Unaccompanied Minors - Travel Information - American Airlines (2023)

Temporary Travel Restrictions

Due to local health guidelines, we currently do not accept unaccompanied minors on flights to Beijing (PEK) or Shanghai (PVG).

Children traveling alone

We want your child to have a safe and positive journey. For security reasons, we require that children between the ages of 5 and 14 traveling alone use our unaccompanied minor service. This service is optional for children between the ages of 15 and 17, but a fee will be charged upon request.

In addition to the ticket price, we charge an unaccompanied service fee of USD 150 (plus tax where applicable) each way. This fee covers additional siblings on the same flight.

unaccompanied minor care

Our service includes:

• Early boarding to allow extra time to settle in and meet the flight attendants
• Kids-only lounges in our flight hubs
• Free Quaker Kids Kits with snacks and activities (5-10 years in Central Cities)
• An airport escort to help your child to the departure gate for connecting flights
• Accompany the child until the authorized adult collects them upon arrival

Please remember that our flight attendants are busy on board with chores and cannot continuously supervise your child throughout the flight. Instruct your child to tap the call button when they need something.

Age and flight restrictions for children traveling alone:

We do not allow children to travel alone if their trips include:

• Flights with another airline, including codeshare andlikeworldwide partners®
• Land or co-terminal connections where the child needs to transfer from one local airport to another
• The last flight of the day from the last connecting city (unless it's the only flight)
• connect night flights

Note: Children between the ages of 2 and 14 can travel as “accompanied minors” with a person aged 16 and over.

Free Quaker kits for kids

Children aged 5-10 can have fun traveling with our free Kids Kits*, brought to you by Quaker. Included are puzzles, activities and 2 free snacks to enjoy at the airport or during the flight. Kits are available for children from:

• Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, DC (DCA)
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK und LGA)
• Los Angeles, California (LAX)
• Miami, Florida (MIA)
• Chicago, Illinois (ORD)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
• Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)

*Depending on availablity

Book your child's trip

Unaccompanied minors must be booked by telephone.

contact reservation

Remember AAdvantage^®Special Web Awards can only be booked online, but if you call an agent they can help you find another award.

Prepare for the journey

If your child has traveled alone or this is their first time, we encourage you to talk to them about their trip and what to expect. Assure them that our team is there to protect them.

Some helpful tips to prepare:

• Show our team uniforms at the airport. Remind your child to only ask a uniformed worker for help.
• Write down your child's phone numbers.
• Pack games, books and cash in a small carry-on bag.
• Food and beverage service is limited, so we recommend bringing snacks for your child to enjoy during the flight.
• Attach an ID card and contact information to your child's carry-on bag or jacket.
• Fully charge any electronic device and don't forget to bring chargers and headphones.
• Make sure your child knows that they will be escorted off the plane by a member of staff after landing (this also applies to older children using our service).

Note: We do not refuse or administer personal medication to an unsupervised child.

At the airport

Check-in and required documents

Please arrive at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time of your child's flight and speak to a desk clerk. Children traveling alone cannot check in online or at the kiosk.

You must complete an Unaccompanied Minor form and all required customs and immigration documentation for the day of departure. This form must remain with your child during the trip. Parents/legal guardians must also present the following upon check-in:

• Birth certificate or passport as proof of age of the child
• Official photo ID of the adult with current address
• Your phone number so we can reach you
• Name, address and telephone number of the adult who will meet your child at the destination

After your child has checked in, the ticket office will provide you with an airport ticket counter security pass to take your child to the gate.

board and take off

For a smooth start:

• An adult must take the child to the gate and remain there until the flight departs.
• Upon arrival at the departure gate, inform the gate agent that there is an unaccompanied minor on the flight.
• We board early so your child can meet the crew and learn about the aircraft's safety features.
• The gate agent will let you know when your flight is in the air and you can exit the airport.
• Contact the adult picking up your child to let them know you are on your way.

During the flight

Our flight attendants will check on your child as part of their duties, but cannot constantly monitor your child during the flight.

Remind your child:

• Tell a flight attendant if they need help or are uncomfortable.
• Follow the aircraft's safety instructions, e.g. B. wearing a seat belt.
• Wait for a uniformed agent to escort you off the plane once it arrives at the gate.

Unattended smaller lounges

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

• Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT)
• Washington Reagan, DC (DCA)
• Dallas Fort Worth, Texas (DFW)
• New York, NY (JFK und LGA)
• Los Angeles, California (LAX)
• Miami, Florida (MIA)
• Chicago, Illinois (ORD)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
• Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)

There your child can wait for the connection and play while being supervised by American Business Partner staff. These staff will take your child out of the lounge to purchase food and drinks, but they cannot leave on their own.

Arrival and Departure

Don't forget your official photo ID for a smooth pickup. You must show it to get a security pass and to meet the child at the gate (in the US). You must also show this before we hand the child over to you.

We recommend that you arrive at least 2 hours before your child's arrival so that you have enough time.

Flight status and notifications

Keep up to date with your child's journey with flight notifications and remind the adult who meets them at the airport to do the same. Make sure you get notifications for every flight on your trip.

flight status

Flight delays and cancellations

We will call the contacts on the Unaccompanied Minor Form and arrange an alternative flight if your child is unable to catch a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations.

In the rare event that your child needs an overnight stay because of a missed connection, we will organize accommodation, food and care. We'll call if that happens.

Young adults (15 to 17 years)

If your young adult does not use the unaccompanied minor service and their flight is delayed or cancelled, they will be accepted as an adult customer. Keep in mind that many hotels only allow young people to check in if they are accompanied by an adult. Remind them not to leave the airport for any reason unless:

• be accompanied by a uniformed staff member or police officer
• Talked to a parent or a specific adult

Tell your young adult to speak to a member of staff if they have questions or need help.

Children traveling outside of the United States

At some airports, you may not be able to escort your child through security. In this case, an employee will drive your child to the gate and stay with them until departure.

Children under the age of 18 may require consent to travel abroad without both parents.

Country-Specific Regulations

Some countries have additional restrictions on children traveling with legal guardians or unaccompanied minors.

Do you fly with a partner airline?

Here you will find useful information if your trip includes one or more flights with our partner airlines.

• British Airways
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Qatar Airways