Can you send a 12 year old on a plane?

Getting ready. 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.



Yes, a 12-year-old can fly alone, but their status depends on the specific airline's policy. Most airlines classify children aged 12 to 15 (or 17) as "Young Passengers" or "Young Travelers." At age 12, many airlines—including major carriers like Delta, British Airways, and Lufthansa—allow them to fly without the mandatory "Unaccompanied Minor" (UM) service required for younger children. However, some airlines (particularly low-cost carriers like AirAsia) still require a parent-signed indemnity form or may still classify them as minors who cannot travel entirely alone. If you choose not to pay for the UM service (where available as an option for 12-year-olds), the airline will treat the child as an adult passenger, meaning they must navigate the airport and any connections independently. Always check the "Minor Travel" section of the airline's website, as some international routes have stricter document requirements for solo minors.

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The short answer to this question is “probably,” as long as your child is at least 5-years-old. The airlines generally consider children between the ages of 5 and 14 flying alone to be “unaccompanied minors.” Once your child is 15, they can fly alone without a special designation.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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Ryanair does not allow unaccompanied minors under 16 years to travel. Children under the age of 16 years must always be accompanied by a passenger over 16 years.

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Children under 18 aren't required to have identification for domestic trips. But to travel overseas, you'll need passports for your grandchildren, no matter how old they are. It's also wise to carry with you a notarized letter that grants you permission to travel with your grandchildren, signed by both parents.

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Children 5-14 years old must travel as an Unaccompanied Minor when not traveling with an adult at least 15 years old. Unaccompanied Minors are accepted only on direct flights which do not require a change of aircraft or flight number.

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The law does not say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it's an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk. Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, for example at home or in a car.

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What age must my child be to travel without a parent? EasyJet does not accept unaccompanied minors under the age of 16. Children under 16 years of age cannot travel unless accompanied by a person aged 16 years or older who will take responsibility for the minor.

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Do children under 12 fly free on Ryanair? Children under 12 (excluding infants) must be seated next to an adult they're travelling with. Ryanair lets up to four children sit for free next to an adult, but the adult must pay a minimum of €/£4 to purchase a seat in rows 18-33.

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The minimum age of a person permitted to travel alone on British Airways is 14 years of age (except on flights operated by SUN-AIR of Scandinavia). If young flyers are accompanied by someone who is aged 16 or over (on the same or a linked booking), British Airways will allow them to travel.

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You'll need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during their journey. At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide: A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child's age.

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At a minimum, the permission letter should provide your child's name and date of birth, the dates of trip, the name of the adult companion, the specific travel destinations, and the reason for travel. You should also make sure to include both parents' full names, signatures, and phone numbers.

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What is a Child Travel Consent form? A Child Travel Consent gives a minor child permission to travel without their parents or legal guardians. Use this form when your child needs to travel alone or with another adult, who is not their legal guardian (e.g., a grandparent, friend, or teacher).

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We do not carry unaccompanied children under 16. We cannot provide an escort or special facilities.

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If the conditions are satisfied, airlines that assign seats and guarantee fee-free family seating will provide adjacent seat assignments to the adult traveling with a child age 13 or under no later than on the day before the flight.

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