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About DIA | Travel Tips | When Children Fly
Arranging for a child to fly unaccompanied requires coordination and planning.
Begin by talking with an airline representative to learn what services your
air carrier offers for children traveling alone. Policies vary. The minimum
age allowable for unaccompanied flight depends on whether the flight is nonstop,
direct or connecting. Some airlines will sanction unaccompanied international
trips, but most carriers let children fly alone only on domestic flights.
The airline you choose may charge a fee for providing unaccompanied minor
passenger services.
Parents must fill out an airline’s unaccompanied minor form. Every airline
will need to know:
- The name and age of the child
- The name, address, and telephone number of the parent or guardian who will
bring the child to the departure gate
- Emergency contact telephone numbers
- The name, address, and telephone number of the adult who will meet and
pick up the child at the destination airport
Airlines may require a parent or guardian to take the traveling child to the
airline departure gate, and to wait there until passengers board the plane
and the aircraft takes off.
When a child is released to the airline’s supervision, a representative
will make sure the child boards the flight with all necessary documentation
and tickets. Onboard, a flight attendant will see to the child’s needs
and will safeguard tickets and other paperwork.
At the destination city, an airline agent will meet the plane and receive
the child from the flight attendant. After the minor passenger disembarks,
the airline will release the child to the adult designated to pick up the unaccompanied
minor. The child will not be released to anyone else. This person must
have valid photo identification. Parents should tell traveling children who
will be picking them up at their destination.
- Check with your airline to learn whether it allows unaccompanied children
on connecting flights or only on nonstop flights.
- Flights for unaccompanied children usually cannot be booked online via
an airline’s Web site.
- Children may need proof-of-age documents.
- For international flights, children will need proper documentation for
the country they are visiting (passports, visas, immunization records, etc.)
- Airlines are sensitive to flight delays and diversions. If there is a delay
or any chance that an unaccompanied minor will miss a connecting flight,
the airline may refuse service or reschedule the flight. Airlines might not
accept an unaccompanied minor on the last flight of the day.
- Provide children with cash, with a telephone calling card, and with contact
numbers for emergencies.
- Airlines will not administer scheduled medications to children flying alone.
Children must be able to take their medicine themselves.
- Advise children flying alone to stay in their seats while passengers unload.
Once all passengers are off the plane, an airline representative will meet
the child and escort the child to the designated adult recipient.
- Escorts for unaccompanied teenagers usually are optional, although age
limits vary among airlines.
Recommendations for parents:
- Review trip itineraries and explain all aspects and possibilities of the
trip to teenagers unaccustomed to airline travel, so they will know what
to expect during their journeys.
- If teenagers need help during their trip, advise them not to ask questions
of strangers, but to ask only airline or airport personnel.
- Traveling teenagers should have emergency contact telephone numbers. Have
teenagers call you when they arrive at their destination.
- Plan for all trip expenses so teenagers have the necessary resources for
meals, ground transportation and incidentals. Consider giving them cash for
unexpected expenses (delays).
Visit your airline’s Web site for its policies on children passengers.
Contact your airline of choice for information about underage passengers and
for procedures governing children flying alone. Each airline has its own policies
for children’s fares and services. These policies generally are available
on airline
Web sites. Unless teenage children are flying alone, airlines probably
will not require children younger than 18 to have identification for flights.
Check to find out what ID requirements your airline has for minor passengers.
As a general rule, airlines classify children under age two as infants and
allow one infant per adult to sit on an adult’s lap. These infant passengers
are called “lap children.” Currently, on domestic flights, lap
children fly free, and some airlines allow a passenger as young as age 12 to
hold an infant during a flight.
Most airlines will charge 50 percent of the normal adult fare for an infant
who is in a car seat and occupies an airline passenger seat. All airlines require
any infant seat or child-restraint device to be FAA-approved and to be certified
for aircraft use. Because policies vary among airlines, check with your air
carrier for its child and infant fares.
- Bring a child’s favorite toy, a puzzle, a coloring book or a storybook — anything
that can be easily packed and that will help entertain a child on a flight.
You should bring headsets for any electronic entertainment (DVDs, CDs, games,
etc.)
- A cabin window might interest children, so consider reserving window seats.
- Often, children are susceptible to ear pain caused by cabin pressure adjustments.
Airlines suggest giving children food or drink during take-off and landing.
Chewing gum and ear plugs might also ease discomfort.
- If you need a baby meal, request it when making flight reservations.
- Some airlines will warm up baby bottles onboard. Express flights may not
have this capability.
- In some instances, a child’s age must be documented (e.g., for fares).
- Bring an adequate supply of diapers. Some aircraft will have bassinets
or changing tables. Confirm with your air carrier.
- If you are traveling with an infant or a child younger than 15, you cannot
sit in an aircraft exit row.
