On Vacation: Legality Of Flights With Children
Despite the illusion of going on vacation with children, it can be stressful for all parents to think about some practicalities. The destination, the accommodation, the itinerary, the plans for each day … There are many things to be solved.
If the trip is by plane, there are also many questions about the necessary documentation, waiting hours at airports, security controls, etc.
In case the children are small, the flight can be a real nightmare. Therefore, to avoid last minute setbacks and start the holidays in the best way, it is best to inform yourself and be well prepared before taking a flight with children. Next, we will see some elements to better understand the legal aspects of flights with children.
What documents are needed for flights with children?
When we plan to travel by plane with children, one of the first things we must do is inform ourselves about the requirements that we must meet in terms of documentation. This will depend on each case and the documents will be different depending on the age of the child, the destination of the trip and the people who travel with him.
In general, all people over 14 years of age must carry their ID or passport, depending on where they are traveling. Children under 14 years of age are not required to carry these documents on domestic flights. However, if they do not have them, they must be accredited in another way, such as with the family book. Therefore, it is best for each child to have their ID.
For international flights, whether within Europe or to other countries, minors must carry their ID or passport. It is also important to verify the specific requirements of the destination country, such as, for example, a visa or a vaccination.
When minors under 14 years of age are traveling alone or accompanied by persons other than their parents, they must carry some additional documents. On domestic flights, in case the minor does not have ID or passport, they must carry a notarial accreditation with their personal data and their photograph.
This document must also include the authorization of the minor’s mother and father or their legal guardian, so that the minor can make the trip alone, or accompanied by a duly identified person. These are security measures in place in order to protect the safety of minors and prevent their abduction.
What if the children travel only with the father or mother?
This is a very common case when the parents are separated or divorced. If it is a domestic flight, there are no additional requirements. Children can take the flight with one of their two parents, without any problem.
In the event that the minor does not have a DNI, the control authorities may request a document that proves their family relationship, such as the family book. If it is an international flight, many questions arise. For example, if it is necessary to request authorization from the other parent to do so.
In principle, if the custody of children is shared and the parent accompanying the minor is enjoying the legally established period to be with their child, it is not necessary to have any authorization. However, it is advisable to have the express authorization of the other parent in case any control authority requires it.
In some cases, the custody sentence includes a prohibition to leave the national territory without the consent of the two parents, because there is a significant risk of abduction. In this case, the authorization of the parent who does not accompany the minor is essential.
Regulation of airlines for flights with children
The regulation for flights with children varies somewhat from one airline to another. However, children under the age of two are considered infants and generally do not occupy a seat. That is, they travel on the lap of their father or mother, paying 10% of the regular fare.
Children between 2 and 11 years old travel in their own seat. Many times they have a discount percentage depending on the fare and the airline, which is usually 20%. In general, the cheapest fares, promotions and low cost airlines do not allow any type of discount.
