Bundling your kids onto a flight by themselves can be a rather daunting experience for both parent and child. The last thing anyone wants is a real-life Home Alone scenario, which is why airlines ensure that underage passengers are escorted and monitored at all times. These Unaccompanied Minor services must be requested at the booking stage, with a surcharge usually being added to the standard adult fare.
Most carriers require that an adult drop off the child at the check-in counter and wait in the airport until their flight has departed. Airline staff will then chaperone the young flyer through every stage of their journey. Upon arrival at the destination, minors will only be released into the custody of a pre-approved adult with photo ID.
It's best to check with your airline prior to requesting this service as conditions vary according to the carrier and destination, with restrictions applying to routes in France and Portugal in particular. To check the details of your airline's Unaccompanied Minor service, simply consult our handy table below.
| Airline | Child fares | Unaccompanied Travel |
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| Aer Lingus | Under 12 | Children under 12 are not permitted to travel alone on Aer Lingus flights. Those aged 12 to 15 can do so, but their parent or guardian must sign a Form of Indemnity. |
| Air France | Under 12 | Children aged between 5 and 11 can travel unaccompanied and are given priority when boarding. On flights within French territories the minimum age falls to 4. |
| Air New Zealand | Under 12 | Children under 12 can travel as unaccompanied minors, though restrictions are in place for 5 to 7-year-olds. No-one under the age of 5 can travel alone. |
| American Airlines | Under 12 | Children under 5 cannot travel alone and must be with someone aged 15 or over. Kids aged 5 to 7 can travel as unaccompanied minors on most routes, excluding those that require a change of aircraft. All 8 to 14-year-olds can travel alone as long as they do not have an onward connection. Finally, 15 to 17-year-olds are considered Young Adults but can still make use of the Unaccompanied Minors service if they wish. |
| British Airways | Under 12 | Children aged 5 to 11 can travel alone but must be registered with BA's Skyflyer Solo service. Otherwise, they must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over. Restrictions apply to journeys which include a stop-over lasting more than six hours. |
| Cathay Pacific | Under 12 | Children aged between 6 and 11 must register as unaccompanied minors in order to travel alone. Those aged 12 to 18 can also make use of the service by request, while kids under 6 are not allowed to fly without an adult. |
| Continental Airlines | Under 12 | Continental designates solo flyers aged 5 to 14 as unaccompanied minors. Those aged 5 to 7 can only travel on non-stop flights; while 8 to 14-year-olds can also fly on connecting services as long as the itinerary does not include an overnight stop-over. |
| Delta Airlines | Under 12 | An Unaccompanied Minors service is available for children between 5 and 14. Those aged 5 to 7 can only travel on direct flights, while some connecting services are open to older kids. |
| easyJet | None | Children under 14 are not allowed to travel alone with easyJet under any circumstances. Rules for 14 to 17-year-olds vary according to the destination. |
| Emirates | Under 12 | Children aged 5 to 11 are classified as unaccompanied minors and are cared for by dedicated ground staff. Older children up to 15 are classed as Young Passengers. |
| Gulf Air | Under 12 | An escort can be requested for children aged 5 to 11 who are travelling alone. Those aged 2 to 4 can only fly with an accompanying adult. |
| Jet2.com | None | Unaccompanied children are not permitted on Jet2.com flights. Kids under 14 must travel with a companion aged 16 or over. |
| KLM | Under 12 | Kids aged 5 to 11 are required to travel via the Unaccompanied Minor service. Those aged 12 to 17 may opt to do so, but can also travel independently. |
| Lufthansa | Under 12 | Unaccompanied children under 12 must make use of the airline's supervision service, or travel with someone who is at least 12 years of age. 12 to 17-year-olds can also be looked after at the request of a parent or guardian. |
| Malaysian Airlines | Under 12 | The Unaccompanied Minors service is mandatory for kids aged 5 to 12. An escort service is also available for younger children under the age of 5. |
| Monarch | None | Monarch does not allow unaccompanied children to travel on its flights. All passengers under 12 must travel with a companion aged 16 or over. |
| Qantas | Under 12 | The parents of children aged between 6 and 11 who are travelling alone must fill out an Unaccompanied Minor form when making the booking. 5-year-olds can also fly solo on international routes under six hours. |
| Qatar Airways | Under 12 | All children aged 5 to 12 must make use of the Unaccompanied Minor service. Those under 5 must either travel with someone over the age of 15, or be accompanied by a Qatar Airways escort. |
| Royal Brunei Airlines | Under 12 | Assistance will be provided to any passenger under the age of 15 who is travelling without an adult. |
| Ryanair | None | From October 1, 2009, Ryanair does not permit children under 16 to travel unaccompanied. Until that time, 14 and 15-year-olds can fly solo provided their parent or guardian signs a Form of Indemnity. |
| Singapore Airlines | Under 12 | All children aged 5 to 17 who are travelling without an adult must make use of SIA's Unaccompanied Minor service. |
| Thai Airways | Under 12 | Children aged 5 to 11 must register as unaccompanied minors if travelling alone, while older kids up to 15 can also opt in to the service. Under-5s cannot fly solo. |
| Thomas Cook Airlines | None | Unaccompanied minors are not permitted on Thomas Cook flights. Any child under 16 must be accompanied by a passenger over the age of 16. |
| US Airways | Under 12 | Kids aged 5 to 14 can travel unaccompanied on direct flights, with assistance from US Airways staff. No assistance is required for 15 to 17-year-olds. |
| Virgin Atlantic | Under 12 | Children aged 5 to 15 are allowed to fly unaccompanied. The service is available on inbound and onward connecting flights only if they are operated by Virgin or bmi. |
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