United Airlines
United offers unaccompanied minor service for children from 5-17 years of age.
For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service will ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination.
The service is mandatory for unaccompanied minors 5 to 11 years old and optional for 12- to 17-year-olds. If the child is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, he or she may not travel on the last direct or connecting flight of the day. The fee is $99 USD each way (except to/from Japan). Notify us at 1-800-UNITED-1 (864-8331) when making your reservation so essential information can be noted for your child. Be aware that the responsible adult bringing the child to the airport (including camp counselors, etc.) must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate.
The following rules apply to those customers traveling on United-operated flights only. If an unaccompanied minor is scheduled to travel on a flight operated by one of our Star Alliance or code share partners, you are required to contact the carrier directly to inquire about their policies for children traveling unaccompanied.
Children ages 5 through 11 may travel alone on United as unaccompanied minors.
5-7 years
Children ages 5-7 may travel on United flights that are nonstop or do not require a change of airplane. They may not travel on connecting flights. They may also travel on the last non-stop flight of the day.
8-11 years
Children ages 8-11 may travel on United non-stop, direct and connecting flights. (A direct flight makes a stop but there is no plane change.) They may also travel unaccompanied on connecting flights to other airlines. Children ages 8-11 are restricted from connecting to the last flight of the day which includes the last direct flight of the day. An exception can be made for children connecting to and from international flights.
12-17 years (Optional)
Unaccompanied minor service is available, but not required, for this age group. We strongly recommend that teenagers who are not using our unaccompanied minor service be confirmed on flights early in the day. Unanticipated delays or cancellations and unexpected weather such as fog, snow, thunderstorms or air traffic congestion may disrupt flight schedules and result in misconnections. If delays result in travel the following day, United may not be able to offer overnight accommodations since many hotels will not accept minors aged 17 or younger. If unaccompanied minor service is requested, standard fees will apply.
If a child aged 12-17 years is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, he or she will be accepted under the conditions specified for unaccompanied minors aged 8-11 years.
When two or more unaccompanied minors are traveling together, the most restrictive age requirement will apply. For example, an 11-year-old traveling with a 6-year-old may only travel on nonstop flights or flights that do not require a change of airplane.
There are several convenient ways to book your child’s travel:
united.com
United Reservations
Travel agency
If your unaccompanied child’s reservation was booked via united.com, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to ensure essential information is entered into our computer system. Such information includes the names of individuals bringing your children to the airport and picking them up at their destination. Please have names, addresses and phone numbers handy to help expedite the call.
Unaccompanied minors must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult (including camp counselors, etc.) who must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. This individual must provide evidence that another parent or responsible adult will meet the child at his or her destination.
Fees
There is a $99.00 fee for unaccompanied minors traveling on United flights worldwide. The fee applies in each direction of travel. Two or more children who are immediate family members traveling together will be assessed one fee each direction.
Baggage
To learn about the checked and carry on baggage allowance for an unaccompanied minor travling on a domestic or international flight please view checked baggage and carry-on baggage requirements.
Safety
We require information about who is bringing your children to the airport and who is meeting them at their destination. All information about unaccompanied children is entered into our reservations computer. This essential information includes the name, address and telephone number of the responsible adult bringing them to the departure airport and picking them up at their destination.
To ensure that children are released to the proper person, the adult meeting unaccompanied children at their destination must show photo identification.
Frequently asked questions
How will you keep track of my child?
A unaccompanied minor form must first be completed. During travel, children are given a bright red-and-white striped button to pin on their clothes. This button easily identifies unaccompanied children to our staff on the ground and in the air.
What precautions does United take to ensure my child's safety?
Our boarding representative will introduce your child to the flight attendant and provide the flight attendant with any information pertinent to your child's flight.
Our flight attendants are instructed to turn any children traveling alone over to a United representative at the destination. These representatives are responsible for seeing that the child is released to the proper person. This person needs to present photo identification.
Advise your child to stay on board the flight until they are taken by a flight attendant to the United representative at the destination.
Will the airline staff be able to contact me?
The unaccompanied minor form accompanies each child traveling alone. You may include your cell phone and pager numbers along with the other required information when confirming your child's reservation.
What happens if the flight is not on schedule?
If we have any indication that your child's flight may not operate as scheduled, we will advise you and suggest you confirm travel for another flight or another day. On occasion, unexpected weather such as fog, snow, thunderstorms or air traffic congestion may disrupt flight schedules. If this happens, we'll attempt to let you know what the situation is and update you during the delay if possible.
What is the checked and carry on baggage allowance for an unaccompanied child?
To learn about the baggage requirements for either a domestic or international flight please view the baggage section .
Additional tips
Give your children a calling card or teach them how to make collect calls so they can always reach you. Because unexpected weather can disrupt flight schedules, we recommend that you confirm your unaccompanied child on flights early in the day.
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US Airways
Children traveling without a parent or legal guardian are considered unaccompanied minors.
Children under 5 may not travel without a parent or legal guardian.
Children 5-14 may travel unaccompanied on nonstop flights for an additional $50 fee each way. US Airways will provide assistance.
Children 15-17 may travel unaccanied on nonstop and connecting flights without US Airways assistance.omp
Children 15-17 who require US Airways assistance may travel unaccompanied on nonstop flights only. There is an additional $50 fee each way. Uniformed employees provide assistance for children traveling alone from the point of departure to their final destination.
If an unaccompanied minor is traveling on a flight operated by one of our Star Alliance or codeshare partners, you must contact the carrier directly for their policies on unaccompanied minors.
Check-in and required travel documents
A completed Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage Form is required for travel, which will remain with the child throughout his or her flight. The form may be completed at the airport ticket counter on the day of departure. If your child is traveling to an international destination, please refer to Required Documents for International Travel.
Drop off
If you're dropping off or meeting an unaccompanied minor (in domestic U.S. cities only) parents/guardians may get gate access passes at the ticket counter to accompany the child to the departure gate. Parents and guardians should arrive early to check in unaccompanied minors and get a gate access pass.
In international cities, or if airport security at a particular airport prohibits non-ticketed passengers in the gate area, US Airways will assist the minor to or from the gate and make sure they board and/or deplane their flight.
Pick up
US Airways requires that the person meeting an unaccompanied minor show a government-issued photo ID to ensure your child's safety. Also, in domestic U.S. cities only, the person meeting the unaccompanied minor may also get a gate pass from the airport ticket counter.
If a flight is canceled or misconnects occur while with an unaccompanied minor, US Airways will notify the person meeting your child by calling the phone number provided. US Airways will arrange alternate transportation.
Tips and suggestions
Children
If the child has not flown before, take a trip to the airport. Familiarize the child with the identifiable uniforms of US Airways representatives.
Introduce the child to the representative at the ticket counter and also at the departure gate.
Advise the agent at the departure gate if the child has never flown before, or if the child has any condition which would require special attention during the flight.
Be certain to provide the child with proper identification and cash for emergencies. On some flights meals may be available for purchase.
Provide materials to keep the child occupied and entertained during the flight.
Keep carry-on luggage to a minimum. Remind the child of the bags for which he or she is responsible. Make sure each of the child's bags has an identification tag with his or her name. Report any losses to US Airways personnel immediately.
Remain in the gate area until the child's flight has departed.
Arrive at the gate in advance of the scheduled arrival time.
Remind the child that he or she should only ask for assistance from a uniformed US Airways representative.
Young adults
Upon request, service will be provided by US Airways for young adults ages 15 through 17. The Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage form must be completed, and the unaccompanied minor fee applies.
In the event of a delay or cancellation, US Airways personnel will assist the young adult by making alternate travel arrangements. In the event that flights are unavailable until the following day, we can arrange for overnight accommodations at a hotel.
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Frontier Airlines
Even though they're on their own, we'll be there to help every step of the way.
Please review the following guidelines and procedures to make sure your unaccompanied minor has a great experience with us.
We consider children from ages five to 14 to be unaccompanied minors when traveling without a companion of at least 15 years of age.
Children under the age of five must be accompanied by an individual 15 years or older.
Children who are age 15 to 17 may also receive the benefits of an unaccompanied minor if the parent or guardian requests special supervision.
These young travelers may be booked online at frontierairlines.com, by contacting Reservations at 800-4321-FLY (800-432-1359) or with your local travel agent.
We're sorry but we won't accept unaccompanied minors who are under five years of age.
Unaccompanied minors ages five to 14 are accepted only when non-stop service is available.
Children traveling unaccompanied pay a full adult fare. We charge a service fee of $40 per segment per child to cover extra handling and free DIRECTV® service.
Although they can't vote or drive, passengers who are 15 years of age are defined as adults.
We require all of the following information when booking an unaccompanied minor:
The name, telephone and address of the adult bringing the child to the airport
The name, telephone and address of the adult meeting the child at his or her destination
Checking in your unaccompanied child
Because we want your child's travel experience to be as smooth as possible, we recommend that you check in two hours prior to departure. You'll need to escort your child to the gate and wait until the aircraft has taken off before you leave the area. During courtesy boarding, one of our representatives will escort your child onto the plane, assist with any carry-on luggage, and introduce your child to the crew. During the flight your child will receive special attention. He or she will also have a personal escort from the aircraft to the designated pick-up person. At no point will your child be left alone during the drop-off and pick-up points of contact.
We'll only release the child to the designated recipient. Please have that person bring his or her photo identification for verification.
We recognize that the safe transport of your child is your number one concern, and we know the importance of that responsibility. We will provide your child with a safe, comfortable and memorable experience. Please contact Reservations at 800-4321-FLY (800-432-1359) to determine escort restrictions that may be in place due to enhanced airport security measures at your child's city of departure and arrival.
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Northwest Airlines
To ensure a safe, comfortable and fun trip for the unaccompanied child traveler, Northwest has established a program for children traveling without an adult 18 years of age or older. If your child will be traveling alone, please contact Northwest Airlines Reservations at 1-800-225-2525 to book their travel. Northwest will waive the ticketing fee on tickets purchased through our Reservations Department for children participating in our unaccompanied minor program. Children between the ages of 5-14 may travel unaccompanied when participating in Northwest's unaccompanied minor program. An unaccompanied minor fee will be assessed prior to departure and certain exemptions to this fee apply. Please see the chart below for details. In addition, the following policies have been established:
Any child age 5 through 14 traveling without an adult 18 years of age or older must participate in the Unaccompanied Minor Program. All rules and fees apply.
Children ages 5 through 7 may fly unaccompanied on nonstop, direct flights only, even when traveling with another child age 8 through 17 (no connections that change planes allowed).
Children ages 5 through 14 will not be accepted on red-eye flights.
Children ages 5 through 14 will not be accepted on the last direct flight of the day.
Children ages 8 through 14 will not be accepted on the last connecting flight of the day. Policy change effective for tickets issued on or after May 1, 2006, for travel on domestic and international flights.
Red-eye flights are defined as departures between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time. The following are exempt from the red-eye restriction:
International Flights
Domestic short-haul flights (2 hours or less)
Flights to and from Alaska and Hawaii
Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted for international travel if their itinerary includes a connection to an off-line carrier. Northwest code-share partners are not included in this restriction.
Reservations must be confirmed to the child's final destination.
The Northwest unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children ages 5-14, and optional for children ages 15-17. The ticketing fee will be waived if the unaccompanied minor service is purchased for children ages 15-17. The fee will not be waived if the service is declined.
Northwest will provide supervision for children accepted under the program from the time of boarding until the child is met at the final destination.
Up to four children (related or not related) traveling together will be assessed only one service fee. Exception, more than four related children traveling together will be assessed only one service fee.
Children under the age of 5 are not eligible for unaccompanied minor services and must be accompanied on the same flight and in the same compartment by a passenger at least 18 years of age.
Unaccompanied minors must be checked in with an agent. They are not eligible to use the self-service check-in devices
