Qantas is sticking to its guns after refusing to allow a 14-year-old boy to fly alone with his 2-year-old sister, leaving the distressed toddler unable to be reunited with her family.
Cromwell mother Anna Grace is annoyed that after buying tickets for her son Hamish and daughter Montana-Rose
to fly from Christchurch to Queenstown on Sunday, the airline would not permit it.
Ms Grace believed her son, who paid an adult fare for the 40-minute flight, could escort his sister, and she could not find anything to the contrary while booking online.
"When we booked the child's fare it didn't say anything [like], 'Please ensure that this child is travelling with someone over 15'."
Hamish had been well-prepared, with nappies and other supplies.
Qantas spokesman Lloyd Quartermaine said the airline's policy was clear - one unaccompanied minor could not assist another unaccompanied minor. "Essentially, you have got a child accompanying a child, which is quite clearly something - in the interests of safety - that we don't encourage. If there was a situation to occur on that flight, we need the supervision of an adult."
Air New Zealand has a similar policy.
Montana-Rose is staying with her brother at their grandparents' home in Canterbury, and Ms Grace is hoping to make other arrangements to get her home today.
Ms Grace wondered what would have happened if her daughter had no one else to look after her at the airport.
"It opens all sorts of cans of worms."
