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

Aer Lingus

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.

easyJet

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

Flybe

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.

KLM

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: 

More information.

Lufthansa

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

More information.

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.

Ryanair

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.

More information.

Wizz Air

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.

✗ Escort service: Not available

More information.