All airlines have special requirements for children who are travelling alone and are aged to 15 years. Children travelling alone up until the age of 15 years cannot be booked online as you will need to contact the airline directly.
Below is a guide for the primary Australian airlines.
1. QantasIf a child is travelling without the supervision of a parent or guardian who is fifteen years or older they are classified as an unaccompanied minor. To make a booking for an unaccompanied minor contact Qantas on telephone 13 13 13.
International Travel
| Under 6 years | On most flights, children under 6 must
be accompanied by a person 15 years or over who is an immediate family member or who has written
permission from the child's parent or guardian. Exception: On Qantas International services a child of 5 years or more can travel unaccompanied provided the child's flying time (not including ground time) does not exceed 6 hours. |
| 6 to 11 years (inclusive) | Complete the Qantas 'Unaccompanied Minor' forms in the red 'Unaccompanied Minor' wallet available from Qantas. |
| 12 to 15 years (inclusive) | On Qantas services children can travel as Unaccompanied Minors only at the request of their parent or guardian. If no request is made, there will be no special arrangements. |
Domestic Travel
| Under 5 years | Children under 5 must be accompanied by a person 15 years or over who is an immediate family member or who has written permission from the child's parent or guardian. |
| 5 to 11 years (inclusive) | Complete the Qantas 'Unaccompanied Minor' forms in the red 'Unaccompanied Minor' wallet available from Qantas. |
| 12 to 15 years (inclusive) | Children aged between 12 and 15 years can travel as Unaccompanied Minors only at the request of their parent or guardian. If no request is made, there will be no special arrangements. |
2. Jetstar
Jetstar generally requires that
passengers are able to travel independently. Jetstar do not have the
systems, staff or facilities required to assume responsibility for
assistance and supervision of passengers. Children requiring supervision
will not be regarded as able to travel independently on the basis that
they may cause a disruption or endanger themselves or others if travelling
unaccompanied.
As a guide, children who are not yet attending secondary school will be regarded as unable to travel independently and will not be eligible to travel unless they are accompanied by an appropriate Accompanying Passenger*. Jetstar may require proof that children are currently attending secondary school at check-in. Despite these guidelines, if a child is attending secondary school but their parent or guardian considers that the child is not sufficiently independent to travel unaccompanied using the services provided by Jetstar, they must notify Jetstar. Jetstar is not able to carry such passengers unaccompanied.
* Accompanying Passenger means a paying passenger who, in our reasonable opinion, can travel independently and is able to and will provide the appropriate assistance, supervision, or both, as is required for the particular customer they are accompanying. As a guide, Jetstar generally will not consider a passenger to be an appropriate Accompanying Passenger for a child unless the passenger is at least 15 years old.
3. Virgin Blue and Pacific Blue
All bookings for Unaccompanied Minors must be
made through the Virgin Blue Guest contact centre on telephone 136 789.
Any child aged 5 to 11 years (inclusive) travelling alone must
be booked as an Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR).
Any child aged 12 to 15
years (inclusive) may travel as an Unaccompanied Minor if so
requested by the parent.
To ensure the highest level of service is delivered to all guests, both Virgin Blue and Pacific/Polynesian Blue carry a maximum of eight unaccompanied minors per flight. To ensure that all safety and service standards are met, check in staff may request proof of age, and may refuse boarding if not provided. Children may be required to show proof of age at check in, at which time this must be presented on request (e.g. Passport, Birth Certificate). A child must travel with a passenger 15 years of age and over OR the parent/legal guardian who is 13 years of age and over. (A legal guardian is someone who has been appointed by the family court. They will have an official court document to prove that they are the child's legal guardian. A parent cannot simply write a letter appointing someone as the legal guardian of their child.) A child must be able to sit upright unaided in the seat purchased, with the seat belt adjusted securely without slack around the waist. If child turns 12 years of age after the forward journey but before the return journey, the flights need to be booked as two one way trips indicating the correct age at the time of actual travel. In this case forward journey would be booked as a child and return as an adult. You may be required to show proof of age (e.g. Birth Certificate) at check in, at which time this must be presented on request. Boarding may be refused if this is not provided.
4. All other airlines
As other airlines requirements
vary, please contact the airline directly.
