legal age to travel alone uk

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Travel advice for children & young people

• Child safety

Safe travel advice for children and young people

• Any passengers under the age of 14 should be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or over.
• Children who are 14 years of age or over are allowed to travel on our services unaccompanied but should be appropriately prepared to travel on their own.
• Children aged 14 and 15 years old may travel unaccompanied, as from 5am, arriving at their booked destination no later than 10pm. Unaccompanied children will be asked for proof of age or a signed letter of permission from their parent/guardian. (SMS or chat-based messages are not permissible).

In the event that a child or young adult is travelling alone, there are some safety tips they should follow and you as a parent or carer should be aware of:

• Plan ahead - You may want to avoid journeys with long stopovers and plan a journey that includes as few changeovers as possible.
• Meet Up - Ensure that someone is meeting a child or young person at their final destination and that they know where they are being met.
• Write it all down  - Make sure that the child travelling has their journey written down and that the details are on their person. This should include all arrival and departure information and the time that the child will be met. Ensure that there is an emergency contact number on the paper too so that a responsible adult can be called even if the child’s phone has run out of battery.
• Charge it - Make sure their phone is fully charged at the start of their journey and any important numbers are stored in the memory. Delays and disruption may mean that a journey may take longer than expected so it’s important they have enough battery to last the entire duration and beyond.
• Stick together - If the child is travelling in a group, tell them to stick together and always look out for each other.
• Call us - If you need support or, in the unlikely event of an emergency, call 999.

Changes of travel plans

Sometimes, if there is a travel disruption, passengers may be required to travel on a different coach or even by taxi.

Although it is uncommon, children and young people travelling unaccompanied should be made aware of this possibility.

Safety See all of our safety information for travelling with us...

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Open Return Information

Book your return

Your Open Dated Return is valid for 3 months from your outbound journey. To guarantee your seat on your return you need to confirm your ticket before you travel on www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/tickets/open-returns or call 0371 781 8181.

Open Dated Return Information

If your return date is not yet known, open return tickets provide flexibility. When travelling within the UK, the return journey can be made within 3 months of the outward date of travel. To guarantee your seat on your return journey you need to confirm your ticket before you travel by visiting www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/tickets/open-returns or call us on 03717 81 81 81. Lines open 7 days a week, 8am - 8pm (calls to this number are charged at local rate). Valid on any day throughout the year.

Open returns are not available on European journeys.

Wheelchair accessibility

Accessible coaches.

The majority of stops along the routes listed below are accessible to wheelchair users but are subject to change. Please call us to check the latest situation before booking and at least 36 hours in advance of when you would like to travel.

To see a list of accessible coach routes please visit our Accessibility page.

Assisted Travel Helpline

If you are travelling in a wheelchair or require assistance, please call our helpline before booking and at least 36 hours in advance of when you would like to travel.

03717 81 81 81 - ( option 3)  (lines open 8am - 8pm 7 days a week). Calls to this number are charged at local rate.

For more information please visit our Disabled travellers page.

Passengers & Wheelchair accessibility

Passenger descriptions.

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult (16+) and Children (3-15)

Children under 14 cannot travel alone unless accompanied by an adult (16+). Please note, you may be required to show proof of age at any point during your journey. Failure to do so, may result in the full adult fare being charged.

Children (3-15)

Children under 14 cannot travel alone unless accompanied by a responsible adult (16+).

Disabled Children

Should be booked as Children. If they are travelling in a wheelchair or require assistance, please call our Assisted Travel Helpline.

We strongly recommend that you bring a car seat appropriate to your child's age, but ask you to take responsibility to fit the seat.

Booster Seats

Children aged between approximately 4-11 years old, or up to 150cm tall, may use booster seats. We carry a limited number onboard most coaches.

If travelling with a child, you may be required to show proof of age when buying tickets or at any point during your journey. Failure to do so may result in the child being required to pay the full fare for the journey on that day.

Booster seats

Children aged between approximately 4 years and 11 years or up to 150cm tall may use booster seats, we carry a limited number onboard most coaches along with our comfort fit seat belts.

Disabled children should be booked as children rather than 'Disabled'. If they are travelling in a wheelchair or you wish to book assistance with travel please call our Assisted Travel Helpline before booking and at least 36 hours in advance of when you would like to travel.

You can find a list of accessible coach stops on our Accessibility page .

Please call us 36 hours prior to travelling to check the latest status.

If you are travelling in a wheelchair or require assistance we recommend that you contact us on the following local rate telephone number: 03717 81 81 81 (lines open 8am - 8pm 7 days a week) 36 hours in advance of when you would like to travel.

Adult (26 - 59)

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged between of 26 and 59 inclusive.

Child 0 - 12 inclusive

Children aged 12 or under travelling on any European service must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.

Unaccompanied children will not be carried

Young persons (13 - 25)

Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.

Young persons aged 16 or 17 years can travel alone on European services but only if they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Senior (60 and over)

Passengers aged 60 and over are entitled to receive a small discount on European journeys. On European journeys a 50% discount is given to carers, please call us on 08717 818177 to book.

Please select your passenger type first and then add your coachcards.

We have three different Coachcards available, each offering savings of 1/3 on all of our Standard and Fully Flexible coach fares all year round.

Prices shown include your coachcard discount, your coachcard number will be required during the booking process.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

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Unaccompanied minors: Can children travel by themselves on flights?

Following one family’s distressing experience, we take a look at the rules around whether under 18s can travel alone, article bookmarked.

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Air travel for unaccompanied children is possible, but there are various rules and regulations around it - meaning those aged under 18 can encounter issues with their journeys.

In Australia last month, 11-year-old Jack Garland was due to travel with his 13-year-old sister Scarlett from Sydney to the Gold Coast, when he was unexpectedly denied boarding and left at the airport .

The siblings had been scheduled to travel with their father, but last-minute work engagements prevented him from taking the trip.

The pair’s mother, Emma Garland, claims she checked beforehand with Qantas, through whom she’d booked the tickets, that the two could travel unaccompanied by an adult.

But she says that, once they had boarded the plane, Jack was removed with no explanation given to his sister.

Jetstar clarified that it does not allow 11-year-olds to travel without a parent or guardian over 18.

“While we enjoy welcoming young passengers on board our flights , Jetstar does not offer an unaccompanied minor service and young passengers must meet certain requirements in order to travel independently with us, including being of secondary school age,” said a spokesperson.

“A secondary school passenger can travel independently but must be at least 15 years old to accompany a child under secondary school age.”

So are Jetstar in the right, and how do you know what the rules are when it comes to children boarding planes without an adult?

What are the rules around unaccompanied minors?

Each airline may set its own rules when it comes to allowing or not allowing unaccompanied minors, including the documentation parents must provide, how they book, and the flights children may take.

The minimum age a child must be to fly alone is five.

In general, airlines that offer an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service insist that it is used for children between five and 11, while it’s an optional extra that parents can request for children aged 12 to 15. However, there are exceptions.

There are also some restrictions around flight length, timings and stopovers - so booking your child under 16 on a flight with a long layover during the night, for example, may not be possible.

Unaccompanied children are not normally allowed to take the last flight of the day, in case of any delays that might strand them overnight in a foreign airport.

Parents need to check with their individual airline for their rules and services around UNMRs.

Emirates, for example, offers an unaccompanied minors service for children aged between 5 and 11 flying without their parents; parents of 12-15 year olds can also request the service, which involves a specially supported check in, boarding the plane first and staff checking in on the child mid-flight.

Meanwhile, British Airways only allows children aged 14 and up to travel unaccompanied; it asks the parents of under-16s to contact them directly to arrange an unaccompanied minor journey (these cannot be booked on the airline’s website). They must also complete a parental/guardian consent form before travel.

On the other side of the pond, American Airlines specifies that children aged five to seven can only travel unaccompanied on nonstop flights; meanwhile, children from eight to 14 can transit through a select number of US airports.

As a rule of thumb, UNMR services are most often available on long-haul flights with larger carriers, and less often on budget and short-haul carriers.

For example, Ryanair does not allow unaccompanied flyers under 16, saying: “We cannot provide an escort or special facilities.”

On easyJet, children up to 15 cannot board a flight unless they are accompanied by an adult, which they define as 16 years or older. “EasyJet does not provide an escort service or special requirements for unaccompanied children,” says the carrier.

If you’re booking through a third party site such as Flight Centre, check to see if they have a dedicated phone number for UM bookings.

What should parents know about booking travel for an unaccompanied child?

Different countries require different documentation when it comes to children entering or transiting through their airports alone; check with the relevant country’s authorities to make sure an unaccompanied minor has everything they need before travel.

BA advises: “The Iata Travel Centre can advise you what documentation is required for entry to each country. Just make sure you use the date of birth of your child to ensure the extra requirements are displayed.”

It’s important to be organised and book this service early ‒ there’s usually a cap on the number of unaccompanied children, typically six, allowed on any given flight.

In terms of cost, unaccompanied minors are usually sold as adult air fares, sometimes with a fee for the UNMR service.

The solo child is often seated close to a crew bulkhead or galley area, close to a toilet and with empty seats beside them if available.

In most cases, airlines will demand information on and contacts for the “sender” and “receiver” - the adults who will accompany the child to the departure airport and pick them up from the arrival one. In most cases, cabin crew will not be able to hand over a child to anyone other than an official pick-up contact shared with the airline beforehand - even if they can prove they are a family member.

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Children travelling alone

If your child is about to embark on their first adventure without you, here’s everything you need to know to help make sure it goes smoothly. 

How old does a child have to be to fly alone?

We allow children aged 14 or older to travel alone with us on domestic or international British Airways flights. 

Children under 14 years old cannot travel alone with us. They must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over on the same or a linked booking to travel with us. 

Our partner airline SUN-AIR of Scandinavia follow different guidelines. Please see below for more information.

Booking flights for children under the age of 16

A child aged 14 or 15 years old travelling alone will be booked to travel as an adult. To book their ticket, please get in touch via our  Contact Us  page as you’re unable to book this online. 

The young traveller will be making their own way through departure and arrival airports and boarding their flight(s) without assistance or a chaperone. We’re unable to accept parental responsibility for the young person. 

Our partner airlines may have different regulations, age limits and charges, so please check with them directly.

What your child needs to travel alone

All children aged 14 or 15 travelling alone must carry with them:

• A  British Airways consent form  (pdf, 124kb, English only), completed and signed by a parent/guardian. 
• A copy of photographic identification of the parent/guardian who completed the form showing their signature, such as passport or driving licence. 
• Any required travel documentation, such as valid passport(s), visas and proof of return travel.  Check what they need for their destination .

These three documents must always remain in the child’s possession while travelling. 

We also advise your child carries with them:

• Any required medication and/or health certificates.
• Method of payment for any expenses.
• A way to communicate with their parent or guardian, as well as the person they are meeting at their destination. Please ensure all phones and devices are fully charged, with sufficient credit and roaming activated.

At the airport

You can accompany your young traveller up to the security gate. Anyone not flying with us is unable to go past this point, because we cannot offer gate passes at any of our airports. Airport colleagues will be able to tell you the latest time your child can stay with you before they need to go through security and onto their departure gate. 

We recommended that you wait until their flight takes off before leaving the terminal.

It can help to look at the airport terminal maps with your child before arriving at the airport so they’re familiar with their journey. Some airports do offer paid assistance to help customers to their boarding gate. Please visit the airport’s website for more information. 

Children travelling alone on SUN-AIR flights

SUN-AIR, our partner airline, allows young children between the ages of five and 11 years to travel without a parent or legal guardian provided you contact the airline in advance. Children over the age of 12 can travel unaccompanied on SUN-AIR operated flights, although young flyers between 12-16 years can use the SUN-AIR Unaccompanied Minor service on request.

You’ll need to book and pay for the SUN-AIR Unaccompanied Minor service in advance. You can’t book this service online, so please contact SUN-AIR for more information and to make your booking.

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Parents intending to leave their child in the care of a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine

What you need to do if you need to leave your children in the care of your sponsor, or if you can't travel with your children to the UK.

If your child, under the age of 18, is coming to the UK without you, they could be particularly vulnerable. We have a separate process for this type of application. Applicants must meet different eligibility criteria, and sponsors must have enhanced safeguarding checks. The online application form for sponsors of children not travelling with their parent or legal guardian should be completed .

If you have applied to come to the UK with your children through the main Homes for Ukraine scheme, you must travel with them to the UK.

When you are in the UK, you should not leave your child in the care of a sponsor (or an accompanying adult relative) for 28 days or more. You also should not leave your child the care of a sponsor (or an accompanying relative) for shorter periods on a regular basis. Sponsors of children who arrived with their parent or legal guardian will not have expected to take on the responsibility for a child who is not with their parent or legal guardian and will not have had the necessary safeguarding checks.

What you must do before you leave your child with your sponsor

If in very exceptional circumstances you can’t travel with your child or children to the UK or need to leave them in the care of the sponsor for 28 days or more, you must take certain steps. Before you leave your child or children you must have:

• agreed how long the sponsor will be responsible for your children
• got the consent of the sponsor to take on additional responsibility as a sponsor of a child under 18
• told the council and give them written consent. You should use this version of the UK sponsorship arrangement consent form
• waited for the council to successfully complete any additional safeguarding checks required (including a sponsor suitability assessment) before the child travels to the UK or before the parent or legal guardian leaves their child in the care of the sponsor.

You must follow the steps above for any situation where you need to leave your child in the care of your sponsor for 28 days or more, including if:

• you can’t travel with your child to the UK
• if you are returning to Ukraine temporarily
• if you are moving to another UK address for work

The above steps should all be completed before you leave your child. You should also contact your local council to find out if your temporary absence may affect your entitlement to any services you are currently receiving.

If you go abroad, you can continue to get Universal Credit for up to one month.

• be eligible for Universal Credit when you’re going abroad
• remain eligible for it while you’re abroad
• tell your work coach that you’re going, and let them know when you return

If you leave the UK, you should stay in frequent contact with your sponsor and your child and keep them updated about any changes to your plans (for example if you need to be away for longer than you originally thought).

If your sponsor can no longer look after your children

If a sponsorship arrangement between a sponsor and a child who is under 18 and is not with their parent or legal guardian breaks down or is ended by the council for child welfare or safeguarding reasons, the council may need to accommodate your child. The council will try to contact you to understand how you want your child to be cared for if this happens.

You can read more information about the council’s responsibility in these situations .

You can read more about the eligible minors scheme .

Information added advising parents / legal guardians to not leave their children in the care of the sponsor for a prolonged time or repeatedly.

Added translation

Related content

Invasion of ukraine.

• UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals
• Move to the UK if you're coming from Ukraine
• Homes for Ukraine: record your interest
• Find out about the UK’s response

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Children travelling abroad alone: the safety checks that need to be in place

D uring the recent summer holidays, 11-year-old Liam Corcoran left his home in Wythenshawe , caught a bus to Manchester airport and boarded a Jet2 flight to Rome. The tabloids had a field day, but the incident highlights a serious concern for the travel industry: child safety and protection.

Liam was escorted home on the return flight. But with millions of families jetting off on foreign holidays every year, what can the travel industry do to ensure their young charges arrive back unharmed?

Getting there

The fact that an 11-year-old could board a plane without a ticket or accompanying adult raises very specific issues. Airport security was clearly grossly inadequate. UK Border Agency rules do not permit children to fly without correct documentation or boarding pass.

Likewise, standard airline procedure requires security staff to check a child's boarding pass and passport at check-in and at the gate, as well as the boarding pass stub once the child is on board. A passenger headcount before take-off is also habitual – a procedure that Jet2 had discontinued, but has since reinstated.

Over and above these routine checks, special provisions are in place for children (generally defined as under-16) who are travelling without adults. Responsibility for these unaccompanied minors falls to the airline or their handling agent, clarifies Sarah Brookes, head of public affairs at Manchester airport.

Policies on unaccompanied minors differ from airline to airline. In the case of Jet2, it – supposedly – operates a blanket ban on children flying without an accompanying adult. Higher-end carriers are more lenient. British Airways, for instance, will carry unaccompanied children under 12 as long as they are registered under its Skyflyer Solo service.

The UK carrier insists that the child is checked-in in person, not online or at an airport kiosk, and that the adult stays in the airport until the plane has left. Other provisions include photographs of the person responsible for meeting the child at the other end.

Ferry and train companies exhibit a similar range of policies . Many ferry companies refuse to take unaccompanied children full-stop. Others have an age limit. Eurostar, for instance, will not take unaccompanied children under 12, but "will consider" taking children aged between 13-17.

Breaches are possible, but extremely rare, transport operators say. In Jet2's case, the airline undertook a thorough investigation following the Corcoran affair. "Revised procedures have now been implemented," clarifies Gaby O'Grady, a spokesperson for the airline.

Once on holiday

Travelling alone is the exception. The vast majority of children heading abroad for their holidays do so in the company of their family. Ensuring these child holidaymakers come to no harm starts with basic health and safety in their hotel or resort, insists Angela Hills, destination services manager at the UK travel trade association Abta .

Abta produces a Health and Safety Technical Guide, which includes child-specific safety measures, such as signing children in and out of the hotel, and notification of parents' contact details. Since the guide was introduced in 2003, Abta has distributed it to all its 5,500 members, plus around 40,000 suppliers.

At a facilities level, child-related risks tend to be wrapped up in general health and safety management, according to Barbara Powell, senior director of corporate social responsibility at the hotel chain Marriott International.

Where specific child protection policies kick in is to cover child violence or trafficking. Since the Madeleine McCann case in Portugal in 2007, such issues have become a top-line priority for the tourism industry, notes Abta's Hills.

Marriott follows many other large hoteliers and tour operators in having tailored training for all its employees on child protection and human rights . The training provides guidance on how to spot suspicious activity, as well as protocols on how to report it, Powell explains.

"We don't put this in the hands of an associate [hotel employee] as it's too sensitive", she states. "Instead, they are told to report it to their supervisor and then it goes through a chain of command in the hotel."

It falls to the hotel's head of security or hotel manager to then investigate and intervene if necessary. Depending on the seriousness of the case, hotel security will either approach the guest directly or put in a call to the local police.

Marriott's position keeps with the zero tolerance approach set out in the Industry Position Statement on Human Trafficking – a collective agreement drawn up by members of the International Tourism Partnership , which represents 16 global hoteliers.

Leading tour operators take a similar approach. The global travel company TUI has gone further than most. Working with children's charity NSPCC , it has set up a train-the-trainer programme that sees all its 350 childcare staff receive instruction on child protection issues. This is in addition to the child safety content of the NVQ2 qualification required of all TUI's childcare staff.

In addition, NSPCC provides a 24-hour helpline service that TUI staff can call when suspicious incidents arise. The charity's expert staff can advise them on what action to take locally, as well as dealing with social services and other agencies in the child's place of residency.

"While kids are away, we need to make sure that doesn't become a vulnerable time", clarifies Ian Chapman, director of holiday experience at the TUI brands Thomson and First Choice . "The NVQ and in-house training, plus the NSPCC partnership, means that we've been able to deal directly with the handful of cases that we've had or pass them on to the appropriate authorities."

The tourism sector cannot make the scourge of child trafficking disappear for good. That said, it is making "positive" steps to combat it when incidents occur, insists Fran Hughes, spokesperson for the International Tourism Partnership.

"We've gone from a position where child trafficking wasn't on the radar for some companies", she notes, "to one where they are developing their own policies and training."

Oliver Balch is author of India Rising: Tales from a Changing Nation , published by Faber

This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional . Become a GSB member to get more stories like this direct to your inbox

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How sweet is sixteen? Legal age limits in England and Wales

What was claimed.

At 16 we’re free from parental control, we can leave home, we can start a family, we can get married, we can start work, we can pay taxes, we can join the forces.

Our verdict

Correct, although in some cases parental consent is still required for under-18s.

“At 16 we’re free from parental control, we can leave home, we can start a family, we can get married, we can start work, we can pay taxes, we can join the forces.” Emily Thornberry, 31 January 2018

Legally you are considered to be a child if you’re under the age of 18. Until you reach this age you can’t buy alcohol or do things like leave education or training (though you can leave secondary school at the age of 16). But for many other things the minimum legal age is 16. We’ve taken a look at the law in England and Wales in some of these cases.

Almost all of the information in this article was originally sourced from a House of Commons Library briefing .

Honesty in public debate matters

You can help us take action – and get our regular free email

Defining a child

Both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Children Act 1989 define a child as someone under the age of 18. The UN Convention adds that this is “unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.” In the UK, children gain rights under certain laws before the age of 18.

If you’re in England or Wales, you can vote in UK elections, and referendums, from the age of 18. You can register to vote at 16.

Leaving home

You can leave home without parental consent at the age of 18. If a child leaves home, parents can apply for a court order to try and bring the child back. The court bases its decision on criteria including the age and wishes of the child, as well as any risks to their welfare in leaving home.

In practice, it is unlikely that a court would approve a parental order to bring back a child aged 16 or over.

Children can generally start to take up take up  part-time  work at 13 years old. In exceptional cases such as if you are acting or modelling you may start at a younger age. If that is the case then a  special licence  is needed.

From the age of 16 you can start  full-time  work in Wales, having met the  minimum  school leaving age. In England you have to stay in some kind of education or training until you're 18 and we've looked at that in more detail below.

At the age of 16 you may need to be paid through PAYE if you earn over £113, meaning you can be taxed. You also start paying  national insurance  from the age of 16 if you earn over £157 a week (as an employee).

Marriage and civil partnerships

You can legally get married , or enter into a civil partnership at 16, although parental consent must be given in both cases if you are under the age of 18.

Sexual consent

From the age of 16, a person is considered to be able to give consent to all sexual activity with other people aged 16 or over.

It is an offence for someone who is under or over the age of 16 to take part in sexual activity with someone else who is under the age of 16.

You have to be 18 years-old to buy alcohol . But if you are over the age of 16 you can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal , for example in a restaurant, if you’re accompanied by someone over the age of 18. Children can also consume alcohol in private from the age of five.  

You can also buy liqueur confectionery from the age of 16.

You can get a provisional driving license and start taking lessons at 15 years and 9 months.

The minimum age for actually being able to drive depends on the type of vehicle. For some very small vehicles, for example a moped, you can start driving once you’re 16.

You can take your driving test for a car, and start driving, from the age of 17. That’s also the minimum age limit for driving a tractor or a motorbike too. If you want to drive a “medium-sized good vehicle” then you need to be 18 and you have to be 21 before you can drive vehicles larger than that.

There are some exceptions to the minimum age limits though. For example, if you have applied for the advanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment you can start driving a car at 16 years-old.

Armed forces

You can join any of the Armed Forces without parental consent once you reach 18.

You can apply to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force at 15 years and 9 months and the Army at 15 years and 7 months.  You can’t actually serve in any of the forces until you reach 16 though.

For all three forces you need consent to join from a parent or guardian if you’re under 18.

Child benefit

A parent usually gets child benefit until the end of August after their child turns 16.

They can continue to get the benefit until the child reaches the age of 20 if they are in full-time “non-advanced education” or “approved training”—this includes GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, and traineeships. Or they can get it until the child turns 17 if the child has registered for things like further education or training with a careers service.

Correction 2 February 2018

We corrected this article to clarify that you can work full-time from the age of 16 in Wales, but in England must stay in some kind of education or training until the age of 18.

Update 2 August 2022

This article has been archived as the legal age of marriage has been raised to 18.

• By Joël Reland
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• Help centre
• Flying with children
• Young persons travelling alone

Young Persons Travelling Alone

We know that sometimes a young person (14-16 years) will need to travel with Virgin Atlantic alone. It’s really important that both the customer and their parent / guardian understand our policies and what’s required of them. Health, safety and security always comes first.

On this page:

Our policy and mandatory requirements

The minimum age of a person permitted to travel alone on Virgin Atlantic is 14 years of age at the time of travel. We have recently updated our policies meaning we no longer accept children aged 13 or under travelling alone, or unaccompanied minors.*

If a young person is accompanied by someone who is aged 16 or over (on the same or a linked booking), Virgin Atlantic will allow them to travel.

All young persons aged under 16 and travelling alone must have their parent or guardian complete a consent form before travel, regardless of when the booking was made. The consent form is available here . A copy of the parent/guardian’s current passport (or other form of photographic identification showing a signature) must also be attached to this form and brought to the airport.

If you would like to make a booking for a person under the age of 16 who is travelling on their own, please contact Virgin Atlantic directly to make the booking. Our partner airlines may have different regulations, age limits and charges.

When travelling with children on the same flight but in a different cabin, the following criteria must be followed:

Children aged between 14 and the day before their 16 th birthday can travel in a different cabin on the same flight as an adult aged 16+.

Children aged under 14 must travel with an adult aged 16+ in the same cabin.

*if a booking for a 12 - 13 year old travelling alone was made and ticketed on or before 24 November 2022, for future travel, we will honour this and support their travel plans. They must also have a completed consent form in order to travel. On and after 25 November 2022, we will not allow bookings for 12 - 13 year olds travelling alone.  

What to expect during the journey

A young person (14-16) travelling on their own will have the same responsibilities as an adult. This means they will need to be confident and competent in making their way through departure and arrival airports and boarding their flight(s) without a chaperone . While we maintain a duty of care for them when they fly with us, Virgin Atlantic cannot accept parental responsibility for the young person’s journey through the airport and onward destination.

The parent or guardian accompanying the young flyer to the airport is required to wait until their flight departs before leaving the terminal.

It’s very important that the young person does not leave the airport for any reason until they have reached their destination and met the designated adult collecting them, unless they’re accompanied by a Virgin Atlantic employee or uniformed police officer.

Young persons travelling along cannot check in online. They must come to the airport with a parent or legal guardian, where our airport team will check them in.

Young persons travelling alone will be met on arrival at the aircraft door by a Virgin Atlantic representative and escorted through Customs & Immigration at the following airports: • Barbados • Cape Town • New York JFK • Johannesburg • Montego Bay • Orlando • St Vincent • St Lucia

What a young person travelling alone should bring

The parent / guardian should ensure that the young person carries with them at all times:

Any necessary travel documentation such as valid passport(s), visas and proof of return travel (as required).

A signed Virgin Atlantic consent form and copy of parent/guardian’s passport or other form of photographic identification showing a signature attached to the form.

Any required medication and/or health certificates (including COVID-19 documentation if the destination requires this).

The ability to communicate with their parent/guardian and/or the person collecting them at the destination (please ensure all phones/mobile devices are fully charged, with sufficient credit and roaming is activated).

The means of payment should it be necessary for any expenses en route – ideally a credit card.  

We will not be able to accept the young person if:

They aren't checked in by a parent or legal guardian

They won't be collected directly by a parent or guardian upon arrival

They will be connecting from or onto another flight. The journey must be ‘point to point’ without a transfer

They do not have a signed Virgin Atlantic consent form and copy of parent/guardian’s passport or other form of photographic identification showing a signature attached to the form.

There is required medication and/or health certificates which don’t have pre-clearance from our Special Assistance team.

They do not have the correct documents for travel.

Young people travelling alone with medical conditions or allergies

All young persons travelling alone with medical conditions or allergies, must declare these to our Special Assistance team at least 72 hours before travel – simply complete a special assistance contact form . On some occasions, our Special Assistance team may ask for supplementary documentation to confirm fitness to fly or confirmation from a parent/guardian that the child is able to manage their condition independently.

The young person must be able to recognise their own symptoms and administer any required medication/treatment. If they are unable to recognise their own symptoms or administer medication, they must travel with a safety assistant and cannot travel unaccompanied.

If the young person travelling alone is unable to manage their condition independently, we may refuse travel without a safety assistant accompanying them, which the parent/guardian would then need to arrange themselves. 

Delays, Cancellations or Diversion

From time to time there may be disruption to our published schedule. If we have any indication that the young person’s flight may not operate as planned, we will advise the parent / guardian and suggest that you book travel for another day.

If a delay occurs en route, once the young person’s journey has started, Virgin Atlantic will contact the person at the destination who is designated to pick up the young person and/or the person listed as the emergency contact. We will continue to attempt contact until contact is made.

Under very rare circumstances, an unscheduled overnight stop may be required (e.g. if severe weather results in a diversion to another airport). In these situations, we will provide overnight accommodation and meals for the young person, please note that the Young Person will be required to stay in a hotel room unaccompanied and may need to travel to the hotel unaccompanied.

You will be contacted with pertinent information if this unusual circumstance occurs.

Young Persons travelling into Barbados

Young people (under 18 years old) entering Barbados alone or with an adult other than their parent or legal guardian must have a written consent letter from a parent or legal guardian (the legal guardian must attach official proof of guardianship), signed and sealed by a notary public.

The letter must indicate the duration of stay, identify the accompanying adult (with address and phone number) and/or authorised adult who will receive the child on arrival (with their address and phone number).

Young Persons & Children travelling into, out of, or via South Africa

Since 1 June 2016, the South African immigration department have changed the requirements for children under 18 years of age travelling into, out of, or transiting through South Africa, with or without a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have all the correct paperwork:

South African requirements for children travelling alone

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• Eurostar.com home
• Help centre

Can my child travel alone? If so, what travel documents are required?

Travelling to and from London Under 12 years old: must travel with a responsible person aged 16 or older. 12 to 15 years old (inclusive): can travel on their own on trains departing between 06.00 and 17.00 local time , as long as they’ve got a fully completed Eurostar  unaccompanied minor form . This must be signed by their parent or legal guardian (or by a responsible adult given consent by the parent or legal guardian) at the station in the presence of a member of the Eurostar team. Children under 16 cannot travel unaccompanied on our direct trains between London and the Netherlands.  The child will need to keep this signed form with them throughout their journey and show it to the onboard team if they’re asked. When the parent or legal guardian gives written consent for the young person to travel, they accept and agree that the young person will travel unaccompanied and be treated as an adult passenger (i.e., the young person will not be supervised by a member of the Eurostar staff) for the entirety of the trip. The responsible person must also ensure arrangements are in place for the young person to be met on arrival.  16 to 18 years old: can travel by themselves, as long as they’ve got all the usual travel documents and meet all the legal requirements (please see below). French citizens and foreigners living in France Anyone under 18 who is a French citizen or a foreigner living in France must complete an Authorisation de sortie de territoire (AST) form before they travel alone or without their parents. This applies to journeys from France. Documents your child will need

Passports are mandatory  for all passengers, including children Up to 16 years old All unaccompanied minors

Eurostar ticket

Eurostar unaccompanied minors form signed by parent

French citizen or a foreigner living in France who is leaving France:

As above, plus:

Authorisation de sortie de territoire (AST) form signed by parent

Photocopy of the passport of the parent who has signed the AST form

Up to 18 years old ​​​​All unaccompanied minors

French citizen or a foreigner living in France who is leaving France :

Authorisation de sortie de territoire (AST)  form signed by parent

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• Flight + Hotel

By Carla with

Which Airlines Allow Unaccompanied Minors to Fly Alone?

Featured On Board Travel Tips

In the airline industry, any passenger under the age of 16 is considered a child. Depending on the airline, there are different rules regarding  how old your child can be to travel alone . Some airlines offer an escort or chaperone service, whilst others allow older children to fly independently. Below are some of the most popular airlines in their UK, and their policies on unaccompanied minors flying alone. 

Unaccompanied minors – rules by airline

Depending on the age of the minor, Aer lingus allows minors to travel unaccompanied, but they may require special permission.

Minimum age for flying alone: 12 years old.

• Children between 12-15 years old can travel unaccompanied. However, an adult must sign the Form of Indemnity the day of flight departure at the airport check-in desk. If the form is not completed, the child will not be able to fly.
• Children under the age of 12 m  ust be accompanied by an adult 16 years or older.

✗ Escort service : Not available

British Airways

Minimum age for flying alone: British Airways  permits children of  14  years of age to fly without being accompanied by an adult. Young flyers aged under 16 travelling alone must complete a parental consent form.

✗ Escort Service: Not available anymore.

More information .

Minimum age for flying alone:  easyJet does not allow children under the age of 14 to fly alone. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a person 16 years or older to fly with the airline.

✗  Escort service : Not available

Minimum age for flying alone: Flybe  allows children of 12-16 to travel unaccompanied as adults but they have to book in advance as there is limited space on-board Flybe flights for unaccompanied minors.

✗ Escort Service: Not available since 3rd May 2018.

More information.

Minimum age to fly unaccompanied:  Children aged 5 years old up to 14 years old may travel alone if the unaccompanied minor service is reserved. Children aged 15 and over can fly alone with KLM . For children between the ages of 15 and 17, an escort service is optional.

✓  Escort Service : 

Minimum age to fly without a parent: Children between 5 and 11 years of age are only allowed to fly by themselves if they use the Lufthansa service or travel together with a person who is at least 12 years of age. At the parents’ request, however, also children traveling alone between 12 and 17 years old can be escorted by airline staff.

✓ Escort Service :  Within Europe: € 60; Intercontinental: € 100

Norwegian Air

Minimum age for flying unaccompanied by an adult: Children between 5-15 years old can travel on Norwegian Air as an unaccompanied minor. Children under 5 must travel with an adult.

✓ Escort service : For children between 5-11 years old, the escort service is mandatory. Children between 12-15 can choose to travel independently.

Minimum age for flying alone:  Ryanair does not allow children under the age of 16 to fly alone.

✗ Escort service : Not available

Virgin Atlantic

Minimum age for flying alone:  Virgin Atlantic allows children between the ages of 5-12 years to travel alone if they fill out the  Unaccompanied minors form and have it signed by their parents or legal guardians. Children under 5 years old cannot fly alone, they must be accompanied by someone 16 years or older.

To inform Virgin Atlantic of the Unaccompanied Minor service, the adult making the booking must speak directly to the reservations team during booking. This must be done in advance and can only be booked over the telephone. The adult must complete and sign the Declaration of Indemnity form that will be provided by the airline. Part of the form must be turned in ahead of time, and the second part must be presented by the adult at airport check-in. All minors must be accompanied until check-in by the responsible adult or they will not be allowed to fly alone.

✓  Escort Service:   No extra charge but his/her flight ticket will be charged with an adult fare.

Minimum age for flying alone:  Wizz Air allows children of 14 and over to fly alone but they can’t be responsible for another child under the age of 14. Therefore, children under 14 must travel with an adult (at least 16 years old) and both should be booked under the same reservation.

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109 responses to “ Which Airlines Allow Unaccompanied Minors to Fly Alone? ”

Hi I’m 12 and I want to book a flight with the cheapest airline from Chicago to The island of Kauai to go see my friend do you know of the cheapest airline that would allow me to fly by myself?

Good afternoon, I have a daughter of 12 y.o. who wanted to go to boarding school in the UK (Manchester), we leave abroad and our only direct flight to the UK (it’s a B.A.) goes to Gatwick, it looks like there are no flights from Gatwick to Manchester (or Newcastle which is another option), therefore she would need to change airport and go to Heathrow or South London, I would be able to go with her the first time but not each time she needs to come home for the school breaks, are there any options for her to be “escorted” from a B.A. representative or else during the transfer until she gets to Gatwick onto her destination flight?

Hi….I’m 15yrs old and want to travel alone (without parents and siblings) to South Korea……. Can I travel alone….? And which flight should you prefer….?

I am 16 years old flying with Thomas Cook from Scotland to Orlando, will I need to bring a note from my parents to the airport and birth certificate, I know I have to bring my passport.

Hi, We are Canadians. My son is 16 years old and will visit alone a friend in Italy this summer.He will fly with KLN from Calgary to Rome via Amsterdam. What documents he will need aside the passaport ? Thank you.

Carla, my 16 year old son and my 13 year old son are scheduled to fly from Lisbon, where they live, to Madrid (with TAP) and on to Mexico City where I live and will receive them (with Aeromexico) There is no code share between TAP and Aeromexico. They have dual EU/Mexican nationality. Aside from the permit to leave the country, required by Portuguese immigration, will they require any other other documents? TAP have no unaccompanied minor requirements for their age group. Aeromexico do for the 13 year old , who will turn 14 before the return trip. My main concern is immigration and check in for Aeromexico in Madrid without a parent. Is that possible? Many thanks in advance for your help. Hugo vB

Hi my daughter is 16 and her friend is 15, they are traveling from Gatwick to Tenerife to visit the friends mum. Will her friend need an unaccompanied child form filled out or is it ok as my daughter is over 16. If she needs the form can I sign it at the airport or does it need to be her dad if so where can west a form as I am bringing them to the airport so would have to have it filled out before.

hi…im 16 years old and im going in india 22 from london….. i wanted to ask if i can travel alone without any problem or i need some document…my Arline is Qatar airways and British airways…thanks

Hello I am 13 and I am going to pairis but I’m bringing my cousin who lives in Tennessee and she is 11 what air line would work best for us cause we are flying alone ? I also need it to be cheap because then I could get to pairis with no issues

Hello, I am 16 years old and want to travel to korea, to meet my girlfriend. can i do that without any parental consent?

Hello, I am 17 from the UK and I am flying to Iowa to spend christmas with my girlfriend and her family. Can I do this?

Hello!! So me and my brother are flying to the UK from the US alone, but he’s 12 and im 16, were flying with Thomas Cook, without an adult, would they let us go??

Is it possible for someone age 16 to travel from UK to NY, USA alone?

I want to travel to NY from UK alone and I’m 16, is that possible ?

I want to travel with my newphew of 5 years old his mom nd dad ia not here with him from spain to italy throught easyjet is there any prblm?plz help

Hello my son is 15 flying alone on Norwegian Air, from the US to England. My husband will be dropping him off and I will be picking him up. What does my husband need to give the airline to allow him on the plane. I know there is some weird rule about two parent need to be present when a child is flying. Thank you for your help.

i am 15 years old looking to fly with virign atlantic to NY. Do i need to sign an Unaccompanied minor form? And would that require me having someone actually accompanying me or is a form sufficient? i will have someone taking and picking me up at both ends

Hello, I’m 16 years old and I want to travel from London to Greece with one of my parents.Do I need any declaration from the other parent? With Rayner or EasyJet. Thank you

Hello, My name is Marie and next week I’m travelling with my brothers to Italy by Ryanair. I’m 18 and my brothers are 6 and 15 years old. I know I need an authorisation from my dad because of my youngest brother, because a don’t have the same surname. Do I need something else? Thank you.

The senario is :

Child just under 16 to travel with friends who are 16 to Jerez Spain.

We have establish that they can travel with Ryanair because of the other 16 year olds but need to make sure they have the right documents. it is very hard to establish how the Spanish authorities view this and want to make sure there are no problems.

Trying to contact the Spanish embassy is impossible.

Can anyone give me some detailed advice please

Hi, I’m 17 travelling with my 21 year old brother to spain with easy jet. I read there rules and I’m considered an adult but I’m wondering if there will be any problems like do my parents have to sign anything ?

Hello I am 15 years old and i want to fly in Zurich, Switzerland with EasyJet by my own It will work? please help me

• Pingback: Letter Of Consent To Travel Unaccompanied Minor | Europe Canada USA Travel

Hi, i’m 15 and i’m travelling alone from uk to italy with jet2. What documents do i need to bring with me?

Hi I am 14 almost 15 in a couple of weeks, I am just checking if it’s alright if I can travel with my 22 year old sister ? If so can I just travel with her without any documents or do I need documents ? If I need documents what documents do I need ? Thanks

Hi!, is it possible if I a 15 year old and my friend who is 16 can travel together alone to japan? Much thanks!

Hello, I’m 16 and I’m planning of traveling on my own to America(Hawaii) Possibly through the route of : UK airport —> Canada/America —> Hawaii Will I be able to do so ? Thanks for a reply in advance Xx

Hi, we are taking our son’s friend on holiday who is 15 years old to Cyprus next week, we fly with BA and return with EasyJet. I have spoken with BA 3 times and had conflicting answers, two says no letter of authorisation is needed, but one said I just need copies of the parents passports? will she be ok to travel or do I need a letter ? thanks in advance.

hi, my boyfriend is 16and he is flying alone from maryland to california, his parents cant drop him off, so hes takinig a bus to the airport. He is flying through Delta airline, do his parents need to fill out anything at the airport, for him to be able to fly alone?

Hi, I am booked on Virgin Atlantic from LHR – JFK – LHR. I am an unaccompanied minor (15). My parents will be in Honolulu whilst I depart and return is my sibling or brother in law allowed to sign the form of indeminity on their behalf? Benjamin

Hi, I am turning 15 in September, and next year, about july-september, my mother planned that I can go to the philippines, can I travel alone? Or maybe with a friend who has same age as me.? (But her birthday is in august.) Btw, travelling with qatar airways from barcelona. 🙂

Hi, I am 14 years old and I want to travel with my friend (also 14 years old) from Bristol to Amsterdam with EasyJet just for a day trip. We would catch the early morning flight at around 7:00am and then get a train into the city centre of Amsterdam and then we would get the train back to the airport for the 7:00pm flight back. Would we be allowed to do this? I have been to Amsterdam before and I know my way around Schiphol airport. We wouldn’t be picked up from the airport because we would get a train from Schiphol Station (underneath the airport) to Amsterdam Centre. We wouldn’t be carrying any luggage. Is it possible to do this with just our Passports (and NHS health cards) without having to sign any forms and what is the policy in the Netherlands for letting children in unaccompanied? Many Thanks

Hi would my 14 year old daughter be allowed to fly from Frankfurt to London with Lufthansa by herself?

Hi My Daughters friend who is over 16 will be travelling with my family to Malaysia from Birmingham with Emirates. Do we need a Notorized Travel Consent form for any of this trip ?

hi my son is 14 years old and he planned to fly from London to Hong Kong with Virgin Atlantic. If he uses the um service, is it possible to check in by himself without guardian/parent?

Hi I’m 14 and I’m thinking of travelling alone from England To America but with help like escorts and that?is that possible ?

Hi, it depends on the airline you’ll be flying with. Some allow 14 year olds to travel alone. Hope this helps! 😉

Hey, I am 16 and I was wondering if I could travel from Germany to England alone. (I would go to Germany with parents but return alone){Go + Return ticket} and if so, will I need any forms to be signed? [Ryanair]

Hi Luna, as mentioned in the blog post, if you’re 16 and over, you can fly alone without any forms.

Hi, as stated in the blog post, 16 year olds are allowed to fly alone. Thanks!

Hello, my daughter is 14 years old will be flying with Wizzair from London Luton, UK to Vilnius, Lithuania. Do I need to sign any forms what so ever so she could fly by her own or any other reasons?

Hi Lily, Passengers of 14 and 15 years of age may travel unaccompanied but cannot be responsible for any passenger under 14 years old.

My brother (18 years old) and I (15 years old) are going to make a daytrip to London from Bratislava with Ryanair, do we need any documents or just the passport? Can I travel alone just with him without our parents?

hi im stayin in france and can i book the airline tickets in the uk website because the cost is less comparing to the france website…

i am 13 and my dad lives in malaga spain and i have premition with my gaudians for me to fly alone i would be dropped at my gate and picked up from my gate what forms would my gaudians have to fill out for this to be possible with easyjet or and airline from luton london?

Hi Jb, unfortunately, children aged 13 years or younger cannot travel with easyJet unless they are accompanied by an adult who is at least 16 years old and who will take full responsibility for them. Hope this helps!

Hello, our 12 year old niece is coming to visit us in the UK and will fly in and out of Heathrow from the US. My question is when we take her to Heathrow, how far can I stay and accompany her? Can I go pass security and to the gate to see her off? Her mum is worried if I wouldn’t be able to accompany her to the gate in Heathrow.

Hi @disqus_pH64sIAcID:disqus, security most probably won’t allow you to accompany the minor to the final gate. Can you please give us the airline she’ll be flying with? Thanks!

Hi my daughter’s friend who is 15 wants to fly from alicante to UK with jet2 I know the airline allows this but is anything else needed?

Hi, I want my 14 year old daughter to fly by herself internationally with EasyJet. The problem is I dont know how to book the flight and dont know what I am supposed to do at the airport so my daughter can safely depart. Thank You

Hi @disqus_W6dz8wCZER:disqus, you can book the flight online just like any other flight ticket. easyJet allows children aged 14 to 15 to travel on their own provided that they are not travelling with children aged 13 years or younger. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any official extra assistance however their ground and cabin crew will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and will try to help make her journey as easy as possible.

Hello ! My brother is 15 and I’m thinking about book a flight from Berlin (SXF) to London Gatwick (LGW), but I can’t meet him at the airport. He’s portuguese. Does he need any document besides my mum’s authorization and his ID? Do I need to pick him up at the airport or he can take the bus by himself ? Regards

Hi @disqus_SbgzOfIlke:disqus, it depends on the airline you’re planning to book with. Can you please give us this information? Thanks!

Hello I’m travelling with a friend this month from Alicante to London. We’re both 16 (and Spanish, we’ve got a spanish passport) and we’re travelling alone, without our parents. Our airline is fine with us, we don’t have any problem but I’m concerned about if we will have any problem there in the UK because we’re travelling alone. Do our parents need to fill something? Does the british law require any document for unaccompained minors? What do we need to travel alone?

Hi, as long as the airline is fine with you flying alone, you won’t experience any problems with entering the country. Just don’t do anything that you’re not allowed to do by law! 😉

Hi, my name is Catherine, and I am wondering if I can fly alone (without parents consent) if I’m 16 years old? And even if i’m not leaving the UK?

Hi Catherine, it depends on the airline you’re flying with. With which airline are you flying? Thanks.

Hi ! I would like to know; as i actually get diffrent contradictory information; if my son, 9 years who is an SAS (ScandinavianID-passenger , can fly as an ID- passenger together with his older sister that is 17 years old with Vueling. The sister is a regular passenger. Thank you for any answer i can get

Hi Jansson, you’re son will be able to travel with his older sister. Thank you for contacting us! 😉

My 13 year old is booked with the unaccompanied minors assistance on a vueling flight from Rome to London. My sister in law will take her to check in and I, her mother will meet her at Gatwick, a part from her british passport, what documents are needed?

Hi Sal, your child needs 3 copies of the unaccompanied minor form signed you or any legal guardian. The person accompanying the child on departure (in this case, your sister in law), must be the same as stated on the form and must present the following documentation at check-in: ID(passport/DNI), Photocopy of the passport belonging to the legal guardian/your passport, passport of your daughter, and the 3 copies of the form. She will have to wait at the airport until the plane takes off.

You will have to present proof of identity (passport or ID) and sign 2 copies of the form in order to pick up your daughter.

Thanks for contacting us!

Hello, I am 15 years old and I am travelling from Hong Kong to Edinburgh through Virgin Atlantic but the connecting flight back to Edinburgh is through aer lingus am I allowed to fly alone without filling out any forms or using their special service for minors

Hi Tiffany, you’ll have to inform Virgin Atlantic that you’ll be flying alone and fill out their unaccompanied minors form. For your flight with Aer Lingus, your parent will have to sign the Form of Indemnity. Please contact Aer lingus and ask them to send you the form so you can bring it with you on the day of your flight.

Thank you for contacting us!

hi , i am Nikos and i want to ask if i can fly alone to Greece from the gatwick airport 😀

Hi Nikos, how old are you and what airline are you flying with? Thanks!

My 15 year old niece is travelling from Malaga to Spain with Easy Jet. I know the airline are fine with that but will the airport/passport control have any problems or need extra docs? I know sometimes when people take their friends kids on holiday they need a letter from the parent to say they had permission

Hi Michelle! Your niece will be able to travel alone without signing any form. Passport control doesn’t need any extra documents because the airline allows her to travel on her own. Hope this helps!

Hi, Next week me (age 17) and my little sister (age 7) will be flying to moscow on british airways, because i am over 16 years she can be accompanied by me right?? Also does my mum have to write a permission letter allowing me and my sister to travel alone (we both have different surnames) so i know i will need to bring our birth certificates but will i need this letter in moscow?

Hi Zarine, both of you will be able to fly with all the documents you’ve just mentioned. Hope this helps!

hi. I’m 16,romanian and I live in the uk. I want to go back to Romania for summer holiday and I want go on my own. Do I need any declaration from parents? I know I need some papers when I’m coming back but I don’t know if I need anything else apart of my passport?? Pls help me with an answer

Hi Andrea, it depends on the airline you’re flying with. With which airline are you flying? Thanks.

Ryanair, 16 years old, going to Romania next week by myself. There shouldn’t be any problem right? Thanks ✋

No problem at all!

I can’t do online check in for my first child, because there is a different definition of adult/children’s age between Opodo and Ryan Air. I book my tickets through Opodo website, but then I found it difficult to do online check in through Ryan Air website. Anyone can help me?

Hi! Please send us a private message on Facebook and/or Twitter with your booking number and email address. Our CS agents will look into your case. Thanks and sorry for the inconveniences!

I booked 4 tickets for a Ryan Air flight from Birmingham to Dublin. When I registered through Opodo, I put my first child (13) as an adult, because the website says that children are only 2-11. Meanwhile Ryan Air requires us to do online check in though its website/application prior to the departure. Unfortunately I can’t input my first child’s birthday due to the different definition of adult/children’s age between opted and Ryan Air. It’s locked. What should I do? This is not my fault at all.

Her airlines is malaysian airlines, she also change the date of her flight after the visa was released. She is 17 already and i was wondering if you could help us with the matter, thank you

Hi my sister is traveling to UK this july she is just 17 and her visa type is type C accompanied. Can we appeal to the uk embassy to change her visa type to unaccompied??? What are the documents needed? Thank you

My daughter is 15 years old and will be flying with cousin 16 years on Korean Airlines? I’m worried she won’t be allowed to fly. Can someone give me an idea. Thanks.

Hi! Children ages 12-17 may use the Unaccompanied Minor service on international flights but they can travel on their own. Hope this helps 🙂

Hi, I am 15. I would like to know can I flight on my own from Poland to England, by British Airways? Do I need any other documents than a passpotr? Do I need to inform the airlaines earlier, that I am not 18 yet? Or is it ok and they will let me into the plane without any troubles or problems?

Hi Shanon, You can fly alone or hire the British airways Skyflyer Solo service. You don’t need any other documents to fly. Hope that was helpful 😉

Hi! I’m a 15 year old girl. I bought my tickets from Finnair, but my flight is operated by British Airways. A 15 year old cannot fly alone to USA from Finland without an Unaccompanied Minor -reservation, but with British Airways it is possible. So, my question is, am I allowed to fly on my one, even if Finnair doesn’t allow me but British Airways does?

Hi, although your flight is operated by British Airways, your booking is with Finnair. Thus, you’ll have to follow Finnair’s rules. Therefore, you’ll have to book an unaccompanied minor reservation. Please contact our Customer Service ( Facebook / Twitter ) to book this service. Hope this was helpful! 😉

Hello, can you help, please? I’ve booked a flight to London with Lufthansa for my daughter who’s 15. I know that she’s allowed to fly unaccompanied with Lufthansa, but does she need to be picked up at Heathrow or can she simply proceed to the Underground? She’ll be staying with friends of mine who probably won’t be able to pick her up that day. Thank you so much for an answer!

Hi Diana, children aged from 12 up to a maximum of 17 years old, who are travelling alone, can be looked after by Lufthansa at the request of their parents and has an extra charge of 50-80€. Regardless, she can simply proceed to the underground. Hope this helps! 🙂

Hello, my daughter ( 14 year) is going to Istanbul on her own from Dusseldorf (germany) with Turkish Airlines and I can’y accompany her when she is checkin in, my question is does she need me to be with her during checking in, do I need to fill a form or something?

Hi, your daughter can fly on her own and you won’t have to fill in the unaccompanied minor declaration form because she’s above 12. Hope this helps 🙂

Can i travel alone on jet2 or easy jet, im 15 and will be flying to Dalaman airport in Turkey from Manchester airport. Will i need any forms or to be signed off by anyone? i will be meeting my dad there for a holiday because there is no space on his flight. i have to travel to Dalama airport alone and catch the plane alone home but he will meet me when i get off the plane at dalaman on the way there. Thanks in advance

Hi, yes, you’ll be allowed to travel alone with Jet2 and Easyjet and you won’t have to fill in any forms to do so. Hope this helps! 😉

Hello my daughter ıs,16 ıs she allowed to travel alone on turkısh airlines??

Hi, yes, she is allowed to travel alone and she doesn’t have to fill an “unaccompanied minor declaration” form. Thanks!

My Niece and her friend both 15 want to visit me on thursday. My sister must have accidentally booked the 2 as adults with RYAN AIR and only realised when checking in with the date of birth the error. Is there anyway Ryanair would allow them on the flight. I will pick them up in London.

Hi Murat. Thanks for reaching out to us. Ryanair policy states the following on their site, for unaccompanied minors: Ryanair does not carry unaccompanied minors under 16 years. Children under the age of 16 years must always be accompanied by a passenger over 16 years. We recommend contacting the airline directly for further instruction on this matter. We wish you the best of luck!

Hello, Can you help me? I have two 15 year old french girls who want to fly alone to France . I can’t accompany them to the airport the day they want to travel . This is with Flybe. Will they be ok to travel?

Hi Bill. Thank you for writing to us in regards to unaccompanied minors rule for Flybe flights. Children between the ages of 12-16 are allowed to fly without an adult. You may however, request for a child between the ages of 12 and 16 years to be carried as an Unaccompanied Minor, in which case, you would have to telephone Flybe’s Customer Call Centre to reserve. We hope that was helpful. Thanks!

But what about Turkish Airlines?? Me (12) and my big sister (will be 17 then) need to fly out together in 2 months. Is it allowed on that airline?

Hi, Ozaz. Children between 7 and 12 years old can travel alone on Turkish Airlines. They must be however, accompanied by an adult (your big sister for example) and an Unaccompanied Minor Declaration Forms is required to be filled out and signed by a parent or guardian at the time of check in, at least 2 hours prior to boarding the flight. Thanks!

My son is 17 years old travelling with British Airways to Canada from UK.Does he allow to travel on his own?

Hi, George. Thank you for reaching out. Yes, your son is allowed to fly alone on British Airways. Thanks!

My son is 13, his sister 10 and the plan is for an unaccompanied flight UK to CH – if on BA he qualifies to travel alone, does it mean the 10 year old can travel alone with him ie he qualifies as the ‘escort’?

We appreciate your reaching out to us with your question. You are right abot your son being able to fly alone, but your daughter, because she is 10, must be accompanied by someone 16 years or older in order to qualify as an escort for her. We hope that was helpful. Thanks!

i have 13 years old son is going to UK with a family friends my question is do i need easy jet form or any other document for minors . PS. flying from Morocco. USA. passport. thank you .

Hi, Hammond. Thank you for your inquiry. easyJet requires your son be accompanied by an adult, of at least 16 years of age. Your son must also have his valid passport with him prior to boarding, but no form is required beforehand. Thanks!

THIS IS WRONG – Easyjet allows children over 14 to fly alone

Thank you @Janice we will update it!

Can a child of 15 years travel ALONE and UNACCOMPANIED??

Hi, Katie. Thanks for reaching out. Depending on the airline, a 15-year-old may be able to fly alone. With British Airways, children 12-18 years old can fly either alone or with an escort service. With Aer Lingus, children 12-15 years old may travel unaccompanied, however, an adult must sign the Form of Indemnity the day of flight departure at the airport check-in desk. If flying with Flybe, children 12-16 years old may travel unaccompanied as adults, but it must be booked in advance as there is limited space on-board Flybe flights for unaccompanied minors. And lastly, Virgin Atlantic allows children between the ages of 5-15 years to travel alone. We hope that was helpful.

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• From what age are children allowed to travel alone? Explainer

From what age are children allowed to travel alone?

Comparing airlines

From what age can your child fly alone?

There can be various situations in which it is not convenient or possible for you to accompany your child for a trip. For example, if you are divorced and your ex-partner lives abroad. Or perhaps the grandparents have emigrated and your child wants to spend a school vacation with them. Just going back and forth to accompany your child can cost a lot of time and money. Can and should they travel on their own? What are the rules? What about a chaperone?

The rules for children traveling alone (2023)

Legally, children as young as 12 are allowed to fly alone. But the rules vary per airline. The main difference per airline are:

• Age from which your child may fly alone
• Unaccompanied minor service
• The cost of supervision

We have listed the rules of a number of airlines for you. Useful if you still need to book your flight.

British Airways – between 5 – 12 years old

• Children under 14 years old are not allowed to fly alone. They must be accompanied by someone 16 or older.
• British Airways offers an unaccompanied minor service for children from 5 to 12 years old which is mandatory for this age group.
• Flights within UK and Europe: £35/€40.
• Flights to/from Russia/CIS, Middle East, Africa and Saudi Arabia: £70/€80.

Lufthansa – 5 years and up

• Children aged between 5 and 11 may only fly unaccompanied if they are using the unaccompanied minor service, or travel with someone 12 years or older.
• The service can also be used for passengers between 12 and 17.
• Costs vary between €85 and €150.

Transavia – from 5 years old

• Children from 5 to 11 years old may only travel with Transavia accompaniment.
• Between the ages of 12 and 18, you may also fly your child without additional supervision.
• The cost for accompaniment is €55 per child per one-way trip.

Ryanair – not under 16 years of age

• Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to fly alone.
• Children under 16 are required to be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old.
• Ryanair does not offer chaperones.

easyJet – not under 16 years of age

• Children under 16 are not allowed to fly alone.
• Children under 16 are required to be accompanied by someone over 16.
• easyJet does not offer a companion.

TUI – as of 5 years old

• TUI has an unaccompanied minor service for children from 5 to 12 years which is mandatory for this age group.
• From 12 to 18 years old, children may travel unaccompanied (excluding the Antilles). Chaperones can be booked as an optional extra.
• When you book online, a custodian costs €60 per child for a single trip, on all short/medium flights. If you pay at the airport, a chaperone costs €75.
• The service costs €120 per child for a single long-haul flight. If you pay at the airport, it’s €135 for a single trip.

Emirates – from 5 years old and up

• Emirates also offers the Unaccompanied minor service for children 5 to 12 years old.
• From 12 to 18 years old, the option can be booked, but it is not mandatory.
• Emirates also accompanies children with transfers, if they do not exceed 4 hours for non-Emirates flights and 8 hours for Emirates flights.
• The cost is $50 per flight. So if it includes a layover, you will pay $100 per child.

Qatar Airways – starts at 5 years old

• Children between 2 and 4 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
• Children between the ages of 5 and 15 years old may travel alone with the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor service.
• Qatar Airways provides dedicated staff to accompany the child throughout the trip. The parent or legal guardian will be required to pay for a return ticket for the airline employee who will be accompanying the child.

KLM – from 5 years old

• The unaccompanied minor service is available for children between 5 and 14 years old.
• For children between 14 and 18 years old, the unaccompanied minor service is not required. If you decide not to book this service, your child will fly the same way as an adult.
• The cost per one-way flight is €100 to €150. If there is a transfer in between, you pay an extra charge of €200 to €300.

Turkish Airlines – from 2 years old and up

Turkish Airlines has different rules than the other airlines.

• As early as 2 years old you can let your child fly alone
• Between 2 and 7 years, the unaccompanied minor service is mandatory
• From 7 years your child may fly unaccompanied.
• Turkish Airlines does not charge for the unaccompanied minor service.

What does unaccompanied minor service entail?

The unaccompanied minor service (also called UM) means that your child will be accompanied from the time you drop your child off at check-in until he or she is transferred to the authorized person at destination.

After all paperwork is checked at check-in, your child will be taken to boarding by airline ground staff. At boarding, children are usually allowed to board first and are supported by the cabin crew.

The cabin crew helps your child finding his or her seat and is there for your child if there is anything during the flight. Some services include an additional drink.

When the plane lands, your child will be guided by the local ground staff. They will also make sure the luggage is picked up and they will escort your child to the authorized person.

Your child is flying alone and the flight is delayed

If your child’s flight is delayed, the attendant will also make sure that your child passes the time and provides guidance while waiting.

Your child is flying alone on a connecting flight

Is your child flying alone and has a transfer along the way? Most airlines also offer supervision when the time between the two flights is up to 4 hours. The rules concerning this point differ per airline. To be sure, check with the airline before booking a flight with a transfer.

Children’s lounges

At several airports there are special children’s lounges to pass the time. Some children’s lounges are minimalistic, but there are also children’s lounges with entire indoor playgrounds, Play Stations and snacks. This depends on the airport.

It can be nerve wracking, of course, when your child flies without you. Here’s a list of things to keep in mind when flying alone or with the UM service.

• Be at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure (this varies per airline, but be there on time).
• As a parent or guardian, wait until the plane has taken off in case the flight is cancelled last-minute.
• Make advance arrangements at home for parental consents indicating your permission for your child to fly alone. It must also indicate who will pick up your child.

Copies of passports are required, as are signatures.

• Provide identification for your child.
• Identification of the person picking up your child from the airport. If this person cannot provide identification or the authorizations are not correct, your child will be put on the next flight home.
• Want to use an unaccompanied minor service? Book at least 24 hours in advance.
• If your child is accompanied by a teenager and you are not using the unaccompanied minor service, pay attention to the rules per airline. Sometimes a 16-year-old companion is allowed, sometimes the companion must be at least 18.

What if you are a teenager who wants to travel without your parents?

Are you 15 years old and would like to go on vacation or a city trip with friends and without your parents? Then pay attention to where you book your trip! Ryanair and easyJet do not allow you to fly without parents or a companion who is at least 16 years. So find a friend to accompany you if you are the only one under 16.

Are you under 16 and would like to fly without your parents? Always check with the airline first. If you are still nervous about flying alone, many airlines offer the unaccompanied minor service described above.

Conclusion: age restrictions differs from airline to airline

Airlines have different rules. While one airline may not allow passengers under the age of 16 to board unaccompanied, Turkish Airlines allows your child to travel alone at the age of 2.

The cost for this also differs per airline, but is not unreasonably high. Sometimes it’s even cheaper to arrange a chaperone, than to book an extra seat!

From the moment you hand over your child to personel, they are taken care of. Some airports have even created special lounges where your child can spend their time, under supervision of course.

Compensation in case of delay or cancellation

Will your child be flying alone soon? Then you simply pay for a seat and, in addition, possibly the cost of supervision. If there is an issue with the flight your child has rights in accordance with Regulation 261/2004. This means you can claim and receive compensation of up to €600 per passenger. In the event of a flight cancellation, you will also be reimbursed for the cost of the unaccompanied minor service.

Compensation for flight problems

Cancelling your flight because you have a cold is not a valid reason for compensation. Are you going to fly anyway, but your flight is cancelled or delayed ? You may be entitled to compensation.

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Prepare for your child's trip

How to book my child's ticket.

You can book your child's ticket online  for all flights operated by Air France.   However, if the Kids Solo service is not available when you book your child's ticket online, it may be because this service is fully booked for that flight. Only legal guardians of unaccompanied children or individuals with authorization from legal guardians can book a Kids Solo ticket.

Book a ticket on the Air France app

For children between 4 to 11* or 5 to 14** years old, you can also book their ticket on the Air France app.

Download the Air France mobile app

• on Google Play for Android
• on Apple's App Store
• on AppGallery for Huawei

* 4 to 11 years old for a trip in Metropolitan France, between Metropolitan and Overseas France or on our intra-Carribean network. ** 5 to14 years old on our international network.

My child's travel documents

To avoid last-minute stress, complete the "unaccompanied minor" form online. You will need to provide this at the moment of checking in.

How many copies of the form you should bring to the airpot varies according to your child's itinerary:

• 2 copies for a direct flight
• 3 copies for a flight with a connection
• 4 copies for a flight with more than one connection

Your child is traveling on a flight operated by our partner Delta? You do not need to complete "unacompanied minor" form. We will provide you with a specific form to fill out at the airport.

How do you change the accompanying persons details? If you want to change or correct the details that you provided for the accompanying or pick-up person, go to My Bookings :

• Click on "Modify the details of the accompaying persons" under your child's name.
• Review all the prefilled information and make any necessary changes.
• Save and downlaod the travel form you have filled out.

Travel documents and stay requirements

Passport, visas, vaccinations, entry formalities… review the entry and stay requirements for your child's trip.

Use our search engine to check all immigration, health, and customs requirements.

Any passenger under 18 years old Whether they are a French citizen or a foreigner living in France, they must obtain authorization to leave the country for any journey outside France.

• To learn more, go to our Formalities page ,
• or downlaod the travel authorization .

Connecting flights

Our service for children traveling alone has resumed on almost all of our network.

Your child's journey with connecting flight:

• The airports that allow for connections in France are Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris-Orly (ORY), and Lyon (LYS).
• Since September 6, 2023, connections to and from China are possible with a connection at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

Your child's journey with two connections: For the moment, the only possible itineraries with two connections are trips to and from Nouméa.

• The airports that allow these double connections are: Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Tokyo (NRT), and Singapore (SIN).
• The countries that allow these double connections are: Ireland, Italy, Metropolitan France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Please note : transfers are not available between Paris-Orly (ORY) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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• 49 User reviews
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• Amy Winehouse

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• Blake Fielder-Civil

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• Trivia Marisa Abela did all the singing in this film herself. She trained extensively to mimic Amy Winehouse 's vocals.

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TikTok Shop has partnered with five second-hand luxury resellers to launch a pre-loved category on the app.

Designer products are now available to buy from five UK brands - Hardly Ever Worn It, Sign of the Times, Luxe Collective, Sellier Knightsbridge and Break Archive.

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Comments by the prime minister describing an alleged "sick note culture" in the UK have been heavily criticised by senior mental health professionals.

Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, said Rishi Sunak's suggestions were "contrary to the reality for people up and down the country".

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By James Sillars , business reporter

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The typical price of a property coming on the market across Britain increased by £4,207 month-on-month in April, according to Rightmove. 

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This month, the average asking price for a "top of the ladder" home is £682,661, up by more than £18,000 from £664,422 in March. 

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"Tesla prices must change frequently in order to match production with demand," Musk posted on X this weekend.

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The report also proposes levying additional council tax on second homes that may be being rented out as short-term holiday lets.

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Conservative district councillor John Davis welcomed the proposed changes during a meeting of the overview and scrutiny panel on 16 April.

"It's an important initiative," he said.

"I would like to welcome costs on Airbnbs and the like, because in Ramsgate we have 866 homes for short-term let and 21 flats.

"This is absolutely obscene."

Thanet has seen the biggest growth of tourism enterprises over the last five years.

According to 2024 analysis by Kent County Council , 4.4% of these enterprises are accommodation for visitors.

Train drivers who are members of the Aslef union at 16 companies have announced fresh strike dates as part of their long-running dispute over pay.

Drivers at different companies will walk out on various dates between 7 May and 9 May.

They will also refuse to work non-contractual overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

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NatWest, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society and HSBC have all announced rate increases today - amid concern interest rates may not fall as much as expected this year.

Swap rates - which dictate how much it costs lenders to lend - have increased in the past week after US inflation came in higher than expected. Economists are divided about what this means for UK interest rates - with some pointing out that the UK economy is struggling far more, and therefore cuts are still imminent.

The London Stock Exchange Group is still pricing in a June cut and two further cuts before the end of the year. Analysts at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group, Capital Economics and Bloomberg Economics all concur.

However, some economists have suggested we may have to wait until November for a first cut from the 16-year high of 5.25%.

Lenders, it seems, are growing more cautious.

Responding to today's hikes, Elliott Culley, director at Switch Mortgage Finance, told Newspage: "The rate rollercoaster rolls on. 

"Just when the market appears to be picking up some momentum, there is a sharp change of direction. 

"We are now seeing the spike in swap rates last week filtering through to the public as lenders raise their rates in response. 

"The volatility we are experiencing currently really amplifies how important it is to secure a rate as soon as possible, as this could save you hundreds of pounds, especially for existing homeowners."

Simon Bridgland, broker/director at Release Freedom, added: "This morning, I have been calling clients who have been sitting on the fence urging them to proceed as this increase is potentially going to be with us for several months. 

"Inaction will weigh heavily on household purses so don't delay, there is a finite amount of hours left to get deals done before the increases take effect, pick up the phone to your broker immediately or you will be paying more money for years to come."

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