How to book unaccompanied minor flights and what it costs

How does American Airlines' unaccompanied minor service work?

American Airlines will not carry a child under 5 alone, and between 5 and 14 the unaccompanied minor service is mandatory. [1] For 15 to 17 year olds it is optional, though the airline says the fee still applies when the service is requested. [1] Separately, children aged 2 to 14 may travel as accompanied minors with someone aged 16 or older. [1]

What the fee buys is mostly airport handling: early boarding so the child can settle in and meet the crew, supervised kids-only lounges at American's hub airports for connections, an escort to the departure gate when connecting, and an escort to the authorised adult at the end of the trip. [1] The lounges sit at the same airports used for permitted connections and are supervised by American business partner personnel. [1] The airline is explicit that flight attendants check on an unaccompanied child only as duties allow and cannot monitor them continuously, and that it does not hold or give personal medication to an unaccompanied child. [1]

Not every itinerary is accepted. Flights on another airline are excluded, including codeshare and oneworld partner flights, along with ground or co-terminal connections that move the child between local airports, overnight connections, and the last flight of the day out of the final connecting city unless it is the only flight. [1] Families whose routing depends on another carrier can work through the codeshare flight checklist before booking.

How does British Airways handle children flying alone?

British Airways draws the line at 14: anyone younger cannot travel alone and must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over travelling on the same or a linked booking. [4] From 14 upwards a young person can fly alone as a Young Person Travelling Alone, but the airline states that it does not accept parental responsibility for them — 14 and 15 year olds are expected to make their own way through departure and arrival airports and fly without a chaperone. [4]

That has practical consequences on the day. British Airways does not offer gate passes at any of its airports, so a parent or guardian can walk the young person as far as the security gate and no further, and airport colleagues will say when they need to go through. [4] Some airports sell paid assistance to the boarding gate, which the airline suggests checking on the airport's own website. [4]

The airline also warns that partner airlines set their own regulations, age limits and charges, and that some countries impose additional entry requirements on under-18s travelling alone, with one parent, or with an adult who is not a parent or legal guardian. [4]

How do you book and what documents do you need?

American's unaccompanied minors must be booked by phone with Reservations. They cannot check in online or at a kiosk, and the family should be at the ticket counter at least two hours before scheduled departure. [1] At check-in the adult completes an unaccompanied minor form plus any customs and immigration paperwork needed that day, and the form stays with the child for the whole journey. [1] The agent also needs the child's birth certificate or passport as proof of age, the adult's REAL ID-compliant driving licence or another acceptable photo ID such as a passport or US military ID, a contact phone number, and the name, address and phone number of the adult meeting the child. [1]

Once the child is checked in, the ticket agent issues a security pass so the accompanying adult can go to the gate, and an adult must stay there until the flight is airborne. [1] At the other end, a gate pass from the ticket counter lets the receiving adult meet the child at the gate, present ID and sign the release paperwork; American suggests arriving two hours before the scheduled arrival time. [1]

British Airways requires the booking for a 14 or 15 year old travelling alone to be made and paid for by a parent or legal guardian, and it cannot be done online. [4] Three documents have to stay in the young person's possession throughout: a completed and signed British Airways Young Flyers Travelling Alone Consent Form, a copy of the photo ID of the parent or guardian who signed it showing their signature, and the required travel documents such as passports, visas and proof of return travel. [4] The airline also advises packing medication and health certificates, a payment method that works abroad, and a charged phone with credit and international roaming. [4] These travellers check in at the kiosk with an agent rather than online, and the airline asks families to arrive at least two hours before departure. [4]

What happens if the flight is delayed or cancelled?

If a delay or cancellation makes a child miss a connection, American contacts the people named on the unaccompanied minor form and rebooks the child on another American flight. [1] If the child has to stay overnight, the airline arranges accommodation, meals and supervision and gets in touch with the family. [1] American also says it may decline unaccompanied minors when weather or other factors are expected to disrupt flights in one or more cities on the itinerary, and that its team will rebook on another suitable American flight if disruption happens anyway. [1]

Young adults of 15 to 17 who are not using the service are handled as adult customers if their flight is disrupted, and American warns that many hotels will not check in a young person unless an adult is present; they should not leave the airport unless a uniformed team member or police officer is with them and they have spoken to a parent or designated adult. [1]

British Airways handles disruption through the Consent Form, which sets out the process the airline follows to contact the adults listed and arrange collection after a long delay or cancellation. [4] If a missed connection or diversion means an overnight stay, the airline warns that many taxis and hotels will not take a young traveller unless an adult is present, and tells the young person not to leave the airport unless a uniformed member of ground staff or a police officer is with them and they have contacted their parent or guardian. [4] For how rebooking generally works, see the airline schedule change checklist.

Exceptions and limits

• The service is mandatory only in the 5 to 14 band at American; between 15 and 17 it is optional, yet the fee still applies when requested and the gate escort and guardian contact requirements remain. [1]
• American will not carry an unaccompanied child on another airline's flight, including codeshare and oneworld partners, so a through itinerary that changes carriers is ruled out. [1]
• Personal medication is not held or handed over by American staff to an unaccompanied child. [1]
• On some international departures the accompanying adult cannot go through security; a team member takes the child to the gate and stays until the flight departs. [1]
• Children under 18 may need a letter of consent to travel internationally without both parents, and American names Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Spain as countries with their own documentation requirements. [1]
• British Airways offers no chaperone and no gate pass, so a 14 or 15 year old has to navigate the airport alone, and the airline warns that partner carriers set different age limits and charges. [4]
• This guide covers two carriers. Age limits, fees, forms and disruption handling vary between airlines, and the frequent flyer glossary explains the surrounding terminology.

Frequently asked questions

Can a five-year-old fly alone?

On American Airlines, yes — but only on nonstop flights and only with the unaccompanied minor service, which is mandatory from 5 to 7. [1] British Airways does not carry children under 14 alone at all. [4]

How much is the unaccompanied minor fee?

American Airlines charges US$150 each way plus applicable taxes in addition to the ticket price, and the fee covers additional siblings on the same flight. [1] Flights within the United States are subject to a 7% tax. [1]

Can an unaccompanied minor take a connecting flight?

At American, children aged 5 to 7 are limited to nonstop flights, while older children may connect only through a listed set of hub airports; overnight connections, ground transfers between local airports and the last flight of the day from the final connecting city are excluded. [1]

Can you book unaccompanied minor travel online?

Not at American Airlines, which requires these bookings by phone and does not allow online or kiosk check-in. [1] British Airways likewise cannot take a 14 or 15 year old's solo booking online. [4]

Who meets the child at the destination?

At American, an adult named on the unaccompanied minor form presents ID and signs release paperwork at the gate, using a gate pass obtained from the ticket counter. [1] British Airways does not offer gate passes and expects the young person to make their own way through the arrival airport. [4]

Related pages

Practical checklists: airline schedule change checklist, codeshare flight checklist, checked baggage allowance checklist. Award travel with children: children on award tickets. Definitions: frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Only American Airlines and British Airways are covered here; other airlines' unaccompanied minor policies are not covered.

1. American Airlines, Children traveling alone, checked 18 October 2026
2. British Airways, Children and young adults travelling alone, checked 18 October 2026