Unaccompanied minor (passenger)
An unaccompanied minor is a child traveling without the presence of a legal guardian.
Airline policy
In airline policy an unaccompanied minor is typically an airline passenger aged between 5 and 14 years old who travels without an accompanying adult. Minors whose accompanying adult travels on the same flight but in a different class may also be classified as unaccompanied minors. A parent or guardian who requests for this service fills out a release form, identifying another guardian who will pick up the minor at the destination airport. Airline personnel are responsible for escorting the child through immigrations and customs and boarding the flight in time. A fee may be payable for this service.During the flight, no special attention is given to the minor until the flight enters final descent to the destination. On descent, the minor is moved to the nearest exit, which could be in business or first class, so that he or she can leave the aircraft at first opportunity and be transferred to the local ground staff. After clearing immigrations and customs, the child is released only to the adult identified on the paperwork.
Some airlines have controversial unaccompanied minor seating policies which discriminate against adult male passengers on the basis of gender. The policies bar unaccompanied minors from being seated next to adult males and have led to significant criticism and successful legal action.
Some airlines, including Ryanair, will not carry unaccompanied minors.
| Airline | Minimum Age | Mandatory Until Age | Optional Until Age | Minimum Solo Age | Reference |
| Air Asia | NA | NA | NA | 12 | The Skyrider Young Flyer program has been cancelled, effective 24 June 2013. |
| Air China | 5 | 11 | 17 | 12 | |
| Air New Zealand | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | Not available on flights NZ1 and NZ2 |
| American Airlines | 5 | 13 | 17 | 14 | |
| Asiana Airlines | 5 | 12 | NA | NA | |
| Belavia | 5 | 15 | NA | 16 | |
| British Airways | 12 | NA | NA | 12 | Service Ends 31 Jan 2017 |
| Cathay Pacific | 6 | 11 | 17 | 12 | |
| China Airlines | 5 | 11 | NA | 12 | |
| EasyJet | NA | NA | NA | 14 | |
| Emirates | 5 | 15 | NA | 16 | |
| Eva Air | 5 | 11 | NA | 12 | |
| FlyBe | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | |
| Frontier Airlines | NA | NA | NA | 15 | |
| Korean Air | 5 | 11 | 16 | 12 | |
| KLM | 5 | 14 | 17 | 15 | |
| LATAM | 5 | 11 | 17 | 12 | |
| Lufthansa | 5 | 11 | 17 | 12 | |
| Malaysia Airlines | 5 | 14 | NA | 15 | |
| Norwegian Air Shuttle | 5 | 11 | 15 | 12 | Norwegian Air Shuttle does not currently offer Unaccompanied Minor Service to or from Bosnia, Bulgaria, the Caribbean, Israel, Kosovo, Morocco, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the U.S. |
| Pegasus Airlines | 7 | 13 | 17 | 14 | |
| Qantas | 6 | 11 | 15 | 12 | |
| Ryanair | NA | NA | NA | 16 | |
| Southwest Airlines | 5 | 11 | NA | 12 | |
| Transavia | 5 | 11 | 15 | 12 | |
| United Airlines | 5 | 15 | NA | 16 | |
| Virgin | 5 | 15 | NA | 16 | |
| Westjet | 8 | 11 | 17 | 12 | |
| WizzAir | NA | NA | NA | 16 | Children under 14 years old cannot fly unless accompanied by an adult at least 16 years of age. |
| WOW air | 5 | 11 | 17 | 12 |