Can children travel on their own? If so, from what age is this option possible? Find out more about which air carriers provide the service of accompanying minor passengers

Independent air travel for underage passengers is called UM (Unaccompanied Minor). This is a special airline service that provides for the child to be accompanied from the moment of departure to arrival by an airport employee or flight attendant.

Which airlines allow minors to travel unaccompanied? Visit World has collected the most important information about the rules for the transportation of unaccompanied minors from various air carriers. Find out which airlines allow children to fly alone, ensuring their safety and comfort during the trip.

You can learn more about the rules of air travel for passengers with a cast here.

Wizz Air

According to the rules for the transportation of children by low-cost airline Wizz Air, children can travel independently from the age of 14. At the same time, passengers over 16 years old can accompany children under 14 years old. Tickets for an adult and a child must be issued as part of one reservation. If the reservations were made separately, they can be combined by contacting the Wizz Air call center at +38 089 320 25 33 in Ukraine. This allows you to avoid possible inconveniences during check-in and flight.

In addition, the airline recommends checking in online to avoid additional check-in fees at the airport. This will not only save money, but also simplify the process of completing pre-flight formalities.

It is important to keep in mind that Wizz Air does not provide an escort service for children under 14 years of age, so they cannot travel without adults. Accordingly, parents or guardians should ensure that children of this age are properly accompanied when traveling to avoid problems and ensure a comfortable and safe flight.

Ryanair

Ryanair does not allow children under 16 years of age to travel unaccompanied by an adult or person over 16 years of age. An adult and a child must have tickets issued as part of the same reservation.

If tickets were booked separately, they can be combined via chat on the official Ryanair website. This service is free within a day from the date of the first booking. If you need to combine them later, a fee of 30 euros will be charged. It is important to note that you need to link your reservation no later than 4 hours before departure, as this cannot be done at the airport.

After combining the reservations, the adult passenger must check in for the flight online to avoid additional check-in fees at the airport. A child with a separate reservation can be checked in at the airport free of charge, provided that the reservation has been previously linked to the adult's reservation.

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UIA

UIA allows children to travel independently from the age of 14 on domestic flights and from the age of 16 on international flights. For children aged 5 to 14 on domestic flights and under 16 on international routes, it is necessary to buy a ticket at an adult fare and order an airline escort service. The cost of this service ranges from 35 to 150 euros one way. 

Children under 5 years old are not allowed to travel unaccompanied by an adult.

SkyUp / Bees Airline

Flight rules for children on SkyUp and Bees Airline are similar. Children can travel independently from the age of 14 on domestic flights and from the age of 16 on international flights. 

For passengers aged 5 to 14 on domestic flights and 5 to 16 on international flights traveling without adults, it is necessary to arrange an airline escort service. The cost of this service is $60 per one-way flight.

Windrose

Windrose provides escorts for children under 14 years old on domestic flights and under 18 years old on international flights. The cost of a one-way escort is $50 plus a $6 fee. 

Lufthansa Group

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines have the same rules for unaccompanied minors. 

Children aged 5 to 12 years must travel with an adult escort or use the airline's escort service, which costs from 85 euros one way. Children over 12 years old can fly according to the rules for adult passengers, without the need for an escort.

Air France

On international flights, Air France provides an escort service for children aged 5 to 15. This service is already included in the ticket price. Passengers who are 15 years old and older can travel independently without the need for an escort.

KLM

On international flights, KLM provides compulsory escorts for children aged 5 to 15 years. This service is available for an additional fee, which can vary from 100 to 300 euros per flight. Passengers who have reached the age of 15 have the right to travel independently without the need for an airline escort.

El Al

Children aged 5 to 16 can travel alone on El Al flights if they purchase an escort service, which costs $100 per flight. Passengers over 16 years old can travel unaccompanied, as this service is not mandatory for them. Children under the age of 5 can only fly if accompanied by a parent or another passenger who is at least 16 years old.

Pegasus Airlines

Children from 2 to 12 years old traveling unaccompanied by an adult must purchase a ticket through the airline's call center. Starting from the age of 12, children can fly on Pegasus Airlines flights on their own without the need for an escort. 

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines allows children aged 12 and older to travel unaccompanied. For children aged 7 to 12, a free escort service is provided to ensure the safety and comfort of young passengers during the flight. In addition, parents can order an escort service for children aged 12 and under until they reach the age of majority by submitting a request to the airline.

What documents are required for a child to fly alone?

If your child is going to fly abroad on his/her own, you must have permission from both parents or a guardian. If you order an escort service from the air carrier, you will need to present this permission to the airline representatives. Sometimes, when traveling with airline representatives under the UM (Unaccompanied Minor) program, you may need to issue a ticket at an adult fare.

Before booking tickets, it is important to check all the conditions of a particular route with the chosen carrier. Each airline may have its own requirements and rules for the transportation of unaccompanied children, so it is worth getting all the necessary information in advance.

Don't forget that one of the prerequisites for staying abroad is to have health insurance. It will provide you with access to quality medical care at no additional cost. You can buy insurance online in just a few clicks here. The finished insurance policy will be sent to your email within a few minutes.

Remember! Many people have never been on an airplane before. And there is no need to be ashamed of this, it is another interesting new experience for which it is worth preparing in advance. Check out these useful tips that will prevent you from getting lost at the airport on your next trip.

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