KLM minors flying alone

Is there a service offered by KLM for children traveling alone?

For children who travel by themselves, KLM offers the Unaccompanied Minor Service, which ensures that KLM personnel will accompany your child through the airports, to and from the aircraft, and will keep a close look at your child during the flight. KLM will maintain constant communication with the parents, through text messages, telephone calls or emails, to keep them informed in the event of any schedule changes, and will deliver the child to the authorized person.

Are there any age restrictions for children traveling alone on KLM flights?

The following age restrictions for children traveling alone apply on flights operated by KLM:

• All children 4 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult who is 18 or older. This person is responsible for the child during the whole journey. Parent and child (or guardian and child) have to travel together.
• Children aged 5 up to 15 years can travel on their own only if they have booked the Unaccompanied Minor Service. Remember to book the service with KLM through their reservation department.
• Children aged 15 up to 18 years can travel by themselves only on KLM and Air France flights. You can still book the Unaccompanied Minor Service for them if you wish.

If a segment of your trip is being operated by another airline, that is not KLM, be sure to check their requirements for children traveling alone.

What do I have to do if my child is traveling alone?

If your child is traveling on his/her own, be sure to book the Unaccompanied Minor Service. You need to book both the flight and the service by calling KLM’s Reservation department or with your travel agency, at least 24 hours before departure. This service is required if your child is aged between 5 and 14 years (inclusive), and optional if they are aged 15 to 17 years (inclusive).

You can save some time by filling the Handling Advice Form online, before calling KLM. When you book your child’s flight, you can provide all required information, such as your cell phone number, house phone number, and email address to have access to all information sent. If you for any reason wish to change the information, you can go to the My Trip tab at the airline’s website and edit what is needed.

Unaccompanied Minor Service

Drop-off and Pick-up

Children traveling alone are required to be accompanied by a tutor or parent (18 years or older), and they have to be at the check-in desk at least 2,5 hours before the scheduled departure time. Tutors or parents accompanying the minor should bring valid, official identification with them. Be sure to include four copies of the Handling Advice form you downloaded from the airline’s website, or if you didn’t download it before, ask for one at the desk.

If the trip has long waiting periods during flights, there is a special Junior Jet Lounge where he/she can relax, play and read at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Transfers for Unaccompanied Minors are accepted only on KLM, Air France, and Delta Air Lines flights.

When children have reached their final destination, the airline staff will hand the minors over to the person authorized in the Handling Advice form. Please keep in mind that the children will not be handed over to any organization or company. Remember this when filling the Handling Advice form and enter the authorized person’s name as an individual.

Fees

All children traveling alone will be required to pay a fee, plus the airfare (which is the same as an adult’s ticket price). This fee will be included automatically in the airfare, and some taxes may be added locally. These prices are for one-way trips. If it is a round trip, the charge will be twice this amount:

• Direct flights:

• • €100 – European flight.
  • €150 – intercontinental flight.

• Connecting flights:

• • €200 – European flight with transfer to/from a European flight.
  • €250 – European flight with transfer to/from an intercontinental flight.
  • €300 – intercontinental flight with transfer to/from an intercontinental flight.

The Unaccompanied Minor service fee will be charged only once for up to 4 children on the same booking (they may or may not be relatives).

More information here >>