THE FLYING AUNTIES

Few passengers on the British Airways flight to Honk Kong which took off from London Airport in August, were aware that their flight was setting a record for the company. In fact their plane was carrying 112 “unaccompanied minors” (the largest amount of children travelling without parents or guardians ever to have flown on a unique flight. Most of these children, aged from six backwards, were returning to Hong Kong after taking three-week English lessons at various language schools as long as an exchange scheme.The children were no left to their own devices, altogether. Airline rules say that children under twelve can only fly if they are accompanied from an adult. So, a group of three “aunties” and one “uncle” flew with them to get them entertained and solve with any problems that might arise. They are part of a British Airways team known as the “flying aunties”. These are BA employees who volunteer, in their own time, to produce an escorted service for unaccompanied minors to both European and long-haul destinations.