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Can a minor fly without a parent United Airlines?

Your kids must be booked on a nonstop United or United Express flight. If your kids are under five, they don't qualify for this service and must fly with you or another adult who is at least 18. If your kids are 15-17, they can travel alone without using this service, but you can use it if you want to.



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Who can fly alone? Most U.S. airlines will permit children who have reached their fifth birthday to travel unaccompanied. Kids ages 5 through 11 who are flying alone must usually travel pursuant to special “unaccompanied minor” procedures.

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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.

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Some airlines permit this for kids as young as 12. When a child has reached this minimum age for traveling alone without unaccompanied-minor procedures, the airline does not require evidence of parental permission to travel alone. If the child has a passport, he or she can even travel internationally.

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Child age at the time of unaccompanied travel Children ages 15-17 are permitted to travel as a standard passenger, Go to footer note, provided they can present a valid ID to security personnel. If parents or guardians prefer, they can also travel as an unaccompanied minor.

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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.

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Most US based airlines (but not all of them) offer flights for unaccompanied minors. For a fee, the airline and its employees provide limited supervision on board flights for the child. They also help the child in making flight connections, when applicable.

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You do need your parents' consent. Your friend could get in big trouble taking you someplace without the knowledge and agreement of your parents. And they should put it in writing including giving him or her permission to seek emergency medical treatment for you while traveling.

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TSA (Transportation Security Administration) minor travel consent refers to a document that gives permission for a minor child (usually under the age of 18) to travel without both parents or legal guardians present.

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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.

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Most U.S. airlines will permit children who have reached their fifth birthday to travel unaccompanied. Kids ages 5 through 11 who are flying alone must usually travel pursuant to special “unaccompanied minor” procedures. On some airlines, these procedures are required for unaccompanied children as old as 14.

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A Child Travel Consent Form is required where a minor child under the age of 18 is traveling internationally without both parents present.

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Parents/guardians wishing to escort a Young Traveler to/from the gate must obtain a gate pass from the ticket counter to pass through the security checkpoint. Each airport may impose restrictions on gate passes being issued based on guidance from the local Transportation Security Administration.

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While some airports offer unrestricted gate passes, most US airlines only allow non-ticketed passengers to access the terminal if they are accompanying minors, special needs persons, or military family members. You can request a gate pass through the airline or through participating airports.

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Parents/guardians wishing to escort a Young Traveler to/from the gate must obtain a gate pass from the ticket counter to pass through the security checkpoint.

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United Airlines United's family seating policy guarantees families with children under age 12 in certain cabins can sit together for free, regardless of fare type.

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