No more 'Unaccompanied Minor Travel' for ages 5-11
 

What is it that AC has against kids? After having a fictional Aeroplan kids program I guess they have now decided they don't want to having kids as customers at all.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/004688.html

They might grow up to be Flyer Talker's http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Can you post the link to this story ??

Lass - since you're an AC employee, you can access full details on Aeronet: CIC*80/24. (Info from today's Daily)

Thanks Empress..what a shame..with 45,000 Um's handled a year... I'll miss those wee smiley faces meeting up with Granny for a special holiday alone...or what about the kids commuting from the Island or elsewhere to attend Jericho School for the deaf - another cost factor for them ....and all the divorced parents trying to re-unite with their kids....

I am sure this will result in lots of positive press for AC!

Like they didn't take enough out on their FF, now they have to ruin things for kids and families.

I was flying home from Montreal a few weeks ago and the young boy beside me was flying to Vancouver to spend the summer with his dad. He said he had done this for the last 4 years. Who know's what will happen next summer http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

I guess AC figures that they will get the extra airfare for the "adult" to come and get these minors. Don't they already charge an extra $50 or something for U/M as it is to cover some of the costs associated.

I just had a great experience on AC on Tuesday flying home from YHZ with Mrs Cattle and then I get to hear about this. What a shame, just when I though things were improving.

I have never, and I mean never had a negative experience flying beside U/M. Parents with their own kids can be a nightmare. U/M really seem to bring out the best in those who sit near them and take the time to speak with them and relive the joy of flying through them. I know that boy's excitement snapped me out of the humdrum "here's another 4.5 hours gone".

As a good corporate citizen its sometimes about doing the right thing, not the best $$$ decession or easiest thing.

Boo Boo and more Boo on you AC if this is true and you don't change this policy.

Cattle

I too have sat beside some UM's and had a very pleasant experience. They are usually better behaved than accompanied minors.

If AC does go ahead with this fiasco, is there anyway the friendly FT'ers could help out other FT'ers and agree to accompany a UM on a flight? I don't mind "supervising" a child from a fellow FT'er that I know and saving them the cost of the 2nd airfare, the saving the UM the sadness of not being able to go.

Maple Leaf:

Great idea. I too would be willing to do this as well to help out fellow FT's.

Shame on AC! While they were (much) younger, my two sons frequently travelled as UMs - about 6 - 10 return trips a year. This decision will place considerable hardship not only for divorced parents but, more important, for the children. This may well turn into another PR nightmare for AC and, if it does, they deserve it.

The release is worded very poorly they are
not disallowing unaccompanied minors what they are saying is if there are 2 kids traveling and one is under 12 the other one
must be over 16 for them not to be considered unaccompanied minors. Basically you can't have a 14year old be responsible for a child who is under 12.

You mean AC had poor communication skills. I can hardly believe it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

No doubt an ex-CP employee http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ace Cdn beat me to it. Before a 12 year old could fly unaccompanied with a younger sibling and not use the UM service (i.e. pay the $30 charge). I'm sure that something happened that could have resulted in a catastrophe to instigate this change.

Empress, I'm not sure where you got your link but the statement in the employee info systems was a couple paragraphs long and more comprehensive.