For the safety of minors traveling alone, unaccompanied minor service will ensure that your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and turned over to the appropriate person upon arrival at their final destination.

5-7 years
Children ages 5-7 may travel on United flights that are nonstop or do not require a change of airplane. They may not travel on connecting flights. They may also travel on the last non-stop flight of the day.

8-11 years
Children ages 8-11 may travel on United non-stop, direct and connecting flights. (A direct flight makes a stop but there is no plane change.) They may also travel unaccompanied on connecting flights to other airlines. Children ages 8-11 are restricted from connecting to the last flight of the day which includes the last direct flight of the day. An exception can be made for children connecting to and from international flights.

12-17 years (Optional)
Unaccompanied minor service is available, but not required, for this age group. We strongly recommend that teenagers who are not using our unaccompanied minor service be confirmed on flights early in the day. Unanticipated delays or cancellations and unexpected weather such as fog, snow, thunderstorms or air traffic congestion may disrupt flight schedules and result in misconnections. If delays result in travel the following day, United may not be able to offer overnight accommodations since many hotels will not accept minors aged 17 or younger.If unaccompanied minor service is requested, standard fees will apply.

If a child aged 12-17 years is traveling as an unaccompanied minor, he or she will be accepted under the conditions specified for unaccompanied minors aged 8-11 years. 

When two or more unaccompanied minors are traveling together, the most restrictive age requirement will apply. For example, an 11-year-old traveling with a 6-year-old may only travel on nonstop flights or flights that do not require a change of airplane.

Booking Travel for Unaccompanied Minors
There are several convenient ways to book your child’s travel:

• united.com
• United Reservations
• Travel agency

If your unaccompanied child’s reservation was booked via united.com, please contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) to ensure essential information is entered into our computer system. Such information includes the names of individuals bringing your children to the airport and picking them up at their destination. Please have names, addresses and phone numbers handy to help expedite the call.

Required Paperwork
In addition, paperwork with names, addresses and phone numbers of the responsible adult at the departure and arrival airports must also be presented at check in and will travel with your child. To expedite the check in process, we highly recommend filling out the Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage form prior to arriving at the airport. You can download the form via the link below. Upon completion of the form please print and sign three copies. Keep one copy for your records and bring the other two copies to present to the agent at the check in counter. You must have Acrobat Adobe Reader to view and complete this form. Once you have successfully downloaded and opened the form, you can type your information directly into the form and print three copies.

Unaccompanied Minor Request for Carriage Form

Unaccompanied minors must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult (including camp counselors, etc.) who must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. This individual must provide evidence that another parent or responsible adult will meet the child at his or her destination.

To ensure that children are released to the proper person, the adult meeting unaccompanied children at their destination must show photo identification and sign the Unaccompanied Minor form.

Fees
There is a $99.00 fee for unaccompanied minors traveling on United flights worldwide. The fee applies in each direction of travel. Two or more children who are immediate family members traveling together will be assessed one fee each direction. There is no fee for unaccompanied minors traveling to/from Japan or Brazil.

Baggage
To learn about the checked and carry on baggage allowance for an unaccompanied minor travling on a domestic or international flight please view checked baggage and  carry-on baggage requirements.

Safety
We require information about who is bringing your children to the airport and who is meeting them at their destination. All information about unaccompanied children is entered into our reservations computer. This essential information includes the name, address and telephone number of the responsible adult bringing them to the departure airport and picking them up at their destination.

To ensure that children are released to the proper person, the adult meeting unaccompanied children at their destination must show photo identification.


Frequently asked questions

How will you keep track of my child?
A unaccompanied minor form must first be completed. During travel, children are given a bright red-and-white striped button to pin on their clothes. This button easily identifies unaccompanied children to our staff on the ground and in the air.

What precautions does United take to ensure my child's safety?
Our boarding representative will introduce your child to the flight attendant and provide the flight attendant with any information pertinent to your child's flight.

Our flight attendants are instructed to turn any children traveling alone over to a United representative at the destination. These representatives are responsible for seeing that the child is released to the proper person. This person needs to present photo identification.

Advise your child to stay on board the flight until they are taken by a flight attendant to the United representative at the destination.

Will the airline staff be able to contact me?
The unaccompanied minor form accompanies each child traveling alone. You may include your cell phone and pager numbers along with the other required information when confirming your child's reservation.

What happens if the flight is not on schedule?
If we have any indication that your child's flight may not operate as scheduled, we will advise you and suggest you confirm travel for another flight or another day. On occasion, unexpected weather such as fog, snow, thunderstorms or air traffic congestion may disrupt flight schedules. If this happens, we'll attempt to let you know what the situation is and update you during the delay if possible.

What is the checked and carry on baggage allowance for an unaccompanied child?
To learn about the baggage requirements for either a domestic or international flight please view the  baggage section .

Additional tips
Give your children a calling card or teach them how to make collect calls so they can always reach you. Because unexpected weather can disrupt flight schedules, we recommend that you confirm your unaccompanied child on flights early in the day.