Planning to send your child as an unaccompanied minor on an airline that isn’t part of one of the major alliances? I’ve got you covered.
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There are thousands of airlines worldwide. When it comes to unaccompanied minor policies, they are quite varied. I have covered the major US airlines‘ polices, as well as those of the One World, SkyTeam, and Star alliance airlines in previous posts. However, you might find yourself traveling on an airline that doesn’t fall into one of those categories. This is a highly probable scenario.
In this article, I cover some of the more popular non-alliance airlines. Many of which I have personally travelled on. There were a couple airlines I have used in the past that, sadly, are no longer in business. Wish I could have included them, especially the more funs ones (I’m looking at you Kulula 😜).
I did the alliance article in alphabetical order. So, for the most thorough tips, be sure to check out the introductory section of the One World article.
There is one major point which bears repeating. If a minor is travelling with someone other than a parent or legal guardian, be sure you are prepared with all the required documentation. You should verify this for your country of origin, destination, transit, passport, as well as the airline. They may each have different requirements. Some may even require notarized documentation when the child is not traveling with both parents–even a 17 year-old child.
3 Essentials for a Minor to Travel Internationally Without Parents
As always, I have tried to include the fees in US dollars when possible. And, I have included the US contact number if there is one.
Note: all information is current as of this writing. Always contact the carrier directly to confirm.
Airlink
Airlink’s unaccompanied minor service must be booked through the call center or via email (E-Ticketing@flyairlink.com) at least 3 business days beforehand. Cut-off form Monday flights is 3PM Friday. Children under 12 are considered unaccompanied when not traveling with a parent/guardian 16 years or older. Children under 5 will not be accepted as unaccompanied minors.
Contact: +27-11-451-7300 (South Africa)
Ages 5-11
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: included with fare
Ages 12-15
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional
Fee: included with fare upon request
Arkia
Arkia Israeli Airlines unaccompanied minor service applies to children ages 5-15 and is arranged at the reservation desk.
Contact: 844-986-2534
Ages 5-15
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: free for domestic flights
rates valid on date of departure for international flights
EasyJet
EasyJet passengers age 15 and under must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years of age. There is no unaccompanied minor service offered by EasyJet.
Contact: +972 (0) 79-572-3947
El Al
El Al’s calls their unaccompanied minor service a “Child Care Service”. It is to be booked through the El Al service center or your travel agent. Children under age 5 must be accompanied by a parent or other adult over age 16.
Contact: 800-223-6700
Ages 5-15
Ages 5-17 (to/from UK)
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: $100 per segment for 1 child
$150 per segment for 2-3 children
$200 per segment for 4 or more children
Other Rules: children traveling for one fee must be from the same immediate family and be met by the same person at their destination otherwise separate fee will be charged
Ages 16-17 (except to/from UK)
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $100 per segment for 1 child
$150 per segment for 2-3 children
$200 per segment for 4 or more children
Other Rules: children traveling for one fee must be from the same immediate family and be met by the same person at their destination otherwise separate fee will be charged
Emirates
Emirates has a dedicated unaccompanied minor check-in lounge at the Dubai Airport. There are two categories in the Emirates program. A child is considered unaccompanied when not travelling with someone 16 or over. Children 0-4 can not travel unaccompanied. The service should be booked through a call center, live chat, or at a local office at least 12 hours prior to the flight. Separate arrangements need to be made for outbound and inbound flights.
Contact: 800-777-3999
Ages 5-11
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: included with required adult fare
Other Rules: applies only to Emirates operated flights; transit time not to exceed 4 hours or 8 hours at Dubai airport; overnight connections require adult guardian and subject to approval
Ages 12-15
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $50 per child per leg
Other Rules: applies only to Emirates operated flights; transit time not to exceed 4 hours or 8 hours at Dubai airport; overnight connections require adult guardian and subject to approval; restrictions apply to refund of service fee
Etihad
Etihad requires children ages 0-4 to be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the same cabin. Children ages 5-11 can be accompanied by a legal parent or someone at least 18 years old. The service can be requested at the airport or via call center. A new request must be submitted if there is a change made to the flight.
Contact: 877-690-0767
Ages 5-11
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: required to book adult fare; included when pre-booked otherwise there is a fee
Other Rules: not available on connecting flights operated by other airlines; transit time not to exceed 8 hours
Ages 12-17
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $100 each way for direct flights
$150 each way for connecting flights
Other Rules: not available on connecting flights operated by other airlines; transit time not to exceed 8 hours
FlyDubai
FlyDubai does not have an unaccompanied minor program. Passengers under 12 years old must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years of age.
Contact: +971-600-54-44-45
Gulf Air
Gulf Air offers an escort service as well as an unaccompanied minor service. The escort service is a pre-arranged flight attendant escorting the child at the guardian’s expense.
Contact: 888 3594853
Ages 5-11
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: included with required adult fare
Other Rules: booked through contact center at least 48 hours prior to departure
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines allows children under 12 to be accompanied by some 15 or over on domestic flights and at least 18 on international flights. Unaccompanied minors under age 12 are not permitted on international flights. Children under 5 are not allowed to fly unaccompanied at all. Book through reservation center.
Contact: 800-367-5320
Ages 5-11 (domestic only)
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: $35 per child per flight segment within Hawaii
$100 per child per flight segment between North America and Hawaii
Other Rules: no flights departing 9PM-5AM unless only flight of the day and out of Honolulu; no overnight connections; no codeshare; Hawaiian airlines connections only; no last connection of the day; connection must be less than 2 hours; other restrictions and exceptions apply
Ages 12-17
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional for domestic flights only; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $35 per child per flight segment within Hawaii
$100 per child per flight segment between North America and Hawaii
Other Rules: no flights departing 9PM-5AM unless only flight of the day and out of Honolulu; no overnight connections; no codeshare; Hawaiian airlines connections only; no last connection of the day; connection must be less than 2 hours; other restrictions and exceptions apply
Israir
Israir’s unaccompanied minor program applies to children ages 6-12.
Contact: 03-7955777 (Israel)
Ages 6-12
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: 50 NIS each way per child domestic
$50 each way per child international
Other Rules: must be arranged in advance through the reservation center
JSX
JSX does not currently allow passengers under age 14 to travel alone.
Contact: 800-435-9579 (call/text)
Level
Level does not have an unaccompanied minor program. Passengers under 12 years old must be accompanied by parent or guardian at least 16 years of age.
Contact: 646-585-9797
Pegasus
Pegasus’ unaccompanied minor program applies to children ages 6-12. The service should be arranged at the time of booking, but no less than 24 hours prior to departure, via the call center.
Contact: 03-720-8299 (Israel)
Ages 6-12
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: 150 TRY for domestic flights
300 TRY for flights to/from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
55 USD for international flights
Other Rules: booked through contact center at least 48 hours prior to departure
Ryanair
Ryanair does not allow children under age 16 to travel unaccompanied. They must be accompanied by someone 16 or over. However, if you need to book a child’s reservation separate from an adult’s, you can link them. Book the child’s ticket online (as an adult), then contact Ryanair to link it to the adult’s reservation. This can be done via chat or through a call center. It must be done at least 4 hours prior to departure and can not be done at the airport. The child will be turned away from the flight.
There is no fee for linking the reservations if it is done within 24 hours of booking the adult’s ticket. However, if it is outside that window, the fee is €/£30. In order to make the link, you will need both flight booking references as well as the child’s passport/travel document details.
A child who is on his/her own reservation must check-in at the airport even though the reservation has been linked to an adult’s. S/he must check in with an adult from the linked reservation. The adult still must, nonetheless, check-in online.
Contact: +44 127-935-8438
Scoot
Scoot does not accept passengers under 12 years of age without an adult. Children 12-17 can travel on flights operated by Scoot or connecting to Singapore Airlines. Arrangements must be made at least 48 hours in advance.
Contact: +65-6329-1420 (Singapore)
Sun d’Or
Sun d’Or is a subsidiary of El Al. As such it has the same unaccompanied minor policies. See above.
Contact: +972-3-977-1111 (Israel)
VivaAerobus
VivaAerobus does not have an unaccompanied minor program. Children 14-17 years old are permitted to fly alone on direct flights within Mexico or to/from the United States only. If they are doing so, they must have an unaccompanied minor release form signed by a parent or legal guardian and are not permitted to be responsible for a younger child.
Contact: 866-359-8482
Volaris
Volaris has three age categories in its “Volaris is with You” service. Children under 2 must travel with an adult. Those utilizing the service must come to the check-in counter with someone over 18 (21 in the United States). The service can be added online through the booking process, through the call center, or at the check-in counter.
Contact: +52-55-5898-8599 (WhatsApp)
Ages 2-4 (only permitted when traveling with a family member age 13-17)
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: $669 MXN via web per child per flight
$699 MXN via call center per child per flight
$1000 MXN at the airport per child per flight
Other Rules: unaccompanied minor service is optional for those age 13-17, however when traveling with a family member ages 2-4 they are both considered unaccompanied minors and the service is required; layovers must be more than 2 hours and less than 4 hours; no codeshare flights; no pets/emotional support animals; Cross Border Xpress can not be purchased
Ages 5-12
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: $669 MXN via web per child per flight
$699 MXN via call center per child per flight
$1000 MXN at the airport per child per flight
Other Rules: unaccompanied minor service is optional for those age 13-17, however when traveling with a family member ages 2-4 they are both considered unaccompanied minors and the service is required; layovers must be more than 2 hours and less than 4 hours; no codeshare flights; no pets/emotional support animals; Cross Border Xpress can not be purchased
Ages 13-17
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required when traveling with a child age 2-4; otherwise optional; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $669 MXN via web per child per flight
$699 MXN via call center per child per flight
$1000 MXN at the airport per child per flight
Other Rules: layovers must be more than 2 hours and less than 4 hours; no codeshare flights; no pets/emotional support animals; Cross Border Xpress can not be purchased; see above for rules traveling with a child ages 2-4
Vueling
Vueling does not offer an unaccompanied minor service. Children ages 12-15 may travel alone except on connecting flights. Vueling’s website specifically mentions the rules regarding Italy (passengers under 14 must always travel with an adult) an Romania (passengers under 18 must always travel with an adult). This is a good reminder to always check the rules of all locations involved.
Contact: +34-931-518-158 (Spain)
WestJet
WestJet offers a “guardian fare” option in addition to the standard unaccompanied minor service. A parent/guardian can purchase a reduced fare ticket to accompany a child age 2-11. The will have to return to their departure city with 24 hours, but the departure time of the return flight must be at least 2 hours after arrival of the original flight. Contact the the Special Care Desk to determine availability and eligibility.
WestJet does not offer unaccompanied minor service to children under age 8; the service is only available between two Canadian cities. Unaccompanied minor service should be requested online. Will respond to request within 48 hours; must book within 72 hours of approval.
Contact: 888-937-8538 (Canada)
Ages 8-11
Unaccompanied Minor Service: required
Fee: $100 plus tax per each way; includes a buy on-board snack when available
Other Rules: not offered to children who are deaf or blind, require the use of a service dog;, have an allergy that requires them to travel with an epinephrine auto-injector, require assistance to take essential medication, have a disability which requires them to travel with a familiar guardian, are not able to communicate (verbally or in writing) in English or French; direct flights only; departure after 5:30AM and arrival before 10PM (unless only flight of the day)
Ages 12-17
Unaccompanied Minor Service: optional; below applies when utilizing the service
Fee: $100 plus tax per each way; includes a buy on-board snack when available
Other Rules: not offered to children who are deaf or blind, require the use of a service dog;, have an allergy that requires them to travel with an epinephrine auto-injector, require assistance to take essential medication, have a disability which requires them to travel with a familiar guardian, are not able to communicate (verbally or in writing) in English or French; direct flights only; departure after 5:30AM and arrival before 10PM (unless only flight of the day)
Wizz Air
Wizz Air does not allow children under 14 to travel unaccompanied. Children 14-15 years old can travel on their own. Those age 16 and over can take responsibility for up to 10 children under 14 years of age. Children and their accompanying adult (age 16and over) must be booked on the same reservation.
Contact: 1-901-727-200 (Israel)
Note: Many other call centers list here. Each has a per minute billing price in the local currency (in addition to what your phone carrier may charge you). Additionally, there is a transaction fee of €15 per transaction that can be done on the website.
5 Fundamental Tips for Flying with Kids
Do you have a go to airline? Have you sent your child as an unaccompanied minor on it? Would you? How was the experience? Let me know!
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