The minimum age to fly alone varies by airline, but generally:
- Children under 5 years old are not allowed to fly alone on any major U.S. airline
- Most U.S. airlines require children aged 5 to 14 to use an unaccompanied minor service when flying alone. This service includes supervision and assistance by airline staff and often comes with a fee
- Children aged 5 to 7 usually can only fly nonstop or direct flights and must use the unaccompanied minor service
- Children aged 8 to 11 (sometimes up to 14 on some airlines) can fly on more types of flights but still require the unaccompanied minor service
- Once children reach about 15 years old, most airlines allow them to fly alone without unaccompanied minor procedures or fees, treating them as standard passengers. Some airlines allow this starting at age 12
- For international flights, unaccompanied minors typically must be at least 12 and have a passport, with many airlines requiring unaccompanied minor procedures up to age 17
Some airlines have specific policies, for example:
- Delta charges $150 each way for unaccompanied minors ages 5-14, with optional service for ages 15-17
- United Airlines requires unaccompanied minor service for ages 5-14
- American Airlines requires it for ages 5-14, optional for 15-17
- Alaska Airlines requires unaccompanied minor service for ages 5-12, optional for 13-17
- Some airlines like Avelo do not allow unaccompanied minors under 15
- Volaris requires minors under 18 to use their unaccompanied minor service, with some exceptions
In summary, children can generally start flying alone at age 5 with supervision through unaccompanied minor programs, and by age 15 most airlines allow solo travel without these restrictions
. Parents should check the specific airline policies and consider the child's readiness before booking.
