Send your children sky high this summer

School’s out for summer but the sun is yet to catch up to it, leaving some families struggling with the thought of another soggy camping season. British travellers are giving up on the Met Office and dreary weather, to seek sunnier climates.

Research from Cheapflights.co.uk shows a ten per cent increase in travel abroad compared with July 2008, showing ‘staycation’ fever has been doused by grey skies and rain clouds.

The UK’s leading flight price comparison website, Cheapflights.co.uk has added a new tips page for parents looking for guidance on children flying solo this summer.

“Parents sending children on an unaccompanied flight can be daunting,” says Francesca Ecsery, General Manager of Cheapflights.co.uk.

“It’s key to take note of different rules for unaccompanied children flying with different airlines, but it can be difficult to find which airline best suits your circumstances. Many airlines will accept under 12s through an unaccompanied minor scheme but the policies do vary depending on airline, even occasionally on arrival and departure point.”

British Airways offers a Skyflyer Solo service for under 12s, but children are required to be accompanied by either an appointed member of staff or a parent, family member or guardian who is at least 16.

Emirates has two categories of solo travel for children. Those aged 5 to 11 years are considered Unaccompanied Minors and will be looked after by designated airline staff. Those aged over 12 are treated as Young Passengers, paying the full adult fare and receiving assistance from airline staff when on the ground.

EasyJet allows solo travel from the age of 14 and does not operate an indemnity policy, meaning they cannot accept requests for another passenger to be responsible for unaccompanied minors onboard.

Visit the new Unaccompanied Minors tips page online for more information.

For a full list of family travel tips from Cheapflights.co.uk – including the best family beaches, travelling with children and keeping them entertained at the airport - visit the website’s Travel Tips section.