Tag Page internationalflights

does my 16-year-old need a consent letter to fly to china?

My son just turned 16, and he’s about to fly solo to China to visit his grandparents. We spent hours comparing flights and finally booked him a round-trip ticket with China Southern Airlines. Now, I keep hearing mixed things about what paperwork he actually needs. Some folks say we have to write a consent letter from both parents, but the airline says their unaccompanied minor service isn’t even required for kids his age. I’m honestly getting a bit anxious—what if he gets stuck at customs because we missed something? I’ve read stories online about teens being held up for not having the right documents, and it’s making me second-guess everything. Does the U.S. or China really check for a parental consent letter when a 16-year-old travels alone? And what about when he comes back—will U.S. customs ask for anything special? I just want to make sure he doesn’t run into any trouble, but I’m starting to feel like the rules are different everywhere. Anyone else gone through this with their teenager? #familytravel #teenagers #internationalflights #Travel