Air France Unaccompanied Minor

With Air France unaccompanied minor policy, children aged between 4 and 17 years can fly alone on the under the Kids Solo service where the airline’s staff will accompany your child and ensure their safety throughout the trip. 

Air France Unaccompanied Minor

In this article, we have covered all the special travel requirements, documents as well as your child’s journey from booking up until the arrival. 


Air France Travel Regulations For Minors

Before you sign up for Air France unaccompanied minor service, please be aware of the following information –

  • A minor who is not accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 is considered under the Air France minor traveling alone.  
  • If the accompanying passenger is the child’s mother, father, or legal guardian, he or she may be under the age of 18.
  • Your child will be classified as an unaccompanied minor if he or she is traveling on the same aircraft as you but in a different cabin. 
  • Kids traveling alone will not be allowed inside airport lounges since the facility prohibits Air France from offering consistent observation.
  • Under special  circumstances, Air France staff will escort and look after the disabled children or those with limited mobility. After you book the flight, contact the airlines to reserve the Saphir. It is a complimentary support service for passengers with limited mobility.
  • Children traveling alone would be on high priority if a flight is delayed or cancelled. Even if overnight accommodations are required, your child will be diligently looked after by the Air France staff and customer service team.

Age Restrictions Under the Air France Minor Policy

As per the Air France unaccompanied minor policy, depending on the travel route and the trip, the airlines places certain age restrictions such as –

For travel within France – 

Unaccompanied Minor Age Requirements
RouteAgeConditions
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*Below 2 YearsMust be accompanied by an adult passenger at least 18 years of age
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*2 to 4 yearsMust be accompanied by an adult passenger at least 18 years of age
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*5 to 11 yearsIf traveling alone, the UM service is mandatory
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*12 to 17 yearsUM service is available upon request but not mandatory
*Includes Fort-de-France, Cayenne, Papeete, Saint Martin, Saint-Denis de la Réunion, and Pointe-à-Pitre

For all travel outside France and international Travel – 

Unaccompanied Minor Age Requirements
RouteAgeConditions
InternationalBelow 2 YearsMust be accompanied by an adult passenger at least 18 years of age
International2 to 4 yearsMust be accompanied by an adult passenger at least 18 years of age
International5 to 14 yearsIf traveling alone, the UM service is mandatory
International15 to 17 yearsUM service is available upon request but not mandatory

Air France Unaccompanied Minors Traveling Alone Step by Step Journey

Air France Minor Traveling Alone

Here is the step by step journey for an unaccompanied minor traveling alone right from booking to traveling on a connecting flight, the travel documents required, the check-in and much more. 

Booking Flight Under Air France Unaccompanied Minor Service

You can book your child’s ticket traveling unaccompanied for all flights operated and marketed by Air France. 

  • Book online – You can simply book the travel for an unaccompanied minor via the airline’s website, and under the passenger type select the number of children as passengers. You can also book your child’s ticket using the Air France mobile app if they are between the ages of 4 and 11 and live and travel within France. An Air France unaccompanied minor fee will be applicable. After you complete the booking, you need to fill out an online ‘unaccompanied minor’ form.
  • Book Kids Solo service through telephone – You can seek the assistance of the airline’s customer service desk to book a flight for your child. A handling cost of 25 USD will be applicable alongside the airfare and the unaccompanied minor fee. After your booking is completed, an airline’s executive will send you an ‘Air France unaccompanied minor form’. You need to complete the form and send it to the airlines up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure. To book a flight for unaccompanied minors, call the Air France reservation phone number.

Minor Flying alone with a Connection

Children flying alone can book a connecting flight on certain routes – 

  • Travel to and from France and Corsica with a stopover at Paris-Orly [ORY] airport. 
  • Travel to and from France and Corsica with a stopover at Lyon [LYS] international airport.
  • Travel to and from Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport [CDG] or Noumea [NOU] with connection at Tokyo Narita [NRT]. 

Required Documentation 

As per the Air France unaccompanied minor policy, it is recommended to check the entry and travel restrictions for kids by contacting the appropriate embassies or consulates while traveling on an international flight. 

Please note – Parents/guardians may bring the family handbook or birth certificate to verify the affiliation if the child is traveling alone and does not share the same surname as them.

Here are the traveling documents required for minors flying unaccompanied based on their citizenship and traveling routes. 

  • Minors of French citizenship – All minors from France traveling alone must possess personal ID such as passport or national identity. Unaccompanied minors must have a passport in their name. 
  • Minors of EU citizenship – All EU minors traveling alone must possess a personal ID such as a passport. The kids must not travel using their parent’s passports. 
  • Minors of Brazilian Citizenship – Children traveling under Air France unaccompanied minor service must produce an exit authorization. Children born in Brazil must present a Brazilian passport. To know more, view the required documents here
  • Minors traveling to and from the United States – An unaccompanied minor must provide a custom declaration at the time of arrival. In addition, the minor must keep passport and visa documents handy. 

Unaccompanied Minor Check-in

30 hours prior to departure an Air France check-in confirmation documents will be mailed to the unaccompanied travellers and that need to be  displayed at the check-in counter. On the day of departure, you must arrive at least 60 minute before departure for international travel and 30 minutes for the flights within the France metropolitan area. Also, the deadline information can be obtained from the child’s ticket. Check the deadline for departure and arrival. In addition – 

  • Any luggage that your youngster is unable to carry alone must be checked in.
  • The Air France staff will pick up your child at the check-in counter and accompany him or her to the plane at the scheduled time.
  • Parents/guardians who escorted the child to the airport need to send an SMS message confirming takeoff. 
  • If the flight is cancelled, the child will be returned to you to attend the next flight.

In the Flight

Air France Minor Policy

Please remind your child that he or she must remain seated in the same seat during the trip and until a member of staff arrives to pick him or her. This is particularly critical for teenagers.

The flight staff will take extra precautions to ensure your child’s comfort and safety. In addition – 

  • On international flights – Gaming, flicks, animations and even relaxation programmers are available for both children and adults. The airline also offers some toys and food on board to kill the boredom. For children aged 9 years and above, they would be offered a full adult meal. If you prefer a ‘child meal’ order from Air France manage booking tab. Learn more about the international or long haul flight network. 

Upon Arrival

As per the Air France unaccompanied minor policy, the child would be disembarked in the last. An airline staff will accompany the child to the authorised pick-up individual and the arrival area. The pick-up person will receive an SMS with the expected arrival time of the aircraft and will be required to provide photo identification. 

  • As per the Air France minor policy, an authorised pick up person must be over the age of 18.

Air France Unaccompanied Minor Fee

As per the Air France unaccompanied minor policy, children between the age of 4 and 17 can fly alone and is subject to the following fee as given below – 

For travel within France – 

RouteAgeConditionsUnaccompanied Minor Cost [in USD]
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*Below 2 YearsNot PermittedNot applicable
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*2 to 4 yearsNot PermittedNot applicable
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*5 to 11 yearsPermitted45 for direct flight, 55 for connecting flight
Within the metropolitan France area/To and from French territory*12 to 17 yearsOptional, on request45 for direct flight, 55 for connecting flight
*Includes Fort-de-France, Cayenne, Papeete, Saint Martin, Saint-Denis de la Réunion, and Pointe-à-Pitre

For international travel – 

RouteAgeConditionsUnaccompanied minor Cost [in USD]
InternationalBelow 2 YearsNot permittedNot applicable
International2 to 4 yearsNot permittedNot applicable
International5 to 14 yearsPermitted55 for direct flights, 75 for connecting flights
International15 to 17 yearsOptional55-85 for direct flights, 100 for connecting flights

Air France unaccompanied minor policy offers the most hassle-free travel for the children, as they would be empowered at every step right from booking the flight until the flight arrival. However, to use the Kids Solo service, you need to pay the fee on top of the airfare. With the unaccompanied minor service, the airline guarantees that the child must receive attention and care at every step of the journey.


Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What does the UM mean?

Unaccompanied Minor (UM) is a shorthand for a child who is traveling alone.  As part of the service, when a child flies alone, an Air France guardian provides care and escort during the journey.

Do minors need ID to fly on Air France?

As per the Air France minor policy, all minors traveling to and from France must possess personal ID such as passport or national identity in the form of birth certificate. Unaccompanied minors must have a passport in their name if flying outside France. Children flying alone may also need a copy of Air France unaccompanied minor form.

Does Air France allow unaccompanied minors to book flights?

Children aged between 4 and 17 years can fly alone as parents/guardians can book Air France booking and are subject to a minor service fee on top of the ticketed fare.

What are the rules for unaccompanied minors while traveling with Air France?

You must be aware of the following points while booking minors as per Air France unaccompanied minor policy –

• Unaccompanied minors must check-in 2 hour before departure for international flights and 1 hour prior for domestic flights.
• Children aged between 12 and 17 can fly alone. If required, they can opt for Kids Solo service.

How to book a flight for minors on Air France?

You can simply book the travel for an unaccompanied minor via the airline’s website or call the Air France reservation number. A handling fee of 25 USD will be applicable alongside the airfare and the Air France unaccompanied minor cost.

My child has a mental disability. Can he fly alone?

With the permission of the airline’s medical staff, children aged 12 and up on direct flights within France may travel independently. Your youngster must be accompanied by an adult on all other flights. An adult must accompany any youngster under the age of 12 as per the Air France unaccompanied minor policy.

2 thoughts on “Air France Unaccompanied Minor Policy
  1. Christina on Reply

    Hello, my name is Christina, I’m 17 years old, and I want to book a flight with Air France on my own to experience traveling alone. What age restrictions apply while using a service to book international flights?

  2. Romain Baron on Reply

    I simply want to reserve flights with Air France for my children, but I am truly uninformed of things like how much the airline charges for a flight and whether or not they permit children to fly alone internationally.

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