United Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy

With United Airlines unaccompanied minor policy, the youngsters will be provided with a safe and comfortable journey when they’re travelling alone. Whether they’re flying to attend the summer camp, sports tournament or visiting a family member, with United Airlines they would be in safe hands. 

Let’s understand all the guidelines and restrictions that you need to know before booking a  flight for your youngsters. We have also covered the ID requirements for minors flying alone, the airlines service fee, and much more. 

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A Closer Look at United Unaccompanied Minor Policy

As per the United Airlines unaccompanied minor policy, the service is available for children aged between 5 and 14 years who are travelling alone. However, children who are aged between 15 and 17 years of age may also opt for this service. When they board the flights, they will be entitled to the following perks – 

• Complimentary snacks and refreshments. 
• Priority boarding so that there’s an extra time for the kids to get seated before take off. 

Parents and guardians must take a note of these requirements for the child’s safety – 

• United unaccompanied minor service is available on nonstop United and United Express flights. The said service is not available on the codeshare or interline flight partners. 
• United Airlines minor policy for unaccompanied travel would not be applicable to any connecting flight. 
• Children under the age of 5 cannot travel as unaccompanied minors even if they are flying with the eligible unaccompanied minor child. 
• Young adults between the ages of 15 and 17 can fly alone on any United or United Express aircraft or use the United Airlines unaccompanied minor service.
• The unaccompanied minor fee of 150 USD each way for every two minors travelling would be charged. 

When two or more unaccompanied minors travelling together – 

• As per the United airlines minor travel policy, when two or more kids who are on the same booking travel together, the age of the youngest kid determines whether the minors will require the United unaccompanied minor service.
• Children under the age of 5 years must travel with a passenger who is at least 18 years of age or older. 
• Even if the youngest traveller is 5-14 years old and the oldest is 15-17 years old, the younger traveller is still considered for United unaccompanied minor fees. 
• If a 15-17-year-old chooses the unaccompanied minor service and is going with another youngster, make sure to book their flights on the same reservation so that the combined United Airline unaccompanied minor fee is applied.

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United Unaccompanied Minor Travel Process

If you want everything to go smoothly for you and your child, here we have described every stage of the journey, from booking to travel day and everything minute details in between. A checklist and advice are also included. 

How to Book a Flight for Minors with United Airlines?

You can book travel for your minor who is travelling alone through the following ways – 

• Online – Visit united.com and do the following  – 
  • Using the advanced search feature, alter the number of adults to 0 from the default setting of 1. 
  • Then, based on their ages on the day they’ll be travelling, select the number of children travelling and mention each age range.
• Select the flights, and at the checkout page, the United Airlines unaccompanied minor charge of 150 USD would be levied on top of the airfare. 

• Over the phone – You can also contact United Airlines reservations phone number where a specialist would gladly assist you. Reservations booked through the phone may incur a 25 USD service fee on top of airfare and the unaccompanied minor service fee.  In addition – 
  • The airline needs to know who is dropping your child off and greet him upon arrival.
  • This information must be included when booking your child’s flight, but if anything changes, you can call the United customer service to update before the scheduled departure. 
  • The airline will choose a seat for your child so that they may receive the attention and assistance they require from the cabin crew. 
  • You can check the seat assignment no later than 48 hours after you book the flight. 

United Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Checklist Before Travel

We recommend taking a note of this checklist to help your child prepare for their trip, even if they are a seasoned traveller or have gone alone before:

• Take a note of the phone number of your child in case they call you or parents/guardians at the greeting end. 
• Give a briefing to your child about going through security, completing the United Airlines check-in, and finding the boarding gate. 
• Make certain they understand to wait for a United staff to walk them off the plane when they arrive. 
• In case they are bringing the electronic devices make sure they are fully charged as no charging facility would be available at the boarding area. 
• Pack some games or books so that your child remains occupied on board.  
• In the case of international travel, the unaccompanied minor needs to complete the international arrival form and submit it before clearing customs. 

United Unaccompanied Minor Requirement Before Departure

In addition to the check-in, parents/guardians must accompany the child at the airport and must arrive at least 1 hour before the scheduled departure for domestic travel, and 3 hours before for international travel. The procedure for the United unaccompanied minor boarding includes – 

• Check-in – the United airlines online check-in facility is not available for the child travelling alone. The check-in must be completed through the airport counter.  In addition – 
  • The airline will verify the information of the adult designated to drop off the child at the airport. The information will be added to the reservation details.
  • A minor flying alone would be offered a wristband and bag tags so that the airline staff can clearly identify them during the journey. 
  • A special envelope will be provided by the airline where the child can keep their travel documents safe and handy. 
  • parents/guardians will receive a special phone number to contact the airlines when the child boards the flight. 

• Passing through security – After the check-in will be completed, the parents/guardian will receive the gate pass and the pass for the child to pass through the gate, introduce themselves to the United Airlines staff, and inform them that the passenger is the unaccompanied minor. 

United Unaccompanied Minor Checklist During Flight

When the unaccompanied minor boards the flight, the airline representative will look after the child onboard. In addition – 

• Your youngster will receive one free menu item for their choice. The meal is available for the purchase. Minors can also bring the packed food and snacks. 

United Unaccompanied Minor Checklist Upon Arrival

An airline representative will accompany the child and take them to the greeting parents or guardians once the flight has arrived. In addition – 

• Parents or guardians need to receive their escort pass at the airline’s check-in counter in order to pass through the security gate to meet their child. 
• In case the unaccompanied minor is arriving from the airport outside the United States and involves a custom/immigration process, you need to pick them up outside the baggage claim area.

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United Airlines ID Requirements for Minors

As per the United airlines unaccompanied minor policy, Children ages 5 to 14 travelling alone are not required to produce identification at the time of check-in, but they are requested to carry some form of identification during their trip. In addition, children ages 15 and 17 years old need one of the following United Airlines travel documents for minors – 

• Driver’s licence
• Passport
• School ID
• Employee ID
• Library card
• Credit card
• Birth certificate
• Social security card
• Proof of auto insurance under the minor’s name. 

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United Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Fees

As per the United airlines unaccompanied minor policy, a service charge of 150 USD each way is added to the ticket price for every two minors travelling alone. This includes the additional services provided by the United flight attendants and airport staff. This fee will be applied to the price of your child’s ticket if you book flights through united.com. The airline will collect the fee when you pay for your child’s ticket through the United customer service number.

Number of minors flying unaccompanied	Service fee for a one-way flight (in USD)	Service fee for roundtrip flights (in USD)
1	150	300
2	150	300
3	300	600
4	300	600
5	450	900
6	450	900

One of the biggest hurdles that you might come across when you start planning a solo journey for your child is the choice of means and mediums of transport. If you prefer convenient and safe travel for your child, then you must sign up for United airlines unaccompanied minor travel program. 

United Airlines Minor Policy – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)