aircanada.com - Travel Info - Unaccompanied Minors

Unaccompanied Minors

More than 10,000 young travelers fly unaccompanied with Air Canada each year. And regardless of whether they're travelling on a short flight, or are embarking on a longer journey, our Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service ensures that children travelling alone receive the best of care, and are escorted by our highly-trained staff from the moment they arrive at airport check-in until they reach their destination.

Who is eligible for the Unaccompanied Minor service?

Service availability
The Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service is available only on non-stop flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz and Tier 3 flights Central Mountain Air (CMA) - Flight series 7200-7300 Air Georgian (GX) - Flight series 7350-7499 Exploits Valley Air (8K) - Flight series 7615-7649.

The UM service is not available for connecting flights or code-share flights. Important information for passengers flying on code share flights.

Under age 8
Children under 8 years of age are not eligible for the Unaccompanied Minor Service (please see policy update above) and must always be accompanied by an adult aged 16 or older when travelling. The accompanying adult must occupy a seat in the same cabin as the young child.

8 to 11 years
The Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service is mandatory for children between the ages of 8 and 11 (inclusively) who are travelling alone. Please note that youths age 16 and over may act as accompanying adults for minors (age 11 years or less).

12 to 17 years
The Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service is available, but is considered optional, for children between the ages of 12 and 17 who are travelling alone. Please note, however, that if a parent or guardian requests the UM service for a child between these ages, the same restrictions will apply with regard to connecting and code-share flights, as described above. Please note that youths age 16 and over may act as accompanying adults for minors (age 11 years or less).

Service Fee
UM service is available on all fares. A service fee of $100 CAD/USD each way per child per flight applies.

Before the flight

To make arrangements for the Unaccompanied Minor service, please contact Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent. Let them know your child will be travelling alone. You will be given details about our special services and what procedures are involved when a child is travelling unaccompanied.

Advance seat selection: Does your child like to sit by the window? With our advance seat selection you can reserve a seat in your child's favorite area in the aircraft. When you make the reservation, make sure to request advance seat selection for your child.

Restrictions: Air Canada will allow unaccompanied minors to travel on any itinerary involving Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and/or Tier 3 flights Central Mountain Air (CMA) - Flight series 7200-7300 Air Georgian (GX) - Flight series 7350-7499 Exploits Valley Air (8K) - Flight series 7615-7649

Travel for Unaccompanied Minors is available on non-stop flights only. Connecting flights are not permitted. Code-share flights are not permitted.

At the airport

When you arrive at the airport, head for the Air Canada counter to begin check-in formalities.

You will first be asked to provide identification for your child:

For travel within Canada, children under 18 years of age may present a birth certificate, health card, passport or other government-issued identification.
For flights to and from the United-States as well as international flights, a passport is required.

Please refer to our Travel documents and Travelling with an infant or child pages for detailed information on identification requirements.

You will then be asked to complete a "Request for Carriage" form, which is attached to an envelope bearing the letters "UM."

The form contains:

Your child's identification,
His/her flight number,
The name(s) and contact information of the person(s) who will meet your child at his/her destination, and
The authorizing signature of your child’s parent or guardian.

The envelope will remain in the care of an Air Canada agent, and serves as a document holder for your child's passport, airline ticket, emergency numbers, and Customs documentation.

Even after an Air Canada agent has taken your child into their care, you must remain at the airport until the flight has departed.

Please be assured that all children travelling alone enjoy pre-boarding privileges and are made to board ahead of the other passengers. This gives your child time to settle in comfortably and ask the flight attendant any questions s/he may have about the flight.

Departure and Arrival – A step by step guide

The agent will provide your child with a UM lanyard (hang-tag) so that he/she may be easily identified by airport staff as an Unaccompanied Minor.
The agent will accompany your child through the security check and proceed to the boarding gate area. In some airports, parents/guardians are permitted to escort their children to the departure gate. Please see the section below for more information, or refer to the local Airport Authority website.
Once boarding is announced, your child will be escorted to the aircraft ahead of other passengers. S/he will be greeted by the In-flight Service Director who will guide your child to an assigned seat.
Upon arrival at your child's destination, the In-flight Service Director will help your child disembark, and will hand them over to an airport agent. This agent will escort your child to the Arrivals section to meet the person designated on the UM envelope.
The person meeting your child will be asked for photo identification, and will sign the UM envelope, accepting responsibility for the child.

Tips for a safe and happy trip

Before your child goes on a trip, prepare them for it by explaining the details in advance--this will make the trip less stressful for everyone.
Your child should be well-rested.
Ensure your child has a carry-on bag containing a snack and some favorite items--just like you, kids need something to read or eat in case of a delay.
Make sure the parent/guardian meeting the child at their destination is aware of all flight details and the formalities of the UM service.

If you need any additional information, or have any questions about how to plan for a child travelling on their own, please contact your travel agent or Air Canada.

Escorting unaccompanied minors to the boarding gate area

Many parents or guardians have informed us of their desire to accompany their child to the boarding gate.

Escorting an unaccompanied minor is permitted at select airports. Please refer to the local Airport Authority website or see an Air Canada representative at check-in.

Where permitted, only one (1) parent or one (1) guardian may accompany the child to the gate. The parent or guardian may be required to fill out a "Passenger Escort Form," and show photo identification.

Due to security regulations, the passenger escort service is not available for flights to the United States. In this case, an Air Canada agent will escort the child to the gate.

If a parent or guardian is unable to escort the child, Air Canada will provide the escort. Parents or guardians are requested not to leave the airport until the flight has departed.