The frequency of children traveling by themselves has led airlines to set up programs that address the specific needs of children traveling alone. The common term that is used to describe children who fly alone is unaccompanied minors (also known as UMs). What is an unaccompanied minor? The short answer is a child traveling without a parent, guardian, or another trusted adult that the child knows.
We offer unaccompanied minor service for children from 5 to 15 years of age. For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service is available to ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination.
When making your reservation, some essential information is required for your child. Be aware that the responsible adult bringing the child to the airport (whether that person is a parent, a camp counselor or another adult) must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate.
We need Following details when making a booking for un-accompanied minors:-
1-Child's Date of birth & Passport Number.
2-Name, Address & Contact Number of person dropping child at Airport of departure.
3-Name, Address & Contact Number of person receiving child at arrival Airport.
4-Language Child Speaks.
5- Any Special Request depending on child Physical & Mental health.
To ensure that children are released to the proper person, the adult meeting unaccompanied children at their destination must show photo identification and sign the Unaccompanied Minor form.
Additional tips:-
If your child is not traveling with a mobile phone, we recommend that you provide your child with a calling card or provide instructions on making collect calls, so he or she can always reach you. Because unexpected weather can disrupt flight schedules, we recommend that you confirm your unaccompanied child on flights early in the day.
While the Airline will do their best to ensure that your child's experience of travelling is an enjoyable one, there are a few extra things you can do to make it just that bit easier.
Make sure your child knows who is to meet them upon arrival at the final destination. Explain to your child how important their passport and tickets are, and ensure that they can recognise both. Children should at all times wear the Unaccompanied Minor identification lanyards. It is important for them to know not to remove these as it is a form of identification. Children must not leave the aircraft unattended and must wait for the cabin crew to assist before they leave the plane.
Conditions of travel as an unaccompanied minor on South African Airline:
Under 5 years: Children are not considered to be unaccompanied minors when they are accompanied by another passenger of 16 years of age, or older.
5 to 11 years(inclusive): Children who are five years old, but under 12 are regarded as unaccompanied minors (UM’s). Reservations for unaccompanied minors cannot be booked online. Please contact your local SAA Call Centre for more information. The child’s date of birth may be verified at time of check-in.
12 to 16 years (inclusive): Children who are at least 12 years old, but under 16, are regarded as young passengers (YP’s).
SAA considers a passenger aged between 12 and 16 as an adult, therefore no special handling is required unless requested by the parent. If this is the case the same procedure will apply as for unaccompanied minors. |
