Unaccompanied minors

When Kids Fly Alone

Your little one is in command! From check-in to landing, we are your young explorer's trusted co-pilot. 

Who is an unaccompanied minor?

Children between the ages of 5 and 12 travelling alone, domestically or internationally with us, are considered as unaccompanied minors.

We adore our youngest travellers. However, to prioritise their safety and comfort, we do not extend our unaccompanied minor services to children under five years. We request they remain in the comfort of their guardians throughout the journey. If a group of children aged 5-18 years is travelling together, the children aged 5-12 years will be considered unaccompanied minors. To ensure a smooth journey, kindly indicate the designated adult who will drop and pick up the child in the ‘Unaccompanied Minor' form.

Booking your child's solo adventure 

There are a few formalities that need to be completed before your little globetrotter sets off for the journey: 

• The parent/guardian must print and fill out all required details of the 'Unaccompanied Minor Form' and carry four physical copies of the same, on the day of travel.
• Please ensure you arrive at least three hours prior to the departure time to complete all formalities along with the necessary documents on the date of travel.
• A child travelling as an unaccompanied minor will be charged the full fare of an adult in both domestic and international sectors. Additionally, the following Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) handling charges are applicable (inclusive of GST):

Note: The unaccompanied minor (UMNR) handling charges will be applicable for each trip you take with us. For example, if you are travelling on a round trip with us, you will be charged twice the UMNR handling fee.

Ensuring your child’s safety:

• The designated parent/guardian must escort their child to the airport and be available to receive them upon arrival.
• The designated parent/guardian will need to present a valid photo ID when dropping off and picking up their child.

Assistance through the airport

Designated Air India staff will become your child’s airport buddy. They will help navigate together from the check-in counter, completing all the airport formalities, to the comfortable seat of the aircraft.

Our staff members are experts in aviation and will be eager to answer your child's queries.

Care on the flight

• Our skilled cabin crew are your child’s concierge in the sky. From fastening seatbelts to stowing up hand baggage and aiding in lavatory visits, they have got it all under control.
• As for the inflight experience, air travel can sometimes bring queasiness and a nip in the air. So, ensure you pack your kid's go-to essentials in their backpack.
• Are you concerned about your little one's meal preferences? We have a unique child meal option and are here to cater to any dietary requirements. We request you to either select the preferred meal option while making the booking or you may visit the ‘Manage Booking’ section on the Air India website/app 24 hours prior to the departure time to do the needful.
• Due to safety reasons, we do not allow unaccompanied minors to be seated in the emergency exit row.

After they land 

On landing, the designated Air India staff will guide your little one through all the airport formalities, including immigration and customs (for international journeys).

Once the formalities are over, our staff will safely reunite your child to you or the designated guardian, as mentioned in the 'Unaccompanied Minor' form.

Minor in different classes of travel

If the designated adult is travelling on the same flight as the minor but is seated in a different class, we request you to carry the filled out ‘Unaccompanied Minor Form’ to ensure the safety of the child. This would ensure that they receive the same care as an unaccompanied minor.

The child will take their seat before the other passengers have boarded the flight. After landing, our staff will reunite you with your little one at the airport.

Is your child on a multi-city flight?

Multi-city flights can feel like a whirlwind. While our crew members are there to assist your child, we need your support with the following:

• Please complete and sign four copies of the UMNR form for each departure airport before the journey.
• We request you or the designated guardian be at the airport well in advance, allowing us to complete all the necessary formalities in time. 

Kindly note that the unaccompanied minor services are provided for flights operated by Air India only.

Age policy for travel between India and Gulf countries

The age range for unaccompanied minors varies between United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf countries:

• In the UAE, children between 5 and 18 years old are considered unaccompanied minors.
• In other Gulf countries, children between 5 and 16 years are considered unaccompanied minors.

Minors travelling to and from the UK