Many airlines offer discounts for children, which is usually considered ages 2-11. Some of the discounts vary and are not available for every route.

Flights for minors can be cheaper, but the "discount" usually disappears once the child turns 12. For infants (under 2), "lap child" tickets are often free on domestic U.S. flights and about 10% of the adult fare on international routes. For children (ages 2-11), many international carriers (like KLM, Lufthansa, or Emirates) offer a "Child Fare" which is typically 75% to 85% of the adult price. However, most major U.S. domestic airlines (Delta, American, United) stopped offering child discounts years ago; everyone 2 and older pays the full adult fare. Paradoxically, flying a minor alone can actually be more expensive due to the "Unaccompanied Minor" (UM) fee. This mandatory service fee—ranging from $150 to $300 each way—is added on top of the adult ticket price for children aged 5 to 14 flying without an adult. So, while a 10-year-old flying with their parents to Paris might get a discounted ticket, a 10-year-old flying alone to grandma's house will almost always cost significantly more than an adult.