How old child can travel on plane

Unaccompanied minors − Travel information − American Airlines

Due to local health guidance, we’re not accepting unaccompanied minors on flights to Beijing (PEK), Seoul (ICN), Shanghai (PVG) or Sydney (SYD) for now.

Children traveling alone

We want your child to have a safe and positive trip. For safety, we require children age 5 – 14 traveling alone to use our unaccompanied minor service. This service is optional for children age 15 – 17, but if requested, then the fee applies.

We charge a $150 unaccompanied service fee (plus tax, where applicable) each way, in addition to the ticket price. This fee covers additional siblings on the same flight.

Unaccompanied minor service

Our service includes:

• Early boarding to allow extra time to get settled and meet the flight attendants
• Kids-only lounges in our hub cities for flight connections
• Complimentary Kids' Kits from Quaker with snacks and activities (for ages 5 – 10, in hub cities)
• An airport escort to help your child to the gate for flight connections
• Escorting the child to the authorized adult picking them up when they land

Keep in mind, our flight attendants will be busy with onboard duties and can’t continuously monitor your child during their flight. Let your child know to ring the call button if they need anything.

Age and flight restrictions for children traveling alone:

We don’t allow children to travel alone when their trips include:

• Flights on another airline including codeshare and oneworld® partners
• Ground or co-terminal connections where the child must transfer from one local airport to another
• The last flight of the day from the final connection city (unless it’s the only flight)
• Overnight connecting flights

Age range	Restrictions
0-4	Cannot travel alone
5-7	• Unaccompanied minor service required • Gate escort and guardian contact required • Nonstop flights only
8-14	• Unaccompanied minor service required • Gate escort and guardian contact required • Nonstop flights, or any connecting flight through Charlotte, NC (CLT), Washington Reagan, D. C. (DCA), Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW), New York, NY (JFK and LGA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX), Miami, FL (MIA), Chicago, IL (ORD), Philadelphia, PA (PHL) and Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
15-17	• Unaccompanied minor service optional, service fee still applies • Gate escort and guardian contact required • Nonstop flights, or any connecting flight through Charlotte, NC (CLT), Washington Reagan, D.C. (DCA), Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW), New York, NY (JFK and LGA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX), Miami, FL (MIA), Chicago, IL (ORD), Philadelphia, PA (PHL) and Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

Note: Children ages 2 – 14 can travel as an 'accompanied minor' with someone 16 or older.

Complimentary Kids' Kits by Quaker

Children between 5-10 years old can stay entertained during their journey with our complimentary Kids’ Kits* presented by Quaker. Included are puzzles, activities and 2 complimentary snacks to enjoy at the airport or in flight. Kits are available for children departing from:

• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, D.C. (DCA)
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK and LGA)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

*Subject to availability

Booking your child's trip

Unaccompanied minors need to be booked by phone.

Contact Reservations

Keep in mind, AAdvantage^® Web Special awards can only be booked online, but if you call an agent can help find another award.

Preparing for travel

Whether your child has traveled alone or this is their first time, we recommend talking with them about the trip and what to expect. Assure them our team is there to help keep them safe.

Some helpful tips to prepare:

• Point out our team uniforms at the airport. Remind your child to ask for help only from a uniformed team member.
• Write down phone numbers for your child.
• Pack games, books and money in one small carry-on.
• Food and drink service is limited, so we recommend packing snacks for your child to enjoy during their flight.
• Attach an ID card and contact information to your child’s carry-on bag or jacket.
• Fully charge any electronic devices, and don’t forget to pack chargers and headphones.
• Be sure your child knows to wait for a team member to walk them off the plane when they land (this includes older children using our service).

Note: We don’t hold or give personal medication to an unaccompanied child.

At the airport

Check-in and required documents

Arrive at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time of your child’s flight and speak with a ticket counter agent. Children traveling alone can’t check in online or at the kiosk.

You’ll need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during their journey. At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide:

• A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age
• The adult’s government-issued photo ID with their current address
• Your phone number so we can contact you
• The name, address and phone number of the adult meeting your child at their destination

Once your child is checked in, the ticket agent will give you a security pass from the airport ticket counter so you can take your child to the gate.

Boarding and takeoff

For a smooth departure:

• An adult must take the child to the departure gate and stay until the flight is airborne.
• When you get to the gate, tell the gate agent you have an unaccompanied minor traveling on the flight.
• We’ll board your child early so they can meet the flight crew and learn about the plane’s safety features.
• The gate agent will let you know when the flight is airborne and you can leave the airport.
• Please contact the adult picking up your child to let them know they’re on their way.

During the flight

Our flight attendants will check on your child as duties allow, but they can’t continuously monitor your child throughout the flight.

Please remind your child to:

• Tell a flight attendant if he or she needs assistance or feels discomfort.
• Follow plane safety instructions, like wearing their seatbelt.
• Wait for a uniformed team member to escort them off the airplane once it arrives at the gate.

Unaccompanied minor lounges

If your child has a connection, we have lounges for unaccompanied minors in these airports:

• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, D. C. (DCA)
• Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK and LGA)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

While there, your child can wait for their connection and play games while supervised by American business partner personnel. These staff members will take your child outside the lounge to buy food and drinks, but they won’t be allowed to walk around outside alone.

Arrival and pick-up

For a seamless pick-up, don’t forget your government-issued photo ID. You’ll need to show it to get a security pass and meet the child at the gate (in the U.S.). You’ll also need to show it before we release the child to you.

We suggest arriving at least 2 hours before the child’s scheduled arrival so you have enough time.

Flight status and notifications

Stay connected with your child’s journey with flight notifications and remind the adult picking up your child from the airport to do the same. Be sure to get alerts for all flights in their trip.

Flight status

Flight delays and cancellations

We’ll call the contacts on the unaccompanied minor form and arrange an alternate flight if your child is unable to make a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations.

In the rare case that your child needs to stay overnight because of a missed connection, we’ll arrange for overnight accommodations, meals and supervision. We’ll call if this occurs.

Young adults (15 – 17 years of age)

If your young adult isn’t using the unaccompanied minor service and their flight is delayed or canceled, they will be accommodated as an adult customer. Keep in mind, many hotels won’t allow young people to check-in unless they are accompanied by an adult. Please remind them not to leave the airport for any reason unless they:

• Are accompanied by a uniformed team member or police officer
• Have spoken with a parent or designated adult

Please tell your young adult to speak to a team member if they have questions or need help.

Children traveling outside the U.

You may not be able to escort your child through security in some airports. If this is the case, a team member will take your child to the gate and stay with them until the flight departs.

Children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents.

Country-specific regulations

Some countries have additional restrictions for children traveling with guardians or as an unaccompanied minor.

If your child is traveling unaccompanied or with only one parent, you’ll need:

• The child's birth certificate
• Notarized travel authorization from both parents

The Brazilian Embassy or Consulate must issue, authenticate or legalize this travel authorization.

Contact the consulate in the child’s country of residence or check the National Council of Justice site for more information.

Brazilian National Council of Justice (CNJ) guidelines Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

Italian citizens younger than 14 traveling internationally must have their Individual Passport and Dichiarazione di Accompagno (Declaration of Temporary Guardianship for Travel Abroad). The document must include:

• The signature of a parent or legal guardian
• Authentication by local Police Headquarters
• The name of the airline the child will use

For children with a document proving another nationality (not Italian), check with the local Italian embassy or consulate in their residence country or the embassy or consulate of their destination country for requirements.

Children younger than 18 (at time of travel) and traveling alone to or from Mexico must have a travel authorization letter. This letter must be:

• In Spanish
• Notarized
• Signed by at least one parent or legal guardian

Implementation of Mexican Regulations Regarding Minor Travel Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility requirements

All children should present their own passport and meet the requirements of their destination.

Spanish authorities require that all Spanish children traveling alone, with only one parent or with a third party have a travel permit requested by the parents or legal guardians. This permit must be issued by one of these: Police, Civil Guard, Notary’s Office or Town Hall.

For children with a document proving another nationality (not Spanish) and living in Spain, go to the consulate to complete the necessary paperwork.

Flying on a partner airline?

Find helpful information if your trip includes 1 or more flights with our partner airlines.

• British Airways
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Qatar Airways

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Unaccompanied Minors: Can Kids Fly Alone? Rules, Fees Vary by Airline

In many families, parents or grandparents occasionally have to send kids from one family group to another, creating situations in which kids fly alone. Airline standards about the minimum travel age for children flying alone vary, though, and policies for unaccompanied minors on flights is one area where the big U.S. airlines do not march in lockstep.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Fly Alone?

The minimum age for children to travel alone as adults paying adult fares varies: Kids have to be 12 years old to fly alone on domestic flights with Hawaiian, Southwest, Air Canada, and WestJet; 13 years old on Alaska; 14 years old to fly as an adult on JetBlue; and 15 years old on Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit, and United.

International age limits also vary by airline, and some airlines don’t allow unaccompanied minors on international flights.

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Can Kids Younger Than Five Years Old Fly as Unaccompanied Minors?

For a variety of reasons, including the fact that flying with kids can be difficult even under the best conditions, children younger than five years old cannot travel as unaccompanied minors under any circumstances. For children between five years old and whatever the minimum adult age is on their chosen airline, most airlines provide special unaccompanied minor service for a fee.

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Of the 12 large North American airlines, only Allegiant and Frontier do not offer unaccompanied minors the option to fly. Many airlines also offer unaccompanied minor service for children a few years over the minimum adult age, which can be a good fit for families nervous about teenagers traveling alone.

Unaccompanied Minor Services and Fees

Unaccompanied minors are carefully controlled and monitored by airline personnel throughout the boarding, flight, and arrival phases of the trip. Airlines require that unaccompanied minors be delivered to the airline by documented adults and retrieved at destination by other documented adults.

Typically, airlines avoid booking unaccompanied minors on the last flight of the day or on flights likely to be disrupted by weather or other factors. Also, bookings on code-shared flights are not allowed. Most airlines limit unaccompanied minor service to nonstop or direct flights. Alaska, American, and Delta allow unaccompanied minor bookings on some connecting flights for kids ages eight and older, with various schedule and route limitations.

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The big U.S. airlines charge a base fee of $150 each way (though sometimes the fee covers multiple children traveling together) plus the applicable adult fare; other airlines charge the same or less. On the airlines that allow unaccompanied minors on international bookings, conditions around children flying alone on those flights are even more stringent. Most big international airlines offer similar services, though specifics vary by airline and country.

Parents of responsible tweens and young teens would do well to compare flights and airlines, since the minimum age at which children can travel unaccompanied ranges so widely. Also, with unaccompanied minor fees in the range of $150 each way, having a family member buy a round-trip ticket to accompany kids one way on a short trip may actually be less expensive.

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Minimum Age to Travel Alone: Taking the Train

Thinking about sending your child on the train instead? The minimum age to travel on Amtrak without an adult is 16 on most routes. However, Amtrak offers unaccompanied minor service between staffed stations on some trains for children between the ages of 13 and 15.

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Alone on the plane: a child's flight without parents

Of course, in most cases, parents will do everything to accompany their minor child in flight, but life shows: situations are different. Therefore, it is better to be prepared for them.

2 years, no such privilege at all). However, in practice, according to experienced parents, it is almost impossible to send a child under five to seven years old on a flight: each case is considered by an airline representative individually and depending on the regulations of a particular carrier, and preschool children are usually not allowed to travel independently. nine0003

Children under 12 years of age must use the Unaccompanied minor service.

As a rule, it will not be possible to purchase a ticket through online sales systems only for a child (this applies even if the parents' tickets were already purchased in advance and subsequently it was necessary to purchase a ticket for the child), you will have to contact the airline sales office or at the airline counter at the airport. Some AKs can issue tickets for a child over the phone; other carriers (for example, S7 or many low-cost carriers) do not provide an escort service at all and do not allow children under 12 years of age to board without adults. Any information in which you doubt or which you cannot find confirmation on the Web, it is better to clarify by calling the hotline. nine0003

Calling in advance is also required in order to find out the availability of seats for unaccompanied children on the flight: according to the rules, more than four children traveling alone cannot be on one plane. The number of seats may be reduced if there is an unaccompanied incapacitated child or passenger with a disability on the flight, as they require special attention from the flight attendant.

Usually, when it comes to traveling in the company of adults, airlines sell CH tickets for children from 2 to 12 years old at a discount. There will be no discount for a young solo traveler, and in some cases you will have to pay extra for the escort service at the airport (for example, Aeroflot charges a fee of 40 euros for one flight segment). nine0003

At this age it is also important that the child is fluent in the language spoken by flight attendants and airline employees.

• Passport and visa (if the child flies to a visa country) - obviously.
• Birth certificate.
• Application form and declaration of responsibility, which is filled in and signed by the parents either at the time of ticket purchase or at the airport at the check-in desk. It will contain the contact numbers of the parents and the meeting person. Six copies are required (one remains with the parents; the second is seized at the airport on the day of departure; the third is handed over to the flight attendant responsible for servicing the child on board; the fourth is received by the airline employee at the point of departure; the fifth is handed over by the flight attendant to the employee at the point of arrival; the sixth - remains with the child ). nine0028
• If the child is traveling abroad, a notarized permission from both parents must be presented.
• If one of the parents changed his surname after a divorce or after entering into a new marriage, a document confirming the change of surname is also attached.
• If the child leaves the country for a period of more than three months, the consent of the guardianship authorities must be obtained.
• In the case of adoption, most airlines do not require the provision of supporting documents, since children are equated with natural children, but this issue is best clarified by calling the carrier's hotline. nine0028
• If the child has a serious health problem, a medical certificate of the child's condition will be required.

Not only parents, but also other relatives, family friends or employees of the summer camp or school can be seeing off or meeting on a domestic flight: the main thing is that this person is entered in the questionnaire and arrives at the airport with identity documents. In the case of transportation of an unaccompanied child in an international direction, only legal representatives can deliver the child to the airport of departure and check him in for the flight: parents, adoptive parents, guardians, trustees or representatives of the child under a notarized power of attorney from legal representatives. nine0003

Check-in of an unaccompanied child can only be done offline directly at the airport. By the way, the accompanying person must stay at the airport until the flight departs.

After the mourner passes the child to the airline employee, the documents are placed in a special plastic file marked UM, which is hung around the child's neck. The escort escorts the child without a queue through passport control and to boarding, where he passes it to the senior flight attendant. As a rule, special attention is paid to "lonely" children during the flight - they are tried to entertain them, give them gift sets, listen to all their requests. nine0003

After landing, everything repeats: the flight attendant hands the child over to the airport employee, who escorts the passenger through passport control, leads to the meeting person and checks his documents (the identity must match the one indicated in the questionnaire).

If the greeter does not arrive at the airport on time, the airport employee spends the entire time waiting with the child.

The Declaration of Responsibility contains the clause: “In the event that the child is not met at the airport of destination, I trust the company to take the actions necessary to ensure the safety of the child, up to sending to the original point of departure, with reimbursement of expenses associated with such actions. Of course, no one will be sent anywhere without your knowledge: if the meeting party does not appear at all, they will definitely contact you to discuss further actions (for example, airport employees can even deliver the child to a specific address). nine0003

By the way, if the flight has a transfer, this service may be denied altogether. However, some airlines allow the child to travel on a multi-unit flight, but only if both flights are operated by the same company (not a code share) and there is only one transfer. It should also be a transfer only from international to international or from domestic to domestic flights: transit associated with the passage of border formalities is prohibited. During the transplant, the child spends time in the nursery. nine0003

Starting from the age of 12, teenagers are already equated to "adult" passengers, although they are still in the "young people" category. This means that some airlines can provide them with benefits: somewhere it’s a 15% discount, somewhere it’s a special fare that can be used up to 24 years old; if a teenager is already a student, he/she can also qualify for a student discount (usually this requires an international student ID). To make a reservation, you should also contact the airline office directly. nine0003

If parents wish, the escort service can be ordered for a child under 16 years of age.

Teenagers under 14 must also bring their birth certificate. Until the age of majority, a child traveling abroad will still need to provide notarized consent from both parents; up to 14 years in the case of a trip abroad for more than three months - the consent of the guardianship authorities.

Children over the age of 12 have the right to transfer to another flight on their own. nine0003

Visit Ukraine - Air flight of a child unaccompanied by adults relatives by plane, but for certain reasons you cannot accompany him. Not worth it worry - today, all over the world, underage children can fly on airplanes without parents. However, the allowable age rules vary by airline.

Exists two flight options for children without parents:

● no accompaniment when the child makes the flight on their own;

● in accompanied by an airline representative.

Main know at what age children can fly on their own, and when you need to order an escort service - Unaccompanied Minor (UM).

Consider basic rules of different air carriers:

Wizz Air

The airline allows independent flights from the age of 14. From the age of 16, an air passenger as An adult may accompany a child up to 14 years of age. child tickets and the accompanying person must be booked as a single booking. If tickets are booked separately, you need to contact the call center staff who will connect both booking for free. If a child under 14 does not have an accompanying adult, then his flight is not possible, as Wizz Air does not provide services accompanying children. nine0003

Ryanair

Airline solo flights are allowed only from the age of 16. Single booking required child and accompanying person. If you have different bookings, you need to link them. You can do this in a chat on the Ryanair website for free at least four hours in advance before departure. There is no escort service in the company.

UIA

Permitted independently fly domestic flights from the age of 14, and international flights from the age of 16. Up to 5 flying without the presence of an adult is prohibited. But children from 5 years old can order escort from the airline on all flights: domestic and international. The cost of the service is 35-150 € per flight. nine0003

SkyUp/Bees Airline

Similar flight rules for children at SkyUp and Bees Airline low-cost airlines. Teenagers from 14 years old allowed to fly unaccompanied on domestic flights and from 16 to make flights abroad. From the age of 5, airlines provide escort for all flights, the cost of which is $60 per flight.

Windrose

Standalone flights are allowed on domestic flights from the age of 14, and on international flights from the age of 18. Before this age should be escorted. This service can be ordered from airlines for $56 per flight. nine0003

Lufthansa Group

airlines Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Brussels Airlines has similar rules for children and teenagers. 5 to 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult or an employee from the airline. Price escorts from 85 € per flight. From the age of 12, children are allowed to fly on their own.

Air France

On Children aged 5 to 15 must be accompanied on international flights by Air France. It is already included in the ticket price. From the age of 15, children can fly themselves as adults. nine0003

KLM

V obligatory escort from the airline must be for passengers from 5 to 15 years old who fly themselves. The cost of escort is 100-300 € per flight. From the age of 15 it is allowed to fly independently.

LOT

C 12 years of age, children are allowed to fly on their own. 5 to 12 years if the child flies by himself, there must be an escort. Escort cost from airlines 30-90 € per flight.

El Al

C 16 years old teenagers can fly as adults, on their own. From 5 years of age children under 16 can fly only if accompanied by an employee airlines. This service costs $100 per flight. Children under 5 years old can fly with parents or adults over 16 years of age.

Air Astana

Children with 6 to 16 years old can fly alone only if accompanied by an airline employee. The service is included in the ticket price, the fare of which is from 50% to 100% of the price adult. A passenger from the age of 16 is considered an adult. nine0003

AirBaltic

C 12 a child can fly by himself. From 5 to 12 years old, independent flight is possible only when accompanied by an airline employee. Escort cost 60 € for a direct flight and 80 € for a flight with a transfer.

Pegasus Airlines

Flights Pegasus Airlines passengers can fly independently from the age of 12. Children from 2 to 12 years old, flying independently, the ticket is bought only through the call center companies.

Turkish Airlines

Allowed fly by teenagers from the age of 12. From 7 to 12 years old must be ordered free escort by the airline.

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