Can a 17 year old fly alone internationally United Airlines?
Our unaccompanied minor service is required for kids 5-14, and optional for those 15-17, who are traveling alone. Here's how to book a ticket and prepare your child for their trip.
People Also Ask
Children ages 15-17 traveling alone need one of the following:
Any persons under 18 travelling without their parents or guardian are required to present an international travel permission declaration form signed by their father, mother or guardian at the check-in desks.
Typically, minors under the age of 18 do not have to present identification for domestic U.S. travel. Airlines will accept identification from the responsible adult on behalf of the minor(s). For international travel, minors under the age of 18 must present the same travel documents as the adult.
A signed, notarized letter for a minor to travel from both parents is required if a child travels internationally alone or with an adult who is not their legal guardian. The other parent must also sign the consent form if they are traveling with just one parent.
For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service is available to ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination.
Children under 18 don't need an ID to fly domestically but do need a passport for international flights. You can also bring breast milk or formula through security, even if your child isn't with you. But, be sure you meet TSA guidelines.
Important: There have been instances of teens buying an airline ticket and flying without their parents' knowledge. If your son or daughter has access to a credit card and the Internet, he or she can buy a ticket.
A parent or guardian must escort an Unaccompanied Minor to the departure gate 45 minutes before scheduled departure and must remain in the gate area until the flight is in the air.
An unaccompanied minor, or U.M., is typically the first to board the aircraft. Escorted by a badged airline employee, the U.M. is turned over to the lead flight attendant, who then introduces the child to members of the cabin crew. Our job is to periodically monitor the U.M. and ensure all is well during the flight.
For example, British Airways, KLM and EasyJet permit children aged 14 and over to fly alone while Ryanair doesn't allow any child under the age of 16 to fly unless with someone over 18. On Lufthansa and Norwegian Air flights, children can travel without an adult from the age of 12.
International Travel. Regardless of age, all children need a valid passport for air travel to another country. The application process for children under the age of 16 needs to be completed in person. To fill out this application, at least one parents needs to appear.
The letter should say I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission. If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
All children, including infants, must have their own passport or Trusted Traveler Program document for U.S. entry. Carry documents for traveling with minor children. If you are escorting a minor child without the parents, have a letter from both parents indicating that you have permission to travel with the minor.
On arrival your child will be escorted to a parent or guardian waiting to collect them (ID will be required). Children aged 12 and above: Children over 12 (15 for some airlines) can travel alone but the Unaccompanied Minor Service is available for an extra charge. stating what medication they are taking and why.
Most commercial airlines and similar transporting carriers have Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Programs in place and it is estimated that as many as 7 million children travel by plane yearly, using these UM-programs in the United States alone.