Children travelling alone (Unaccompanied Minors)
- Arrive at the airport and head to the check-in and bag drop counters.
- Have your personal ID, your child’s ID, and the adult collecting your child on arrival at the destinations details ready to confirm with the airline staff.
- Once your child has their boarding pass, proceed to the gate at least 30 minutes before departure.
- A flight attendant will meet you at the gate to complete the necessary paperwork before boarding.
- The attendant will escort your child on board the aircraft and help them get settled before other passengers.
- Stay at the gate until the aircraft departs in case your child needs to return for any unexpected reasons.
- Unaccompanied minor travel documentation
- Medical clearance forms (if needed)
- Your child’s identification (ie. birth certificate, passport, or ID card)
- Comfort items to make the journey easier for very young travellers
To book a flight for an unaccompanied minor, please visit your local RACQ Travel store or give us a call at 1300 888 449.
Please note: You are unable to make a booking through our website as some additional documentation is needed to be completed.
Each airline has specific age limits for unaccompanied minors and we recommend you read the relevant airlines unaccompanied minor policy for accurate information that applies to your situation. Typically, children aged 5-11 can travel alone with the airline’s unaccompanied minor service, while those aged 12-17 may have the option to use the service or travel independently.
Visit your local RACQ Travel store or give us a call at 1300 888 449 to discuss if your child qualifies as an unaccompanied minor.
Yes, you must book an unaccompanied minor service for your child if they are traveling alone and meet the age requirements. Without this booking, young passengers may not be allowed to board the aircraft.
It’s important to note that not all flights accept unaccompanied minors. Therefore, please check with your airline or contact us first. Additionally, flights with transfers or stopovers may have restrictions that prevent your child from traveling alone.
Each airline requires parents or guardians to complete specific unaccompanied minor travel documentation before the flight. This includes details about the individuals who will collect the child at both departure and arrival points.
Adults at both ends must present identification that matches the information provided to the airline to ensure the child is safely sent off or picked up.
There is typically a fee for unaccompanied minors, which varies depending on whether the flight is domestic or international and the airline.
Airfares are generally charged at the adult rate, though this can vary at the airline’s discretion.
Since only a limited number of unaccompanied minors (usually less than six) are allowed on each flight, it’s important to secure your child’s booking as soon as possible.
Young passengers traveling alone receive excellent care from both ground and cabin staff.
At the airport, you need to accompany your child through check-in and to the gate, where a cabin crew member will meet you.
Unaccompanied minors are given priority boarding, allowing the crew to help them get settled, stow their carry-on baggage, and answer any questions they may have.
Step-by-Step at the Airport
It is important that you don't forget to bring;
The cabin crew pay special attention to their younger guests, prioritizing their security and comfort throughout the journey. Flight attendants check on unaccompanied minors multiple times throughout the duration of the flight.
When the attendant escorts the child on board, they will guide them to their seat, explain how to use the any in seat controls (ie. entertainment systems), show them where the bathrooms are, and demonstrate how to use the call button.
The unaccompanied minor forms require you to specify a parent or guardian who will pick up your child at the gate upon arrival. It is crucial that the person listed on the form is the one who collects the child.
For legal reasons, airlines cannot release a child to anyone not listed on the documentation or without proper ID, even if they are a family member.
Unaccompanied minors will be the last to disembark. The flight attendant will escort them to their waiting parent or guardian, along with the forms signed at the departure point. These forms will be signed again by both the attendant and the person collecting the child, completing the final leg of their journey.