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I had quite a few comments the other day about permission letters to fly solo with a child. And it's a great idea, in theory. What is not so great is that the letter isn't always asked for.
My examples:
When Taylor was 4 my mum took her to Vancouver. She was not asked for the letter at either airport, coming or going.
Ditto when Liam was 5.
This past summer when we went to Nelson, Taylor and Liam stayed an extra week with my mum. They flew from Castlegar to Vancouver to Edmonton. 3 airports that did not ask for the letter.
Lest you think it's just our lax Canadian security (since you know all terroists in the States come via Canada) William flew to Melbourne and back with Saoirse via numerous airports...Edmonton, Vancouver, Honalulu, Sydney, Melbourne. He was not asked for that letter once in the 10 times he should have been asked.
My mother flew with Taylor to London via Vancouver. Not asked for the letter coming or going. She was asked for the letter once, at the French end of the chunnel when they went to EuroDisney.
26 out of 27 times that permission letter was not asked for. And we wonder how it is that parents manage to cross international borders with children in custody disputes.
And totally off topic, I will post about the online book club this weekend. We'll see what comes together.
11 January, 2008
The funny thing about permission letters
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17 comments:
My children have never flown without a parent but mum took Dillon on a ferry once between the UK and Ireland, she wasn't asked for the letter. In the UK children have to have their own passports which means that the legal guardian or the courts can control where the child travels. In Ireland children can still be put on their parents passports but my children all have their own as they sometimes travel with just me (I have UK passport). Of course travelling by sea in Eurpoe and they rarely asked for id so I figure that's how abduction will happen.
Lila has never flown, much less flown out of the U.S., but it's still amazing to me how lax these airports still are.
From this it does seem the system should be tightened up~ stable door and horses come to mind!!
that is terrifying!!!
Good grief, that's scary! I am so glad my kids are all grown and the grandkids all have stable parents (that makes them sound like horses, doesn't it?)
Oh, crap, I just read that previous comment. I did not mean that y'all were NOT stable parents...I just was trying to compliment my in-laws.
Yes it makes you think. I believe now in US to even apply for a passport both parents have to be involved or a signed affidavit (sp) that the missing parent is ok with the passport request...
I've never even heard of the need for these letters! Probably nor have half the airport staff by the sounds of it.
That's actually really scarey and slightly terrifying to read. I'm sitting here ashamed of our airports.
I agree with Frannie that is terrifying!
Yeah, that's scary. And closely to they scrutinize the letter when they do request it, I wonder.
Oops, sorry for the mistype - And HOW closely do they scrutinize...
Interested in book club.
Appalled by lack of security at airports.
See, both times I flew withLittle Man by myself, I was asked for it at Canadian customs. Never on the way home, which makes sense, since I'm obviously bringing the child back.
I can understand that they wouldn't ask for it necessarily when you're traveling within the country, but I think you do bring an interesting point of should it be?
To that I say, I don't know...
But for border crossings, hell yeah they should tighten it! I have no issues with taking the time to get a notarized letter, if it means one less mom or dad will have their child kidnapped by a disturbed parent.
But you can't take a fingernail file on a damn plane! How stupid and dangerous is that!!!
Since my 2 older boys are Italian, I was issued a permission (to travel without a parent) card in Italy. I added my MIL, SIL and my mom's names onto the card. That mans the boys can only travel with those people. The kids used to travel to nearby countries with my mom, so she had to carry that card every time she takes them with her.
That card was checked all the time (out of curiosity I guess) since they travel with Italian passports while she has a singaporean passport and also because they look more european than asian!
But the card is no longer called upon nowadays!!
That is STRANGE! Every time my dad used to cross the border with my sister and I he had to provide our birth certificates and permission from our mum to go. That was 20 freaking years ago!
WTH is happening that you can go through freaking airports with any ol adult and not be questioned! GAH!!!
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