Following laws meant to prohibit children from travelling unaccompanied, low coast airline, FlyAfrica, has been accused of shortchanging travelers in South Africa.

Irate passengers said the airline did not disclose to them critical information prior to booking only to charge minors exorbitant spot fines.

“What FlyAfrica agents at O.R Tambo (in Johannesburg) do is unethical and unprofessional. Firstly, they don't reveal critical information to unsuspecting parents prior to booking tickets for their unaccompanied children below 18 years,” claimed a client, Kudakwashe Kundituka.

He said FlyAfrica would then ambush the unsuspecting children and dissuade them from travelling without the required documents such as identity documents and police clearance.

"This is done on the 11th hour when queuing the minors board their flight for departure," said Kundituka, whose cousin he said was turned away.

He continued, “In the process, you are forced to run around to ensure that your child does not miss the flight, but by the time you finish the affidavits and other paper work with police the flight would have gone. It is then that the FlyAfrica staff would demand additional R850 for missing the flight if you still want your child to continue travelling on their next available flight."

Obert-Phathisani Mhlanga, whose stepson was flying to Harare in Zimbabwe, also cried foul over the alleged violation by FlyAfrica.

“They are making a profit by taking advantage of unsuspecting passengers. We were booked for a 0620hrs flight from Johannesburg to Harare two weeks before departure, but guess what, the agents did not tell us of anything,” Mhlanga decried.

“Our child had come from Zimbabwe buy bus, but this time, we wanted him to fly, so we did not know going back home we might be required to have affidavits from police since our son had a valid passport and a ticket for FlyAfrica. It was when the flight was about to depart when told our child would not board until we sought the police clearance,” Mhlanga said.