Delta Unaccompanied Minor Policy

With Delta unaccompanied minor policy, the airline takes every measure to ensure child’s safety, and have a good time while flying alone. 

Delta Airlines recently introduced features like a trackable wristband, a complimentary access to Sky Zone lounge to the minors, and the Delta crew guard for your child throughout the trip. 

In this post, we will cover all the rules that you should know before booking your child under the Delta Airlines unaccompanied minor program, the ID and documents requirement for children at the time of travel, the minor fee, and all other information to make the most of the unaccompanied minor travel. 

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Delta Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Rules

As per the Delta unaccompanied minor policy, children between the ages of 5 and 14 may avail of a companionship service offered by the airlines, and is subject to a fee of 150 USD each way on top of the airfare. In addition, the important information include – 

• Unaccompanied minors travel must be issued on an adult fare for the flights within the United States. In case of international travel, the unaccompanied minors would be charged an airfare equivalent to 75% of the adult’s fare.
• Minors between the ages of 15 and 17 can participate in this Delta minor program under the sole discretion of their parents or guardians.
• Unaccompanied minors can be escorted by their parents or guardian not beyond the security area.
• Delta Sky Zone, a kids-only lounge with video games, and unlimited buffet is available at select airports within the United States.
• The airlines reserve the right to cancel the booking for unaccompanied minors whose flights got cancelled for involuntary reasons or any other technical reasons. 
• The person who purchased the ticket must declare he or she is the minor’s parent or guardian, or that he or she has authorization to act on behalf of the parent or guardian about their child’s trip.

While Booking the Flight for Unaccompanied Minors

As per the Delta unaccompanied minor policy, you will need the following information when you book the travel for the unaccompanied minor – 

• Child’s first name and last name as per the birth certificate or government photo ID. 
• Your relations with the unaccompanied minor.
• The child’s address.
• Contact number of the parents or guardian who would be dropping off the child at the departure airport. 
• Contact number of the parents or guardian who would be picking up the child at the arrival airport. 
• Child’s date of birth.
• Declaration if the unaccompanied minor has a condition or prescription related to his or her health.

When Preparing for the Unaccompanied Minors

Follow these guidelines to prepare before the unaccompanied minor boards the flight – 

• You need to bring the copies of the child’s itinerary, and the birth certificate at the time of travel. These copies should also be presented by the parents or guardians who would be picking up the minor at the final destination.
• If the flight schedule falls during meal hours, remember to include food or snacks for the youngsters in case they are hungry. Delta Airlines offers snacks and refreshments but does not provide meal service for all the flights within the United States. 
• Unaccompanied minors are offered wristbands with barcodes that monitor their travels. You must download the Delta Airlines mobile app to track the child’s flight status. 
• Give the child the phone number of the parent or guardian who will be collecting them up.

Unaccompanied Minor Dropping Off

Parents or guardians need to arrive early to see-off their child who is travelling unaccompanied. Please ensure to allow enough time to park the car, fill out the unaccompanied minor form, obtain the escort pass and child’s UM lanyard at the ticket counter, go through the airport security, and check-in at the gate. In addition – 

• You need to stop at the ticket counter. Be sure to have the following documents to complete the Delta Airlines check-in process  –
  • A copy of child’s e-ticket and flight confirmation number
  • A valid birth certificate or government-issued photo ID. 
• Arrive at the boarding gate at least 45 minutes before the departure time .At the gate, speak to the Delta Airlines flight executive and let them know you’re dropping off an unaccompanied minor.
• Before general boarding commences, the minor will be pre boarded and be introduced to a flight crew.
• Parents or guardians need to be present at the gate at least 15 minutes after the scheduled departure.

Minors Travelling Without a Parent Onboard

A flight attendant will check on the unaccompanied minor as needed, but will not monitor the child constantly throughout the ride. Add to that – 

• The UM lanyard must be worn around the child’s neck at all times. In addition, the minors are also provided with a wristband that tracks their movement and should not be removed until the completion of the trip.
• The minor must follow the instructions on board given by the Delta Airlines crew, including wearing a seatbelt. 
• In the event of a flight delay or schedule change, make sure you and the parent/guardian picking up the child are reachable anytime over the phone during the flight duration.
• The minor will be accompanied off by the Delta Airlines staff to handover to the greeting parent or guardian.

Unaccompanied Minor Pick Up

The parents/guardians need to arrive early as they need to stop at the Delta Airlines airport counter to obtain the escort pass, and then to proceed to the security checkpoint. In addition – 

• Greeting parents/guardians need to arrive at the airport at least 45 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. Contact the Delta Airlines flight staff at the boarding gate and let them know that you’re the greeting guardians for unaccompanied minors.
• The minor passenger will be led off the plane and introduced to the greeting parent or guardian.

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Age for Unaccompanied Minor on Delta Airlines

As per the Delta unaccompanied minor policy, children between the ages of 5 and 14 years may avail of a companionship service offered by the airlines. In addition the minors between the ages of 15 and 17 can participate in this Delta minor program under the sole discretion of their parents or guardians. The details include – 

• 4 years and younger – No Delta unaccompanied minor service is available for them. They need to be accompanied by an adult passenger. 
• 5-7 years of age – They may avail of Delta Air unaccompanied minor program, and are only allowed to fly on direct flights. Passengers aged between 5 and 7 years are not allowed to travel on the last connecting flight of the day.
• 8-14 years of age – Children under this age group are allowed to travel non-stop and connecting flights. In case of codeshare or interline agreement partners, the Unaccompanied minors are only allowed to fly on Air Mexico, Air France and KLM. also allowed to travel unaccompanied on flights outside the United States. 
• 15-17 years of age – They can fly alone without signing up for Delta Airlines unaccompanied minor program. They can use this service if the parents decide to enroll in the unaccompanied travel program.

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Delta ID Requirements for Minors

The accompanied parents must provide the following Delta ID requirements for minors – 

• Photo ID (licence, birth certificate, and passport)
• Address (as mentioned in the ID)
• Contact phone number of the parents/guardian on both sides.
• A copy of the photo ID of the parents/guardian at the departure as well as arrival airport. 
• Name, and address of the adult who will greet the unaccompanied child when they arrive at their location.

There are certain rules that your must comply before booking the flight for unaccompanied minor – 

• As per Delta minor policy, travel is only permitted on Delta operated flights only. 
• Children aged 8 to 14 years old are permitted to travel alone to and from the flights outside the United States. 
• Delta airlines reservation for unaccompanied cannot be booked on the red-eye flights. 
• Unaccompanied minors are not allowed to fly on the flight that has a major scheduled change or is delayed under the extenuating circumstances. 
• Delta allows minor travel on the codeshare flights  – air Mexico, Air France, and KLM Royal Dutch airlines.

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How to Book a Flight for a Minor with Delta Airlines?

There are 3 ways for booking the flights for unaccompanied minors on Delta Airlines aged between 5 and 14 years old. 

• Booking unaccompanied minor flights online Delta – For your convenience, you can book the flights online through delta.com. When completing an online booking, the Delta airlines unaccompanied minor fee of 150 USD each way would be automatically applied, and must be paid to issue the ticket.

• Delta unaccompanied minor phone number – You can call the Delta Airlines executive to book the travel for the unaccompanied minor. Provide the name of the unaccompanied minor exactly as appears on the government issued photo ID. At the time of purchase, Delta Airlines unaccompanied minor cost would be applied. 

• Delta Airlines booking unaccompanied minors at the airport – You can also make the reservation at the Delta ticket counter at the airport. If you’re booking the flight on the same day as travel, it must be reserved up to 3 hours before the scheduled departure for international travel. For domestic travel, you book 2 hours prior to the departure. 

You must fill out the Delta Airlines minor travel consent form and pay an Unaccompanied Minor service fee when making a reservation at the airport. After you complete the reservation for the child, provide the confirmation number to the greeting parents/guardian at the arrival airport.

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Delta Unaccompanied Minor Fee

As per the Delta minor policy, it requires a fee of 150 USD each way to travel unaccompanied. The fee will apply to the travel within and outside the United States and to both the connecting as well as non-stop flight, in addition to the flight ticket cost. 

• The 150 USD Delta minor fee is mandatory for children ages between 5 and 14 years old. 
• The cost covers up to 4 passengers if travelling on the same flight as siblings or friends. 
• The fee can be paid one-way or round-trip after checking in, or it can be paid upfront while making the reservation online.

Child age at the time of travelling alone	Travel restriction	Unaccompanied minor fee (in USD)
4 years and younger	Not permitted	Not applicable
5 – 7 years	Permitted on direct flight only	150 each way up to 4 children
8 – 14 years	Permitted on all flights	150 each way up to 4 children
15 – 17 years	Permitted on all flights	150 each way up to 4 children

Delta Airlines is surely one of the few airlines which provide a smooth, easy and professional service regarding the travel of your child. However, parents must be aware of the age limit and other guidelines to ensure that their child’s travel experience goes off without a hitch.

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Delta Airlines Minor Policy – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)