The service for unaccompanied minors allows children or teenagers to travel on an airplane without an adult, but under the care of the airline staff, from when they enter the airport until they are delivered to their destination to an attendant. Acquiring this service offered by Avianca, Nani Martínez planned her seven-year-old son's trip from Bogotá to Corozal (Sucre). However, the mother explained that it was not fulfilled.
According to Martínez, on Friday, April 8, they scheduled the flight after noon, so the minor arrived with his father in the morning, but around five in the afternoon he was returned to the city of Bogotá because the airline had canceled the flight and had not given timely notice to either parent.
The child's mother questioned that a child had to be in that situation for so long because of Avianca's neglect. “I got really scared, I looked at the clock and said he's been at the airport for four hours, he just must be terrified... I called the airline and they told me that they had a lot of congestion in the recommended room and since they had so many children, they had spent getting on the plane,” said Nani Martínez in an interview with the radio station La W.
The minor's mother also pointed out that after the incident presented, Avianca apologized to her and those affected and proposed to move the flight for the next day, but Nani assured that she no longer trusts the airline's service, so she preferred that the child stay in Bogotá city.
In this regard, Avianca said:
He added: “The airline will take appropriate action to prevent this situation from recurring.”
From this Sunday, April 10 to Sunday, April 17, Colombia will commemorate Holy Week, one of the holiday seasons where thousands of Colombians are expected to travel inside and outside the country. Therefore, here are some recommendations for you to travel safely and peacefully, whether you are travelling by plane or on the road.
According to Aeronáutica Civil (Aerocivil), during the Major Week it is estimated that around 1,437,000 passengers will be transported at all airports in Colombia. With that figure in mind, the aviation agency and some airlines such as Avianca, recommended that travelers take into account the following points to avoid setbacks:
Check with the authorities in your destination country for entry requirements. Please have your vaccination card and/or PCR test on hand when entering Colombia if required.
Stay in constant contact with your airline through the applications and communication channels provided for this purpose, in order to anticipate changes in itineraries.
Check in early, as well as fill out the Check-Mig form in advance before leaving or entering Colombia.
Please arrive at the airport two hours in advance for domestic flights and three hours in advance for international flights, as there may be unforeseen events such as weather conditions or air traffic congestion.
Take into account the dimensions of your baggage, so that you avoid inconvenience when boarding your flight.
For your safety and that of other passengers, carry cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, portable external chargers (Power Banks) and any other object that contains lithium batteries in your hand baggage.
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