Children Travelling Alone on Indian Flights: Unaccompanied Minor Guide

Children Travelling Alone on Indian Flights

Sending a child to travel alone on an Indian flight can feel like a big moment for any parent. The good news is that major Indian airlines offer Unaccompanied Minor services designed to help children travel safely from check-in to final handover at the destination airport.

This guide explains how unaccompanied minor travel works in India, including age rules, booking steps, fees, forms, airport procedures, safety tips, and airline-specific points parents should check before booking.

Table of Contents

• Quick Rules for Children Travelling Alone
• What Is Unaccompanied Minor Service?
• Age Rules for Children Travelling Alone on Indian Flights
• Booking Process and Unaccompanied Minor Fees
• Documents Required for Children Travelling Alone
• Preparing Your Child for the Flight
• Airport Procedure on the Day of Travel
• What Happens During the Flight?
• Arrival and Pick-Up Procedure
• Air India vs IndiGo Unaccompanied Minor Policies
• Safety Tips for Unaccompanied Minors
• Consent Form Requirements
• Helpful Resources for Parents
• Frequently Asked Questions FAQ’s

Quick Rules for Children Travelling Alone

Never Use	Use Instead
Booking a child alone without informing the airline	Contact the airline and request Unaccompanied Minor service before travel
Sending incomplete forms	Carry fully completed UM forms with parent and pick-up adult details
Letting the drop-off adult leave early	Keep the parent or guardian at the airport until the flight departs
Giving vague pick-up instructions	List the exact authorised receiver’s name, phone number, address, and ID details
Booking complicated connections for young children	Choose direct flights whenever possible

What Is Unaccompanied Minor Service?

Unaccompanied Minor service, often called UM service, is a supervised airline service for children travelling without an adult passenger. It covers the child from check-in at the departure airport to handover at the destination airport.

Key Point

For many Indian airlines, children aged 5 to 11 years travelling alone are treated as Unaccompanied Minors and must use the airline’s UM service. This service usually cannot be waived for that age group.

The service typically includes check-in assistance, security escort, boarding support, cabin crew supervision during the flight, and safe handover to the authorised adult at arrival.

Age Rules for Children Travelling Alone on Indian Flights

Age rules can vary slightly by airline, so parents should always check the current policy before booking. However, many Indian airlines follow a similar age structure for children travelling alone.

Common Age Classification

• Under 5 years: Usually not allowed to travel alone under any circumstances.
• 5 to 11 years: Usually classified as Unaccompanied Minors. UM service is normally mandatory.
• 12 to 17 years: Usually allowed to travel alone, although parents may be able to request optional supervision.

Transit and Connecting Flight Rules

Parents should be careful with connecting flights. Some airlines do not accept unaccompanied minors when the connection is too long, involves a night halt, or requires complicated airport transfers. Direct flights are usually the safest and simplest choice for younger children.

Before Booking

Do not assume that every airline accepts children travelling alone on every route. Call the airline before payment if the child has a connecting flight, international sector, night arrival, or special medical requirement.

Booking Process and Unaccompanied Minor Fees

Unaccompanied Minor service is usually booked separately from the regular ticket. Parents may need to call the airline, fill out a form, pay a service fee, and provide details of the adults dropping off and receiving the child.

Aspect	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Typical UM Fee	Often around ₹3,000 to ₹5,000, depending on airline and route	Often higher, sometimes around ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 or more
Booking Notice	At least 24 hours before travel is commonly recommended	At least 48 hours before travel is safer
Fare Type	Usually adult fare or standard child fare depending on airline rules	Usually adult fare or airline-specific child fare rules
Best Flight Type	Direct daytime flights	Direct flights with simple immigration and arrival support

Booking Tip

Call the airline before booking online. Ask about UM fees, age rules, required forms, ID requirements, reporting time, and whether the selected route accepts unaccompanied minors.

Documents Required for Children Travelling Alone

Documents are one of the most important parts of unaccompanied minor travel. Missing paperwork can delay check-in or prevent the child from boarding.

Document Checklist

• Confirmed flight ticket or booking reference
• Child’s valid photo ID for domestic travel
• Passport and visa for international travel, if required
• Completed Unaccompanied Minor form
• Parental consent letter
• Copies of parent or guardian ID documents
• Photo ID of the adult dropping off the child
• Photo ID of the authorised adult receiving the child
• Emergency contact numbers
• Medical notes or prescriptions, if needed

Parents can also review Travel Documents for India Flights and Parental Consent Letter for Child Travel before preparing paperwork.

Preparing Your Child for the Flight

A child travelling alone should understand what will happen at the airport, during the flight, and after landing. A calm child with simple instructions is easier for airline staff to assist.

Before Travel, Prepare These Items

1. Complete all forms: Fill the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor form with drop-off and pick-up adult details.
2. Pack a small cabin bag: Include snacks, a water bottle if allowed, warm clothing, medicines, tissues, and a comfort item.
3. Save contact numbers: Add parent, guardian, and destination receiver phone numbers to the child’s phone.
4. Print extra copies: Carry multiple copies of the UM form, parental consent letter, ticket, and ID documents.
5. Explain airport steps: Tell your child to stay with airline staff and never leave with anyone except the authorised person.

What the Child Should Know

• The child should know their full name and destination city.
• The child should know who is receiving them at arrival.
• The child should ask cabin crew for help if worried, hungry, sick, or confused.
• The child should not leave the gate, aircraft, or arrival area without airline staff.

Airport Procedure on the Day of Travel

On travel day, arrive early and keep all documents ready. Unaccompanied minor check-in takes longer than a regular passenger check-in because the airline must verify forms, contact numbers, and handover details.

At the Departure Airport

1. Arrive early: Reach at least 2 hours before domestic departure and 3 hours before international departure.
2. Go to the airline counter: Submit the UM form, consent letter, child ID, and parent or guardian ID.
3. Confirm receiver details: Check the spelling, phone number, and ID details of the adult picking up the child.
4. Collect UM identification: The child may receive a badge, pouch, tag, or special document holder.
5. Wait until departure: The dropping adult must remain at the airport until the flight has taken off.

Important

The parent or guardian dropping off the child should not leave immediately after check-in. Stay at the airport until the aircraft departs in case the flight is delayed, cancelled, or the child needs further verification.

What Happens During the Flight?

During the flight, cabin crew keep an eye on the child and assist with seating, meals, washroom needs, and general comfort. The child may be seated where crew can monitor them easily.

Cabin Crew Support

Unaccompanied minors should be encouraged to ask cabin crew for help at any time. Parents can make the journey easier by explaining this before the flight.

If the child has food allergies, medical conditions, anxiety, or special needs, inform the airline in advance and write the details clearly on the required forms.

Arrival and Pick-Up Procedure

At the destination airport, airline staff escort the child through arrival formalities. For international flights, this may include immigration, baggage claim, and customs assistance. The child is handed over only to the authorised adult listed in the UM form.

Pick-Up Adult Must Carry

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Phone number matching the UM form
• Flight details and arrival time
• Any airline reference or UM handover details provided by the parent

If the authorised adult is delayed, they should contact the airline immediately. Airline staff will usually continue supervising the child until proper handover is completed.

Air India vs IndiGo Unaccompanied Minor Policies

Air India and IndiGo both support children travelling alone, but parents should compare routes, connection rules, service fees, and forms before booking.

Air India

• Useful for many domestic and international routes
• Offers dedicated information for unaccompanied minors
• Can be a strong choice for international travel and full-service support
• Parents should confirm connecting flight rules before booking

IndiGo

• Efficient option for direct domestic flights
• Often suitable for simple point-to-point travel
• Transit and night-halt rules may be stricter
• Parents should call ahead for route-specific acceptance

For official airline policy details, visit Air India Unaccompanied Minor Policy and IndiGo Special Assistance.

Safety Tips for Unaccompanied Minors

Parent Safety Checklist

• Choose a direct flight whenever possible.
• Prefer daytime departures and arrivals.
• Keep the child’s cabin bag light and easy to carry.
• Place all documents in one clearly marked folder or pouch.
• Write emergency phone numbers on paper, not only in a mobile phone.
• Tell the child never to leave with anyone except airline staff or the authorised receiver.
• Pack medicines with clear dosage instructions.
• Confirm arrival details with the pick-up adult before the flight departs.

Consent Form Requirements

Parents must fill and sign the airline’s official Unaccompanied Minor form. The form usually asks for the child’s details, parent or guardian details, travel route, flight number, and the authorised adult who will receive the child at arrival.

Parental Consent Letter Is Also Recommended

Along with the airline UM form, carry a separate parental consent letter. This is especially useful for international travel, travel with guardians, or situations where immigration or airline staff need extra confirmation.

Use this related guide for letter wording: Consent Letter for My Child to Fly Alone.

Helpful Resources for Parents

Use these links to prepare forms, documents, and child travel plans before booking.

• Consent Letter for My Child to Fly Alone
• Parental Consent Letter for Child Travel
• Travel Documents Required for Infant or Child Under 2
• Travel Documents for India Flights
• Air India Unaccompanied Minor Policy
• IndiGo Special Assistance
• IATA Traveler Information

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ’s

Can minors travel alone on a plane in India?

Yes, children aged 5 and above can usually travel alone on Indian flights using the airline’s Unaccompanied Minor service. Children under 5 years are generally not allowed to travel alone.

Can kids travel alone in Air India?

Yes, Air India allows children to travel alone under its Unaccompanied Minor service. Parents should check current age rules, fees, forms, and route restrictions directly with Air India before booking.

Can a 17 year old Indian travel internationally alone?

Yes, a 17-year-old can generally travel internationally alone, provided they meet airline, immigration, passport, visa, and destination country requirements. Optional supervision may be available depending on the airline.

Can a 14 year old travel alone in IndiGo?

Yes, a 14-year-old can usually travel alone on IndiGo without mandatory Unaccompanied Minor service, but parents should confirm current airline rules and route-specific conditions before booking.

Which Indian airlines allow 14 year olds to travel alone?

Most Indian airlines allow teenagers aged 12 and above to travel alone, but rules may vary by airline and route. Parents should check with Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, or the operating airline before booking.

Are Unaccompanied Minor services mandatory for children aged 5 to 11?

For many Indian airlines, children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone must use the Unaccompanied Minor service. Parents should confirm the latest age classification with the airline before buying the ticket.

What documents are needed for unaccompanied minors on domestic flights?

Common documents include the child’s photo ID, confirmed ticket, completed UM form, parental consent letter, parent or guardian ID copies, and details of the authorised adult receiving the child.

What if the pick-up person is late at the arrival airport?

Airline staff generally continue supervising the child until the authorised adult arrives and completes handover. The receiver should contact the airline immediately if they are delayed.

Final Thoughts: Children can travel safely and comfortably on Indian flights when parents plan ahead, choose the right route, complete the required forms, and prepare the child for each step of the journey. Always check the latest airline rules before booking.

Updated: May 17, 2026