Supporting Independent Travel
We are very fortunate to live in a time where travel is now a viable option for many young people. There are many motivations for the youth to trot around the globe and various ways in which we as chaperones help make that possible, safer and fun.
A common reason for children travelling solo is to visit relatives, such as grandparents, who live in another country. It may be that health, visas or other obstacles prevent the grandparents from travelling to see the grandchild or simply that the child wants the adventure but their parents are unable to accompany them.
Another is when a child travels between the homes of their parents who live apart due to either work circumstances, visa restrictions or separation.
At one time these important needs for travelling were impossible to meet; now, with vastly improved transport and communication links, unaccompanied-minor services and travel chaperones, a young person can visit all the important people in their lives.
In this less-limited world, young people now benefit from travelling with purposes beyond family visits: pupils fly great distances to attend international boarding schools or specialist academies, e.g., language or music; others take trains across boarders to attend a summer camp; some even hop several buses to volunteer. Children are extremely capable when it comes to independent travel; however, most situations are made more secure with a chaperone.
In certain industries, legal requirements have been put in place to protect children on the move. A good example is in the entertainment industry where children must be accompanied by a licensed chaperone when travelling, living alone away from home and working. For good reason there is an age limit to which a person can fly solo. Depending on the airline, a child must either have an adult accompanying them or, if at all available, apply for the ‘unaccompanied-minor’ service. We at Children’s Flight Chaperone are committed to meeting this growing demand, enabling young people from age 3 to 16 reach their destinations and helping provide the service where an airline has none, or is limited. For those 17 and above, we have a Caring Flight Companion.
We believe that young people can still feel independent on their travels whilst in the company of a chaperone. Children have a remarkable thirst for adventure and it is our pleasure to support them in reaching their goals, whether that is journeying to meet their expedition-team at the bottom of Kilimanjaro; making it to an audition, interview or exam; touring to sports events or taking trips to far-flung festivals and concerts.
The world is for the young to explore; we aim to keep it that way!