Airlines Refuses Permission for Boy With Autism to Travel Without a Guardian

Qantas Airlines claims that as per rules, the mother should have submitted a medical certificate ahead of travel, and not while check-in.

Qantas Airways Limited, Australia, refused to board a boy with autism unless his parents or guardian accompanied him during the travel for safety concerns.

The airlines has a special program for unaccompanied minors that keep them supervised and safe from the time they check in at the airport until a guardian meets them at their destination.

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Gizelle Laurente bought a ticket for Jacob, her 6-year-old son, to visit his father for Easter weekend. She could not afford a ticket and wanted her son to travel alone after she consulted his pediatrician, and even arranged for him to take a higher dose of his ADHD medication so he would remain calm during the flight.

Laurente claims that when a pilot came to meet Jacob at the boarding gate, she relayed his conditions and the pilot refused to board Jacob. Laurente said, "I was heartbroken for him. I just started crying."

She later took to Facebook to complain. A Qantas staff explained that their medical team needed more information about Jacob’s condition. They required Jacob’s medical forms to be submitted several days before the flight, not at check-in.

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Source-Medindia

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