united travel policy for minors

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What you need to know about united airlines' unaccompanied minor policy.

Children over five can fly as unaccompanied minors with United Airlines.

• Airlines have unaccompanied minor policies to ensure safe travel.
• Mistakes can happen, as seen with a 6-year-old boarding the wrong flight.
• United Airlines assists minors aged 5-17 traveling solo.

To help ease the worry of parents and to help turn the entire experience into an adventure, many airlines have an unaccompanied minors policy to ensure young people traveling alone are looked after. In the old days, airlines would have a staff member accompany the minor to the gate and ensure that they boarded the aircraft safely.

Things can sometimes go wrong

Despite all the precautions and safety measures in place, things can sometimes still go wrong, as was the case with a six-year-old named "Casper" last December. Casper was flying from Philadelphia to Fort Myers to see his grandparents; instead of putting him on the Fort Myers flight, the gate agent overseeing him put him on a flight to Orlando. When Caspers' luggage arrived in Fort Myers, and he was nowhere to be seen, his grandparents began to panic.

Fortunately, Casper had the sense to telephone his grandparents and tell them that he was in Orlando. When speaking about the incident with ABC News , a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said:

"This agent is no longer working with Spirit, and any individual whose actions resulted in the incorrect boarding will be held accountable for failing to follow our procedures." We are also reiterating our procedures to the team, and we are in communication with the child's family about this matter."

Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policies Explained

Surprisingly, things like this often happen more often than you would think. A week after the Casper incident, a teenager mistakenly boarded a Frontier Airlines flight in Tampa and found himself in San Juan, Puerto Rico, instead of arriving in Cleveland.

Who is considered to be an unaccompanied minor?

While each airline has its own policies regarding unaccompanied minors in the United States, the child must be at least five years old to fly without a parent or guardian. While this sounds OK, providing the airline takes care of the minor, some airlines will refuse to accept unaccompanied minors if the itinerary involves a connecting flight.

United Airlines policy regarding Unaccompanied minors

Children between the ages of 5 and 14, when traveling alone, are considered unaccompanied minors if traveling without a parent or guardian. Those between the ages of 15 and 17 can travel alone without being listed as a minor, but airline unaccompanied minor assistance is available if requested.

How to book a ticket on United Airlines for an unaccompanied minor:

• When you book a seat for an unaccompanied minor, include the child's age in the booking.
• During the booking process, tell United who is dropping the child off at the departure airport and who is picking up the child at the arrival airport. Should this information change after you make the booking, call United Airlines at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) and tell them about the changes.
• As United wants to take good care of your child, the carrier will assign where they will sit on the flight by selecting a seat within 72 hours of the booking.

What to do at the airport

• Make sure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time before the plane's departure.
• Unaccompanied minors must be checked in for the flight at the United Airlines ticket counter. When checking in, United will ensure they have all the correct contact information and issue the minor with a wristband and a special envelope for their travel documents.
• If the unaccompanied minor departs from an airport in the United States, the parents or guardians will be given a gate pass to accompany the child to the plane. If the minor is flying from an overseas airport, a staff member will accompany the minor from the ticket counter to the gate.
• Stay at the airport until the plane has departed. Your child will board the aircraft before other passengers and get to meet the pilots before being escorted to their seat.

On the plane

• During the flight, the cabin crew will keep a close eye on the minor and instruct them on how to use the call button if they need anything.
• Unaccompanied minors will be given meals on long-haul flights and complimentary snacks on short-haul domestic flights.
• United Airlines inflight entertainment system offers a wide range of streaming movies and shows suitable for minors.

Arrival airport

• Once the aircraft has landed, the minor must remain in their seat and wait for a United Airlines staff member to escort them to the person you said would pick them up.
• If they are arriving at a domestic flight, go to the United Airlines ticket counter and request a gate pass so that you can meet them as they get off the plane. If they are arriving on an international flight, they must first clear customs and immigration and will be brought to you in the airport arrivals area.

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All About United Airlines: Airline Policies & More Important Information For Kids

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If you’re planning a trip on United Airlines with your children , it’s important to do some research on the airline and its policies for kids. This will help ensure that your family has a comfortable and enjoyable experience while flying. Luckily, United Airlines also has several policies in place specifically for families traveling with young children, from bassinets to early boarding. This guide will cover everything you need to know about United Airlines with kids, from check-in procedures to baggage allowances. We’ll also cover some of the more unique aspects of flying United. By the end of this article, you’ll know everything you need to make your next flight on United Airlines a smooth and stress-free experience. Keep reading to learn more! 

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Why Fly United Airlines with Kids?

Wondering why you should fly United Airlines with kids? While every family’s airline experience is subjective, many travelers consider United Airlines to be a kid-friendly option. The airline has a great reputation for safety and customer service, and they offer a variety of amenities and services that are perfect for families traveling with young children. For starters, United offers a pre-boarding program for families with young children. This allows you to board the plane early so that you can get your little ones settled in before the rest of the passengers come on board. Finally, all United aircraft are equipped with in-seat entertainment systems featuring a variety of kid-friendly movies, TV shows, and games to help keep your little ones entertained throughout the flight.

READ NEXT :  All About Delta Airlines: Airline Policies & More Important Information For Kids

Where Does United Airlines Fly Directly?

Pack your bags, United offers service to destinations all over the globe, including many popular locations in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. They also fly to several destinations within the United States, so we likely have a non-stop flight to get you there no matter where you’re trying to go.

• United offers non-stop service to major cities in the United States, like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, and New York.
• Some popular international destinations include Beijing, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.

For more information, check their website for a complete list of all the places they fly to in the US and abroad. 

Booking a flight for your family? Check out these  11 Best Airlines For Kids For International Family Travel – And What You Need To Know! !

United Airlines Policy for Kids

When it comes to flying with children, United Airlines has a few different airline policies depending on the age of your kids. Keep reading to learn all about the United Airlines policy for kids! 

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Early Boarding f or Families

If your kids are under the age of 2, you can take advantage of early boarding. This way, you can settle and store your luggage comfortably before takeoff.

Delta Airlines Policies Specific to Infants, Toddlers, and Young Kids

There are a few United Airlines policies specific to families traveling with babies, toddlers, and small children. Here is what you should know if you are flying with tiny travelers.

Wondering about the United Airlines infant policy for lap seat kids? Infants under the age of 2 can also fly as lap-held infants to any destination with United Airlines. On domestic flights, this is free, and no ticket is needed. If you’re wondering, “do babies fly free internationally on United Airlines”, the answer is no, but lap-seat infants are discounted. For international flights, some fees apply, and a separate ticket needs to be issued.

To warm bottles, families can request hot water from a flight attendant. Alternatively, flight attendants will also bring you ice to keep milk and formula cool. This is helpful to know in advance if you are trying to learn everything you can about the United Airlines infant policy.

You can request a bassinet pre-flight for some international flights in United Polaris® business class and in Economy. They’re subject to availability. Contact United  to request one in advance of your flight.

United Airlines Car Seat Policy

Infants and toddlers can fly in an FAA-approved car seat . Children in car seats should sit in a window seat. The car seat can be secured to the seat itself. To make sure your car seat qualifies, look for the sticker attached to the side for confirmation. We hope this helps you better understand the United car seat policy!

United Airlines Child Fare

If you choose to have your infant in their own seat, they will need to purchase a ticket at full fare. There is no United Airlines child fare. Kids over the age of 2 will need to pay the full fare for a ticket. 

Baggage/Carry-On Luggage

In addition to carry-on bags and personal items, you can bring a diaper bag and a breast pump, milk, or formula . FAA-approved car seats and compact folding strollers are also allowed onboard. Then, you can check strollers and car seats free of charge, either at the ticketing desk or at the gate. If you plan to bring a Pack ‘n Play®, collapsible cribs, or other similar items, they must be checked at the ticket counter (and will be charged at the baggage rate for your ticket).

Lap children are not given their own baggage allowance (carry-ons or checked bags) in addition to anything listed above. Children with their own ticketed seats, however, are allowed the same baggage as an adult at the baggage rate for the purchased ticket. When flying with children on United Airlines, be sure to triple check what baggage is allowed before going to the airport.

Unaccompanied Minors

Additionally, if your child is between the ages of 5 and 14, they may be eligible to travel as an unaccompanied minor . This service must be arranged in advance and comes with certain rules and restrictions.

Food Policy

Kid-friendly snacks and meals are available when flying with children on United Airlines. TSA allows several baby items to go through security, you can  check that list   here . For in-flight snack and meal options, check here . Kids’ meals for long flights must be requested in advance .

Special Toys and Games/Entertainment Options

United Airlines also offers a special inflight entertainment system for kids, called “UNI”. This system includes age-appropriate movies, TV shows, games, and more.

What Documents Do I Need to Fly with Kids?

Now that you know the United Airlines child policy for flying with kids, you may be wondering,  do you need identification for a child or a baby to fly ? There are a few different documents your children may need, as U.S. citizens, to travel (if your kids have different citizenship, please refer to the rules and regulations for their country of citizenship). Then, other types of documents may also be needed for United Airlines child identification, depending on the flight, destination country, transit country, etc.

What Documents Do I Need for US Domestic Travel with Kids

• Generally, no ID is needed : Babies and kids (or, those under the age of 18) do  not  need to present any identification for domestic travel within the United States (or its territories, like Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands).
• Birth Certificates : Some airlines, however, may require proof of age for lap-seat infants. In this case, we recommend packing a  birth certificate  for your children just in case.
• Child Travel Consent : If you are traveling without your child’s other parent, a letter of consent providing proof of permission to travel alone with your child may be useful. While this is not strictly needed for domestic travel, it may provide peace of mind for traveling parents in the event you are questioned by government or airline staff.

What Documents Do I Need for International Travel with Kids

Basically, babies and children need the same documents for international travel adults do, including:

• Valid US Passport : Regardless of age, children with U.S. citizenship need a valid passport for air travel to another country (even babies!). The application process for children under 16 needs to be completed in person. Both parents are required to be present. Children’s passports are valid for five years.
• Proof of Relationship to Child : While you may not be asked for it, we highly recommend that you travel with some type of document proving your relationship to your child (e.g., birth certificate, adoption certificate, etc.). Please note, some countries or airlines will require this type of document. It is your responsibility to know the documents needed before you depart for your trip.
• Child Travel Consent : If you are traveling without your child’s other parent, plan on bringing a letter of consent from the other parent to travel alone with your child. Some countries require letters to be notarized. This letter should contain the child’s basic information (e.g., name, gender, birthday, place of birth, passport number, etc.), both parents’ names and contact information, the traveling arrangements (flights, accommodations, other adults traveling in your party), and the destination.

Additional Documents You Might Need or Want for International Travel with Kids :

• A  visa for the destination country , or a transit country (a country where a layover takes place).
• Some countries require everyone to have  vaccination records  for specific vaccinations. Check the  U.S. State Department International Travel website  for information about your destination country.
• Each country has its own requirements (or recommendations) for documents needed to enter the country. Check the  U.S. State Department International Travel website  for information about requirements for your destination country.
• If you travel frequently, consider joining one of the  Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP ).

RELATED ARTICLE : The Best Travel Accessories Families Can’t Live Without

Tips for Taking a Long Flight with Kids on United Airlines

If you’re flying United Airlines with children, you should keep a few things in mind to make the experience as smooth as possible.

• First, arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time for check-in and security.
• Have your carry-on bags packed and ready to go so you don’t have to hold up the line searching for items.
• Once you’re on the plane, take advantage of the in-flight entertainment options to keep your kids occupied.
• If your child gets restless, take a walk up and down the aisle or visit the lavatory together.
• Also, try to schedule your flight around their natural sleep schedule.
• Finally, remember to hydrate during the flight by drinking plenty of water or juice.
• And bring along a travel pillow and blanket for each child to keep them comfortable! 

If you’re traveling with a baby for the first time, check out our ten tips to prepare for your baby’s first flight .

Best Snacks to Carry on a United Airlines Flight with Kids

No one wants to be hangry, especially when stuck on a long flight. Keep your energy up and stave off any meltdowns by packing some snacks for you and your kiddos. United Airlines understands that sometimes flying with little ones can be challenging, so they allow families to bring snacks.

Get creative and pack some new and exciting snacks your kids may like, as well as some reliable favorites. Healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables, trail mix, whole grain crackers, and yogurt are all great options. If you’re looking for something a little more indulgent, we recommend packing some mini cookies or pretzels. And don’t forget the drinks! Water is always a good choice, but you might also want to pack some juice boxes or milk for the littlest ones.

Best Products for Taking a Long Flight on United Airlines

There are a few essential products to bring along if you want to survive a long flight on United Airlines with kids. Here are a few to consider as you prepare for your flight:

• Firstly, you need a good travel pillow to bring along with you. We recommend The Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow , The Sunany Inflatable Neck Pillow , or The Ultimate Travel Pillow ® .
• Parents and kids may also benefit from noise-canceling headphones like those from Purosound and Bose .
• A footrest like the Koala Kloud Travel Foot Rest may also be useful.
• And for some products specifically for parents, don’t forget pillow spray for deep sleep .

Then, read more hacks and products for sleeping on long flights with kids in our article! 

Travel Resources For Families: Where To Book Hotels, Flights, & More

Happy travels.

We hope you liked this Guide To United Airlines Airline Policies For Kids! Whether you’re planning a short weekend away or an extended trip, it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with these airline policies for children. Hopefully, learning about the United Airlines child policy has helped you prepare for and get excited about your trip! Enjoy your next flight with the kids! 

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Guide to Unaccompanied Minor Policies for U.S. Airlines [2023]

Chris Hassan

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Table of Contents

Unaccompanied minor basics, unaccompanied minor policies, tips for unaccompanied minor flights, final thoughts.

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Sending your child on a flight alone can be an exciting (and nerve-wracking) experience.

Whether they’ve been flying with you since babyhood or are just getting their travel legs now, you and your child need to be prepared for travel as an unaccompanied minor.

In the U.S., airlines have a wide array of rules and costs when it comes to young flyers traveling alone. Let’s look at each airline’s policy for exactly what you need to know before your big kid takes to the skies on their own.

For countless reasons, you may find that sending your child on a flight alone makes sense for you and your family.

Whether they are going to meet up with their other parent, grandparents, friends, family, school, or summer camp, being prepared will help ensure a safe and comfortable trip.

Although rules vary by airline, in most cases, an unaccompanied minor can be a child between the ages of 5 and 14. You can expect to pay up to $150 for an unaccompanied service from the airline to help with the travel logistics. 

Below is a chart to take a quick view of policies, followed by a more in-depth breakdown of each airline.

*Prices shown are for one-way flights and are in addition to the price of the ticket

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has Junior Jetsetters, an unaccompanied minor service for kids 5 to 17 on domestic and international flights.

When flying with Alaska, Junior Jetsetters receive a lanyard and a wristband so staff and crew can easily identify them. Kids will receive early boarding and a special safety briefing to make sure they are familiar with the emergency protocols.

Your child will be supervised for their entire journey for $50 on nonstop flights. Kids ages 8 to 17 can fly a more complex itinerary with connections for $75. 

Junior Jetsetters who have attained MVP, MVP Gold, Gold 75K, or Gold 100K Mileage Plan status have these fees waived.

Parents or guardians can escort the child all the way to the gate as long as they have obtained an escort pass at the ticket counter.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on Alaska Airlines, call 800-252-7522.

Hot Tip: Some Alaska Airlines routes may not allow unaccompanied minors, including for seasonal severe weather.

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air does not allow unaccompanied minors.

The airline considers anyone 15 and older an adult. Anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult ticketed on the same reservation.

American Airlines

American Airlines provides an unaccompanied minor service for children ages 5 to 14. It’s optional for teens ages 15 to 17. The cost is $150, which covers the cost of siblings, as well. 

The AA unaccompanied minor service includes early boarding to get comfortable and meet the flight attendants, kids-only lounge access (in select cities), Kids’ Kits from Quaker with snacks and activities (for ages 5 to 10 in hub cities), and an escort for connecting and arriving flights.

If your child has a connecting flight, they will have access to an unaccompanied minor lounge in the following airports:

• Charlotte (CLT)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Dallas (DFW)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK and LGA)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Washington, D.C. (DCA)

Rules vary by age and destination for international flights and can be found on AA.com .

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on American Airlines,  call 800-433-7300.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways does not provide an unaccompanied minor service. The airline allows children 13 and older to fly by themselves without an accompanying adult on all nonstop flights. On multiple-segment flights (including BreezeThrus and connecting flights), an adult must accompany any guest younger than 18.

Children ages 13 to 17 must provide government documentation stating their age.

Delta Air Lines

Delta has an unaccompanied minor program for domestic and international travel for kids ages 5 to 14. It’s optional for teens from 15 to 17. The service costs $150 each way for up to 4 children. 

Only children 8 and older can travel on itineraries with connections. Younger children must be booked on nonstop flights.

Minors traveling with the unaccompanied minor program receive a trackable wristband, access to the Sky Zone lounge for kids, and a personal escort throughout their travel day.

Sky Zones are children-only areas where children who are flying alone can use the complimentary phones to call their parents, wait for connections, play with toys and video games, and have the support of Delta representatives.

Delta Sky Zones are available in the following airports:

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Memphis (MEM)
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP)
• New York (JFK)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)

After check-in, a parent or designated accompanying adult must take the unaccompanied minor to the departure gate and remain until the flight has taken off. The person meeting the child at the other airport must be registered and provide an ID and signature.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on Delta Air Lines, you must call 800-325-8847.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines does not allow unaccompanied minors.

The airline allows anyone 15 and older to fly by themselves. Anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult ticketed on the same reservation.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines offers Unaccompanied Minor Service Assistance, but the requirements vary based on age and final destination. The service costs $35 per flight segment on flights between the Hawaiian islands and $100 per flight segment on flights between Hawaii and continental North America for up to 2 children from the same family. 

Children ages 5 to 11 are considered unaccompanied minors and must pay for the Unaccompanied Minor Service Assistance. The service is optional for kids 12 to 17. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed on international flights.

A child aged 5 to 11 can travel with a passenger 15 or older without Unaccompanied Minor Service Assistance.

At drop-off, the parent or responsible adult must submit a completed Request For Unaccompanied Minor form and inform the airline who will be picking up the child at the arrival airport. Pickup locations vary by airport and can be found on the Hawaiian Airlines website .

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on Hawaiian Airlines, call 800-367-5320.

JetBlue allows for unaccompanied minors between the ages of 5 and 14 years old to travel on their own. Tickets can be booked online and carry a fee of $150 per person each way.

There is a limit of 3 unaccompanied minors per flight, and they cannot occupy Mint or Even More Space seats. Seats A, B, and C in the plane’s last row are reserved for unaccompanied minors so that the crew can easily assist if needed.

Only nonstop flights can be booked for unaccompanied minors , with some international flights included. Service for the U.K. and Europe is not available at the moment. Unaccompanied minors, even on Blue Basic Fares, can bring a carry-on at no extra charge.

A photo ID and 3 copies of a completed Unaccompanied Minor Form are required at drop-off. Gate passes may be available at the discretion of the TSA.

At pick-up, the guardian listed on the Unaccompanied Minor Form must be at least 18 years old and present an ID.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on JetBlue, go to jetblue.com or call 800-538-2583.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest allows Unaccompanied Minors ages 5 to 11 to travel independently on domestic flights. There is a $100 fee each way. 

Children 12 and over can use the Young Travelers service for no fee.

Parents cannot accompany their child all the way to the gate.

Unaccompanied minors can only fly on nonstop or direct flights in the U.S., and parents or guardians must provide proper identification during drop-off and pickup.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on Southwest, you can go to southwest.com , book at the ticket counter, or call 800-435-9792

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines allows unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 14 on select flights for a fee of $150 each way. 

Flights must be domestic, nonstop flights. Unaccompanied minors receive a lanyard with their information on it and a snack, and drinks during their travels.

The drop-off parent or guardian must provide a valid ID and escort the child all the way to the gate (with a gate pass) and wait for 15 minutes after the flight takes off. The child will be preboarded and introduced to the flight crew.

The pick-up parent or guardian should request a gate pass at the ticket counter with a valid ID and be waiting at the arrival gate so that the flight attendant can release the child to the adult listed on their Unaccompanied Minor form.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on Spirit Airlines, you can go to spirit.com or call 855-728-3555.

Sun Country

Sun Country does not have an unaccompanied minor service and, therefore, doesn’t allow children under 14 to travel alone.

On domestic flights, kids ages 15 to 17 can accompany 1 child between the ages of 5 to 14. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult ticketed on the same reservation.

United Airlines

United Airlines has an unaccompanied minor service for children ages 5 to 14. There is a fee of $150 each way for every 2 children using the service. 

Unaccompanied minors can travel on both domestic and international flights, as long as they are nonstop on United or United Express. Teens ages 15 to 17 can travel alone on any United or United Express flight or opt into the unaccompanied minor service.

The young flyers receive a wristband, special bag tags, and an envelope with their unaccompanied minor forms. They also receive early boarding to get settled and a free snack after takeoff.

The drop-off parent or guardian can accompany the child to the gate if the airport allows it.

The pick-up parent or guardian can wait by the arrival gate if gate passes are available. A United representative will meet the child at the plane and bring them to the designated pick-up person.

To book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor on United Airlines, use united.com or call 800-864-8331.

You’ve made the decision to send your little one on their first big adventure by themselves and confirmed that the airline will assist them, but there are still some things you can do to help set them up for a successful journey.

Here are tips from fellow parents and directly from the airlines to help your child fly as an unaccompanied minor.

Explain the Process

You are likely nervous. Your child probably is, too. Making sure that they are emotionally and mentally prepared will be extremely important.

Going over exactly what the trip will entail, what is expected of them, who they can rely on, and what to do in an emergency can be calming and helpful.

Remind them that the flight crew is there to help them and that someone will be waiting for them at the other end of the flight.

Charge the Gadgets

For kids, nothing is worse than their favorite piece of technology running out of battery.

Let them indulge in screen time and ensure their phones, tablets, and other devices are all charged up for the trip. And don’t forget the chargers!

This will also ensure they can stay in touch with you if needed.

Use an AirTag

Apple AirTags have exploded in popularity to keep track of checked luggage.

Well, there is no more precious cargo than your child. Toss an AirTag in their backpack (Apple sells a  single AirTag for $29 , or a pack of  4 AirTags for $99 ), or, better yet, use an AirTag bracelet .

With an AirTag, you can see almost exactly where they are, which can be handy during pick-up.

Write Down Emergency Contacts

Yes, there will be cell phones and proper documentation from the airline, but you never know.

It can’t hurt to have a list of emergency contacts and phone numbers on a piece of paper, if needed.

Pack Snacks

We all function better when we aren’t hungry, right?

Even though some unaccompanied minor services offer snacks, it’s a good idea to make sure your kid is well-fed before their flight and has a bag full of snacks to munch on during their journey.

You’ve packed snacks, and the airline will likely provide some as well, but it’s a good idea to give your kid some spending money just in case of a long delay.

Whether they’re waiting to board or on the plane for longer than planned, having a little cash or a credit card can come in handy if they need to buy something.

Minimize Carry-Ons

This goes for all travelers, but the less you board with, the less likely it will get left behind.

A backpack is probably the easiest for smaller travelers, so they don’t have to deal with reaching into overhead bins.

Track the Flight

Being able to track the flight will help calm a parent or guardian’s nerves and keep the person picking up the unaccompanied minor informed if there are any delays.

Whether using the airline’s app or a third-party app such as FlightAware , a little bit of technology in your pocket is nice.

Sending your little one on a flight by themselves is a huge moment filled with a plethora of feelings with everything from excitement to fear. But with the right preparation, your unaccompanied minor could make their first successful trip of many to come.

Many airlines will make sure that your child has a safe and enjoyable flight, and if they are flying Alaska Airlines and have elite status, they won’t even charge you!

Many factors go into whether or not you and your family are comfortable enough with this type of travel. Hopefully, the information you found here will help with your decision.

Safe travels!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i board the aircraft with my child.

No, but in some cases, the parent or guardian can get a gate pass and stay with the child until they have boarded at the gate.

Can unaccompanied minors travel internationally?

Depending on the airline and destination, yes. You will need to check directly with your carrier.

How much does it cost for my child to fly alone?

Prices vary depending on the airline and itinerary, often around $50 to $150 each way. This is in addition to the cost of the ticket.

Can my 13-year-old fly alone?

On many U.S. airlines, yes. You will likely need to pay an unaccompanied minor fee, as well.

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About Chris Hassan

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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United: Children Flying Alone

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What is Unaccompanied Minor Service?

Young children traveling without a parent or legal guardian are considered to be Unaccompanied Minors. For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service is available to ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination.

What age does my child have to be to qualify as an Unaccompanied Minor?

The service is mandatory for children ages 5-15 traveling without an adult. Children age 16 and older are not required to travel as unaccompanied minors. Children under 5 years of age are not allowed to travel unless accompanied by an adult.

What are the fees associated with this service?

Fee for an unaccompanied minor: $150 each way

NOTE: Two or more children who are traveling together will be assessed a single fee in each direction.

Are there any flight restrictions?

Children ages 5-15

• May travel only on United flights that are nonstop or direct. (A direct flight makes a stop without a plane change.)
• May not travel on connecting flights, but may travel on the last nonstop flight of the day.

Children age 16+ flying without unaccompanied minor service

• It is strongly recommended that teens who are not using unaccompanied minor service be confirmed on flights early in the day.
• Unanticipated delays or cancellations may disrupt flight schedules and result in missed connections. If delays result in travel being completed the following day, United may not be able to offer overnight accommodations, since many hotels will not accept minors ages 17 or younger.

How do I book this service?

If your child will be traveling with unaccompanied minor service, please book his or her travel either through United Reservations or through a travel agency.

If your unaccompanied child's reservation was booked via united.com, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to ensure that essential information is entered into the computer system. Such information includes the names of individuals bringing your children to the airport and picking them up at their destination. Please have names, addresses and phone numbers handy to help expedite the call.

For more information, please visit United's policy on minors. 

SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.

Here comes the airplane! What to know about flying as an unaccompanied minor

• Most kids as young as 5 should be developmentally ready to travel alone.
• Traveling alone can help kids to feel more responsible and become better problem solvers.
• Every airline has its own rules for minors traveling alone.

"Traveling together” is a five-part series focusing on family travel experiences and how they shape our relationships. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can fill out this quick form .

Carmen Wilson-Wright took their first solo flight from Baltimore to visit their grandparents in San Antonio, Texas, when they were 8 years old.

Their mother is a travel journalist, so Wilson-Wright, whose pronouns are they/them/their, said it felt like a normal thing to do.

"I was already more of an experienced flyer. I’ve been flying since I was 10 days old," they said. "Honestly, I wasn’t nerve-wracked at all. My mom had been preparing me for that basically my entire life."

Now 17, Wilson-Wright still flies alone at least three or four times a year and said that knowing they can take care of themselves even when they're hundreds of miles from anyone they know has given them a strong sense of independence. 

Most U.S. airlines will let children as young as 5 fly as unaccompanied minors, though restrictions and the required   level of supervision vary by carrier and the passenger's   age.

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Child development experts told USA TODAY that letting kids fly unaccompanied can be a great way to help them develop their sense of self, and agreed that 5 was – developmentally speaking – a good age for most kids to start having that opportunity under the right circumstances.

Is my kid ready to fly alone?

Every child develops at a different rate and handles various situations in their own way, but psychiatrists generally agree most should be able to handle flying alone from a pretty young age.

"Most people don't give kids enough credit," said Lea Lis, a child psychiatrist and author of "No Shame: Real Talk With Your Kids About Sex, Self-Confidence, and Healthy Relationships." "Unless your child has a developmental delay or something, they're perfectly capable of handling a trip."

Most airlines require unaccompanied minors to be escorted to their departure gate and met at their arrival gate by an adult guardian, and Lis said the way most airlines structure travel for solo kids helps give them a sense of independence without any real danger.

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"It might be the first time they were given an opportunity to be away from their caregiver, and airlines and airports are extremely safe," she said. "It's giving them this sense of freedom without any real risk to their safety and security."

Marcel Green, a private practice psychiatrist in New York City, affiliated with Hudson Mind and The Children's Village, among other institutions, said solo travel could also help kids become better problem-solvers.

"It nurtures the development of a cognitive skill called executive functioning, which refers to one’s ability to coordinate and implement planning," he said. "Traveling alone represents an extremely important task, and if a kid is supported enough to master that task, it will correlate with swifter development."

How can I prepare my kids to fly by themselves? 

Lis practices what she preaches. In 2017, her then 7-year-old daughter took a solo trip to Germany to visit a great aunt.

"They upgraded her to first class, and she loved it," Lis said.

While a luxe seat is hardly guaranteed for any young adventurer, there's plenty caregivers can do ahead of a trip to help kids be more calm and more comfortable.

"Make it fun instead of scary," Lis said. "Don’t say, 'Oh my God, this is going to be so hard for you,' say, 'This is going to be so fun for you.' "

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She added that doing something special like giving the kid a little gift – like a new book or toy – to unwrap on the plane could help make the trip even more exciting and provide a good distraction if they get bored or nervous.

Green said the key is making sure kids can handle other tasks independently first.

"Is the child able to perform an errand by themselves under the supervision of parents?" he said. "That would be a good gauge, and progressively making it more challenging," by giving them more involved errands that require being away from their normal support network for longer. 

"You essentially want to see how emotionally balanced a child can be" when they're not with their family, Green said.

Ahead of a trip, he added, it's important to check in with the child to make sure they're feeling ready, too.

Story continues below.

"I would ask the child: How do you feel when you’re alone? What do you do if you need help? Who would you talk to if you’re upset? If you are upset, do you know how to reach your parent?" Green said.

Lis agreed that it's important for children traveling alone to memorize key contact info and know how to get in touch with someone who can help in an emergency. She also said some kids may just not be ready to travel by themselves.

"If a child is very anxious in general ... that's probably not the right child to send on a plane alone," she said. "If a child is adventurous and has that kind of spirit, they'll probably fare better."

In their experience, Wilson-Wright also said it's important for kids to be involved in planning and preparing for their own trip.

"Make sure you're packing your own carry-on," Wilson-Wright  said. "You want activities for your own plane ride. You want to choose what you want to do."

Will my kid act differently after taking a solo trip? 

Flying without a parent can definitely help a kid feel more independent, and that could have positive knock-on effects at home and on future family trips, too.

"It could be correlated with improved behavior within the family unit as well as in other social settings where we expect children to behave," Green said.

Lis added that giving kids more responsibility should be a natural next step after they have taken a trip by themselves.

"Leverage that: 'You did this by yourself; what else can you do by yourself?' " she said. "'You're a kid who flew on a plane alone, you can make your own snack.' "

Airline policies

Most airlines have similar rules for unaccompanied minors traveling. Here are the policies from the four largest carriers in the U.S.

► American Airlines unaccompanied minor policy

Kids as young as 5 can fly unaccompanied on American . The airline charges $150 each way for the service for solo kids or groups of siblings. Unaccompanied minors are entitled to priority boarding, kids-only lounges in the airline's hubs for those with connecting flights, a snack kit for travelers up to age 10 and escorts through the airport along with flight attendant supervision onboard.

Kids ages 15 to 17 are permitted to fly as standard passengers, but any unaccompanied traveler ages 5 to 14 is required to make use of the unaccompanied minor program. Those ages 5 to 7 are allowed to travel only on nonstop flights. 

► Delta Air Lines unaccompanied minor policy

Kids as young as 5 can fly unaccompanied on some  Delta  flights. The airline charges $150 each way for up to four children to use the service, which includes priority boarding, kids-only lounges in the airline's hubs for those with connecting flights and escorts through the airport along with flight attendant supervision onboard.

Kids ages 15 to 17 are permitted to fly as standard passengers on any Delta flight, but all unaccompanied traveler ages 5 to 14 are required to make use of the unaccompanied minor program. Those ages 5 to 7 are allowed to travel only on nonstop flights. 

► United Airlines unaccompanied minor policy

Kids as young as 5 can fly unaccompanied on United  flights. The airline charges $150 each way for one to two kids to use the service, $300 each way for three to four kids and $450 each way for up to six  kids. Unaccompanied minors on United must take nonstop flights and will be assigned a seat within 72 hours of booking. They are entitled to priority boarding and have a chance to meet the pilots before takeoff. Flight attendants check in with them during the flight as duties allow. 

Kids ages 15 to 17 are permitted to fly as standard passengers on any United flight, but all unaccompanied traveler ages 5 to 14 are required to make use of the unaccompanied minor program. 

► Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor policy

Kids ages 5 to 11 can fly as unaccompanied minors on any direct  Southwest  flights (this includes both nonstop itineraries and those that do make a stop but don't require a change of planes). The airline charges $50 per child each way for its unaccompanied minor service, which entitles them to priority boarding and an escort and supervision on the plane. 

Children 4 years old and younger or 12 years old and older are not eligible unaccompanied minor service on Southwest.

Have you or your child flown by themselves? How was that experience?

United Airlines minors flying alone

What services does united airlines offer for children traveling alone.

United Airlines offers Unaccompanied Minor Service for children traveling alone.

What age restrictions apply for the Unaccompanied Minor Service?

The following restrictions apply for both domestic and international flights:

• Children younger than 5 years of age are not accepted for travel without an accompanying adult at least 18 years old.
• Children aged 5 to 14 years (inclusive) may travel alone under certain conditions, as Unaccompanied Minors . The Unaccompanied Minor Service is mandatory .

The Unaccompanied Minor Service is also available for children aged 15 to 17 years (inclusive) .

When two or more children travel together, the more restrictive age requirement will apply (e.g., a 10-year old child and a 16-year old child may travel together, but the younger traveler is still considered an Unaccompanied Minor).

What flight restrictions apply for the Unaccompanied Minor Service?

The Unaccompanied Minor Service is available only for United and United Express nonstop flights .

United does not offer Unaccompanied Minor Service for connecting flights, codeshare flights, and other flights operated by partner airlines.

Unaccompanied Minor Service

You can book a flight for an Unaccompanied Minor and pay the service charge either online at united.com or by phone through United Customer Contact Center . A fee of $25 applies to tickets purchased by telephone. To avoid paying this additional expense, book the reservation through united.com .

When you make your child’s reservation, you can also provide the required information. In order to accept an unaccompanied child for travel, United requires the following information:

• The full name, telephone number (home, cell and/or business) and address of the person bringing the child to the airport.
• The full name, telephone number (home, cell and/or business) and address of the person meeting the child at his or her destination.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Unaccompanied Minors must be brought to the airport of departure by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult. Allow for at least 30 extra minutes, in addition to the regular airport processing time, when accompanying your child to the airport. The airport service agent working your child’s flight will verify the information in your child’s reservation, or place the information in the reservation if it’s not already there. In addition to a special unaccompanied minor envelope to keep important travel documents, your child will get a wristband to wear so that United agents and flight attendants can clearly identify him/her as an unaccompanied minor.

At US airports, you will be given a gate pass that allows you to pass through security and take your child to the boarding gate. At airports outside the US, you are not allowed access to the gate area, due to security restrictions, and a United representative will escort your child to the gate.

Your child will be escorted on board and introduced to the flight attendants by a United representative. Unaccompanied Minors are invited to board during priority or courtesy boarding. Boarding ahead of other customers allows a few extra minutes when the flight attendants have the opportunity to: personally greet your child, introduce your child to the cockpit (time permitting), assist with carry-on items, orient your child to the safety features of the aircraft, and point out lavatory locations. You shall remain in the immediate gate lobby area at least until the plane is airborne.

Upon landing, a United representative will meet and escort your child to meet the person designated to pick him/her up at the arrival gate (all U.S. domestic flights and select international flights that have immigration and customs pre-clearance at the departure airport) or in the arrivals area outside baggage claim. The person designated to meet the child at his/her final destination should arrive early at the airport and wait for the Unaccompanied Minor in the arrivals area. The person designated to meet the child may be required to complete and sign documentation relating to the Unaccompanied Minor.

United Airlines charges $150 each way for an Unaccompanied Minor traveling to any destination (e.g. $150 for a one-way trip for two Unaccompanied Minors, $300 for a round trip for one Unaccompanied Minor, $600 for a round trip for four Unaccompanied Minors, $450 for a one-way trip for five or six Unaccompanied Minors). The fee may be paid at the time of reservation, or at the airport, prior to departure, at the check-in counter .

More information here >>

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As featured on

United rolls out new family seating policy for economy tickets

Editor's Note

In what may set the standard for domestic airline seating policies, United Airlines , one of the Big Three, has announced a new policy for families to sit together for free with children under age 12 in certain cabins, regardless of fare type.

Starting early next month, United's new "dynamic seat map feature" will enable passengers to book two seats together for travelers under 12 years old and an adult companion in the party for free on economy tickets, including basic economy fares. It does not apply to Polaris, first-class or Economy Plus tickets.

This is a major change to current United policy, raising the question of whether other airlines will follow suit, particularly following Southwest Airlines' quiet expansion of its family boarding policy in January to permit families to board together with children up to age 13 on certain flights.

Though Southwest does not offer assigned seating due to its numbered boarding process, most airlines charge travelers to select seats in advance when flying with certain fare types, namely basic economy.

However, even if your fare type includes complimentary seat selection, securing multiple seats together depends on a variety of factors and thus is far from guaranteed, and increasingly unlikely when you're a family looking for several seats together.

If you forgo selecting a seat at the time of booking or during check-in, you are at the mercy of the airlines, which will automatically assign you one for free during the check-in process.

Related: Just let families sit together for free already

United flyers should look out for a new seat map starting in early March. It will highlight open adjacent seats available when booking. The new feature "reviews all available free Economy seats and then opens complimentary upgrades to available Preferred Seats, if needed," per a press release issued by the Chicago-based carrier.

If adjacent seats are unavailable ahead of your flight, United customers can switch to an alternate flight with adjacent seats in the same cabin to the original destination without charge. Unlike its existing policy, which charges customers with basic economy tickets for same-day changes and fare differences, United will not charge these customers for any difference in fare between their original and new flights.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, United , aligning with most other airlines, eliminated change fees to allow passengers to book a new flight within 24 hours of their originally scheduled flight. This was applicable to most economy and premium-cabin tickets for domestic routes and travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico and other international travel originating in the U.S.

When United rolled out this policy in January 2021, basic economy tickets were excluded, and any fare differences applied.

"In an era where more families are working in a hybrid environment, they're traveling more often — and they're flying United," Linda Jojo, United's chief customer officer, said in a statement Feb. 20. "We're focused on delivering a great experience for our younger passengers and their parents and know it often starts with the right seat. We look forward to rolling out more family-friendly features this year."

Advance seat fees, which are between $20 and $100 each way, depending on the carrier, fare type and route, have caught the attention of President Joe Biden and the Department of Transporation, both of which aim to halt these fees, among other so-called junk fees, via the Junk Fee Prevention Act .

"We'll prohibit airlines from charging up to $50 round-trip for families just to sit together," Biden said during his State of the Union address in January. "Baggage fees are bad enough — they can't just treat your child like a piece of luggage."

Existing DOT policy is supposed to preclude airlines from charging travelers age 13 or younger for selecting a seat next to an accompanying adult.

In response to whether Biden's push influenced its family seating policy change, a United spokesperson person said "United has worked to improve its ability to seat families together since last summer, and today's announcement reflects our investments in technology and tools that are starting to go into effect."

Regardless, some industry analysts have connected the dots, including Gary Leff, a travel expert who runs View from the Wing .

"This is a customer win, a win against competitors, and a political win all wrapped up into one," said Leff .

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UponArriving

Unaccompanied Minor Policy Ultimate Guide [2023]

Unaccompanied minor policies can be a little bit confusing because they are unique for each airline. The prices can differ as can age qualifications and routing rules so there is a lot to keep track of.

In this article, I break down all of the fees and major requirements for the most popular US airlines.

I then detail the unaccompanied minor process so that you know what to expect from the time of booking to arriving at the airport, and all the way through the flight and pick up.

And finally, I supply some helpful tips and answer FAQs on how to make the process as smooth as possible for your unaccompanied minor.

Table of Contents

Unaccompanied minor fees

Below are the unaccompanied minor fees for the main US airlines. (You can click on an airlines’s name for all of the details specific to that airline.)

$150 is the standard unaccompanied minor fee charged by the major legacy airlines in the US (United, Delta, American Airlines).

However, as you can see above there are some airlines like Southwest and Alaska that offer much cheaper fees as low as $50.

There are a couple of things you should know about the fees.

Connections may raise the price. For example, Alaska charges $75 per flight when a connection is involved.

Specific routes can also increase the price. Hawaiian Airlines charges $100 for flights between the mainland and Hawaii but only $35 for flights within the state of Hawaii.

There also may be group pricing involved. United has the following system when pricing out multiple unaccompanied minors:

• 1 to 2 total children traveling: $150 each way
• 3 to 4 total children traveling: $300 each way
• 5 to 6 total children traveling: $450 each way

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Things to know

Not all airlines allow unaccompanied minors.

Not every airline will accept unaccompanied minors.

Allegiant only accepts passengers 15 years or older when flying alone because they consider them to be adults. In other words, if you are under 15 years old on Allegiant you must be flying with an adult.

Frontier is another airline that does not have unaccompanied minor policies .

So don’t always assume that your airline will accommodate an unaccompanied minor.

Related: Do Children Need ID to Fly? (Domestic & International)

Unaccompanied minor age limits

If a child is under the unaccompanied minor age limit, they will never be permitted to travel alone. The typical lower age limit is five years old.

So you will rarely if ever see an airline that will allow a kid four years old or younger to travel as an unaccompanied minor.

Instead, they will have to travel with an adult which may mean someone 18 years or older (though it could be younger such as 16).

The upper age limit on unaccompanied minors is different for some airlines but this upper limit is usually 14 years old.

This means that a 15-year-old can often travel alone without having to register as an unaccompanied minor.

Accompanying passenger age

Airlines will consider a minor to be unaccompanied unless there is someone traveling with them of a certain age.

The minimum age of this companion traveler varies dramatically between airlines.

Alaska Airlines requires the accompanying passenger to be 18 years old. Meanwhile, Southwest requires the accompanying passenger to be only 12 years old.

So be sure to look into that age requirement as those are big differences.

Also note that with airlines like Hawaiian, the age requirement of the accompanying passenger may be higher based on the route. They require the accompanying passenger to be 15 on domestic flights and 18 on international flights.

The accompanying adult may also have to fly in the same cabin as the child. So if you plan on flying in first class but your child will be in economy, that could require your child to fly as an unaccompanied minor.

Connections

You will often find restrictions on connecting flights when choosing routes for unaccompanied minors. Usually, the lower ages (5 to 7) are prohibited from flying on routes with connecting flights.

When connections are permitted, there may be specific limitations on what type of connections are allowed.

For example, American Airlines allows connections on routes through specific airport hubs like:

• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, D.C. (DCA)
• Dallas Forth Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK and LGA)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

If there is a connecting flight, your child may be chaperoned through the terminal to make their connection.

When it comes to these restrictions, be sure to keep in mind the difference between a non-stop, direct, and connecting flight.

A non-stop flight is a flight that does not touch the ground until it lands in its final destination.

So let’s say you are departing Houston and your final destination is Chicago. A flight taking off from Houston and staying in the air until it lands in Chicago would be a nonstop flight.

A direct flight is a flight that may touch down at an intermediary airport but will not require you to connect to a different plane.

So a flight that goes from Houston to Dallas (but requires no plane change in Dallas) and then heads to Chicago would be a direct flight.

A connecting flight is a route that will require you to exit your plane and board a separate plane in order to get to your final destination. Imagine the above example but you have to head to a different gate or terminal in Dallas — that would be a connecting flight.

It is typically only a connecting flight that is problematic.

Also, keep in mind that there may be a limitation put on layovers. Your unaccompanied minors may only be able to fly on an itinerary with a layover of 2 to 3 hours.

Some airlines like Delta have designated lounges for kids which is something to consider if you are looking at dealing with a layover.

Departure times

Many times the unaccompanied minors are not allowed to fly red eye flights or after a certain time.

There typically is a an exception to this rule such as when that flight is the only available flight to the destination.

Many airlines will limit the number of total unaccompanied minors on each flight. This helps the airline keep better tabs on all of the unaccompanied minors on the flights.

Some airlines like JetBlue will have specific seats that the unaccompanied minors will sit in. On JetBlue , unaccompanied minors will always be seated in seats “ABC” on the last row of the aircraft. 

It’s also possible with airlines like Alaska that the seat could change for the unaccompanied minor.

Often, unaccompanied minors can sit just about anywhere (including first class) but the emergency exit rows are off limits based on federal regulations.

The reason is that they may be called upon to assist with opening the doors in an emergency and many kids are not well-suited for that.

Airlines typically will not hold or administer medication for unaccompanied minors.

This just opens up the door for lawsuits and liability issues so it’s easier for the airlines to stay out of administering medication.

However, if there is some type of emergency or your child becomes seriously ill, the airline will potentially contact medical personnel to assist.

Usually, they will contact the parent or guardian first but if things are very serious they may bypass that route and go directly to seeking medical attention.

Related: TSA Medication Rules for Flying on Planes

Optional unaccompanied minors

In some cases, a teenager may still want to travel as an unaccompanied minor.

Typically this would be a kid in the 14 to 17-year-old range.

Some airlines will allow teenager to be accompanied through the airport if you pay the additional unaccompanied minor fee.

International

There are usually restrictions for international flights you need to know about.

First, some airlines will not allow unaccompanied minors to fly on international routes. For example, Southwest does not allow unaccompanied minors to fly on international routes.

Other times when it is allowed, the unaccompanied minor may have to carry additional documentation with them such as a letter of consent.

These letters are required to abide by specific criteria so make sure that you research into the requirements such as how they need to be notarized, etc.

The process

The booking process for an unaccompanied minor is usually pretty similar to the standard booking process.

You can usually book the unaccompanied minor online. Simply select that there is a child flying and often times you’ll be prompted to input an age or to clarify if they are traveling alone or not.

You may be able to pay the fee online but in some cases you may be asked to pay the fee at the airport.

Typically, after you confirm your reservation you should be sent a form to be filled out. (Sometimes you can find this form online in PDF form but that is not always the case.)

On this form you will need to input the names, and contact information for the parents or guardians that will be dropping off and picking up the kids. Some airlines may ask you to supply alternate names as well.

If there is any change to these plans, be sure to contact the airlines ASAP because they are very strict about not allowing other individuals to pick up the child for obvious reasons.

Check-in 

I recommend checking in early because you will have to fill out or submit the consent forms when you arrive at the airport.

For domestic flights I would try to arrive at the airport at least 90 to 120 minutes prior to departure . And for international flights, I would try to arrive at least two to three hours prior to departure.

The child may have to be issued a wristband or lanyard and the accompanying adult will need to receive the escort pass in order to allow them to get through security.

Make sure that the adult has a government-issued ID that matches the guardian information on the contact form or they may not be allowed to pass through security with the minor.

In some cases, an airline may require some type of documentation to verify the age of the child.

This would usually be something like a passport or a birth certificate. It’s probably only necessary if your child looks very young but it is worth having just in case it is needed.

Getting to the gate

Once you have the escort pass, you can escort a minor through security and all the way to the gate.

It’s a good idea to introduce the unaccompanied minor to a gate agent as this will help the unaccompanied minor get more comfortable and also will alert the agent that there is an unaccompanied minor on the flight.

Unaccompanied minors should receive pre-boarding on most airlines which means that they will be able to board before the first group.

Some airlines will take extra time to acquaint the unaccompanied minor with the lavatory and also to provide them with a security briefing.

I recommend confirming pre-boarding with an agent at the gate to help remind them that the child will need to be pre-boarded.

Departure 

The guardian is not supposed to leave the gate area until the unaccompanied minor’s flight has actually taken off and is in the sky.

The reason is that the plane could potentially head back towards the gate if something comes up and the airlines want the guardian to be on standby in that scenario.

Once the unaccompanied minor is up in the air, they may be offered some form of entertainment such as a tablet and could also receive snacks or even a meal depending on the airline and the length of the flight.

Note that flight attendants are not babysitters and do not constantly monitor your child while up in the air.

Arrival 

The guardian or parent picking up the child at the airport should arrive a good 45 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time in order to ensure that they have enough time to get an escort pass that will allow them to get to the gate area.

Many flights arrive early and so guardians should allocate enough time for them to navigate through the airport and to arrive at the gate area prior to a potential early arrival.

On many international flights, guardians will not be able to travel to the gate area due to customs and immigration regulations.

Unaccompanied Minor tips

Be extra careful of bad weather.

If it looks like bad weather might interfere with the flight of your unaccompanied minor then you should think twice about going through with their travel.

This is especially the case if there is a connection involved.

With bad weather, there is a possibility of the flight being rerouted to a different airport and that could cause major hiccups in the plans.

So take extra precaution when planning travel for an unaccompanied minor when it comes to inclement weather.

Are there flight cancellations happening?

Related to the above point, if there are a lot of flight cancellations happening then you should be on alert. We’ve all seen airlines meltdown and know about the domino effect that can happen.

It’s a good idea to plan for your unaccompanied minor to eat right before the flight so that food is not an issue.

Since you will have an escort pass, you will be able to eat with them at a restaurant that is located past airport security if you would like.

Some airlines like Alaska Airlines will provide meals on flights that are a specific length such as more than two hours.

But it is best to provide a meal for your child before the flight. You could always give your child some snacks for the flight.

A lot of guardians and parents will give their child a debit or credit card to use on in-flight purchases. These often are necessary because many airlines do not accept cash for in-flight purchases.

Related : Can You Bring Food on a Plane? 

Entertainment

Some airlines go above and beyond and may provide a tablet for entertainment for your unaccompanied minor.

But it is better to be prepared and to give your child something to keep themselves occupied during the flight such as a tablet, coloring books, toys, etc.

This is especially true on airlines like Southwest that do not have in-flight entertainment built into the seats.

Minimize carry-ons

Try to minimize the carry-ons for your child and just give them a single bag to travel with when possible. This will make their lives easier and prevent them from leaving something behind.

Get them comfortable

If you suspect that your child may be nervous or anxious about the airport experience, you can always head to the airport a day or two before the flight to get them acquainted with the check in area and maybe even introduce them to an agent.

Track the flight

Since you the guardian or parent will no doubt be interested in keeping track of the flight status, I would recommend downloading an app like FlightAware.

Unaccompanied Minor policy FAQ

An unaccompanied minor is a minor (usually 5 through 14) who is not flying with an accompanying passenger above a certain age limit. The requisite accompanying passenger age limit is supplied by the airlines and can range from 12 to 18.

No, not all airlines allow unaccompanied minors to fly.

Unaccompanied minor fees range from $50-$150, depending on the airline. Legacy carriers like Delta, United, and American charge on the higher side while low-cost carriers like Southwest will charge only $50 per flight.

Many airlines will not allow unaccompanied minors to fly on connecting flights if they are a certain age, such as five through seven years old. However, older unaccompanied minors usually are allowed to fly on a connecting flight although there may be some restrictions.

Yes, most airlines should offer pre-boarding to unaccompanied minors which allows them to board before the first boarding group.

Some airlines such as JetBlue have designated seats for unaccompanied minors.

Some airlines will offer unaccompanied minors meal service on flights of at least two hours while others may offer snacks. However, it is best to assume that no complimentary meals will be offered and to provide a meal for your unaccompanied minor before the flight as well as snacks for during the flight.

You can often book an unaccompanied minor on award tickets.

No, usually unaccompanied minors are not allowed to fly with pets.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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• Immigration

Rules for Minors Traveling Alone to the United States

When it comes to minors traveling alone to the united states, there are specific rules and requirements in place. these rules vary depending on the age of the minor and their country of origin. it is essential for parents and guardians to familiarize themselves with these rules, as they may include providing consent forms, proof of relationship, and necessary travel documentation. by understanding and following these guidelines, parents can ensure a smooth and safe journey for their children traveling alone to the united states..

Quick Glance:

• Traveling to the United States as a minor requires adherence to airline policies and immigration requirements , with attention to detail.
• Airline services for unaccompanied minors include escorting through the airport, boarding/deplaning assistance, and in-flight monitoring.
• Minors traveling to the U.S. need a valid passport, visa (unless exempt), birth certificate, and a letter of consent. Traveling to the United States can be an exciting adventure, especially for young explorers setting out on their own. However, when it comes to minors traveling alone , it’s important to understand the specific rules and guidelines in place to ensure their safety and to comply with immigration laws. We’ll walk you through what you need to know if you’re a minor traveling alone to the U.S., or if you’re a parent or guardian planning such a trip for a young traveler.

Understanding the Basics

First and foremost, a minor is generally defined as anyone under the age of 18. Traveling to the United States as a minor requires careful attention to detail, as there are several layers of regulations that one must adhere to, ranging from airline policies to immigration requirements.

Airline Policies

Each airline has its own set of rules for unaccompanied minors, so checking with the specific carrier before booking a ticket is crucial. Typically, airlines offer services to assist minors from their point of departure to their final destination. These services often include:

• Escorting the minor through the airport
• Assisting with boarding and deplaning
• Monitoring the minor during the flight

Required Documents

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When traveling to the United States, a minor should have the following documents:

• A valid passport from their country of citizenship
• A visa, unless they qualify for visa exemption under the Visa Waiver Program
• A copy of their birth certificate
• A letter of consent signed by either both parents or legal guardians

The letter of consent should clearly state the minor’s travel plans, including who they will be staying with in the United States, the duration of their stay, and the purpose of their travel. Having contact information for the parents or guardians readily available is also advisable.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Upon arrival, unaccompanied minors will interact with CBP officers. It’s a good practice to coach minors on how to answer the officers’ questions confidently and truthfully. Officers will want to ensure that the minor has a safe place to stay and that their trip is for an approved purpose.

Safety Considerations

The safety of minors traveling alone is paramount. Here are key points to consider:

• Ensure the minor knows what to do in case of an emergency.
• Provide the minor with a list of emergency contacts.
• Confirm the details of the person picking up the minor from the airport.

Connecting Flights and Layovers

If the itinerary includes a layover, the minor should know:

• The details of their connecting flight
• How to find help if they encounter any issues
• What they are allowed to do during their layover

Legal Guardianship and Special Circumstances

If the child is traveling for specific reasons, such as to live with a new guardian or for medical care, additional documentation may be required. Examples include proof of legal guardianship or medical documentation.

Reaching Out for Help

If there’s any uncertainty about the requirements or procedures, it’s best to contact the airline, consult an immigration lawyer , or reach out to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Websites like the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection can provide authoritative and up-to-date information.

“Children represent our future and ensuring their safe passage during travel is a responsibility we all share,” as noted in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security publication. The U.S. takes the welfare of child travelers seriously, and so should you by making sure you’re prepared with the right information and documentation.

The journey of a minor traveling alone to the United States, while it demands careful planning, can indeed be a smooth and enriching experience. With the right preparation, young travelers can embark on their trip with confidence, knowing they’ve got everything covered.

So, there you have it! Traveling as a minor to the United States may seem daunting, but with some insider knowledge, you’ll be flying solo like a pro. Remember to check airline policies, gather the necessary documents, and brush up on CBP interactions. And if you want even more tips and tricks, head over to visaverge.com for a treasure trove of travel info. Bon voyage, my young explorers! 🌎✈️

FAQ’s to know:

FAQ 1: What documents does a minor need when traveling alone to the United States?

When traveling to the United States alone as a minor, you will need the following documents: a valid passport from your country of citizenship, a visa (unless you qualify for visa exemption under the Visa Waiver Program ), a copy of your birth certificate, and a signed letter of consent from both parents or legal guardians. The letter of consent should include details about your travel plans, such as who you will be staying with in the U.S., the duration of your stay, and the purpose of your travel.

FAQ 2: What should parents or guardians consider for the safety of minors traveling alone to the United States?

Ensuring the safety of minors traveling alone is of utmost importance. Here are some key considerations:

• Teach the minor what to do in case of an emergency.
• Confirm the details of the person who will be picking them up from the airport.

By taking these precautions, you can help promote a safe and secure journey for the minor traveler.

FAQ 3: Are there any special circumstances to consider for minors traveling alone to the United States?

In some cases, additional documentation may be required for minors traveling alone to the United States. For example, if the child is traveling to live with a new guardian or for medical care, proof of legal guardianship or medical documentation may be necessary. It’s important to research and prepare any additional required documents based on the specific circumstances of the minor traveler.

If you have any uncertainties or questions regarding the requirements or procedures, it is recommended to contact the airline, consult an immigration lawyer, or reach out to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for authoritative and up-to-date information.

What did you learn? Answer below to know:

• True/False: A minor traveling alone to the United States should have a valid passport, a visa (unless eligible for visa exemption), a copy of their birth certificate, and a letter of consent signed by both parents or legal guardians.

What should minors traveling alone to the United States have readily available during their trip? a) A list of emergency contacts b) Proof of legal guardianship c) Contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate d) A copy of their school schedule

What is a recommended step to ensure the safety of minors traveling alone? a) Providing them with a list of emergency contacts b) Checking with different airlines for their unaccompanied minor policies c) Finding help if they encounter any issues during layovers d) Contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for documentation requirements

Did you Know?

Did You Know?

• The United States provides special services for unaccompanied minors who are traveling by air. These services include escorting the minor through the airport, assisting with boarding and deplaning, and monitoring them during the flight.

In addition to a valid passport and visa (unless exempt), minors traveling alone to the United States are also required to have a copy of their birth certificate and a letter of consent signed by both parents or legal guardians. The letter of consent should outline the minor’s travel plans and include contact information for the parents or guardians.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers interact with unaccompanied minors upon their arrival in the United States. It is important for minors to confidently and truthfully answer the officers’ questions, as CBP officers ensure the minor has a safe place to stay and that their trip is for an approved purpose.

Safety considerations for minors traveling alone include ensuring they know what to do in case of an emergency, providing them with a list of emergency contacts, and confirming the details of the person picking them up from the airport.

If a minor’s itinerary includes a layover, they should be aware of the details of their connecting flight, how to find help in case of any issues, and what they are allowed to do during their layover.

Special circumstances, such as traveling to live with a new guardian or for medical care, may require additional documentation. Proof of legal guardianship or medical documentation might be necessary in such cases.

If there are any uncertainties or questions regarding the requirements or procedures, it is recommended to contact the airline, consult an immigration lawyer, or reach out to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for authoritative and up-to-date information.

Trivia Questions:

Learn Today: Key Terms Explained

1. Immigration requirements : Regulations and criteria that individuals must meet in order to enter and stay in a country, such as the United States, as a non-citizen.

2. Unaccompanied minors : Minors who are traveling alone without a parent or guardian accompanying them.

3. Visa : An official document issued by a country’s government that allows foreign individuals to enter, stay, or work in that country.

4. Passport : A government-issued travel document that certifies a person’s identity and citizenship, enabling them to travel internationally.

5. Visa Waiver Program : A program that allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes without obtaining a visa, as long as certain criteria are met.

6. Birth certificate : A certified document that provides official proof of a person’s birth, including date, time, and location.

7. Letter of consent : A document signed by a minor’s parents or legal guardians, granting permission for the minor to travel alone and including travel details such as the purpose of the trip and where they will be staying.

8. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) : A U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. immigration laws at ports of entry.

9. Legal guardianship : The state of being legally responsible for the care and well-being of a minor, including making decisions on their behalf.

10. Layover : A period of time during a journey where a passenger has to wait at an intermediate point before continuing their travel to the final destination.

11. U.S. embassy or consulate : Diplomatic facilities located abroad that represent the United States and provide consular services, such as issuing visas and assisting U.S. citizens in foreign countries.

12. Immigration lawyer : An attorney who specializes in immigration law and provides legal advice and representation to individuals or organizations dealing with immigration matters.

13. Minor : A person who has not reached the age of majority, typically under the age of 18.

14. Emergency contacts : Individuals or phone numbers that can be contacted in case of an emergency, providing necessary assistance or information.

15. Proof of legal guardianship : Documentation that establishes a person’s legal authority and responsibility for the care and well-being of a minor.

16. Special circumstances : Unique scenarios or situations that may require additional documentation or considerations, such as traveling to live with a new guardian or for medical care.

17. U.S. Department of State : The U.S. federal agency responsible for handling foreign affairs, including passport issuance, visa services, and providing travel advice and information.

18. Smooth and enriching experience : A journey that is seamless, hassle-free, and beneficial in terms of personal growth and learning.

19. Treasue trove : A collection or source of valuable or useful information.

20. Bon voyage : A French phrase commonly used to wish someone a good and safe journey.

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• Special assistance

Unaccompanied minors

Children traveling alone.

We want your child to have a safe and positive trip. For safety, we require children age 5 – 14 traveling alone to use our unaccompanied minor service. This service is optional for children age 15 – 17, but if requested, then the fee applies.

The unaccompanied minor fee is $150* each way, plus applicable taxes † , in addition to the ticket price. This fee covers additional siblings on the same flight.

* Amount quoted in U.S. dollar (USD)

† Flights within the U.S. are subject to a 7% tax, and flights originating in Canada are charged a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Unaccompanied minor service

Our service includes:

• Early boarding to allow extra time to get settled and meet the flight attendants
• Kids-only lounges in our hub cities for flight connections
• Complimentary Kids' Kits from Quaker with snacks and activities (for ages 5 – 10, in hub cities)
• An airport escort to help your child to the gate for flight connections
• Escorting the child to the authorized adult picking them up when they land

Keep in mind, our flight attendants will be busy with onboard duties and can’t continuously monitor your child during their flight. Let your child know to ring the call button if they need anything.

Age and flight restrictions for children traveling alone:

We don’t allow children to travel alone when their trips include:

• Flights on another airline including codeshare and one world® partners
• Ground or co-terminal connections where the child must transfer from one local airport to another
• The last flight of the day from the final connection city (unless it’s the only flight)
• Overnight connecting flights

Note: Children ages 2 – 14 can travel as an 'accompanied minor' with someone 16 or older.

Complimentary Kids' Kits by Quaker

Children between 5-10 years old can stay entertained during their journey with our complimentary Kids’ Kits* presented by Quaker. Included are puzzles, activities and 2 complimentary snacks to enjoy at the airport or in flight. Kits are available for children departing from:

• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, D.C. (DCA)
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK and LGA)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Chicago, IL (ORD)
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)

*Subject to availability

Booking your child's trip

Unaccompanied minors need to be booked by phone.

Contact Reservations

Preparing for travel

Whether your child has traveled alone or this is their first time, we recommend talking with them about the trip and what to expect. Assure them our team is there to help keep them safe.

Some helpful tips to prepare:

• Point out our team uniforms at the airport. Remind your child to ask for help only from a uniformed team member.
• Write down phone numbers for your child.
• Pack games, books and money in one small carry-on.
• Food and drink service is limited, so we recommend packing snacks for your child to enjoy during their flight.
• Attach an ID card and contact information to your child’s carry-on bag or jacket.
• Fully charge any electronic devices, and don’t forget to pack chargers and headphones.
• Be sure your child knows to wait for a team member to walk them off the plane when they land (this includes older children using our service).

Note: We don’t hold or give personal medication to an unaccompanied child.

At the airport

Check-in and required documents.

Arrive at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time of your child’s flight and speak with a ticket counter agent. Children traveling alone can’t check in online or at the kiosk.

You’ll need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form and any necessary Customs and Immigration documents for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during their journey. At check-in, parents / guardians will also need to provide:

• A birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age
• The adult’s government-issued photo ID with their current address
• Your phone number so we can contact you
• The name, address and phone number of the adult meeting your child at their destination

Once your child is checked in, the ticket agent will give you a security pass from the airport ticket counter so you can take your child to the gate.

Boarding and takeoff

For a smooth departure:

• An adult must take the child to the departure gate and stay until the flight is airborne.
• When you get to the gate, tell the gate agent you have an unaccompanied minor traveling on the flight.
• We’ll board your child early so they can meet the flight crew and learn about the plane’s safety features.
• The gate agent will let you know when the flight is airborne and you can leave the airport.
• Please contact the adult picking up your child to let them know they’re on their way.

During the flight

Our flight attendants will check on your child as duties allow, but they can’t continuously monitor your child throughout the flight.

Please remind your child to:

• Tell a flight attendant if he or she needs assistance or feels discomfort.
• Follow plane safety instructions, like wearing their seatbelt.
• Wait for a uniformed team member to escort them off the airplane once it arrives at the gate.

Unaccompanied minor lounges

If your child has a connection, we have lounges for unaccompanied minors in these airports:

• Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW)

While there, your child can wait for their connection and play games while supervised by American business partner personnel. These staff members will take your child outside the lounge to buy food and drinks, but they won’t be allowed to walk around outside alone.

Arrival and pick-up

For a seamless pick-up, don’t forget your government-issued photo ID. You’ll need to show it to get a security pass and meet the child at the gate (in the U.S.). You’ll also need to show it before we release the child to you.

We suggest arriving at least 2 hours before the child’s scheduled arrival so you have enough time.

Flight status and notifications

Stay connected with your child’s journey with flight notifications and remind the adult picking up your child from the airport to do the same. Be sure to get alerts for all flights in their trip.

Flight status

Flight delays and cancellations

We’ll call the contacts on the unaccompanied minor form and arrange an alternate flight if your child is unable to make a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations.

In the rare case that your child needs to stay overnight because of a missed connection, we’ll arrange for overnight accommodations, meals and supervision. We’ll call if this occurs.

Young adults (15 – 17 years of age)

If your young adult isn’t using the unaccompanied minor service and their flight is delayed or canceled, they will be accommodated as an adult customer. Keep in mind, many hotels won’t allow young people to check-in unless they are accompanied by an adult. Please remind them not to leave the airport for any reason unless they:

• Are accompanied by a uniformed team member or police officer
• Have spoken with a parent or designated adult

Please tell your young adult to speak to a team member if they have questions or need help.

Children traveling outside the U.S.

You may not be able to escort your child through security in some airports. If this is the case, a team member will take your child to the gate and stay with them until the flight departs.

Children under 18 may need a Letter of Consent to travel internationally without both parents.

Country-specific regulations

Some countries have additional restrictions for children traveling with guardians or as an unaccompanied minor.

If your child is traveling unaccompanied or with only one parent, you’ll need:

• The child's birth certificate
• Notarized travel authorization from both parents

The Brazilian Embassy or Consulate must issue, authenticate or legalize this travel authorization.

Contact the consulate in the child’s country of residence or check the National Council of Justice site for more information.

Brazilian National Council of Justice (CNJ) guidelines Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

Italian citizens younger than 14 traveling internationally must have their Individual Passport and Dichiarazione di Accompagno (Declaration of Temporary Guardianship for Travel Abroad). The document must include:

• The signature of a parent or legal guardian
• Authentication by local Police Headquarters
• The name of the airline the child will use

For children with a document proving another nationality (not Italian), check with the local Italian embassy or consulate in their residence country or the embassy or consulate of their destination country for requirements.

Children younger than 18 (at time of travel) and traveling alone to or from Mexico must have a travel authorization letter. This letter must be:

• Signed by at least one parent or legal guardian

All children should present their own passport and meet the requirements of their destination.

Spanish authorities require that all Spanish children traveling alone, with only one parent or with a third party have a travel permit requested by the parents or legal guardians. This permit must be issued by one of these: Police, Civil Guard, Notary’s Office or Town Hall.

For children with a document proving another nationality (not Spanish) and living in Spain, go to the consulate to complete the necessary paperwork.

Flying on a partner airline?

Find helpful information if your trip includes 1 or more flights with our partner airlines.

• British Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Qatar Airways

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UCP board urges Premier Danielle Smith to make COVID vaccine policy changes for children

Calgary riding hosting event with high-profile vaccine skeptics.

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The United Conservative Party's board is urging Premier Danielle Smith to reform COVID vaccine policy because the directors are worried about the safety of mRNA vaccines for kids, the party president says.

"We have serious concerns about them for children," Rob Smith, the UCP president, told CBC News in an interview Friday.

"I would say that the board of directors' position is that if parents are going to get their children vaccinated, they need to be very, very sure that they know what they're doing."

Asked what the change would look like in practice, Rob Smith said it would see AHS "doing a better job of sharing information about the vaccine that they are offering."

He wants AHS to disclose "the science behind the vaccine, and the potential repercussions," as well as the research and the testing methodology behind it.

He said the board has communicated its concerns to the premier, adding "we believe that there will be action coming from the government with respect to AHS's offerings of COVID vaccinations and the ages for which they're recommending."

The party president's comments come as a Calgary wing of the UCP prepares to host a gathering of medical speakers who claim COVID vaccines are dangerous and even deadly, hoping to use that event to help persuade UCP MLAs and Smith to ban mRNA COVID immunizations for children.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange's office declined to answer questions about this event and the United Conservatives' advocacy for vaccine restrictions.

The town hall planned for June is hosted by the UCP riding association for Calgary-Lougheed, a southwest city district, along with its rookie MLA, Eric Bouchard. They are bringing in doctors and researchers from as far away as Texas and Ontario, including two whose medical colleges have sanctioned them for unprofessional conduct and for spreading falsehoods and misleading information about vaccines and COVID public health measures.

• High-risk Albertans urged to get another vaccine dose as COVID-19 cases ticking up

The goal of the event is to "persuade the UCP Alberta caucus to declare the moratorium on all COVID mRNA vaccines" for children in the province. That's a move that would set Alberta apart from the rest of Canada.

Currently, Alberta Health's COVID information website says vaccines, including those that use messenger RNA technology, are "safe, effective and save lives," while the World Health Organization recommends doses for children older than six months who are immunocompromised or have higher risk of severe COVID.

The organizers of the event "An Injection of Truth" take a dimmer view. Their advertisements allege the vaccines are likely contributing to an increase in deaths of Alberta minors. "Ask yourself, 'How can we help Albertans put a stop to COVID shots that kill children?'" the ticketing website states.

The president of the section of pediatrics for the Alberta Medical Association finds the claims "saddening" fringe views, informed by hearsay and innuendo.

Sam Wong said he has not read anything in official pediatrics or medical literature that supports views that mRNA vaccines are untested or dangerous for children.

"I can't see any drawbacks to the use of the mRNA vaccination in children or adults," Wong said.

"The broad view of pediatricians across Canada, of the infectious diseases group, is that the mRNA vaccinations are safe and effective."

'All-star' panel

The event boasts what organizers call an "all-star medical and expert panel." 

Among the seven advertised speakers are Chris Shoemaker and Mark Trozzi, two Ontario doctors whose professional college suspended their licences due to allegations they each committed professional misconduct with their statements about COVID vaccinations and health measures.

Shoemaker, whose personal website declares a need to "save the children — end the vaxx," has had his licence suspended and was referred to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario disciplinary tribunal last year. 

The tribunal ordered Trozzi's registration certificate revoked earlier this year, after finding him "incompetent" as well as unprofessional for comments that included "promoting a false narrative about 80 deceased doctors."

Trozzi has appealed that decision, and continues to post about COVID vaccines on social media and his Substack page. 

"The greatest medical atrocities in history have been committed; with tens of millions of people killed and hundreds of millions injured," Trozzi wrote on Substack. "My mission is to stop COVID-19 crimes, bring the perpetrators to justice, and advance the treatment of the injured, providing education to recover their health, fertility, and longevity."

• 'Contrarian' doctor a good choice to lead COVID-19 data review, Alberta premier says

Calgary pediatric neurologist Eric Payne is also listed in advertisements for the event. In October 2021, Payne was one of four Alberta doctors who launched a lawsuit against Alberta Health Services' mandatory workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy.

William Makis, another Alberta-based speaker who has raised concerns about the COVID vaccine, is also scheduled to appear.

None of the other speakers coming in are practicing physicians. All are prolific on social media with their claims about vaccine safety. 

CBC News reached out to Trozzi, Payne, Shoemaker and Makis for comment.

"I look at all sides but stand comfortably on my educated opinion," Shoemaker wrote in an email response.

In a public response on social media to questions from CBC News, Makis said that he has been asked to speak to dozens of live events as a keynote speaker. 

Lawyer Michael Alexander, a representative for Trozzi, said in an email that "Regardless of venue, Dr. Trozzi's goal is to engage others in seeking the truth about medical and scientific issues relating to COVID-19."

"Further, Dr. Trozzi does not ask anyone to 'trust' his views on mRNA genetic injections or anything else. He presents science-based information on his website and people are free to make up their minds about the injections."

CBC News has yet to receive a response from Payne.

In an interview, event organizer Darrell Komick said he's bringing in these speakers because they're the ones investigating and willing to speak about children's deaths and potential vaccine links. 

"This isn't a bunch of crazed lunatics looking to be overly provocative," said Komick, president of the Calgary–Lougheed UCP association. "This is just people trying to ask a simple question."

Komick told CBC News that Florida and Japan have already banned mRNA vaccines for children, "based on science." In fact, neither has done so.

Florida's top health official has openly questioned mRNA vaccine safety , but the immunizations remain available.  Meanwhile, misinformation about Japan and vaccines has recently circulated on social media.

Adverse events

The Public Health Agency of Canada has tracked adverse events reported following COVID vaccinations — including pain, headaches and more severe reactions. As of this January, it reported them at a rate of 40 per 100,000 doses for Canadian children four and under, with lower rates for children aged five to 17. Rates are slightly higher for most older age groups.

After more than 100 million COVID vaccinations administered, there have been 488 reports of deaths following vaccination in Canada. Officials assess four of those to be consistent with causal association with immunization. The rest are unlikely to be linked to the vaccine, indeterminate or not classifiable, according to the public health agency.

• Premier responds to Globe and Mail report that province directed AHS to remove COVID, flu references in ads

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious disease physician at the University of Alberta, said experts are frequently battling against comments made about safety that aren't supported by reputable sources of data.

"There's a lot of things that people attribute to vaccines, but they have to remember that at the moment, 5.5 billion people or more in the world have had a COVID vaccine," she said. "And every single health event that was going to happen in the world, had this never happened in a parallel universe without COVID, is still going to happen."

Also speaking at the event is Shane Getson, a United Conservative MLA from central Alberta. He has stated he was "vaccine injured" following his first COVID immunization in 2021.

Rob Smith, the party's president, advertised this UCP constituency event last week in a monthly email to all party members.

In the regular newsletter, he reported the party's provincial board met with Premier Smith via Zoom in mid-April, and topics included "COVID vaccines for infants and children."

The newsletter includes a full 778-word promotion for the event, encouraging non-Calgarians to watch via online streaming. It goes on to state: "Our objective is to remove COVID mRNA shots from the AHS childhood vaccination list.

"Please share the word; you are making a difference."

The UCP logo appears on the event's advertising materials. It offers tickets at a discounted price for United Conservative members, and is followed by a $159-a-ticket "politics and popcorn" political fundraiser where attendees can meet with United Conservative MLAs.

"I don't know that we're trying to change UCP policy," Komick said about his event's stated goals about reforming vaccine rules. "We're trying to effect change for kids. That requires AHS to change."

Not only would Alberta be unique among provinces if it restricted COVID vaccines for children or adults, but it would also depart from its own process if the UCP caucus directed such a decision.

COVID vaccination use in Alberta is ultimately determined by the Alberta Health ministry, so could technically be subject to political decisions from the minister, cabinet and UCP caucus.

However, that would be completely out of step with how vaccine decisions have long been made in the province: largely based on Health Canada vaccine approvals and recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), as well as localized input from medical experts on the Alberta Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Premier Danielle Smith rode to popularity within the United Conservative base for her firm stance against COVID vaccine mandates and other public health decisions. 

In 2021, before returning to politics, she penned a column that said requiring people to take an mRNA vaccine may fly in the face of a post-World War II convention against forced human experiments.

Smith herself declined to get the widely available Pfizer or Moderna inoculations, choosing instead to fly to Arizona to get a non-mRNA vaccine that wasn't available at the time in Canada. But in her 18 months as premier, her government has placed no restrictions on mRNA vaccination, and continues to administer them to Albertans as young as six months old.

The UCP government has struck a special review of pandemic-era health data, and chose as its leader a doctor who accused the province of exaggerating COVID's impact on hospitals. Two people billed to appear at the June town hall — Payne and Jessica Rose — were initially appointed to that panel, but later withdrew, according to the Globe and Mail .

"There are a couple of concerns that I have about the number of unexplained deaths. I wanted to know what was behind that," the premier said last week about that government panel.

While the event's website and promotional materials do not disclose the venue's site (unless one buys a ticket), CBC News confirmed that the town hall will be held at Southside Victory Church. That church was fined in 2020 for holding services that violated public health rules that limited public gatherings.

Related Stories

• Top stories from CBC Calgary
• Alberta's flu death toll hits 15-year high, sparking calls for better immunization outreach
• In resurfaced video, Danielle Smith said the vaccinated fell for 'charms of a tyrant' referencing Adolf Hitler

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From August 1, 2024, Onward: What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States

At a glance.

Starting on August 1, 2024, dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet new, specific requirements depending on where they have been in the 6 months before entering the U.S. and where they received their rabies vaccines (if required).

Requirements for all dogs

Requirements for dogs with a current and valid rabies vaccination administered in the united states.

• Requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a country with high risk of dog rabies within 6 months before entry

Requirements for dogs that have been ONLY in countries that are dog rabies-free or low-risk during the 6 months before entry

All dogs must:

• Be at least 6 months of age at time of entry or return to the United States
• This must have been implanted prior to any required rabies vaccination
• The microchip number must be documented on all required forms and in all accompanying veterinary records
• Dogs may not enter the United States if they are carrying a disease contagious to people.
• Isolation of the dog, veterinary examination, and additional testing, at the importer’s expense, may be required to determine if the dog has a contagious disease and prevent spread if the dog does not appear healthy upon arrival.

This form should be filled out online ideally 2-10 days before arrival; however, it can also be completed right before travel (even in line at the border crossing) if you have internet access. If the information on the form changes before the dog arrives, you must submit a new form and indicate you are making changes to an existing form. All information, including port of entry where the dog is arriving, must be correct at time of arrival.

• This form requires you to upload a clear photograph of the dog showing its face and body. Dogs that will be less than one year of age at time of arrival should have the photograph taken within 10 days before arrival.
• There is no charge to importers for submitting this form.
• Additional requirements for dogs with a current rabies vaccination administered in the United States
• Additional requirements for dogs that have been in a country at high-risk for dog rabies within the 6 months before entry and do NOT have appropriate documentation of current US-issued rabies vaccine
• Additional requirements for dogs that have been ONLY in countries that are dog rabies-free or low-risk in the 6 months before entry

Dogs that do not meet all entry requirements or do not have accurate and valid forms will be denied entry to the United States and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense. These requirements apply to all dogs, including service dogs and dogs that were born in the United States.

Specific requirements depend on whether the dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies  in the past 6 months.

Dogs with a current rabies vaccination administered in the United States that have been in a high-risk country for dog rabies must:  

• Meet all requirements in the “All Dogs” section above
• The Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form is required for the importation (re-entry) of U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have been in high-risk countries for dog rabies  within the 6 months before re-entry into the United States.
• Please note, during the transition period, the importer may instead present a copy of the USDA endorsed export health certificate that was used to ship the dog from the United States, if that export health certificate documents the dog’s age (at least 6 months), the microchip number, and valid rabies vaccination administered in the United States. The rabies vaccination must be valid (not expired) on the date of return or the form will be invalid.
• Arrive at the location listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt (This can be any airport, land border crossing, or sea port but you must select this location when you complete the CDC Dog Import Form.)

Dogs with a current rabies vaccination administered in the United States that have NOT been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months must:

• A Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccine form that was endorsed by USDA before the dog departed the United States; or
• Document a valid (unexpired) rabies vaccination administered in the United States (the form will be valid for the duration of the rabies vaccination (1 or 3 years)).
• Arrive at the location listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt (This can be any airport, land border crossing, or sea port but you must select this location when you complete the CDC Dog Import Form .)

Important information about the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination Form

The Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form must be completed before the dog departs the U.S. Before asking your veterinarian to complete this form, verify the following requirements will be met:

• Ensure your dog will be at least 6 months of age on date of return to the U.S.
• Have your dog microchipped with an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip (implanted before any required rabies vaccinations)
• Ensure the veterinarian scans the dog for the ISO-compatible microchip and records the microchip number at the time of vaccine appointment. Rabies vaccines administered prior to microchip implantation will not be considered valid.
• Ensure the rabies vaccination will be valid for the entire duration of your travels. If your dog’s U.S.-issued rabies vaccination lapses while overseas and your dog has been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months, your dog will need to be revaccinated overseas and meet requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs to return to the U.S., including having a rabies serology titer, arriving at a specific port of entry, and possible quarantine requirements.
• Your dog’s first rabies vaccination must be administered at least 28 days before travel.
• Ensure the veterinarian submits this form to the USDA for official endorsement through the VEHCS portal
• Your dog must travel with a printed copy of the official endorsed form upon your dog’s return to the United States if your dog has been in a high-risk country within the 6 months before returning to the U.S.

During the transition period, U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months, may have either the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form or the USDA endorsed export health certificate for re-entry into the United States. Without one of these forms your dog will need to meet the requirements specific to the risk category of the countries where they have been in the 6 months before returning to the United States.

The export health certificate must document the dog’s age (at least 6 months), microchip number, and the rabies vaccination date. The rabies vaccine must be valid (not expired) on the date of return or the form will be invalid.

Requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a country with high risk of dog rabies within 6 months before entry

Dogs, including service dogs, that have been in a country at high-risk for dog rabies within the 6 months before entry and do not have appropriate documentation of current U.S.-issued rabies vaccine must:

• Meet all requirements in the “All Dogs” section
• Ensure the dog is microchipped with an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip before receiving the rabies vaccination and the number is recorded on the veterinary documents or the vaccine will not be considered valid
• Verify the dog is at least 12 weeks (84 days) of age when vaccinated against rabies
• The dog must have a valid (i.e., non-expired) rabies vaccination. If it’s the dog’s first vaccination or if the dog’s vaccination coverage has lapsed, the vaccine must be administered at least 28 days before arrival to the United States.
• The Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form must be completed by your veterinarian AND endorsed by an official veterinarian in the exporting country.
• The blood sample for the rabies serology titer must have been drawn at least 30 days after the dog’s first valid rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry to the U.S.
• Dogs with a history of multiple valid rabies vaccinations administered after the microchip was placed may have the sample for the rabies serology titer drawn at any time after a rabies booster vaccination as long as the dog’s first vaccine was given at least 30 days before the blood sample was drawn and there has been no lapse in vaccine coverage. If a lapse occurs, the sample must be drawn at least 30 days after the valid booster vaccination was administered.
• The sample must be sent to a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory . If there is no CDC-approved laboratory in your country, your veterinarian may draw the sample and send it internationally to a CDC-approved laboratory.
• Passing results must be obtained in order for a serology to be valid.
• Rabies serology titer results will be considered valid for the life of the dog as long as the dog’s rabies vaccination coverage does not lapse. If a lapse occurs, a new rabies serology titer will be required and that sample must be drawn at least 30 days after the new vaccination was administered.
• If the dog does not have a valid rabies serology titer, it will be required to be quarantined at a CDC-registered animal care facility for 28 days after the dog is revaccinated by the facility’s veterinarian.
• All foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the previous 6 months must have a reservation for examination, verification of age, documents, and microchip number, and administration of a rabies booster vaccination at a CDC-registered animal care facility immediately upon arrival in the United States.
• Dogs that do not have a valid rabies serology titer must also have a reservation for quarantine. Dogs will be quarantined at the facility for 28 days at the importer’s expense after being revaccinated by the facility’s veterinarian.
• All CDC-registered animal care facility expenses, including exam, revaccination, and quarantine (if required), are the responsibility of the importer.
• The facility will need copies of all required documents prior to confirming your reservation.
• Ensure the dog meets any facility-specific requirements (contact facility for additional information).
• If after arrival the CDC-registered animal care facility determines that your documents are not valid or the dog’s microchip number, age, or description does not match the paperwork provided, the dog may be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense.
• Dogs that have evidence of illness or are not healthy will be required to have testing to confirm they do not have contagious diseases before they will be eligible for release, which may extend the required quarantine period beyond 28 days. Any required testing or extended stay in quarantine will be at the importer’s expense, so please ensure dogs are healthy upon arrival (including no evidence of fleas, ticks, or skin diseases).
• Dogs must arrive to the U.S. at the airport where the CDC-registered animal care facility is located. This must be the location where the dog has a reservation.
• This must also be the airport listed on the CDC Dog Import Form
• Domestic flights or other forms of travel to other locations in the U.S. are not permitted until after the dog receives required follow-up services at the CDC-registered animal care facility and is cleared for entry.
• SERVICE DOGS ARRIVING BY SEA : Service dogs, as defined in 14 CFR 382.3, may arrive by sea if they meet the requirements in the “All Dogs” section, have a complete Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form and a valid rabies serology titer, and are traveling with their handler. Emotional support animals are not service animals under this definition.

Countries that are not on the list of countries at high risk for dog rabies  are considered to be free of or low risk for dog-mediated rabies virus variant (DMRVV) (called dog rabies-free or low-risk countries on these webpages).

Dogs, including service dogs, that have been ONLY in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries during the 6 months before entry into the United States must:

• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, including the endorsement by an official veterinarian of the dog rabies-free or low-risk country where the dog has been located; AND EITHER (1) a valid rabies serology titer OR (2) veterinary records* (which list the microchip number) for the dog from the exporting country for the previous 6 months. The form must be completed within 30 days before arrival to the United States.
• Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form that was endorsed by USDA before the dog departed the United States
• Is for the dog rabies-free or low-risk country where the dog’s return itinerary originated (the form will only be valid for 30 days if it does not contain rabies vaccination information), or
• Documents a valid (unexpired) rabies vaccination administered in the United States (the form will be valid for the duration of the rabies vaccination (1 or 3 years)).
• Certification of Dog Arriving from DMRVV-free or Low-Risk Country into the United States form endorsed by an official veterinarian in the exporting country; AND veterinary records* (which list the microchip number) for the dog from the exporting country for the 6 months before traveling to the U.S. The form must be completed within the 30 days before arriving to the United States.
• Foreign export certificate that documents the dog is at least 6 months of age, lists the dog’s International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip number, and has been endorsed by an official veterinarian of the exporting country; AND veterinary records* (which list the microchip number) for the dog from the exporting country for the previous 6 months
• Arrive at the location listed on the CDC Dog Import Form receipt (This can be any airport, land border crossing, or sea port but you must select it when you complete the CDC Dog Import Form .)

Any documentation that is not from the United States must be completed in the country where the dog’s travel originates. For example, if the dog’s documents were issued in France, the dog may not enter the U.S. via a land-border crossing from Mexico to the U.S.

*Examples of veterinary records that must accompany completed forms are European Union pet passports or proof of payment for veterinary services received in the exporting low-risk country for the previous 6 months. Records must include the dog’s microchip number.

For more information, see: Frequently Asked Questions on CDC Dog Importations  

If you have questions or need more information, please contact CDC-INFO at (800) 232-4636.

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