Quite a few airlines will allow your children to fly without you or another chaperone present—such as WestJet, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines—so long as you follow a few regulations. BA has, with effect from Tuesday 1 May 2018, increased the minimum age at which a child is allowed to fly alone from 12 to 14 years. For example, WestJet allows children over the age of 8 to travel without a chaperone using their unaccompanied minor program (children over 12 fly can alone without being required to participate in the same program). This service can give you peace of mind in knowing that someone from the airline is responsible for looking after your child while they’re on the flight. Otherwise, you may not be able to travel. Disclaimer: Information provided from this site is not legal advice. Children ages 13-17 years are not required to travel as unaccompanied minors, but the service is optional for this age group as well. Preparing a trip with your entire family can be nerve-racking, but preparing a trip where your child travels alone is a whole new ball game. It all depends on the airline, but generally for Scheduled flights: Children under 5 years old cannot travel alone; they must always be accompanied by an adult. Keep in mind, even if the airline allows your minor to fly alone, your home country or your child’s destination may have their own child travel regulations, like requiring a Child Travel Consent form to cross an international border. Children aged 14 or 15 can travel alone, as long as they don't need assistance. When possible, create notes that your child can consult if something occurs, especially for places where they won’t be able to contact you, like aboard the plane. They all vary. https://www.tripsavvy.com/how-the-airlines-handle-unaccompanied-minors-54047 Every country has its own laws, but 18 is the age of majority in most developed countries, and anyone under that age is considered a minor. and from 5-12 the unaccompanied minor service is required. In most cases, children under the age of 5 cannot travel alone. As a parent, you want your child’s trip to go as smoothly as possible. Getting Ready to Fly As a solitary adult traveler, you know you can tackle any issues that may occur on your trip as they happen, but for a solitary child traveler, you need to consider solutions to various situations that could occur like missing flights or connections (or worse, losing a passport). While the airline your child will be traveling with may not require this document, it is strongly recommended, as along with providing boarding agents and flight attendants with consent for your child, it provides valuable information to the airline like your contact information and your child’s flight schedule. These regulations vary between airlines but many include age restrictions. Henry Howard-Vyse, Perthshire, writes On June 12, I telephoned easyJet to find out if my two children, Gemma and Oliver, aged 13 and 14, could travel unaccompanied from Edinburgh to Bristol. That said, we recommend that they be accompanied to the check-in desk by a parent or legal guardian. How young or old is too young or old to learn how to fly? Find out if your child is old enough to travel solo, what forms you … the minimum age is 5. well on BA it is. The service is mandatory for children between ages seven and 12 traveling without an adult. Letting your little one fly alone can be a scary experience, but our comprehensive guide and friendly airline staff to assist you on the day will ensure your child has a safe and enjoyable journey. Bookings can … If you’re travelling with children under 5, we’ll board you early; If you are travelling with a child who requires them, you can bring two items for free with you. Otherwise, Id say 10-12yrs is a better age to travel alone … ... UK BEST FLYING … We'd also … When you book, the adult making the reservation will provide a 4-digit PIN configuration that will be required to make any changes to the itinerary. This will NOT clear your browsing history, For a guide to deleting browser history, click here. By Lane Wallace. The minimum age of a person permitted to travel alone on British Airways is 14 years of age (except on flights operated by SUN-AIR of Scandinavia). Almost any age. If you are under the age of 18 – It is up to the airline or travel operator whether you can travel abroad. If you are below the age of 16 and want to travel abroad but your parents do not agree, you or a parent, may need to apply to court for an order giving you permission. Proof of the child’s age (birth certificate, etc.) Flight School: Age Limits for Flying. In this post, we cover whether an airline will let children fly alone, how old they must be to do so, and basic information on how to prepare your child for their solo trip. Minimum age requirements 17 years old to hold a licence for aeroplanes, 16 for solo flight. November 22, 2010. it depends on the airline you choose. Most other airlines only require 15 or 12. Aircraft. Your valid, government-issued ID (required to get an escort pass) Arrive at the gate no less than 45 minutes prior to the flight's scheduled departure time. For instance. Other restrictions or requirements could include: Some airlines, like WestJet, allow adolescents over a certain age to fly alone provided they take part in an unaccompanied minor service. Where you drop your child off. In the weeks before booking the flight, you might ask yourself, “will an airline even let my child fly alone?” or “what will my child do if something goes wrong?”. Every airline will have a policy on solo child travel, and though many of them are similar, there may be key differences, so it’s always a good idea to review your flight provider’s guidelines on children traveling alone (which is typically available on their website) before booking. For example, WestJet allows children over the age of 8 to travel without a chaperone using their unaccompanied minor program (children over 12 fly can alone without being required to participate in … If the child is younger than the minimum age, they should travel with an adult. 1. Moreover, depending on your youngster’s destination, border officers in that city or country may ask for consent papers, and if your child cannot provide consent when it’s requested, they may have to fly home. My wife's grandmother is 89, she is … Check in with a Southwest Airlines Employee at the gate and advise them that you … If you are under 16 anyone with parental responsibility for you can apply for a passport for you. © 2002 - 2020 LawDepot®, All Rights Reserved. Adoption – locating birth parents and siblings, Contact with family members whilst I’m in care, Contact with family members when parents disagree, you were born through assisted reproduction or surrogacy. On British Airways flights and IB26XX flights operated by Iberia for LEVEL, all minors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone who is aged 16 or over. Experienced researcher and writer with an interest in real estate, contract, and family law sector hold a for. 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