Latvian airline, airBaltic has altered its unaccompanied minor service, a service offered for children between the ages of 5 and 17 travelling alone. Under the airline’s new terms for the service, for flights from Riga International Airport, parents or guardians of minors flying solo will have to accompany the child all the way to the boarding gate rather than the previous system whereby children were dropped off at the public flight departure area of the airport. This amendment ensures that children flying alone will be under the supervision of the airline all the way from boarding until the child has met their parent or guardian upon arrival at the destination.
Laura Vecvanaga-Puķīte, airBaltic’s SVP of ground operations and customer care stated, “Each year we have over 1,000 passengers traveling as unaccompanied minor. The service is becoming more popular, and we wished to improve it further. Together with Riga International Airport we were able to execute changes in procedures, therefore now parents or guardians will have the opportunity to spend longer time with their children travelling alone, taking children up to boarding gate.”
The airBaltic unaccompanied minor service is available for children aged five and over, if the legislation of the child’s country of residence permits it. For children 5-11 years of age this service is mandatory, but for for children 12-17 years of age, the service is optional if requested by their parents or guardians.
To use the service, the parent or guardian must hold a valid passport or ID card, and a single entry pass to accompany the child to the gate will be provided to the parent or guardian at the check-in desk. Theparent or guardian must also remain at the airport until the flight has departed. At the final destination, the parent or guardian must show up on time for the arrival of the flight.
The unaccompanied minor service must be arranged and paid for in advance at airBaltic ticket offices or via the online payment form, as prior confirmation is required. Up to of five children using the unaccompanied minor service are accepted on each flight.
