Can a minor travel alone by plane?

As the good weather approaches, we are all thinking about the upcoming summer holidays. The answer to the question of whether a minor can travel by plane alone (unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian) is yes, but with requirements that may change the meaning of the answer, which we are going to explain below.

Can a minor travel by plane alone?

Yes, but with nuances. Mainly, age or destination. In Spain, in order for a minor to travel to a third country, i.e. to make an international trip, in addition to carrying the necessary documentation for that destination, he or she must present a signed declaration of permission to travel outside national territory. When the destination is national, it is not necessary to have this document, but it will be necessary to check the conditions of each airline for minors to travel without a parent or legal guardian.

It is also necessary to take into account the age of the minor; most airlines require minors between 5 and 12 years of age to hire the child escort service, which usually has an additional cost. After the age of 12, airlines usually consider the passenger to be an ‘adult’, which in this respect means that they do not need to contract this service, although they may do so. Furthermore, despite being over that age, the destination must be taken into account, as we have already mentioned, because if it is an international destination, the passenger must have authorisation.

In this regard, it should be pointed out that, in the case of international travel, the Ministry of the Interior is very clear and considers unaccompanied minors to be those travelling without a parent or legal guardian.

What does the escort service for minors consist of?

This service, offered by airlines, guarantees that the minor is supervised at all times by company staff: from check-in to handover to the authorised person at the destination.

It includes:

- Priority attention at the airport

- Assistance during the flight

- Accompaniment during stopovers or connections

- Secure delivery at destination

This service usually has an additional cost and must be requested in advance. And not all airlines offer it and, therefore, there are airlines, such as Vueling, that do not allow children under 12 to travel without an adult.

What if there is a problem with the child's flight?

If the flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline is obliged to give special attention and assistance to the child. In such cases, parents or guardians may be entitled to claim financial compensation, just as in the case of adults.