New Flight Restrictions For Kids
Posted February 1, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tiny travellers will have to be accompanied by an adult on certain Air Canada flights starting this spring.
As of April 1st, children between the ages of five and 12 will not be allowed to fly alone on flights that involve stopovers and connections, which could create problems for some families over the festive season and March Break.
The company reportedly decided to make the change due to unpredictable weather during the two busiest travel times — Christmas and March Break — which can cause delays and cancellations that can be very hard on a youngster travelling solo.
Nearly 50,000 kids fly alone with Air Canada every year, but children under five have never been able to travel solo. This policy change puts the airline in line with one of its main competitors West Jet.
Kids between five and 11 used to be allowed to fly alone on all Air Canada flights if they were registered with the airline’s Unaccompanied Minors Program which provides minors with an escort, usually a flight attendant or an Air Canada agent.
Young people between 12 and 17 flying alone can sign up for the program, but it’s not required for them. But if they do sign up they too would be restricted to non-stop flights.
If they register, Air Canada will charge $75 under the new policy. The fee used to be $60.
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