American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor – Policy, Process & Fees

Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Rick Spiegel

For parents, their children are everything, and they want them to be close every time or any time they go out. But what if the minor has to travel alone because of some emergency or any concern? As parents, everyone will need clarification about whether sending their minor child alone will be safe or even correct. Parents, the good news for you is, according to American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor policy, your child will be safe and accompanied by one of the staff who will always be present.

What is American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy?

According to American Airlines, minors who are traveling alone with ages between 5 and 14 years and want the assistance of an adult during the journey come under an unaccompanied minor. The minor will be accompanied by airline staff at the airport and will be taken care of by the crew member after boarding the flight. After reaching the destination, the staff member will hand over the child to the designated person. Therefore, the unaccompanied minor’s parents have to pay an extra unaccompanied minor service fee along with the ticket price.

• Children below the age of 5 are not allowed to travel alone or under the Unaccompanied Minor(UM) as per the American Airlines policy.
• The minor will not be allowed on overnight flights unless it is the only flight available.
• The last flight of the day from the final connecting city will be accepted if that is only available.
• Minors under 15 years cannot use ground transport without an escort for changing ground terminals.
• Minors cannot travel in connecting to/from another airline, even if it is of OneWorld or Codeshare partners.
• The airline might not accept an unaccompanied minor booking if it is likely to be a connecting or overnight flight.

What are American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Rules for Different Age Groups?

There are a few restrictions depending on the age, the time of travel, and the final destination. The airline has some safety rules for minors if there is a connecting flight.

For ages 0-4 Years

Children between the ages of 0-4 are not permitted to travel alone on American Airlines flights. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of young travelers.

Age 5-7 Years

The airline allows unaccompanied minors service for ages 5-7 years, yet they can only travel on nonstop flights. Thus, American Airlines needs the guardian’s contact number and the one arriving to pick up at the destination.

Age 8-14 Years

Rules for age 5-7 Years applies the same but with a slight difference in that minors aged 8-14 can also travel on connecting flights through Washington, New York, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Age 15-17 Years

For children between 15 to 17 years, the unaccompanied service is optional and depends on the parents’ child traveling. If parents want to be safe and their child to have a comfortable flight, they can avail of the service. Here, the same rule applies to the group between the ages of 8 and 14.

How to Book a Ticket for an Unaccompanied Minor?

Via Ticket Counter at the Airport

Reserve a Flight Ticket for the Unaccompanied Minor at the Airport Counter If you are someone who does not believe in virtual or online modes, then no worries. American Airlines offers the facility to reserve a flight ticket for your unaccompanied minor at the airport’s booking counter. You can make a flight booking through the booking counter for a better and more convenient travel experience for your child.

Follow the quick steps mentioned below to make a flight reservation for your unaccompanied minor via the airport’s booking counter:
To book a flight ticket through the airport counter

• Visit the American Airlines Helpdesk at the airport.
• After that, provide all the crucial details of the minor, including their full name, contact numbers, and complete address.
• Lastly, pay the American Airlines unaccompanied minor fees to confirm the flight booking.

Via Official Website

According to American Airlines official website unaccompanied minors can book tickets only via phone calls. Thus, one cannot book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor via online mode. 

Via Phone Call

One can contact the American Airlines phone number to get minor policy information. For booking the tickets, an adult can only make a booking by calling the reservation department and confirming in advance about a minor traveling alone. 

Here are the phone numbers that a person can call and talk in their comfortable language. 

The adult has to share the arrival and departure city with the executive. Moreover, they should also confirm the cabin class, number of minors, and their ages. The executive will ask for the ID number, which the minors have to provide while checking in.

After that, pay the fare charges along with the unaccompanied minor fee to complete your booking. When the booking is in process, an adult who is making the booking will be asked 4-digit PIN configuration for making any changes in their journey. Therefore, one cannot book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor via online mode.

Fee for American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor

• There is an unaccompanied minor fee that is liable to be paid to American Airlines along with the ticket price while booking.
• The cost for a minor fee is $150 (excluding taxes) each way.
• The advantage of booking unaccompanied minor tickets with American Airlines is that the airline charges one unaccompanied minor fee if two or three siblings are flying together.

Unaccompanied Minor Services on American Airlines

The minor should arrive at the airport with their parents or guardians and have to complete the necessary forms and check-in process. When the child is traveling alone, the airline suggests arriving at the airport:

• 2 hours before departure for domestic flights.
• 3 hours before departure for international flights.

At the time of Pick and Drop

• The minor will go to the departure gate with their parents or guardians. Therefore, they will have to wait till the flight takes off. Suppose the child has a connecting flight; the airline staff would accompany them. 
• The child will be seated in the rear aircraft to be near the flight attendant, as suggested by American Airlines.
• If the accompanying adult has any questions or concerns, they can contact the helpline number of American Airlines.

Required documents

While reaching the airport, contact the American Airlines ground staff to inform them about the drop-off and pick-up for a minor traveling alone. Hence, the minor will be given a package of documents and ID when they travel. At the check-in time, the accompanying has to show some of the following.

• Photo ID (license, passport).
• Address Proof.
• Your contact details
• Name and address of the guardian of the minor meeting at the destination.
• A birth certificate or passport
• Government-issued photo ID
• Immigration documents (if required)

Tips for an Unaccompanied Minor on American Airlines

• Parents should make the child understand the American Airlines uniform to identify them easily, and the child should only contact staff with their uniforms.
• The minor should have contact information on their jacket or attach it to their handbag.
• Make sure that the minor remains patient while deboarding the plane. They should wait for the staff to assist them before the authorized person picks them up.
• To keep the child busy, pack items like electronic devices, books, games, and snacks. Do not forget to charge the device and provide them with headphones too.
• Fill out the unaccompanied minor form as mentioned by American Airlines and complete the required immigration process for the departure day.
• Inform the person coming to the destination city to pick up the minor about the departure details.
• Assure the assigned person at the destination comes with a government-approved photo ID and should have the same information mentioned in the unaccompanied minor form.
• Arrive with the minor at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Does American Airlines charge for unaccompanied minors?

Yes, American Airlines charges a specific amount for unaccompanied minors. If your child is between the age of 15-17 years, then you can request American Airlines to treat your child as an unaccompanied minor. The fee for unaccompanied minors for a one-way flight on American Airlines is $150, plus the applicable charges in addition to the ticket price.

Can unaccompanied minors fly internationally on American Airlines?

Yes, unaccompanied minors can fly internationally on American Airlines. If your child is traveling outside the United States, then a team member of the airline will take the unaccompanied minor to the gate and will stay with the minor until the departure of the flight. However, if the child is not 18 years old, then American Airlines will require a consent letter to travel internationally without both parents.

Is American Airlines good for unaccompanied minors?

Many airlines offer unaccompanied minor services, yet the best airline so far is considered American Airlines. It takes care of the children at every stage of travel. 

Does American Airlines allow 13-year-olds to fly alone?

Yes, the airlines allow minors aged between 5-14 years to fly alone or with someone 18 years old. Therefore, parents should check the airline’s unaccompanied minor policy before booking a ticket.

What are the documents required on American Airlines for unaccompanied minors?

Some of the documents that are mandatory to submit while a minor is traveling alone on the flight include:

• Photo ID (license, passport).
• Address.
• Contact phone number.
• Name and address of the guardian of the minor meeting at the destination.

How to book an unaccompanied minor ticket on American Airlines?

People can contact the American Airlines helpline number to get minor policy information. However, tickets cannot be booked for an unaccompanied minor online. For booking the tickets, an adult can only make a booking by calling the reservation department and confirming in advance about a minor traveling alone. 

Can a minor with the age of 8 travel alone on American Airlines?

The minor, at the age of 8 years, can only travel alone on both connecting and non-connecting flights. However, American Airlines needs the guardian’s contact number and the person arriving to pick up at the destination.

Can 15 to 17-year travelers opt for unaccompanied minor service?

The unaccompanied minor service for travelers between 15 to 17 years is optional. They will receive the same assistance as the other minor upon request.

When should a minor arrive at the airport?

American Airlines requests the minors arrive at the airport 2 hours before the departure of the domestic flight. In the case of international flights, they should arrive 3 hours before departure.  

Which American Airlines flight an unaccompanied minor cannot board?

American Airlines allows unaccompanied minors on all flights. However, it does not allow them on the last connecting flight and overnight connecting flight or connection to/from another airline.

What is the baggage allowance for unaccompanied minors on AA flights?

An unaccompanied minor will get the same standard baggage allowance on AA flights as the other normal passengers. The baggage allowance will vary according to the cabin class. 

Does American Airlines allow unaccompanied minors?

Yes, American Airlines allows unaccompanied minors to travel. However, as per the unaccompanied minor policy, children aged 5 – 14 and 15 – 17 can travel as unaccompanied minors. Also, the parents or guardians have to pay the unaccompanied minor service fee if their child is traveling alone.

How do you pick up an unaccompanied minor at the airport?

As per the unaccompanied minor policy, the guardian or parents can meet thier child in the arrival area of the airport once they have finished the customs procedure. However, you must reach at the airport around 30-45 minutes before the arrival time of your child. Moreover, while picking up your child, you are required to show your valid ID card and sign a release form before leaving the airport.

What is a travel consent form for unaccompanied minors?

A travel consent form provides permission to the child to travel without their legal guardian’s permission. So, the parents have to fill out this form when their kid is traveling alone or without any adult.

What do airlines do with unaccompanied minors?

According to the Delta Airlines unaccompanied minor policy, the child will be escorted onto the flight during pre-boarding. Also, the airline executive will hand off the minor from one representative to the other for the connecting flight.