Expert: Roberto Gomes - 10/28/2006

Question
Dear Mr. Gomes,

Thank you for replying to my question.

I actually want to know " if " the unaccompanied minor's or the invalid passenger's documents (like UNM forms, passports,visas,id cards,medical forms etc.) are lost onboard during the flight...what would a cabin crew do to take care of those passengers?

Regards,
Sam

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
How will a flight attendant handle the following special handling passengers if they have lost all their documents -
1. An Unaccompanied Minor
2. An Invalid Passenger
-----Answer-----
Dear Sam,

Initially the flight attendants don't "handle" special passengers, they take care of them onboard according to special needs. All paperwork process is made by the ground staff and if the proper and required documents are not produced and presented the transportation is denied.

Your question seems to need further clarification since I am not sure if I understood it the way you believe. If you need any additional information, please let me know.

Best Regards,
R. Gomes

Answer
Dear Sam,

All unaccompanied minor's docs (i.e. passports, ID's, boarding passes and internal forms) stays with the crew in most airlines and they are stowed in a special plastic bag or envelopes with the UNMR marks. If for some reason they are lost, the airline will be responsible for all the provisions that may arise from this fact. Some crew members in order to be exempted from this, check the passport and returned it to the minor.

In the end, the ground staff will assume all the responsibilities on behalf of the airline.

As far as medical cases are concern, the person responsible for the passenger must fill a form (you can see it in this link - http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/images/Form%20A_tcm53-15799.pdf) which will be delivered to the crew in order to check the arrangements needed in-flight and allow the connecting and destination stations to make all the provisions on the ground. All other docs remains with the passenger or escort if there is one.

Hope that now I clarified your question.

Best Regards,
R. Gomes