Do you wish to ensure your child’s safety as you send him to fly alone with American Airlines? Rest assured, as the airline ensures your child has a comfortable and safe trip with its unaccompanied minor program. American Airlines unaccompanied minor policy is also designed to ensure your children do not have any hassles throughout your trip.

With this policy, you can send your young kids (children below 18 years old) to travel alone on flights following the requirements. Make sure you understand the required terms and conditions under AA UMNR policy as mentioned in the sections below and arrange travel for them at ease.

Who Can Fly With American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Service?

American Airlines allows young kids below 18 years to benefit from its unaccompanied minor program. But that’s not it! There are additional age restrictions that apply under the AA UMNR Policy. Here is a brief overview to understand your young kid’s eligibility to fly without an accompanying adult or guardian:

• Any child below 5 years old can not travel alone in any situation and must be accompanied by someone 16 years or older.
• Choosing American Airlines unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children between 5 to 14 years old.
• Children aged 15 to 17 years can request this service, but this is totally optional as they are usually considered adults by the airline.
• If children 5-14 years of age travel with someone 16 years or older will not be considered as unaccompanied minors by AA.

After you understand the eligibility criteria as per your child’s age, make sure you also know the type of flights and other factors set by American Airlines for young kids traveling alone.

Age And Flight Requiremenrs For Booking AA Unaccompanied Minor Tickets

• Any child 5 years to 7 years can travel unaccompanied on American Airlines flight routes that do not include change of aircraft.
• Children 8 years through 14 years of age can travel unaccompanied on both nonstop and connecting flights.
• Minor’s connecting flights can not be the last flight of the day to the travel destination.
• Young Adults means 15 to 17 year olds can choose whether to or not to take the American Airlines UMNR service. So, they can fly alone on any flight including connections.
• Unaccompanied kids can not take flights with another airline or codeshare and one-world partners of American Airlines.
• Children from the same family can travel alone for a single fee, otherwise an individual fee for each accompanied minor will be required by American Airlines.
• A Gate Escort is necessary along with contact of the parent or legal guardian information for children 5 to 17 years old taking unaccompanied minor service..

• Kids can not fly on routes with ground or co-terminal connections which require transferring from one local airport to another.

To know more about American Airlines Age Policy, call a customer service representative at 800-433-7300.
Please Note: American Airlines permits children from 2 to 14 years of age to travel accompanied with someone 16 or older without this service.

Children From 8 to 17 Years Old Can Have Connecting Flights To these Locations

• Washington Reagan, D.C. (DCA)
• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK and LGA)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

How To Book an Unaccompanied Minor Ticket on American Airlines?

You must contact American Airlines reservations team to book ticket for your unaccompanied minors. To do so, you can find and dial their phone number and connect with a representative. Here are the detailed methods:

Offline Booking

• Dial 800-433-7300 and get connected to a customer service representative.
• Ask the representative to make the booking for your kid.
• He/she will fill the form for you.
• Pay the amount required.

The AA unaccompanied minor form is mandatory and your child should have a copy of it in his backpack. This will help the aircraft agents or airport desk agents to contact you or any parent/guardian responsible for the child during or after travel.

What is American Airline Unaccompanied Minor Fee?

American Airlines charges you an unaccompanied minor booking fee of $150 one-way with any applicable taxes additional. This fee applies per child on the flight. However, children from the same family on the same flight do not require a separate fee and can travel for $150 only. 

Prparing For Young Children Traveling Alone on AA

• Prepare your child by reminding them about all the necessary things on the trip.
• Write down phone numbers for your child to keep and call in case of emergency.
• Make sure they understand that they must wait for a team member of AA to walk them out of the plane to the exit gate and hand over to the responsive person.
• Reach at least 2 hours before the flight’s schedule departure to connect with a ticket counter agent. 
• Unaccompanied minor check-in is only available at the desk
• Fill out a necessary form and any other customs or immigration documents.
• Also provide major documents like:
• Child’s birth certificate or passport as a proof of age.
• government -issued photo IDs for adults dropping or picking up the child.
• Your phone numbers where AA can contact you.
• Name Address and phone number of the designated adult picking up the child.

After your child’s check-in you will get a gate security pass from the airport counter to bring the kid to the gate.

Boarding and Inflight Instuctions For Unaccompanied Minors

• The child must be accompanied by an adult to the departure gate,
• The adult must stay at the gate untill the flight departs.
• After getting to the gate, its your responsibility to report to the gate agent about an unaccompanied minor on the flight.
• The UMNR will board early so they can meet the flight crew and understand the plane’s safety measuers.
• The gate agent will tell you when you are ready to leave the airport as the flight departs.
• Make sure to contact the designated adult picking up the child about their take off so they can be ready ahead of time.
• The flight attendants checks up on the kids in between the duties as possible but they won’t continuously monitor them.
• Instruct your child to tell the flight attendant about anything they need or their discomforts.
• They must wait for an AA team member to escort them or for any such concerns.

American Airlines Unaccompanied Minors Arrival and Pick Up

• The designated adult picking up the child should bring a government-issued photo ID to the airport.
• Show it to get a security pass and meet the child at the gate (for US) or as directed by the airport authorities at the destination.
• Arrive as early as possible to pick up the child so that you have enough time.
• The guardian or parent must stay connected with the kid’s travel journey to make sure there are no issues and the one picking up the kid must do the same.

Final Say

That is all you need to know to send your child to travel alone with AA. Make sure to read and follow American Airlines unaccompanied minor travel policy properly for ensuring a comfortable flight. If you have got any questions connect with the airline agents or speak to someone at FlightYo. Also make sure you confirm the trip details beforehand and make sure there won’t be any hassles later on

Frequently Asked Questions