Unaccompanied Minors....
How many of you fly your skids this way for visitation???
I ask, because this will be our new way of life, now that the military is sending us far from the skids and our families.
I have looked it up, I see the age requirements are generally 5 to 14... sooo..
MIL was talking to the BM, and offered to fly the kids unaccompanied of course and BM said nope no way. She will not allow them to fly unaccompanied..
We are at a loss. Skids fall toward the high end of the age group.. and well.. its not an option for us for any other way. How do you get them to come around. My dh is now upset that he wont get to see his kids, the way he thought had been agreed to..
HELP
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We have flown each SD to
We have flown each SD to visit MIL in Texas as an unaccompanied minor. SD15 is old enough to go on the flights by herself but we have her call us right when she gets to the airport. SD13 has flown there with a flight attendant (whom DH and I meet quickly before the plane leaves).
You should talk to your lawyer or a lawyer at your local base and tell them what's going on and ask for their advice.
SD14 and SS12 fly out to see
SD14 and SS12 fly out to see their aunt and grandma. We don't have any issues with BM because she is not in the picture to have a say. If BM is being stubborn about not letting skids come out to visit you guys then you will have to take it to your lawyer. Maybe at the end someone will have to fly out and get skids and fly back out with them. It will be more pricier but that is the only way that maybe BM can not say no to.
CP
Yeah, unfortunately funds
Yeah, unfortunately funds are going to be really limited, and the amt we budget is going to have to cover any costs we incur to fly them.. so looks like they wont get to see their dad as much.. and he is NOT happy about that.
I will see if legal will help him out, or if he will need to hire a lawyer, which again, we can not afford. So aggravating.
yes, this is true, but often
yes, this is true, but often they can get you a civilian lawyer that does the first hour free and a discount on the time thereafter.
Well, I can tell you first
Well, I can tell you first hand that the Court will uphold unaccompinied minor travel. I fought this myself. My son was 7 and my x lived in CO, us in GA. He wanted him to fly from here to Atlanta, two hour lay over. From there to Dallas, three hour layover, and onto CO. I was not happy. Didn't want to let him go. My attorney told me pretty quick to freaking bad, I better let him go or it will be withholding visitation.
I still don't like it and he's 14 now! But I never had him scared of it, I always told him how much fun it would be, etc. I bought him a whistle to hang around his neck and instructed him to blow like hell if he was scared of another person in any way. He never blew it......he's such a people kind of person (this is the main reason I was terrified).
Come to find out, the kids get tags they have to hang around their neck. You get them on the plane. The flight attendant has them sit up front so they can keep a eye on them. They escort them from gate to gate, if it's a layover they escort them into a private, secure holding room where they have all kinds of snacks, PS2's, etc. My son LOVED layovers! LOL!
I understand BM not being fond of it......but in the end it may be the only way the children get to see their dad. She's going to have to give on this one, and I know it from experience.
These are direct flights
These are direct flights only. The airline we were looking at will only allow unaccompanied on a direct flight. I wouldnt be comfortable w/a layover.. or even a stop.
We did it for many years and
We did it for many years and never had any problem. But the airline required direct flights, which may have helped. I think you have to pay an additional $40-50 on each end, to cover the extra work for the flight attendants. She was never left alone for one minute.
But at least we got to see SD, without WWIII.
SD was very proud to do this 'on her own', and I have to say she is a very independent young lady in things like this. It will be ok, but I would just try to get direct flights - order way in advance if you have to.
_________________________________________________________
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The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
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yeah.. its $75 each leg
yeah.. its $75 each leg now.. so $150 roundtrip per child.
Thanks Rags... I agree..
Thanks Rags... I agree.. she should just let him have his visitation, and she is doing it as a control issue.. as she is losing all her control by us being sent away. she no longer can rule over our weekend vistiations being how SHE wants them.. rather than how HE wants them. This has been going on for YEARS.
I did read on one of the websites, that when the child is over the unaccompanied age, you can still pay the fee, but its not required after that age. That said, I wouldnt put them on anything OTHER THAN a direct flight. Just for my piece of mind.
They also are not 5. They are much older than that.. and as such, should be ok.. MIL is upset.. to say the least.
I guess the problem for us
I guess the problem for us is, if we spend the money on a lawyer to get her to comply, then we dont have the money to fly them down. So, damned if you do, and damned if you dont.. KWIM?
We can not afford both.. and I think she knows that.