Travelling with Children - Rules and Regulations

There are special rules and regulations that apply to children or infants travelling by air.

I will try to give some general guidelines, but these would be different for each airline and country.
As always inform yourself on what is expected of you and how the airline can assist you.
Visit the airlines website or contact them directly.

According to IATA:

• An infant is a person who has not reached his/her second birthday on the date when travel is commenced.
• A child is a person who has reached his/her second birthday but not his/her 12th birthday on the date when travel is commenced.

Unaccompanied Minors.

• Newborn infants require a medical certificate to travel. Most airlines specify the age as younger than 7 days.
• Infants and children under 5 years are not allowed to travel without one of their parents or legal guardian
• Children aged between 5 and 12 are allowed to travel without their parents but must make use of the airlines supervision service or travel with an adult.
• Young adults aged between 12 and 18 are allowed to travel alone.
• Most airlines will not permit an unaccompanied minor to be booked on the last flight of the day to a destination.
• Most airlines will not permit an unaccompanied minor to fly on connecting flights.

Tickets and booking

Airlines sell seats and most airlines will charge a discounted price for an infant, that sits on the adults lap, but will charge the full price for a child sitting in their own seat.
You cannot book a ticket for an unaccompanied minor online. You have to book through a travel agent or at the airline offices.
Notify the airline or travel agency of your child's age when booking your flight.
Inform the airline upfront if the child will be travelling as an unaccompanied minor.

Required documentation

Always enquire from the airline, embassy or border control agency what documentation is required.
A typical list can include:

• Airline ticket
• Valid passport and relevant visa's if travelling abroad. ID card or document for local travel.
• A supervision form obtained from the airline. Most airlines have this form available for download on their website.  It is advised that you complete three copies per child.

One copy remains with you,
One copy remains with your child
One copy is for the airline.

• Travel insurance certificates
• Information on allergies and medical conditions.
• Declaration of consent from the parents or legal guardians of the child if the child travels unaccompanied
• Letter of consent from the other parent if a child travels with only one parent.

Some airlines will provide the child with an recognisable item such as a shoulder bag or cap which the child must carry and keep visible at all times. The shoulder bag is can be used to store all the relevant documents safely.

At the airport - Check in, Security and passport control, and arriving at final destination.

Unaccompanied Minors
A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to the check-in counter.
The parent or legal guardian must stay at the airport until the airplane is airborne so that the child can be collected if the flight is cancelled.
At some airports (enquire from the airport) the parent or legal guardian can accompany the child to the departure gate. If this is not allowed, an airline representative will accompany the child onto the airplane.
An airline representative will take the child through security checks as well as immigration and passport control at the departure airport.
An airline representative will wait for the child at the arrival gate of the destination airport, go through immigration and passport control with the child and hand the child over to the designated person who collects the child.
The designated person will have to provide proof of identity.

Infants and children travelling with a parent or legal guardian
A parent or legal guardian must accompanied to the check in counters.
A children that can walk without assistance must go through the metal detectors on their own. If they trigger the alarm, they can be patted down for additional security screening.
Infants must be taken out of their strollers and carried through the metal detectors by the parent or legal guardian. Additional screening may be required if the infant is carried in a sling.
Plan for extra time to get through security control when you with small children
The parent/guardian must accompany the child/infant to immigration and passport control.

Safety on board

Unaccompanied Minors
The child will be in the care of an airline representative.
Make sure to specify any dietary requirements of the child at least 48 hours before the flight.

Infants and children travelling with a parent or legal guardian

You must to be able to restrain the infant sitting on your lap.
Maximum of one infant on your lap
There might be a limit on how many infants per adult, no matter if the infant is on your lap or has a booked seat. In most cases this limit is maximum two infants per adult
You can book a seat for you infant but you need to have a proper child restraint device.
According to the FAA,  children (older than 24 months) must occupy his or her own seat during takeoff and landing.
A child is not allowed to sit in the exit row

Useful websites

UK Border Agency
EU Immigration Portal
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
TSA

Example of a Supervision Form from Lufthansa
Information on Emirates