Does United Airlines allow 17 year olds to fly unaccompanied?

Question

For United airlines would my son, 17, be able to fly unaccompanied? I'm asking because they seem some what stricter with that aspect, dealing with children/teens.

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

here is united's policy on unaccompanied minors:

United offers unaccompanied minor service for children from 5-17 years of age. For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service will ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination. The service is mandatory for unaccompanied minors 5 to 11 years old and optional for 12- to 17-year-olds. If the child is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, he or she may not travel on the last direct or connecting flight of the day. Notify us at 1-800-UNITED-1 when making your reservation so essential information can be noted for your child. Be aware that the responsible adult bringing the child to the airport (including camp counselors, etc.) must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate.

The following rules apply to those customers traveling on United-operated flights only. If an unaccompanied minor is scheduled to travel on a flight operated by one of our Star Alliance or code share partners, you are required to contact the carrier directly to inquire about their policies for children traveling unaccompanied.

5-7 years

Children ages 5-7 may travel on United flights that are nonstop or do not require a change of airplane. They may not travel on connecting flights. They may also travel on the last non-stop flight of the day.

8-11 years

Children ages 8-11 may travel on United non-stop, direct and connecting flights. (A direct flight makes a stop but there is no plane change.) They may also travel unaccompanied on connecting flights to other airlines. Children ages 8-11 are restricted from connecting to the last flight of the day which includes the last direct flight of the day. An exception can be made for children connecting to and from international flights.

12-17 years (optional)

Unaccompanied minor service is available, but not required, for this age group. We strongly recommend that teenagers who are not using our unaccompanied minor service be confirmed on flights early in the day. Unanticipated delays or cancellations and unexpected weather such as fog, snow, thunderstorms or air traffic congestion may disrupt flight schedules and result in misconnections. If delays result in travel the following day, United may not be able to offer overnight accommodations since many hotels will not accept minors aged 17 or younger.If unaccompanied minor service is requested, standard fees will apply.

If a child aged 12-17 years is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, he or she will be accepted under the conditions specified for unaccompanied minors aged 8-11 years.

When two or more unaccompanied minors are traveling together, the most restrictive age requirement will apply. For example, an 11-year-old traveling with a 6-year-old may only travel on nonstop flights or flights that do not require a change of airplane.

Booking travel for unaccompanied minors

There are several convenient ways to book your child's travel:

United Reservations

Travel agency

If your unaccompanied child's reservation was booked via united.com, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to ensure essential information is entered into our computer system. Such information includes the names of individuals bringing your children to the airport and picking them up at their destination. Please have names, addresses and phone numbers handy to help expedite the call.

Required paperwork

In addition, paperwork with names, addresses and phone numbers of the responsible adult at the departure and arrival airports must also be presented at check in and will travel with your child. To expedite the check in process, we highly recommend filling out the Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage form prior to arriving at the airport. You can download the form via the link below. Upon completion of the form please print and sign three copies. Keep one copy for your records and bring the other two copies to present to the agent at the check in counter. You must have Adobe Reader to view and complete this form. Once you have successfully downloaded and opened the form, you can type your information directly into the form and print three copies.

Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage Form

Unaccompanied minors must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult (including camp counselors, etc.) who must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. This individual must provide evidence that another parent or responsible adult will meet the child at his or her destination.

To ensure that children are released to the proper person, the adult meeting unaccompanied children at their destination must show photo identification and sign the Unaccompanied Minor form.

Unaccompanied minor fees for world

Answer 2

Then why travel agencies do not accept booking airline ticket for child under 18 yr old as unaccompanied minor. Should they review and change their policy to agree w/ airline 's policy?

Answer 3

My child is 17 yrs old. I book ticket online thru Expedia.com. They don't accept booking ticket on line for her because of her age. Should Expedia rule should agree w/ airline to allow minors to fly unaccompanied ?

Answer 4

Yes, most airlines let kids 13 or older fly unaccompanied. However, if you and your son's father are divorced, you may need written permission from his father.

Answer 5

yes the age to fly alone is usually 12 or 15 depending on the airline and if your worried you can talk to a flight attendant they will check on him every so often to make sure he's ok and staying out of trouble

Source(s): my friends used to fly out to their mom's house every summer when they were fairly young (ages 7 and 9)

Answer 6

um, every airline allows minors to fly unaccompanied

Source(s): years of flying unattended (I'm 16)

Answer 7

Almost all arlines allow anyone to fly. Especially no problem if your 17.

Answer 8

Yes, for domestic flights. I'm not sure about international.

Answer 9

Thankyou all for your answers and opinions.