Air Canada Unaccompanied Minor Policy

About Air Canada Airlines

Air Canada is one of the safest airlines for minors traveling alone. Each year, the airline welcomes 10,000 young unaccompanied travelers onboard and each of them receives the best care and service from the moment they arrive at the airport until they reach the final destination. However, Air Canada has some specific rules for unaccompanied minor travelers. Hence, it is important for the parents or guardian to understand Air Canada unaccompanied minor policy before booking the flight.

Air Canada Unaccompanied Minor Rules

Air Canada allows unaccompanied minors on-board only under some specific conditions. The airline takes care of the little passengers traveling with them, and keeps them entertained throughout the journey with snacks and drinks. Additionally, before you make a reservation, get complete information on Air Canada unaccompanied minor rules.

• Unaccompanied minors are allowed on nonstop flights operated by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
• Unaccompanied minors are allowed on non stop Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz.
• The Unaccompanied Minor service is not available on connecting flights or Codeshare flights.
• The parent or the guardian dropping off the child, must remain at the gate until the flight is airborne, in case of flight schedule disruption.
• The parent / guardian dropping off the child at the airport must provide the authority with their name, ID proof, address, home, and business telephone number. The same information will be required at check-in for the parent / guardian coming to pick-up the child from the final airport.

Air Canada Unaccompanied Minor Program Details

Air Canada takes all necessary measures to ensure safety, and comfort. To keep them entertained throughout the journey, the airline provides kid-friendly snacks, meals, and drinks. However, the airline asks concerned parents to pack children books, toys, and their favorite food to keep them busy throughout the entire flight. The additional service provided by the airline are as follows:

• The Unaccompanied Minor service is allowed for children between 8 to 11 years of age. Children under 8, must be accompanied by someone who is at least 16 years of age.
• For minors between 12 to 17 years of age, the service is optional and can be used if the parents asked the airline.
• Unaccompanied minors are entitled to advance boarding, which allows them to familiarize with the flight attendants, and the plane’s safety features.
• An authorized personnel at the airport will escort the child to the authorized adult who comes to pick up the child at the final airport.
• The parent or guardian dropping off the child must be with the minor until the flight is airborne.
• If the unaccompanied child has any special needs or medical conditions, inform the airline during reservation.

Unaccompanied Minor Travel Guide

The following guidelines for Air Canada unaccompanied minors must be followed if your minor child is traveling with Air Canada unaccompanied.

• You must contact Air Canada reservation or their travel agent and inform them that the reservation is for an unaccompanied minor. The airline staff will give you complete details about its special and personalized service for the unaccompanied child and the procedure.
• Inform the airline if your child has medical needs.
• At selected airports, the dropping off parent or guardian is allowed to escort the child till the gate. They must remain at the airport until the flight is airborne. In airports where dropping off parents are not allowed in the airport, an authorized Air Canada staff will escort the child and make all necessary procedure on behalf of the child
• Dropping off parents are not allowed to escort the child in the airport for international flights and flights to the US. In this case, an Air Canada agent will escort the child to the gate and introduce him / her with the flight attendants.
• Unaccompanied minors may not travel with a pet in the cabin.

Age Restrictions

How to Book

To make a reservation for an unaccompanied minor, the parent or guardian must visit Air Canada Reservation or their travel agent. They must inform the either party that the reservation is for a child traveling alone. The airline will make all necessary facilities to escort the child. While booking the flight for the unaccompanied minor, the airline will ask the adult to submit the following information:

• Name of the adult as per the government-issued ID.
• Address as per the government-issued ID.
• Phone number.

Getting Ready to Fly

If your minor child is traveling alone on a flight, as a parent or guardian, it is your responsibility to make the child feel secure and comfortable while being around with unknown people. Tell them to always seek help or assistance from only authorized Air Canada crew. Here are some helpful tips:

• Carefully explain the details of the trip to your child, so that it will be less stressful for them.
• Familiarize your child with the airline’s uniformed personnel.
• Write down phone numbers for your child.
• Pack books, games, and money in one small carry-on bag.
• Food and drink service is limited and hence, it is advisable to pack snacks for your child.
• An ID card and contact information attached to the lanyard provided by the airline, which the child must wear throughout the entire flight.

Required Documents

• Government-issued photo identification is required for both parties coming to drop off and pick up the unaccompanied minor.
• The guardian must fill out ‘Unaccompanied Minor Form’, which is available online. You must print three copies of the form for each flight and bring them to the airport.
• Gate passes will be issued as per the TSA’s discretion and security recommendation.
• The parent / guardian picking up the child must present a government-issued photo ID. They are required to sign for the unaccompanied minor envelope that contains the child’s photo ID and travel documents and retrive it from the Air Canada agent escorting the child.

Boarding & Take Off

Seating

For safety and personalized service, Air Canada lets unaccompanied minors to be seated in the last three rows of the aircraft, which is close to the cabin crew. This seating arrangement allows the flight attendants to keep an eye on the child during the flight. However, this recommendation is not applicable to Air Canada Express flights.

Carry-on Bag

Unaccompanied children are allowed to bring a carry-on bag, where you can keep the child’s clothes, toys, books, and well-packed snacks.

Drop off & Pick Up Requirements

• Photo identification is required for both parties coming to drop off and pick up the unaccompanied minor.
• Age restriction for the adult coming to pick up the child should be at least 18 years. They must have a valid ID and be listed in the drop off and pick-up information.

Drop Off Information

• Once you reach the airport with your child, head to the Air Canada’s counter to begin the check-in formalities.
• For identification, you must provide original documents.
• For travel within Canada, children under 18 years of age, must present a birth certificate, health card, passport, or other government-issued identification.
• Passport is mandatory to fly internationally.
• The dropping off parent / guardian must fill up a ‘Request for Carriage’ form, which contains your child’s identification and flight number, the name, phone number, and address of the person coming to pick-up your child from the final destination, and the authorizing signature of the parent or guardian.
• The envelope will remain with an Air Canada agent and serves as a document holder for your child’s passport, airline ticket, emergency numbers, and customs documentation.
• The dropping off parent / guardian must remain in the airport until the flight is airborne.

During the Flight

• The Air Canada agent escorting your child will give him / her a lanyard, which allows the aircraft crew to identify them as unaccompanied minors.
• Children traveling alone as unaccompanied minors are always allowed to board the plane before the general boarding begins. It allows them to settle in comfortably and familiarize with the aircraft’s cabin crew.
• During the flight, the cabin crew will keep the children entertained with snacks and beverages.

Pick up Information

• Once the flight lands at its final destination, the in-flight service director will assist your child to deboard the flight and finally hand them over to an airport agent.
• The airport agent will then escort your child to the arrival section to meet the person designated to pick up the child.
• The parent / guardian picking up your child must present a valid photo identification and sign the Unaccompanied Minor envelope, before taking over the child.

Medical Needs

If the unaccompanied minor has any medical condition, then you must provide the airline with a medical approval. The airline may sometimes reject the reservation if medical clearance can’t be obtained. The child can’t travel alone, if he / she is:

• Blind or deaf.
• Severely allergic to peanuts, or peanut products, or other severe allergies.
• Severely allergic to cats and dogs.
• Has physical or psychological conditions, including severe allergies that require special attention.
• Likely to react negatively to air travel without a responsible adult known to him / her.

Unaccompanied Minor Program Fees

Air Canada charges an Air Canada unaccompanied minor fee of $ 100 to $ 180 CAD / USD, each way per child will be applied, regardless of the faretype you purchase. If the child is between 8 to 17 years of age, and traveling on a flight offering Air Canada Bistro service, the price of hot meal and snack will be included in the service fee.

Complimentary beverages are available on all flights. However, complimentary meals are provided only on flights to / from North American / Caribbean Business Class, and International Business Class. The complimentary meals are also available on international Economy Class, except on flights to / from Sun and Caribbean locations.

If you want your child to have an extra meal on board, you must pre-purchase Air Canada Bistro Vouchers at least one hour before the child’s scheduled flight departure.

FAQs