Flying Solo: A Guide to Unaccompanied Minor Travel for Teens

By: Carley Hill, Broadreach HQ February 26, 2025 High School Adventures, Middle School, Parents

As an enthusiastic globe-trotter and parent of two passport-holding kids, I feel strongly about sharing the thrills and challenges of international travel with younger travelers. Flying out of the country without parents can be a huge confidence-boosting part of a bigger adventure for teens, and airlines offer special services to make that possible. Here are some guidelines and tips I’ve learned over the past 15+ years in the youth travel field about international flights for teens:

• Unaccompanied Minor policies are airline-specific and can shift, so we always recommend contacting your airline directly or checking out a consolidated resource like this for more details.
• Solo travelers who are 14 or 15 years old can typically fly as adults, depending on the airline. JetBlue allows 14-year-olds to travel without any required Unaccompanied Minor service, while other major US airlines, including American and Delta, require passengers under 15 to add their Unaccompanied Minor service.
• Airlines often restrict the itineraries Unaccompanied Minors can travel on (red-eye flights or connecting flights may not be allowed) and/or the number of Unaccompanied Minors admitted on each flight.
• Unaccompanied Minor fees currently range from $100-150 per direction, and they can usually only be arranged over the phone. Most airlines will only allow a parent or guardian to book that service for security purposes, not a travel agent.
• A special form, including the details of the airline’s pick-up person at the destination, must be completed for the airline. This form is most often submitted at check-in, so be sure to allow extra time at the airport for it.
• If siblings or friends are traveling on the same flights, most airlines will only charge one Unaccompanied Minor fee per family or allow an older teen to “accompany” a traveler who would otherwise be required to add the service.
• Technology has offered some positive support for Unaccompanied Minors in recent years; some airlines offer trackable wristbands for parents to follow their teen’s travel, and many airports and planes offer Wifi so travelers can keep in touch with their families throughout their journey.
• Book direct flights or early morning departures for Unaccompanied Minors to minimize potential flight drama, and consider driving to another airport to take a direct flight if that’s an option (two flights double the chance of a delay compared to a single flight).
• Teen travelers should know their resources if they have questions and be encouraged to speak up and ask for help. While flight attendants will check in with Unaccompanied Minors during the flight, they do not provide full-time supervision.
• At most airports, the airline personnel will escort Unaccompanied Minors through security (sometimes skipping the line!) without the option for parents to get a gate pass and go through security with their teen, especially for international flights.

Broadreach has over 30 years of experience guiding families through the international travel process for their teens. Over the past 12 years, I’ve personally worked with hundreds of our families to help with their flight plans. We understand it can be a daunting step. While it’s important to consider each teen’s comfort level with solo travel, we can also provide valuable experience and guidance to make your travel day as smooth and comfortable as possible. I love hearing from families at the end of the summer about the power of their teen’s experience navigating their flights independently and how that translates into a greater sense of responsibility and confidence in their everyday lives. I’m so excited for my kids to embark on their own Broadreach adventures and solo flights in a few short years!