Feb 24, 2016, 8:32 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Unaccompanied Minor Travel
Q. What is "unaccompanied minor" service provided by an airline?
As posted by a FT Flight Attendant: "The UM (service) provides escorted service on and off the plane, as well as handoff to the correct party. It also includes making sure the child gets the proper inflight service (food and beverages). It does not provide entertaining the child or supervising them."
Q. How old must minors be to travel unaccompanied?
The age will differ by airline. Call or read the website of the carrier you will use. If it's multiple carriers, many airlines will refuse to allow an unaccompanied minor.
For one example, read American Airlines' UNMR policy: Link to PDF.
American Airlines: Unaccompanied minor service
Our unaccompanied minor service is to ensure your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination.
We won’t accept unaccompanied minors when their itineraries include:
Our unaccompanied minor service is to ensure your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination.
We won’t accept unaccompanied minors when their itineraries include:
- A connection to/from another airline, including codeshare and oneworld® partners
- Ground / co-terminal connections (unaccompanied minors under 15 years, can’t use ground transportation alone)
That will also differ by carrier, just as connection and other policies will differ. American charges $150 for one or two UNMRs each way.
American Airlines:
- The unaccompanied minor service fee is $150 (plus tax) each way
- 2 or more unaccompanied minors from the same family, traveling on the same flights, will only be charged $150 (plus tax) each way
The airline generally requires proof of age for the child traveling alone (birth certificate, passport, etc.). The TSA will likely require this as well.
Q. What documentation do minors require for international travel?
Your unaccompanied minor will generally require his or her own passport for international travel.
Be sure your unaccompanied minor has a letter signed by both parents / guardians (or copy of documentation showing there is one person with sole custody) granting him permission to travel and noting who s/he will be residing with (and I suggest another granting the adults s/he to secure medical care for the minor). The letter should probably be notarized.
US Department of State:
LETTER OF CONSENT FOR TRAVEL OF A MINOR CHILD
Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or pornography, an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask you to provide some form of letter of consent if your child is traveling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. The sample letter below is a guide only. You may also wish to have the letter of consent notarized.
Link to PDF of sample letter.
LETTER OF CONSENT FOR TRAVEL OF A MINOR CHILD
Because of increasing instances of child abduction in custody cases, and a growing number of children who are the victims of trafficking or pornography, an immigration officer, airline, or travel company may ask you to provide some form of letter of consent if your child is traveling internationally with only one parent or with another adult, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. The sample letter below is a guide only. You may also wish to have the letter of consent notarized.
Link to PDF of sample letter.
Q. What if the minor is traveling internationally with another adult (accompanied minor)?
See the letter authorizing travel, mentioned above. As well, you can ask the airline to add a "TCP* note" in his PNR (booking record) to show s/he is traveling with another adult(s) other than both parents (one parent, relatives, friends). It might be useful to do the same for the adult; this also may help the airline to assure they're not assigned different flights in case of travel disruption.
* "To Complete Party"
Unaccompanied Minors
Jan 29, 2015, 8:31 pm
#166
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,558
Unaccompanied Minors
The UM fee provides escorted service on and off the plane, as well as handoff to the correct party. It also includes making sure the child gets the proper inflight service (food and beverages) It does not provide entertaining the child or supervising them. I saw a little boy placed on a transcon once that started crying shortly after takeoff and kept crying inconsolably, when we asked his age he said he was 5 until he got off the plane, then he was 4 again. Argh! Parents bear the responsibility of being honest and also for knowing their child's maturity level. Many 5-6 year olds lack the maturity to fly alone.
Feb 24, 2016, 9:23 am
#167
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The UM fee provides escorted service on and off the plane, as well as handoff to the correct party. It also includes making sure the child gets the proper inflight service (food and beverages) It does not provide entertaining the child or supervising them. I saw a little boy placed on a transcon once that started crying shortly after takeoff and kept crying inconsolably, when we asked his age he said he was 5 until he got off the plane, then he was 4 again. Argh! Parents bear the responsibility of being honest and also for knowing their child's maturity level. Many 5-6 year olds lack the maturity to fly alone.
I've added part of your PST and some summary information in a wikipost.
Nov 14, 2022, 10:55 am
#168
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
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Posts: 8,076
My 14 year old on traveling from Los Angeles to Bangkok (to catch up with us) as an unaccompanied minor in December via either Japan, Seoul, or HGK
Any suggestions on which international airlines is best for him as far as the staff is attentive - best route is the quickest with one stop maximum. American carriers don't (or no longer) offer the service at foreign airports.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Any suggestions on which international airlines is best for him as far as the staff is attentive - best route is the quickest with one stop maximum. American carriers don't (or no longer) offer the service at foreign airports.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Nov 15, 2022, 6:15 pm
#169
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My 14 year old on traveling from Los Angeles to Bangkok (to catch up with us) as an unaccompanied minor in December via either Japan, Seoul, or HGK
Any suggestions on which international airlines is best for him as far as the staff is attentive - best route is the quickest with one stop maximum. American carriers don't (or no longer) offer the service at foreign airports.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Any suggestions on which international airlines is best for him as far as the staff is attentive - best route is the quickest with one stop maximum. American carriers don't (or no longer) offer the service at foreign airports.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Edit: You will have to see if CX is out of the picture unless you want the child to pull the transfer themselves: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...ed-minors.html
Nov 16, 2022, 9:16 am
#170
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,076
Assuming your child is a native English speaker and if CX and HKG are able to provide the UAM service nowadays, my suggestion would be that it may make sense to choose the HKG route.
Edit: You will have to see if CX is out of the picture unless you want the child to pull the transfer themselves: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...ed-minors.html
Edit: You will have to see if CX is out of the picture unless you want the child to pull the transfer themselves: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...ed-minors.html
We prefer the Asian carriers, but picked Qatar as their rates are 1/3 or less of the rest (paid $574.40 + 60000 Avios for economy seat) when using Avios. UM service is free - all you need is to fill the online form and have an adult hand deliver the minor to the ticketing staff at LAX with proper documentation. We shall see how this goes …
Any experiences dealing with QR on this matter will be very helpful.