Flying to the EU with children after separation without father's letter

[THATsummergirlera]

I'm due to fly with my children to an EU country later this month. This is our first holiday without their father.

There is no contact agreement in place, he sees them for less than 10 hours per week with no overnight contact.

He and I were not married and they have his surname not mine.

Am I likely to be questioned on this at the airport?

Some people have said I need a letter from him and others have said taking their birth certificates with me will do.

I am trying to avoid asking for a letter because depending on his mood at the time he could react in different way and I can't be doing with it.

To add - he is fully aware I am taking them abroad and has not said anything against this to date but can be quite unpredictable.

We flew home via London recently, I was asked if I had permission for our two so I showed a letter from my husband and their adoption certificates.

It really varies, you don’t always get asked, I would say the majority of the time we’re not asked if we’re traveling alone, but we always have everything just in case it is needed.

You can go to court to get consent to take them abroad without permission, you can then take the court document with you each time you fly.

According to government rules, official travel advise and AI, yes you’re supposed to have a letter.
reality is both myself and my ex husband have travelled abroad probably about 40 times between us with our children without the other parent and we have never once been asked for the letter, which especially him, we’ve often forgotten to bring anyway. But we do know a friend who was denied a flight to SA as he didn’t have the letter.

Officially yes you need his permission and a letter. I know people who’ve been stopped and some that haven’t, pot luck probably

never understand why non married mums give their children their partners surname but guess that’s a whole other thread in itself !

I’m married but often take DS abroad solo and we have different names. I’m asked about 50% of the time for documents, generally when coming back to the UK.

Ironically, and totally unlogically, you are more likely to be questioned upon your return...which will result in them just saying next time you'll need a letter from the dad, which again is stupid because anyone could write it!

We have never been asked travelling single with the children. But of course it's recommended to carry a letter frlm the other parent.

It’s totally random. My DC have my last name but my best friend regularly got asked about her DC who do not. So she made sure she always had the letter from ex with updated details.