How many years can I fly on an airplane without my parents in Russia and abroad? Flight rules for unaccompanied children

There are situations when a child has to send one to rest, to treatment, to study. Not always parents can fly on a trip with their offspring. Can a child be sent alone on an airplane if none of his close relatives can accompany him? It is possible, it is necessary to pre-arrange moments with the air carrier, collect a package of documents and choose the appropriate option.

What is regulated

Under the law of all countries, children under the age of 18 can make air travel unaccompanied by adults, in Russia this right is regulated by the Federal Air Transport Rules. According to these standards, a child from 2 years old can fly without unaccompanied parents.

But it is worth noting that state rules can only recommend some kind of framework to carriers, airlines themselves set the lower bar, since how many years you can fly on an airplane without parents. Depends on the organization, but most often it is 5 years.

Departure Options

Depending on the age of the child, there are different transportation options:

• Kids according to the norms of the law, accompanied by parents or legal representatives, can fly on a plane for free. How many children are allowed? Until the execution of 2 years. It is important to take into account this nuance at the time of the flight, and not the ticket booking.
• By law, you can transport children from 2 years old on their own, without legal representatives. But it’s almost impossible to find an airline that would agree to this, because we are talking about great responsibility.
• After 5 and up to 12 years, most carriers agree to the flight of children without parents or guardians. For some, this bar has been raised to 15 years. But in this case, the company offers transportation of small passengers with a paid escort service.
• After 12 (15) years, even minor passengers can fly without any escort, but permission from legal representatives is also required.

For how many years you can fly on a plane without parents abroad

If a minor passenger leaves abroad alone, without legal representatives, then the same rules apply for these flights as for movement through the territory of Russia. Without parents, a child can fly from 2 years old, in practice this bar rises to 5 years, if an escort service is purchased.

Since how many years can I fly on a plane without parents abroad without an escort? Most airlines allow this from 12 years old, some from only 15 years old. But at any age, parents must draw up a notarized document that they release their children abroad.

Airline Nuances

Even if parents know how many years they can fly with an escort, this does not guarantee that the chosen airline will provide this service to them:

1. When choosing an organization that transports children without parents, it is recommended to pay attention to large representatives. Low cost and small airlines most often do not provide escort services.
2. It is important to clarify in advance the possibility of sending children on their own. Most carriers are ready for this service from 5 years, provided that the flight is direct, non-stop.
3. Flights with transfers with paid accompaniment are possible only after the onset of 8 years.
4. From the age of 12, a child can fly a plane himself, moving from flight to flight.
5. If the time gap between transfers is more than 1-2 hours, most airlines will not take the risk of flying children unaccompanied by adults. Since it will be difficult for the carrier’s representative to keep track of his ward at this time.

It is necessary to stipulate conditions in advance

Having found out how many years you can fly on a plane to children without official representatives, you need to ask your chosen company if it provides a service and if there are free places for escort. At the same time in the cabin can not be more than 4 children traveling on their own.

It is forbidden to purchase tickets for such children online or through intermediaries, the purchase must certainly take place at the box office of the selected airline or directly at the airport. Accompanied tickets are not eligible for children's discounts.

If there is space, then parents or other legal representatives fill out a special application. This is done only after the presentation of identity documents. The service is paid along with the ticket.

Employees of the operator will give a list of documents necessary with them, they must be brought on the day of departure. Pre-registration in this case is not allowed. Parents must come along with the little traveler to check in.

Documents for independent flight

As mentioned above, an application for the provision of escort services is filled in advance, along with the purchase of a ticket. The following documents must be collected for registration:

1. Birth certificate of a child.
2. Passport of the Russian Federation, if the teenager is over 14 years old.
3. When sending abroad you will need a foreign passport, it is needed regardless of how many years you can fly on an airplane alone.
4. If the child goes abroad, parents need to draw up a permission for this operation, certified by a notary. The document should clearly state the host country and how long the young traveler will stay there.
5. To visit some countries you will need a visa - permission to enter the territory.
6. In the case when the child is not delivered by parents or guardians, but by a third party, he needs to have a power of attorney from legal representatives.
7. Airplane ticket and receipt confirming payment for the service.
8. A statement from the parents - it should indicate the persons meeting and seeing off the child. When landing and after arrival, these people are required to produce documents. The data must match.
9. Additional documents may be necessary if requested by the country of arrival or consulate.

After registration, all documents are collected in one package, which will be with a minor passenger.

Drafting a statement

After you figure out how many years you can fly on a plane without parents in the necessary airline, you need to write a statement right there when you buy a ticket. The form will be issued by the employee; he is also on the website of the carrier that provides the service. It is recommended that this be done locally, as questions may arise.

You must specify:

1. The full name of the child.
2. Gender of the child.
3. Age.
4. The language spoken by the little traveler.
5. His address and phone number.
6. Full names of parents and their contact information.
7. Name, address and telephone number of the person accompanying the child.
8. Name, address and telephone number of the person meeting.
9. The application must indicate information about the employee who will look after the child.
   

The airline representative will make 2 copies of the completed document, the original will be attached to the ticket. Photocopies are sent to departure and arrival airports. If there is a transplant, then a duplicate will also be sent there.

What is included in the escort service

It is the responsibility of the company providing the escort service for a minor passenger to take care of him during boarding, flight and landing. Thus, she is responsible for him on the ground and in the air.

The whole procedure looks like this:

1. The accompanying person transfers the child along with the documents to the airline employee.
2. The representative of the carrier conducts a small passenger to check-in. Together they will hand over their luggage.
3. The accompanying person will help the child get to the plane and hand it over to the flight attendant. Then she will be responsible for it.
4. In flight, the stewardess will pay increased attention to the little traveler, she will make sure that he eats, he has drinks, and will accompany him to the toilet if necessary.
   
5. Also, the airline staff will try to entertain the child, give him entertaining sets and games, and calm him down during the flight. If the flight has a transfer, during the docking the baby will be taken to the game room, where everything will be necessary.
6. When the plane lands, the flight attendant will guide the child with the documents to the arrival hall. There he will be met by a new airline employee, and together they will go to passport control to verify documents.
7. Only after this, the minor passenger will be handed over to the meeting party, having previously verified the passport data and the information specified in the application.

If for some reason no one meets the child, the company employee must contact the legal representatives and find out what to do next. He can be sent back with escort again. Another option - it will be delivered to the address indicated by the parents. In any case, all additional costs are paid by the legal representative.

Escort service cost

Payment is made upon purchase of a ticket. The price depends on factors such as age and range. Each airline independently sets the cost, but it does not differ significantly. The price tag, regardless of how many years you can fly on a plane without parents, for any age is on average 3-4 thousand rubles. For international flights, the cost varies between 30-40 euros. But if a transplant takes place, for each leg of the journey you will have to pay the same price again.

Luggage

If the flight is made by a child under 12 years old, then an accompanying person will be with him all the time, he will help him bring the suitcase. It is necessary to take care of hand luggage, it should have essentials and favorite toys:

1. Medication, if the child suffers from any disease, and a standard first-aid kit.
2. Water and a light snack. You can also give a full meal on the road, the flight attendant after take-off can warm it up. Most in-flight carriers offer food to children, but sometimes they are more familiar with eating homemade food.
3. Napkins and disposable handkerchiefs.
4. If the little traveler is rocking, it is recommended to put candy in hand luggage.
5. Toys, books, tablet.
   

If a passenger is over 12 years old, the question arises, how to send an unaccompanied child on an airplane so that he is comfortable on the way? The entire list is recommended for older children. But if the child is unaccompanied, you need a suitcase of minimal size.

Unaccompanied children

Different airlines have different standards, since how many years you can fly a plane to one child, completely unaccompanied. This limit varies from 12 to 15 years. From this age, a teenager acquires a full-fledged adult ticket, and the same baggage allowance applies to him. At the request of parents under 17 years of age, an escort service can also be issued for him, but the cost of the total ticket will not decrease.

Having figured out how many years you can fly on a plane unaccompanied by adults, you must admit that the service is convenient and allows parents to save not only time but also money. Since escort is cheaper than any adult plane ticket.