Booking flights

Projects Abroad recommends our trusted partner travel agent STFly to book your flights. They have over 35 years of experience arranging flights for volunteers and travellers around the world. Searching for flights online can be a time-consuming, overwhelming, and frustrating process – let them do the work for you!

They can help you book the best return flights, making sure you have the safest, most convenient, and most cost-effective flight options, no matter how complex your travel plans are.

Benefits of booking flights through STFly

Their experienced travel team offers a personalised service, drawing on decades of arranging flights for thousands of volunteers to countries around the world. Their staff have in-depth knowledge about the countries where we work and know the best ways to get you where you need to go!

This is a highly personalised, speedy, efficient service, and their staff take all of your specific needs and concerns into account

They use safe and reliable scheduled airlines

They look for changeable tickets whenever possible

They arrange transfers and connecting flights automatically

They keep you up to date with all the important details – timetable changes, overnight stops or delays, baggage allowances, and time-zone and date changes

They choose sensible routes and layover times

Some of the countries we work in are small and have specific airports that cannot be booked online. Their staff are able to book the exact airports you need to fly to.

If you want to travel independently before or after volunteering, they can help you book flights to wherever you are going, anywhere in the world

All volunteers travelling with STFly also have access to their 24/7 emergency phone number for help with flights

Frequently Asked Questions about Flights

What is my destination airport?

You can find your destination airport for each project on your MyProjectsAbroad Page or by asking your Destination Expert once you have applied. In some destinations, you can choose to fly to an alternative airport for an extra fee.

If I can’t fly non-stop, will I have enough time for my
connecting flights?

Yes. STFly only books flights with connections guaranteed by the airlines. If there are weather-related or other delays, you will be booked on the next available flight. If that happens, you should call our in-country emergency number to let us know when to meet your new flight at the airport.

What if I need to change my flights?

No problem! All you need to do is contact STFly and they will make all the necessary changes on your behalf. Changing your flights will incur penalties and possibly a fare difference. They’ll let you know the exact amount before finalising any changes.

What will my baggage allowance be?

The amount of luggage you can take with you depends on each airline and booking class. STFly will let you know the allowance while working on your flight itineraries.

Can I choose my seats?

Maybe. This depends on the airline you are flying with. Some allow pre-arranged seating while others don’t assign seats until the day of the flight.

Do you offer chaperoned flights?

Yes. For selected high school programmes each summer we offer chaperoned flights (sometimes called escorted flights) from UK and US airports.

A member of Projects Abroad staff will travel with your teen, helping them to navigate the journey to their destination and back again.

A fee applies, with limited places available, allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Ask your Project Expert for details of available flights.

What do I need to know if my teenagers is flying alone?

Thousands of teenagers fly internationally on their own to our projects every year, and airlines have procedures in place to help make the journey safe and straightforward.

Many airlines offer an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service or similar support for young people travelling without an adult. Depending on your child’s age and the airline you choose, this service may be compulsory rather than optional.

It is therefore very important to check your airline’s rules before booking your flights. Requirements vary between airlines and can also vary depending on the route, connections and the age of the traveller.

Before booking, please:

Check the airline’s requirements for young people travelling alone. Do this for both the outbound and return journeys, and for any connecting flights or different airlines involved in the journey.
Check whether an Unaccompanied Minor service is compulsory for your child’s age. If it is, you will need to arrange it in advance for them to travel.
Book and pay for the service directly with the airline. Any airline fees for this service are not included in your Projects Abroad programme fee.
Consider using the service even when it is optional. For younger travellers in particular, parents may appreciate the additional support an airline can provide while their child navigates the airport and their flight.
Tell Projects Abroad if you have booked an Unaccompanied Minor service. We can then provide the details of the appropriate member of our local team who will meet your child on arrival and make sure the necessary airport handover arrangements are understood.

What happens on the return journey?

Our local team will make sure your child gets to the airport in good time and will assist them with check-in.

However, unless your child is travelling on one of our Projects Abroad chaperoned flights, our staff do not normally accompany participants through airport security or to the departure gate.

If your airline requires an Unaccompanied Minor service for the return flight, please arrange this directly with the airline and let us know the airline’s handover requirements in advance. When completing airline forms, please do not state that a Projects Abroad staff member will accompany your child to the departure gate unless this has specifically been agreed with us.

Would you prefer your teenager to fly with a Projects Abroad chaperone?

For selected High School Programmes and routes, we also offer chaperoned flights, where a Projects Abroad chaperone travels with the group and supports participants throughout the journey.

These typically fly from London, UK and selected airports in the United States.

This can be a great option for teenagers travelling internationally without their parents for the first time, and gives parents additional peace of mind.