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Unaccompanied Minor Flights: Booking a Child Flying Alone
Booking a child to fly alone? Agents explain each airline's unaccompanied minor rules, ages, fees, and nonstop requirements, and book the service correctly the first time.
Every US airline has its own rules for children flying alone: the age range that requires the service (commonly 5 to 14, optional to 17), a fee each way, nonstop-only restrictions for younger children, and forms naming the adults at each end. Booking it wrong at the airport is stressful and sometimes impossible.
Our agents book the ticket and the service together, choose flights that comply, and walk you through what happens at drop-off and pick-up.
Calls are answered by licensed travel agents at our partner agency, 24/7. WarBird Flight is independent and not affiliated with any airline.
Who this is for
- Parents sending a child to a relative or the other parent
- Grandparents arranging a summer visit
- Guardians of teenagers who may or may not need the service
Have ready when you call
- Child's full name and date of birth
- Names, phone numbers, and IDs of the adults dropping off and picking up
- Preferred dates; nonstop flights are required or strongly preferred
How it works
- 1
Call with the child's age and the route.
- 2
The agent explains the airline's rules for that age, the fee, and which flights qualify, then books the ticket and the unaccompanied minor service together.
- 3
You receive the itinerary, the drop-off and pick-up procedure, and the documents to bring.
Airline rules that apply
- Children under 5 cannot fly alone on any US carrier.
- Most carriers require the service for ages 5 to 14 and offer it optionally to 17; fees are charged each way.
- Nonstop flights are required for younger children on most carriers; some do not allow the last flight of the day.
Ready when you are
Call and a licensed agent handles it on the spot. Tickets are emailed within minutes of payment.
Fees
Airline unaccompanied minor fees, charged each way, are set by the airline and quoted by the agent. Our partner agency may charge a service fee per ticket, disclosed before you pay. See all fees.
Frequently asked questions
How old does a child have to be to fly alone?
Five is the minimum on US carriers. The unaccompanied minor service is required from 5 to about 14 depending on the airline, and optional for older teens.
How much is the unaccompanied minor fee?
It varies by airline and is charged each way. The agent quotes it with the ticket.
Can a child fly alone with a connection?
Younger children usually cannot; older children can on some carriers with staffed connections. The agent picks flights that comply.
What do I need at the airport?
Photo ID for the drop-off adult, the completed form naming the pick-up adult, and time to get a gate pass and wait until the flight departs.
Related services
WarBird Flight is an independent travel booking service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any airline. Calls are answered by licensed travel agents at our partner agency.