Traveling with minor- not your own

[Shammy]

Originally Posted by prbst

This was a number of years ago flying out of St Louis.

Right, but things were different years ago. I too used to tell clients they needed the letter years ago - although I can't recall if any were ever asked! The only time I had someone asked was a family that went to Jamaica. And that's funny because no letter was ever necessary for travel to Jamaica!

[lazydog]

When it was just agents working the ticket desks, I was never asked for a letter even though I had always had one signed/notarized from my daughters dad and we traveled to Mexico many, many times. In the last two years I have had to produce one.

At one of these new check in kiosks where there are many computer terminals with only one agent working all of them, the computer triggered a message that I needed a letter. I could not go any further until the agent came over, read the message and she asked for the letter. She seemed very surprised and confused that she had to ask for one. I don't even think she would have known if it was notarized or not. She read it and overrode the warning and we were able to check in. I do have to mention that we were Canadians flying out of Seattle. That may have been it, I asked another single parent on same flight who was American if they were asked for letter and they said no.

A couple of months later while traveling again, the same message came up on another computer terminal in Canada. This time I did not have a letter. The agent came over, looked at my daughter (5'10 sixteen year old who looks 22) never asked for a letter and just overrode the message.

So glad my daughter is 17 now and I don't have to ever worry about these letters again.

[Beach Lounger]

Originally Posted by Shammy

I don't think you need it, as mentioned, NONE of my clients ever have even though some have brought a stack of paperwork just in case. But if you'd like, call your airline and see what they say.

So I just called Frontier about this and they said passport is all the is needed.

Thanks so much for all the info.

[tdiaz]

Thanks, I have booked on Frontier for June 2012 and are bringing 3 grandkids, one with the same last name as hubby and I and two without. I was very confused as well, as the passport applications had to be signed by BOTH parents and BOTH parents had to appear! Recently I found online "parental consent forms for minor children not traveling with both parents". So I was not sure if I should get the forms for "just in case"?

[Beach Lounger]

Originally Posted by tdiaz

Thanks, I have booked on Frontier for June 2012 and are bringing 3 grandkids, one with the same last name as hubby and I and two without. I was very confused as well, as the passport applications had to be signed by BOTH parents and BOTH parents had to appear! Recently I found online "parental consent forms for minor children not traveling with both parents". So I was not sure if I should get the forms for "just in case"?

It might depend on the age of children.
My nephew will be 16 by the time we fly.

But my understanding from frontier was a no, just passport.
I would call but that is just me covering my rear..

[harleychica]

We had a noterized letter from the mom of the teenager traveling with us. This letter also authrozied us to give consent for any health care issue.
I never showed the letter to anybody. Nobody asked.
We flew Continental.

[tdiaz]

Originally Posted by Beach Lounger

It might depend on the age of children.
My nephew will be 16 by the time we fly.

But my understanding from frontier was a no, just passport.
I would call but that is just me covering my rear..

I tend to be one of those "worry warts", so I will get the forms signed, notorized, etc. and carry around, most likely never needed, but want to eliminate any chance of an issue.

[canadiense loco]

Originally Posted by Michael

the US has agents in Calgary?

Apparently they do. Wow. How annoying is that. :-(

Yes. I think it's called pre clearance and it is done at most major airports in Canada for flights into the States. I believe these flights are treated almost like domestic flights when you land in the States because of the pre clearance done in Canada. So now you just get to wait in a line in Canada instead of when you arrive in the U.S.