Whether children are allowed to travel abroad on their own mainly depends on the airline’s rules and the child’s age. In general, most airlines have a rule that children under five are not allowed to fly alone. In this article you can read more about what applies.
The airline’s rules
Most airlines have age limits for unaccompanied children. For younger children, a special service is often required (often called UM/Unaccompanied Minor), where staff help the child at check-in, during the journey and when handing the child over on arrival. For older children, the service may be optional or not offered at all.
Direct flights and connections
Internationally, the rules can be stricter. Some airlines only allow children to travel alone on direct flights, or restrict connections and travel with different airlines.
Parental consent is most often required
Many countries may require written parental consent when a child travels alone. Without parental consent, the airline may refuse boarding. Bear in mind that countries may also require parental consent confirming that the trip has been approved by both legal guardians.
The most important thing to do before booking
Always read the airline’s terms and check entry requirements in both the transit country and the destination country.