grrizzli

Yes, this is the American way in 2015. The attitudes have greatly changed just in the last generation. The same people who had a lot of freedom as teenagers now have a very different approach to raising their own kids.

As soon as people adopted these ideas in their own families, they felt it urgent to impose them on the rest of the public, by law if necessary.

flaco

I cancelled his original booking and booked him on AC LGA-YYZ (7500 Aeroplan pts + about $50 in fees) and YYZ-LGA WS for about $100US

Original booking was using Avios. Now I'll find out if BA will waive redeposit fee (about $55). Either way this is a better arrangement.

Thanks all for your help.

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

BAEC does not take any additional collection when you cancel a reward flight and request reinstatement of your Avios. You will merely forfeit the cash component that you paid for the award ($5.60?).

But you'd better make sure that AC will board an unaccompanied minor who does not present the paperwork that Canada requires of same. (I assume that your son is a U.S. citizen, and not a Canadian citizen.)

Exec_Plat

Did you call AA and have them annotate the record that they would not let him fly? Would have helped for the fee waiver request....

Safe travels!

flaco

The flight from Toronto carries a higher fee. The total came out to $51.59

He's actually a dual citizen, but generally (as a US resident) carries his US passport.

Maybe I should get him the paperwork just in case, but if our plans work out the rest of the family will be arriving at about the same time from EWR on United (both Terminal 1 @ YYZ) so by then he will be rather "accompanied".

guv1976

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I thought you only had a problem with the outbound flight (LGA-YYZ).

flaco

I only had a problem with the outbound flight because he would be arriving at the airport by himself. On the YYZ departure I will be with him in the airport but again flying separately. While I could theoretically use AA's ($150) UM service, I have to cancel his ticket anyway because he's not using the outbound leg. WS was available for about $100 for the return and they do allow him to travel unaccompanied so that made more sense.

AANYC1981

Am I missing something or can't the parental unit rely on UM offering? Why ask non-AA strangers to look after your child?

flaco

AA's UM service requires the passenger be "signed in" and the person signing them in, I believe, needs to stay with them until departure. My problem is that my son will be arriving by taxi to the airport from his school, with no one to sign him in.

From aa.com/children :

At the airport

Check-in & required documents

You'll need to fill out the unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents at the airport ticket counter on the day of departure. The form must remain with the child during the flight. Also:

◾Bring proof of age for the child traveling alone (birth certificate, passport, etc.).


◾Get a security pass from the airport ticket counter to escort the minor through security to the gate.


◾A parent or designated accompanying adult must take the unaccompanied minor to the departure gate and remain until the flight is airborne.

arlflyer

Coming from school? Surely there must be a workaround. This must happen with boarding school kids all the time. There must be an established protocol.

linglingfool

The AA policy mentions that a "designated accompanying adult" can sign the minor in at the airport. If the school can't arrange that, the alternative is to fly an airline that doesn't set such an absurdly high age minimum for traveling unaccompanied.

compson

So, he's taking off from LGA and you are taking off from EWR, right? You'll put the kid on an international flight unaccompanied, but won't stick him in an Uber so that he can fly with the rest of you? Very confused. It's only like 10 miles, and less than an hour's drive in most cases.

mvoight

How did you book him without knowing this?
Did you book online?
Online there is a separate option box for the number of passengers ages 12-15. If you enter a value there and 0 for the number of adults, you get this message in red "Online bookings must include one Adult or one Senior passenger when a child under 16 years of age is traveling. To book an unaccompanied minor please call Reservations."

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

The OP has indicated that the AA award flights were booked with BAEC Avios -- presumably at ba.com.

mvoight

And BA has a similar box and the message "Children travelling alone, 10+ passengers, disability assistance, see FAQs"
I tried to do a booking with 0 adults and one 12-15 year old, and got "Error

Sorry, to book a flight there must be at least one adult passenger travelling.

If you would like to book for young adults or children travelling alone please call your local British Airways office.
Infants (under 2 years old) must always be accompanied by an adult passenger."


You can even see the age boxes at http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_us


So, I am missing your point