Air France minors flying alone

Does Air France offer services for children traveling alone?

Air France considers that a child is traveling alone when he/she is not accompanied on the same flight and in the same cabin by an adult at least 18 years of age or a parent/legal guardian (regardless of age).

To ensure the child’s comfort and safety, Air France offers the Kids Solo service: Air France staff will provide assistance at the airport and on board. Assistance conditions for children traveling alone vary depending on the child’s age and travel destination. For safety reasons, the number of children traveling alone on each flight is limited.

Air France will also provide assistance for children with disabilities or reduced mobility. Some conditions apply, so you should contact Saphir (Air France’s service for passengers with reduced mobility and other disabilities) for more information.

Which are the age restrictions for children traveling alone on Air France flights?

To provide assistance suited to your child’s age and travel destination, Air France imposes several restrictions regarding acceptance of Unaccompanied Minors:

Kids Solo Service

Booking

You can book a ticket for your child online, but you must indicate that your child will be traveling alone to benefit from the Kids Solo service. When booking online 2 children traveling alone, you must make two separate reservations if the children fall into different service categories. You are required to fill out a handling form at the time of booking. Once the flight is booked, a complete travel file is created for your child at the time of ticket issuance. This file, containing the names, telephone numbers and addresses of the persons who will accompany the child to the airport and wait for the child on arrival, gives the child’s exact itinerary.

The handling form will be requested during check-in, so you should download the automatically completed form when booking online and print it (on single-sided paper only) before arriving at the airport. Changes cannot be made to the automatically completed form, so if you need to modify it, you can download, complete, and print another form.

Your child’s baggage allowance corresponds to his/her cabin. Although normal travel rules apply for hand baggage, your child must be able to carry the hand baggage without assistance. Unaccompanied Minors can bring a pet (dog or cat) or a guide dog in the cabin if prior approval has been given by the airline.

Drop-off and Pick-up

For Unaccompanied Minors, the following check-in options are available: Online Check-in (a provisional check-in document to be presented at the check-in counter will be issued), at a Self-Service Kiosk or Air France check-in counter. Unaccompanied Minors must be accompanied to the departure airport by an adult. Your child must have all documents required by laws and regulations in effect (valid photo ID and, in some cases, a visa, and a vaccination certificate) and should check in at least 30 minutes before the check-in deadline for his/her flight. Children are given an Unaccompanied Minor pouch with their complete travel file, which they must keep around their neck until the end of the trip. You must remain in the airport until the aircraft has taken off, so you can meet your child and note the details of his/her replacement flight if the flight is canceled.

Unaccompanied Minors will receive priority boarding whenever possible. Your child will be escorted to the departure gate by a member of the Air France ground staff who will introduce him/her to the cabin crew. Upon boarding, children traveling alone will receive assistance from the flight crew. During connections, your child will receive continuous assistance from Air France staff. Unaccompanied Minors do not have access to Air France lounges.

Upon landing, your child will be met by an Air France ground attendant and escorted to meet the person you have designated for pick-up. The ground attendant will check that the identity of the person waiting for your child corresponds to the information in the child’s file.

In case of delays or cancellations, your child will receive priority care and attention from Air France staff. The Air France guardian will remain present with your child at all times, even if lodging is necessary, and the persons listed on the UM handling form will be immediately informed of any measures taken for your child.

Fees

When the Kids Solo service is mandatory, the service fee is included in the ticket price.

When the Kids Solo service is provided only upon request (for children who can travel alone without restrictions), Air France will charge a fee depending on your child’s itinerary:

• Within metropolitan France:
  • Direct flights – €40 per journey.
  • Flights with connections – €50 per journey.
• To/from a French overseas department or territory or within the Caribbean network:
  • Direct flights – €50 per journey.
  • Flights with connections – €65 per journey.
• International (depending on the distance traveled):
  • Direct flights – €50 to €80 per journey.
  • Flights with connections – €75 to €100 per journey.

More information here >>