Delta Unaccompanied Minor Policy

Delta Airlines runs a thorough Unaccompanied Minor (UM) programme to ensure unaccompanied minors (minors travelling without an adult) can do so safely and comfortably.

	Ticket & Fees Within the U.S.	Ticket & Fees Within the U.S.	Travel Requirements
<2 years old, on adult’s lap	Ticket Required	Ticket required, Usually at 10% of adult Fare. Fees are country-specific	May not travel alone, must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years of age
<2 years old, in their own seat	Ticket Required	Ticket required, country-specific discounts may apply	May not travel alone, must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years of age
2-4	Ticket Required	Ticket required, country-specific discounts may apply	May not travel alone, must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years of age
5-14	Ticket Required	Ticket required, country-specific discounts may apply	May Travel Alone on non stop flights using the unaccompanied program
15+	Ticket Required	Ticket required, country-specific discounts may apply	May Travel Alone

Can children and teenagers travel without an adult on Delta flights?

Delta Air Lines, one of the largest airlines in the United States, is most likely on your radar as a potential carrier for your children’s travel. If your child is aged 5 to 17, the Delta Unaccompanied Minor Program allows them to fly without a parent, guardian, or adult travel companion.

The airline has distinct policies in place for children of different ages. In addition, Delta requires that Unaccompanied Minor flights be made during the day unless there are no other options to lessen the likelihood that your child may be stranded overnight.

Child age at the time of unaccompanied travel	Travel permitted/not permitted	Unaccompanied minor program fee
5-7 years	May travel on some nonstop flights only	$150 each way for up to 4 children
15-17 (Who Have Opted to Travel as Unaccompanied Minor)	May travel on nonstop and connecting flights	$150 each way for up to 4 children
4 years and younger	May not travel alone (must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years old)	N/A
8-14 years	May travel on some nonstop and connecting flights	$150 each way for up to 4 children

Children Under 5 Years Of Age:

You won’t be able to bring your youngster on board if he or she hasn’t turned five by the time of your flight. Delta strictly enforces a minimum age of 5 for unaccompanied minors.

Five-To-Seven Year Old Kids:

Your child can travel alone as the Delta Unaccompanied Minor policy allows. For youngsters between the ages of 7 and 11, Delta demands that you only book them on direct flights.

Any of Delta’s hub locations on the West Coast, Mountain West, Midwest, Northeast, or Southeast of the United States will likely have non-stop flights available for your child’s trip. Taking a connecting flight is often necessary when going from one small city to another or from one coast to the other.

Kids Between 8 Years to 14 Years:

Children aged 8 to 14 are exempt from the flight mentioned above limitations. Connecting flights are permitted for passengers of this age, but they must be made to another flight operated by Delta, Air France, or KLM. No connections to other SkyTeam airlines are available.

Kids Between Ages 15 To 17 Years:

Unaccompanied Delta offers two ticket types for teens in this age range:

They are allowed to fly with no more restrictions than an adult. Delta requires your kid to have a valid, TSA-approved photo ID to use this option.

It’s important to remember that Delta strictly enforces this restriction. Delta Air Lines’ requirement is an exception to TSA policy, which states that passengers under the age of 18 do not need to produce picture identification at airport security screening checkpoints (SSCP) for domestic flights (the operative word being domestic).

If you plan on flying with your teen after May 2023, you should check that their identification is REAL ID compliant. Your teen’s first learner’s permit or driver’s licence will likely be REAL ID compliant if they receive it now. However, you should verify this with the issuing state because they handle compliance differently. A passport issued by the United States is always acceptable for air travel.

Suppose you have more than one child travelling with you, and only one is between the ages of 15 and 17. In that case, the older child can opt out of Delta’s Unaccompanied Minor programme and fly as a regular “adult” passenger. However, the younger child must still fly as an Unaccompanied Minor.

Several other airlines have policies that are quite similar to this one. But if the age limit is a deal breaker, you may always look into other airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, or American, which allow “accompanying” youngsters (like older siblings) to be as old as 12, 14, or 16.

How to Book Tickets for a Minor Through Delta Airlines’s Unaccompanied Minor Programme?

Booking the flight is the next step now that you know how Delta Unaccompanied Minor policy works.

Your first inclination might be to visit Delta’s website and make a reservation as usual. You can customise your trip by selecting the cities, dates, and number of passengers you’ll need and then choose the flight that best suits your needs. 

When you come to the screen where you enter passenger details such as name and birth date, though, things start to go wrong. You can’t book an Unaccompanied Minor via the website on a regular Delta flight.

If the youngster is too young to travel with an adult, a warning like the one shown in the image will appear after you enter their date of birth.

Bookings for children younger than 15 must be made by contacting the hotel directly. To make a Delta Airlines reservations, chat with a representative online or call (800) 325-8847.

A disclaimer will still appear, albeit its language will change if the minor you’re booking is 15–17 years old. You may remember that Delta Unaccompanied Minor program is discretionary for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. The warning can be disregarded if you desire to book them as an “adult” passenger through the online booking system.

If you have a teen who is older than 12 and you’d like to use Delta’s Unaccompanied Minor service, you can do one of two things:

You can either book as an “adult” online and then contact Delta’s reservations staff to enrol the child in the Unaccompanied Minor programme, or you can book directly with Delta’s reservations team.

What does the Unaccompanied Minor programme cost?

Delta Unaccompanied Minor fees change according to origin and destination airports. The cost is an additional $150-$200 per person, one way, on top of the price of the ticket. This payment is final and cannot be refunded under any circumstances. You can simply get the most affordable flights for your family of four by using a top-tier online travel agency.

What kind of services does the Delta Unaccompanied Minor programme offer?

The many services provided by the Unaccompanied Minor programme are designed to keep the kid safe and comfortable on their journey. The following are examples of services:

✅ Special Check-In: Solo Delta provides priority boarding permits and gate assistance for children.

✅ Dedicated flight attendants: The flight attendants will take special care of the child and make sure they are comfortable the entire time. The flight attendant will also keep the child’s parents apprised of developments.

✅ Assistance with connections: If the youngster has a connecting flight, Delta staff will see to it that they are escorted to their next aircraft without any problems.

✅ Food: The kid is entitled to free food and drinks throughout the journey.

✅ In-flight entertainment: Delta’s in-flight entertainment system offers a large selection of films, TV shows and games, all of which will be available to the youngster during the flight.

✅ Ground transportation: Delta representatives will assist with ground transportation for the youngster to and from the airport if necessary.

✅ Baggage assistance: Delta employees will help the child with their bags at any time during the flight.

Rules for minor children travelling alone With Delta Airlines:

A flight attendant will make periodic checks on an unaccompanied minor but will not keep a close eye on the child the entire time. If Delta children travel alone, he or they must follow below rules:

✅ The UM lanyard needs to be around the kid’s neck always. The youngsters will also receive a wristband that will monitor their whereabouts during the duration of the trip and must be in place at all times.

✅ The Delta Airlines flight attendants have instructed us to remind the minor to buckle up at all times.

✅ Make sure you and the parent or guardian picking up the child can be reached by phone at all times during the flight in case of any delays or schedule changes.

✅ Delta Airlines employees will personally take the child to the waiting parent or guardian.

Here are Delta Unaccompanied Minor Pick-Up Instructions:

To protect the child, the person picking up the child at the airport must always show proper identification and fill out the necessary documentation. Delta Air Lines policy states that the minor may only be met by the person listed as the authorised adult pick-up contact. For the most stress-free arrival, a parent or guardian should arrive at the airport two hours before the flight is due to land. In the event that the person who will be picking you up when you arrive has Delta Airlines Change Policy, you must contact Delta at 800-325-8847 to update your reservation.

If someone other than the authorised accompanying adult checks in to pick up the child, a Delta Air Lines agent will get in touch with that individual once they arrive at the destination airport to confirm the youngster’s safety. A gate permit is required for the adult picking up the unaccompanied minor at the airport. The accompanying adult is required to wait at the airport gate until the plane has taken off.

Unaccompanied Minor Dropping Off Instructions:

When sending a youngster away alone, parents or guardians should be there early to say goodbye. Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare so that you may park, fill out a form for children travelling alone, obtain an escort card and UM wristband from the ticket reservation counter, clear security and check in at the gate. Furthermore, the ticket booth is where you must now make your halt. In order to check in with Delta Airlines, you’ll need the following items:

✅ Confirmation number and printed copy of the child’s electronic ticket

✅ Proof of legitimate age, such as a birth certificate or passport.

✅ Get to the airport at least 45 minutes before takeoff. If you’re dropping off an unaccompanied youngster at the airport, you’ll need to notify a Delta Airlines representative at the gate.

✅ The child will be pre-boarded and introduced to a member of the flight crew before regular boarding begins.

✅ At least 15 minutes prior to departure, parents or guardians must check in at the gate.

Conclusion

Parents or guardians should talk to the airline ahead of time to find out what their policies and processes are for children who are travelling alone. If a kid misses their flight, their parents or guardians should call the airline right away to make other travel plans and make sure the child is safe and healthy.

Frequently Asked Questions