What are the rules with ref to flying my 16 year old boy alone from the UK to Portugal. I would like to meet him at faro airport.

Gary

The advice on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website is as follows

A minor under the age of 18 travelling to Portugal must either:

* be accompanied by a parent or guardian,
* be met at the airport or point of entry by a parent or guardian, or
* carry a letter of authorisation to travel from a parent or guardian. The letter should name the adult responsible for the minor during his/her stay.


So if you meet him at the airport he should be fine.

Just a quick comment on this one, I was behind a youth, obviously under 18 a couple of months ago, when he got to the passport control it got quite heated as he didn't have a letter allowing him to enter Portugal from his parents/guardian, and although he was being met at the airport by his father, it caused quite a lot of problems. The father could not be allowed into arrivals to vouch for the lad, I am not sure what happened as I then went through passport control myself.
Maybe a letter to carry to show at passport control would be a very good idea anyway.

I agree Lesley I would go for the belt and braces approach to minimise the chance of their being a problem.

Maddi

Our kids have done it quite a few times and although 14 and 15 now they done it a couple of times with no problems. You do need to make sure you have a letter stating that they are meant to be there on their own and the names and passport numbers of the people who are meeting them the other end. Make sure whoever collects them takes their passport to the Airport though!.

BA have definately been the best although most airlines will take kids alone over 14 years.

my friend had this problem, even though she was with my family and had a letter they asked for the passport of the person who had signed the letter and suggested it could have been photocopied onto it

Thanks, for the info everyone. I think I will write a letter plus attach a photocopy of my passport.

Kind regards

Gary

Gary/Gaynor wrote:What are the rules with ref to flying my 16 year old boy alone from the UK to Portugal. I would like to meet him at faro airport.

Gary

Beside the local imigration rules, you should check the samllprint for the airline, especially the lo-cost carriers such as EasyJet. many of them have very convoluted rules on who can and cannot fly at certain ages and what constitutes an "adult" (except, of course, when taking money for the fare!). Not sure who to go for if flying from Holland but generally national carriers (BA, KLM etc) have much better rules on this than the lo-costs.
I think Monarch will carry 16 year old unacompanied from UK but prety sure that easy jet don't

My son and step son are both 15 and are flying out with Easy Jet to stay with their Grandpa in Carvoeiro, so this as been extremely useful. I will now ensure that a letter is sent with them both, with a copy of both mine and their grandpa's passports attached.

Easy Jet fly out kids of 14 and over unattended - we've checked!!!

Thanks everyone.

Actually he will be flying from Leeds with Jet2 so I hope that should be ok

I know that if a teenager below 18 years old, cannot fly out of Portugal, without both parents, or without a letter signed by parents and in the presence of a Notary. I used to have a year document for each of our children, so they could fly back and forth all year round.
mini.g

So what happens if two 16 year olds are married with a baby. Who would give permission for the baby to travel, the grandparents????

I wish they would rationalise the age of an "adult" all over Europe, whether they decide on 16 or 18 or whatever and stick to that for everything. I know I have said this before and I know it is the rule/law but it seems silly to me.

I think this is an excellent idea, sending children flying around the world.
The more time they spend in the air the less hassle they can cause on the ground