Children Traveling Alone

We're committed to making your child's flight an exciting experience—and a safe one. We provide special services for children who are flying by themselves.

Safety Guidelines and Procedures

Here are our safety guidelines and procedures for making sure that your child has the best flying experience possible:

General Guidelines

• Unaccompanied service is required for all children 5–14 years old when not traveling in the same compartment with an adult at least 18 years old or the child's parent/legal guardian.
• Children ages 5–7 years can only fly on nonstop or direct flights with no change of planes.
• Children ages 8–14 years can fly on nonstop or connecting flights, but may not connect to other airlines, with the exception of Delta Connection carriers (excluding AA Eagle), Northwest Airlines, KLM, and Air France.
• Beginning November 1, 2009 Delta will allow unaccompanied minors to be interlined to/from Northwest, KLM, and Air France ONLY.
• Children 15–17 are not required to have unaccompanied service but we will provide it when requested.
• An unaccompanied child can not be booked on the last connecting flight of the evening. This is to prevent the need for an overnight stay in a hotel. Contact Reservation Sales before you book here at delta.com if you have questions about connecting flights.
• Effective November 1, 2008, unaccompanied minors will not be permitted on red eye flights greater than 2 hours in duration departing 9pm-5am. Exceptions:
• Flights departing from Alaska or Hawaii
• Unaccompanied minors connecting to/from an international flight

Preparing for Travel

• Complete this form and print to present to the customer service agent upon check-in.
• Ensure that your child has all the required documents when traveling internationally. Some countries require special documentation, such as a notarized letter, stating that your child has permission to fly alone. See International Travel Information for additional help.
• Plan for any necessary medical needs. We cannot administer medicine to children flying alone. If your child is unable to give herself medication, other travel arrangements must be made.
• After purchasing the ticket at delta.com, contact Reservation Sales to notify us you have purchased a ticket for a child that will be traveling alone.
• Provide the flight number, date of travel, and name of the traveling child.
• Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the person bringing your child to the airport as well as the person who will meet your child at the final destination.
• Contact the person who will pick up your child at the destination airport to let them know they will have to show identification and sign an Acceptance of Responsibility form.

At the Airport

• Bring your child to the airport ticket counter for check-in. A ticketing representative will:
• Collect your completed unaccompanied minor form and verify contact information
• Verify contact information.
• Collect appropriate fees.
• Issue a red and white striped identification button that must be worn at all times.
• Verify that your child has proper proof of citizenship and other necessary documents if traveling internationally.
• Rebook an alternate flight if it appears bad weather may divert the flight from its final destination.
• One (only one) parent or guardian must accompany children ages 5–14 to the departure gate and must:
• Obtain proper documentation from the Delta Ticket Counter to pass through airport security checkpoints.
• Remain in the gate area until the plane takes off.

During Travel

• A Delta flight attendant will keep tickets and other travel documents throughout the flight.
• Children under the age of 15 will not be seated in an exit row.
• Your child will not be released to anyone other than the person previously designated by the parent or guardian to pick them up. The adult picking them up must:
• Show identification.
• Sign an Acceptance of Responsibility form.

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Service Charges

The unaccompanied minor service charge applies to each child using the service with one exception—two or more unaccompanied minors from the same immediate family traveling together pay only one charge.

The following charges are only for the Delta and Delta Connection® operated portion of the itinerary. If your itinerary involves multiple carriers, you may need to pay fees for each one. You can contact Reservation Sales if you would like assistance.

For answers to common child travel questions, visit the Children Traveling Alone FAQs or contact Reservation Sales to speak directly with one of our representatives.

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