM is met by the person stated in the Handling Advice.
Note: Click on the link Handling Advice, print out and send to the passenger. Advice passenger to fill in the form before check-in at the airport.
Definition
An unaccompanied child/minor (UMNR) is:
A child 5-11 years (incl.) old, travelling without an adult.
Must be requested in advance.
A young person 12-15 years (incl.) old, travelling without an adult, and for whom the parent/guardian have requested UMNR handling.
A child 5-11 years must travel as UMNR when travelling together with a young person 12-15 years.
A child under the age of 5 years must travel together with a person 16 years or older.
A child 5-11 years must travel as UMNR when travelling together with an adult seated in a different class of service on the same aircraft.
Note: An adult is a person 16 years or older.
Age limits
Other airlines may have other rules for unaccompanied minors.
Airline Age limit
SK, WF 5-15 years A young person 12-15 years (incl.) old travelling alone and
for whom the parent/guardian have requested UMNR handling
Note: When leaving Romania and travelling alone, passengers under 18 years must be requested as UMNR. This is due to Romanian authority request.
Service onboard
SAS always offer unaccompanied children something to eat and drink on board. The child may choose one meal and one beverage.
UM service for intercontinental travel
After 01JUL11, SAS Unaccompanied Minor service is offered for Intercontinental travel on SK operated flights to/from SAS gateways only: BJS, SHA, BKK, TYO, CHI, NYC, SFO and WAS.
UM transfer to/from other airlines at these SAS gateways is not permitted. No changes are made for travel within Europe or Scandinavia.
UM throughout the journey
A child must be handled as an Unaccompanied Minor throughout the journey if UM service has been requested.
Parent and child might travel on the same flight to a transfer point. At the transfer point, they continue to different destinations. It may seem natural that the parent guards the child on the first sector and then hands over the child at the transfer point to ground service staff.
The child will be taken care of as UM also under these circumstances. Otherwise the child has to be handled as locally boarded at the transfer point. This means that the parent cannot continue his/her travel until the child's flight has taken off.
Transfer
Travel involving same day connection is permitted when change of airport is not required.
When connecting to other airlines, always check UM rules for the airline concerned, especially regarding transfer. Some airlines do not accept UMNR:s on the last direct or connecting flight of the day, and on some airlines UMNR:s must not be booked on flights with connections of more than 2 hours transfer time.
Night stop or change of airport
Night stop or change of airport is only allowed if the parent/guardian makes all arrangements for adult supervision during the entire ground stop.
Handling Advice Document
A Handling Advice with name, address and telephone number to the parents /guardian at place of departure and arrival, must be completed for each UM and signed by parent/guardian prior to check-in.
All three copies of the handling advice must be completed, one for outbound, one for homebound and one for the UM-wallet.
When mailing Handling Advice to customer: If billing address and address for Handling Advice differ, the address for Handling Advice should be updated separately in PNR: RM Handling Advice to Anne Jacobsen, Fjellgaten 1, 0771 Oslo
The parent/ guardian who accompanies the child to the airport must remain there until the flight has taken off. UM will not be accepted for carriage, if before departure bad weather conditions or other extraordinary circumstances indicate that it might be difficult to land at the scheduled place of arrival.
The parent/guardian must always present a valid identification document at check-in, regardless of the destination.
The person who meets the UM upon arrival, must prove his/her identity. This is required in order to make sure that the UM is met by the person stated in the Handling Advice.
Note: Click on the link Handling Advice, print out and send to the passenger. Advice passenger to fill in the form before check-in at the airport.
Service Charge
The UM Service charge is collected per child and per direction as a Q-surcharge on all SK fares.
Normal child discount applies (05-11 years). UM charge will be added to the applicable fare at pricing.
Area Charge per one way
Domestic Denmark DKK 250
Domestic Norway
WF Trunk routes NOK 250 (incl. vat NOK 19)
NOK 50 (incl. vat)
Domestic Sweden SEK 250 (incl. vat SEK 14)
Within Scandinavia DKK/ NOK/ SEK 350
Between Scandinavia and Europe/intercontinental DKK/ NOK/ SEK 350
EUR 40, USD 60
Between Finland and Europe/intercontinental EUR 40
UM travelling on award tickets
No service charge for UM travelling on EuroBonus award ticket on SK and WF operating flights worldwide.
UM service for intercontinental travel
SAS Unaccompanied Minor service is offered for Intercontinental travel on SK operated flights to/from SAS gateways only: BJS, SHA, BKK, TYO, CHI, NYC, SFO and WAS.
UM transfer to/from other airlines at these SAS gateways is not permitted. No changes are made for travel within Europe or Scandinavia.
Pricing input for all countries
Children 5-11 years: /RUNN
Young person 12-15 years: Q-surcharge to be added manually in the fare construction. Applicable adult fare will be charged.
SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors
The UM Service Charge is only inserted automatically on SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors.
When WF is carrier on the domestic segment on a Trunk route and onward flights are on SK, the fare construction line will show the Q-surcharge for the WF segment and the Q-surcharge for the SK segment. If a through fare is used with WF and SK as carriers, only one surcharge of NOK250 applies.
SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors and/or interline partner sectors
If travelling on both SK operated/code share and interline partner, or interline partner only, on SK/117-ticket, verify that Q-surcharges are inserted. If not, insert the Q-surcharges manually, for both SK and interline partner.
The UM Service charge is collected per child and per direction as a Q-surcharge on all SK fares.
Normal child discount applies (05-11 years). UM charge will be added to the applicable fare at pricing.
Area Charge per one way
Domestic Denmark DKK 250
Domestic Norway
WF Trunk routes NOK 250 (incl. vat NOK 19)
NOK 50 (incl. vat)
Domestic Sweden SEK 250 (incl. vat SEK 14)
Within Scandinavia DKK/ NOK/ SEK 350
Between Scandinavia and Europe/intercontinental DKK/ NOK/ SEK 350
EUR 40, USD 60
Between Finland and Europe/intercontinental EUR 40
UM travelling on award tickets
No service charge for UM travelling on EuroBonus award ticket on SK and WF operating flights worldwide.
UM service for intercontinental travel
SAS Unaccompanied Minor service is offered for Intercontinental travel on SK operated flights to/from SAS gateways only: BJS, SHA, BKK, TYO, CHI, NYC, SFO and WAS.
UM transfer to/from other airlines at these SAS gateways is not permitted. No changes are made for travel within Europe or Scandinavia.
Pricing input for all countries
Children 5-11 years: /RUNN
Young person 12-15 years: Q-surcharge to be added manually in the fare construction. Applicable adult fare will be charged.
SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors
The UM Service Charge is only inserted automatically on SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors.
When WF is carrier on the domestic segment on a Trunk route and onward flights are on SK, the fare construction line will show the Q-surcharge for the WF segment and the Q-surcharge for the SK segment. If a through fare is used with WF and SK as carriers, only one surcharge of NOK250 applies.
SK fares on SK operated/code share sectors and/or interline partner sectors
If travelling on both SK operated/code share and interline partner, or interline partner only, on SK/117-ticket, verify that Q-surcharges are inserted. If not, insert the Q-surcharges manually, for both SK and interline partner.
https://www.lufthansa.com/online/myp...l=en&cid=18002
Jul 10, 2014, 10:52 am
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: EBG4Life, EBD, 1MM
Posts: 1,397
Fortunately the kids opinion that matters most. Ours loved it and are already asking if I have earned my next 2-4-1 so they can do it again next summer.Oliver gave the details, but I can confirm that it is free for award tickets on SK metal. Cool to see that LH has a special lounge for UM. The LD originally told me that SAS had something similar at ARN, although this proved to be false. Oliver, do you have any experience with this?
Jul 11, 2014, 2:14 am
#34
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,155
UMs are usually chaperoned by all airlines, I don't think they have a special lounge like LH has in FRA & MUC, but certainly a holding pen of some sort.
Jul 19, 2014, 2:24 am
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: EBG4Life, EBD, 1MM
Posts: 1,397
Just wanted to finalize the kids experience now that they have returned from ORD. As we were told, Grandpa was given a security pass and could follow the kids through to the gate. The kids headed directly to the lounge and my daughter (EBS) was able to guest Grandpa in . It was his first time in a lounge, which delighted the kids greatly. They got pre-boarding but had a special kids meal (meatballs and rice) which they did not like. They would have preferred the normal food. Kids said staff paid extra attention to them. Deplaned with C class pax and Swedavia staff was waiting to take passport control, where they were able to go through a special line. Took 20 minutes from touch down to reach us in arrivals.
To recap...
ARN: Staff takes kids through security 1 hour before flight, no lounge access
ORD: Guardian takes kids through security. Lounge access, guardian guested in due to status
They had a great time and are already asking to do it again next summer. Just need to get my 2-4-1 and will start to look for availability. Still debating if C class is worth it, as they will have status for lounge access in ORD and the kids meal was apparently not up to scratch. Not sure they will appreciate the extra leg room for a few more years
To recap...
ARN: Staff takes kids through security 1 hour before flight, no lounge access
ORD: Guardian takes kids through security. Lounge access, guardian guested in due to status
They had a great time and are already asking to do it again next summer. Just need to get my 2-4-1 and will start to look for availability. Still debating if C class is worth it, as they will have status for lounge access in ORD and the kids meal was apparently not up to scratch. Not sure they will appreciate the extra leg room for a few more years
Jul 19, 2014, 4:08 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If you do the transition back to coach, perhaps you're poised to get questions something like this: "why doesn't this seat become a bed like usual, is it broken?".
I've seen it happen, but it stops after children squeeze in enough short-haul flights and/or long-haul flights in coach to know that there are a variety of seats.
I've seen it happen, but it stops after children squeeze in enough short-haul flights and/or long-haul flights in coach to know that there are a variety of seats.
Jul 21, 2014, 7:27 am
#39
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,155
On regionals the missing 'TV' is noted with our bunch. Seating has not been an issue so far, but then we never did longhaul in coach. Older son intrigued by F already. ('Much bigger TV')
Jul 21, 2014, 7:54 am
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: EBG4Life, EBD, 1MM
Posts: 1,397
The monitor seems to be the most important to our kids as well. Neither slept on the return flight as they were too bust re-watching the same movies for the 7th time
. Given their habits, a tablet with a few movies plus candy/chips/fruit should satisfy them for a 12 hour flight. An occasional toilet break is the only time their eyes stray from the warming glow of IFE.
. Given their habits, a tablet with a few movies plus candy/chips/fruit should satisfy them for a 12 hour flight. An occasional toilet break is the only time their eyes stray from the warming glow of IFE.
Jul 23, 2014, 4:22 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,082
Our kids hate the IFE on SK's Y. They are used to AVOD, and when I told them that there will be no AVOD on the flight, their mouths were wide open and kept asking, 'how come?'
They never like kid's meal - it sounds nicer than it looks - you can't get crispy nugget on board.
I have never heard of any kid who doesn't like 'screen' of any kind.
They never like kid's meal - it sounds nicer than it looks - you can't get crispy nugget on board.
I have never heard of any kid who doesn't like 'screen' of any kind.
Oct 25, 2014, 1:14 am
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: EBG4Life, EBD, 1MM
Posts: 1,397
Swedavia has apparently changed the rules for accompanying minors to the gate at Arlanda T4. We were actively discouraged from accompanying our kids to the gate and asked to wait until just before boarding to pass security. Agent also refused to give 2 gate passed despite having two children flying on separate tickets. So glad to hear that SAS wants three *G to sit outside security and not use the lounge. I sent the kids and wife in anyhow, but don't appreciate spending my Saturday morning in the airside cafe at T4. The lack of consistent rules and clear info is frustrating.
On the other hand, I was lucky enough to see my son pull a DYKWIA attitude when told that we were mistakenly using the Gold check in. The quick flash of his Gold card followed by him rolling his eyes at the person who commented were priceless. Might need to have a word with him when he returns.
On the other hand, I was lucky enough to see my son pull a DYKWIA attitude when told that we were mistakenly using the Gold check in. The quick flash of his Gold card followed by him rolling his eyes at the person who commented were priceless. Might need to have a word with him when he returns.
Last edited by livious; Oct 25, 2014 at 1:20 am