American Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy 2026: Guide for Children Traveling Alone

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When a child needs to travel without a parent or another accompanying adult, understanding the airline’s unaccompanied minor requirements is important before booking the trip. American Airlines offers an unaccompanied minor service for eligible children traveling alone on qualifying American-operated flights. Children ages 5 through 14 who travel alone are required to use American Airlines’ unaccompanied minor service. For travelers ages 15 through 17, the service is optional, but the applicable fee is charged if the family chooses to use it. Children under 5 cannot travel alone. The current unaccompanied minor service fee is $150 each way, plus applicable taxes, in addition to the child’s ticket price. The fee can cover additional siblings traveling together on the same flight under the applicable conditions. Parents or guardians should also check the permitted itinerary before booking. Younger children have more restrictive routing requirements, while children ages 8–14 may use certain connecting flights through designated American Airlines hub airports. American does not accept unaccompanied minors on itineraries involving another airline, including codeshare or oneworld partner flights. At the airport, parents or guardians should allow sufficient time for check-in and paperwork. American requires an unaccompanied minor form and may require proof of the child’s age, such as a birth certificate or passport, along with identification and contact information for the adults responsible for dropping off and collecting the child. For additional information about American Airlines unaccompanied minor requirements, age restrictions, fees, and travel preparation, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/americanunaccompainedminor/home