Airports and Unaccompanied Minors

1.1 Age Requirements by Airline

Airlines have strict age rules for children flying alone. In general, no airline will allow a child under 5 years old to fly without an adult. For older kids, the Unaccompanied Minor service is usually required up to a certain age. Here’s a breakdown of major airlines’ age policies for unaccompanied minors (UMs):

• American Airlines – UM service is mandatory for children 5–14 traveling alone and optional for ages 15–17 (they may travel as regular passengers, but parents can opt into the UM program).
• Delta Air Lines – UM service required for ages 5–14 (optional for 15–17). Children 5–7 may only travel on nonstop flights with the UM program, while those 8–14 can take connecting flights under airline supervision.
• United Airlines – UM service required for ages 5–14 (optional for 15–17). United restricts unaccompanied minors to nonstop or direct flights only in most cases for safety.
• Southwest Airlines – UM program is only available for ages 5–11. Kids 12–17 may fly alone under Southwest’s “Young Travelers” policy (no formal UM service required).
• JetBlue Airways – UM program is mandatory for ages 5–13. Once a child turns 14, they can fly as a regular passenger (though you can still inform JetBlue so they note a young traveler on board).

Always double-check your airline’s most current policy before booking, as age requirements and rules can change. You can find details on each carrier’s official unaccompanied minor policy page (linked above) for the latest guidelines.

1.2 What the Unaccompanied Minor Service Includes

When you book a child as an Unaccompanied Minor, the airline provides extra supervision and assistance to ensure your child’s safety throughout their journey. While exact services vary by airline, typically you can expect:

• Dedicated Airline Staff: An airline representative will assist your child from check-in, through the airport, and during connections. They escort your child to the gate and hand them off to a flight attendant when boarding.
• Priority Boarding & Introductions: UMs often pre-board the plane, allowing the flight crew to meet your child and get them settled. The flight attendants will know there’s an unaccompanied kid in their care and keep an eye on them during the flight.
• In-Flight Attention: Throughout the flight, crew members will check on your child periodically. Many airlines seat UMs toward the front of the aircraft for easier monitoring and to help them exit quickly upon arrival.
• Connection Supervision: If your child has a layover, airline staff will meet them when the first flight lands and escort them to the next gate. Some airlines have special lounges or waiting areas for kids during layovers (for example, Delta’s Sky Zone kids-only lounge in select airports).
• Secure Handoff at Destination: Perhaps most importantly, at the destination an airline staff member will escort your child off the plane and only release them to the authorized pick-up person you named. The adult picking up must show ID that matches the information on file before your child is handed over.

To use the UM service, you’ll need to arrange it in advance (usually during booking or by calling the airline). There is typically an extra fee for this service (for U.S. airlines it’s often around $150 each way, covering up to a few children traveling together). You’ll also fill out a form with critical information – including contact numbers and the names of who is authorized to drop off and pick up your child. While the service does add cost, it offers valuable peace of mind by ensuring airline employees are actively involved in your child’s travel day.

2.1 Opt for Nonstop Flights Whenever Possible

When arranging your child’s trip, choosing the right flight itinerary is key to a smooth experience. The best practice is to book a nonstop flight for your unaccompanied minor whenever you can. A direct route avoids the complications of connecting flights – there’s no need to worry about your child navigating a busy airport alone during a layover or potentially missing a connection. Fewer flights mean fewer points of potential stress.

2.2 Additional Booking & Preparation Tips

Beyond picking the right flight, here are other tips to ensure a safe and hassle-free trip for your child:

• Fly Early in the Day: Whenever possible, book your child on a morning or early afternoon flight. Early flights are less likely to be delayed or canceled, and if there is a disruption, there may be later flights that same day to complete the trip. Avoid last flights of the night.
• Allow Plenty of Time Between Flights: If your child does have to connect, choose an itinerary with a generous layover (no tight 30-minute connections). This gives the airline staff enough time to transfer your child and reduces the risk of missing the next flight.
• Prepare Travel Documents: Make sure you have any required documents ready. For domestic U.S. travel, children under 18 generally do not need ID to pass security, but it’s wise for your child to carry a school ID or a copy of their birth certificate just in case. For international flights, children traveling alone may need a notarized permission letter from parents or guardians in addition to a passport. Check the airline’s requirements and the destination country’s rules well before the trip.
• Inform the Airline and Confirm Details: When booking, clearly indicate that the passenger is an unaccompanied minor. Many airlines require you to call after booking to provide additional information (like the names of the adults at drop-off and pick-up). A few days before departure, it doesn’t hurt to reconfirm the reservation and UM arrangements with the airline for peace of mind.
• Pack Smart for Your Child: Equip your child with a small carry-on bag with everything they might need during the journey. Include snacks, a refillable water bottle (to fill after security), some entertainment (book, tablet with headphones, small games), and a sweater or travel blanket. It’s also helpful to pack a card with important phone numbers (parents, the pick-up person, etc.) in your child’s bag or pocket. If they have a cell phone, ensure it’s fully charged. Avoid sending them with too many valuables or heavy luggage they can’t manage.
• Discuss the Plan with Your Child: One of the best ways to ease anxiety is to walk your child through what will happen. Explain the airport routine – that a friendly airline employee will help them, that they’ll go through security, wait at the gate, and so on. Make sure they know not to leave the airport or plane except with an official airline representative or their designated pick-up person. Encourage them to ask airport staff or flight attendants for help if they need anything or feel unsure at any point.

With these preparations, you’ll set your child up for success on their trip. Good planning ahead of time goes a long way in keeping the travel day calm and organized.

3.1 Departure Day: Check-In and Drop-Off

On the day of the flight, plan to arrive at the airport early. You’ll need extra time to handle paperwork and get your child squared away with the airline. Here’s what to do when dropping off an unaccompanied minor for their flight:

1. Check-In at the Counter: Go to your airline’s ticket counter (not just the kiosk) to check in your child. Let the agent know your child is an unaccompanied minor. You’ll be required to fill out a form listing your child’s information, the name and contact of the adult meeting them at the destination, and other emergency contacts. The agent will attach a special UM lanyard or wristband to your child to identify them throughout their journey. If you haven’t paid the unaccompanied minor fee yet, you’ll pay it now.
2. Obtain a Gate Pass & Security: The airline will issue a security escort pass to the parent/guardian who is dropping off the child (bring a valid photo ID for yourself). This pass allows you to go through the TSA security checkpoint with your child, even though you’re not flying. Accompany your child through security screening just as you would if you were traveling together. Allow extra time in case lines are long.
3. Wait at the Gate: After clearing security, take your child to the departure gate and check in with the gate agents. Let them know you’re dropping off an unaccompanied minor – they will often note your child’s presence and might give you any last-minute updates. Until boarding, keep your child occupied and relaxed: maybe grab a snack, visit the restroom, and talk about the adventure ahead to keep them calm. Remember, you must stay at the gate until the flight is in the air.
4. Boarding and Handoff: Airlines typically allow unaccompanied minors to board early. When the gate agents announce it’s time, escort your child to the gate door. This is the moment for a final hug and reassurance. A staff member (gate agent or flight attendant) will take your child by the hand and lead them onto the plane. They’ll get your child seated and settled. You’ll be asked to remain at the gate area until the plane has actually departed (and in some cases, until it’s airborne). This is a precaution in case the flight returns to the gate or faces a cancellation – you would need to take custody of your child again in that event. Once the plane is safely on its way, you can breathe a sigh of relief and leave the airport, knowing the crew will look after your little one in flight.

3.2 Arrival: Pick-Up and Handover

Ensuring a smooth pick-up is just as important as drop-off. The adult meeting the unaccompanied minor should get to the destination airport well before the flight’s scheduled arrival time. Here’s how to handle the pick-up process:

1. Arrive Early and Get a Gate Pass: Just like at departure, the pick-up adult (whether it’s you or someone you’ve designated) should arrive at the airport early and bring a valid photo ID. Go to the airline’s check-in or customer service counter and inform them you’re there to meet an unaccompanied minor arriving on a flight. They will verify your name against the paperwork on file. If everything matches, the airline can issue a gate access pass so you can go through security to meet the child at the arrival gate. (If airport rules or circumstances don’t allow a gate meet, airline staff will instead bring the child out to the arrivals area or baggage claim – they will instruct you where to wait.)
2. Meet the Flight: Go through security with the gate pass and head to the gate where the flight will arrive. It’s a good idea to be at the gate before the plane lands. When the aircraft arrives, an airline staff member (often a flight attendant or customer service agent) will escort your child off the plane after the other passengers disembark. They will then match the child to the correct guardian.
3. Identification & Sign-Off: The airline representative will ask to see your photo ID to ensure you are the person authorized to pick up the child. Make sure you have the same ID you listed on the UM form. Once your identity is confirmed, you’ll likely be asked to sign a release form acknowledging you’ve picked up the child. The airline officially transfers responsibility back to you at this point.
4. After Pick-Up: Now that your child is back in your care, you can leave the gate area together. It’s courteous to send a quick update to the sending parent (if that’s someone else) that the child has arrived safely. Take a moment to thank the airline staff who assisted your child. From here, your young traveler’s journey is complete!

By following these drop-off and pick-up procedures, you ensure there’s no confusion or last-minute scrambles at the airport. Both you and your child will feel more secure knowing exactly what the process looks like on travel day.