The age at which a child can fly alone varies by airline and country, but general guidelines are as follows:
- Children under 5 years old are typically not allowed to fly alone at all
- From ages 5 to 11 (sometimes up to 14 depending on the airline), children can fly alone only if they use an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service, which provides supervision during the flight
- From around 12 to 14 years old, many airlines allow children to fly alone without the UM service, though some may still require it for international flights or offer it as an option
- Teenagers aged 15 and older generally can fly alone without any special unaccompanied minor procedures, though parental consent and proper documentation are usually required
- Some airlines set specific minimum ages for solo travel without UM service, for example British Airways requires a minimum age of 14, while Ryanair and EasyJet require 16 years old
There is no universal legal minimum age for flying alone; instead, airlines set their own rules and services to ensure safety. Parents should check the specific airline’s policies and prepare the child with necessary documents and instructions before solo travel
Summary of typical airline policies for solo flying:
Age Range| Solo Flight Allowed?| UM Service Required?
---|---|---
Under 5| No| N/A
5 to 11 (or 14)| Yes, but only with UM service| Yes
12 to 14| Often yes, sometimes UM optional| Optional or required for intl.
15 and older| Yes, without UM service| Optional or not required
16 and older| Yes, generally no restrictions| No
This varies by airline and country, so always verify with the carrier before booking
