Unaccompanied minors

We offer a service to help young flyers travelling alone on Qantas operated flights. Your child is our priority, and we'll assist them once checked in, and ensure they're escorted to the pick-up person at their final destination.

Travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor

If you're booking flights for a child under the age of 12, they must be accompanied by a guardian who is aged 15 years or older, travelling on an adult fare. If the child is travelling alone, they must be registered as an Unaccompanied Minor.

Find out how to register an unaccompanied minor.

Important: If your child is travelling with a passenger aged between 12 and 14 (inclusive), this passenger is not a suitable guardian (even if an adult fare is booked) therefore the child must still be registered as an Unaccompanied Minor. Jetstar doesn't offer an Unaccompanied Minor service.

At Qantas, we consider a child under 12 years to be an Unaccompanied Minor if the child is travelling without the supervision of, or travelling in a separate cabin to:

a parent or guardian,
a sibling aged 15 years or older, or
an adult nominated by the child's parent or guardian.

If your child requires special assistance or needs specific care, they must be accompanied by a fare paying guardian or carer who is aged 15 years or older. For more information on the other services we offer passengers, including travelling with reduced mobility, visit Travelling with specific needs

If your child is between 12 and 17 years of age, you may wish to request they travel as a Young Passenger. See Young passengers travelling alone below for more information.

Travel on Jetstar

Jetstar doesn't offer an Unaccompanied Minor service. For further information on young passengers travelling alone on a Jetstar flight, visit the Jetstar website.

To be eligible to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor, certain age and other requirements apply.

Age requirements

Australian domestic flights, and international flights less than 6 hours
Child's age on date of departure	Eligibility
Under 5	No - must travel with a parent or adult 15 years or older
5 to 11 years (travelling without an adult 15 years or older)	Yes – on selected routes
12 to 15 years	Yes – can request travel as an unaccompanied minor or as a young passenger

Eligibility for booking an Unaccompanied Minor

International flights 6 hours or more
Child's age on date of departure	Eligibility
Under 6	No - must travel with a parent or adult 15 years or older
6 to 11 years (travelling without an adult 15 years or older)	Yes – on selected routes
12 to 15 years	Yes – can request travel as an unaccompanied minor or as a young passenger

Eligibility for booking an Unaccompanied Minor

Note:

Flight times don't include any time in transit or when transferring to a connecting flight.

Requirements

Children travelling alone need to be able to:

eat and drink without assistance, where we can assist with opening packaging where necessary,
attend the toilet independently, and
administer their own prescribed medication - see travelling with medication below for more information.

We don’t accept children travelling alone as an Unaccompanied Minor when their trip includes:

connecting flights that depart from different airport codes within the same city e.g. The booking is not eligible if the flight arrives in Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) and depart from Melbourne Avalon (AVV); arrives Brisbane (BNE) and departs Toowoomba (WTB) or Gold Coast (OOL); arrives London (LHR) and departs London Gatwick (LGW) or London City (LCY); arrives Tokyo Narita (NRT) and departs Tokyo Haneda (HND) etc,
connecting flights with other carriers,
any flight which includes a codeshare e.g. Qantas flight operated by Emirates (or vice versa),
a transit time between any two connecting flights that is more than four hours,
the last flight of the day (unless it's the only flight of the day), and
overnight connecting flights.

Ensure you check Manage Booking to find flight information and meet the eligibility requirements.

If your child isn’t booked as an Unaccompanied Minor where required, they may not be accepted to travel alone and may be denied boarding at the airport.

An Unaccompanied Minor fee is payable for each travel sector, and applies to Qantas operated flights only.* This fee is in addition to your child’s ticket.

Fees for booking an Unaccompanied Minor on/before 17 April 2024

Journey	Pre-booked fees per child	Airport fees per child
Australian domestic (fee inclusive of GST)	A$50	A$100
International	A$90	A$180

Fees for booking an Unaccompanied Minor Fees for booking an Unaccompanied Minor on/before 17 April 2024

Fees for booking an Unaccompanied Minor on/after 18 April 2024

Journey	Pre-booked fees per child	Airport fees per child
Australian domestic (fee inclusive of GST)	US$40	A$110
International	US$60	A$180 - nil change

Fees for booking an Unaccompanied Minor on/after 18 April 2024

Disclaimer: * The Unaccompanied Minor fee doesn't apply for travel on QantasLink flights to and from Longreach, Barcaldine and Blackall.

How to calculate the fee:

Where an Unaccompanied Minor is travelling from Sydney to Denpasar, with a transfer in Melbourne, and the service is booked in advance:

The total fee will be A$90 if both sectors are booked in one booking.
If the Sydney to Melbourne flight is booked on a separate booking to the Melbourne to Denpasar flight, or Melbourne is a stopover exceeding 24 hours the fee will be A$145.

Australian domestic flights can be made online, or by contacting your local Qantas office or travel agent:

Children aged 5-11 travelling alone:
- This requires you to register the child as an Unaccompanied Minor. Book online with no adults on the ticket - the Unaccompanied Minor form will be sent to your email attached with eticket receipt
Children aged 5-11 travelling with a companion between the ages of 12 and 14 (inclusive):
- Book two tickets online, one as an adult passenger and one as a child passenger - once booked, contact your local Qantas office with your booking reference to register the child aged 5-11 as an Unaccompanied Minor as children must travel with a guardian aged 15 years or older.
Children ages 2-11 travelling with a guardian or carer aged 15 and over:
- Book online and no notice is required. Ensure you book two tickets online, one as an adult passenger (the guardian aged 15 and over) and one as a child passenger.

For international flights or Qantas Australian domestic flights that depart from an international terminal (flights QF1-399), contact your local Qantas office or travel agent for bookings.

Travelling as a Young Passenger is an additional option available for children travelling alone who are aged between 12 and 17 years.

No additional assistance is provided except in the event of a flight disruption. If the booked flight is cancelled, our team will provide support. We’ll do our best to accommodate the Young Passenger onto another flight to their destination and if that's not possible, we’ll:

provide regular updates to the parent/guardian,
coordinate supervision including accommodation and transfers, and
provide food and beverages.

If your child is aged between 12 and 17 years and comfortable travelling alone, you can request they're identified as a Young Passenger travelling alone by calling your local Qantas office or your travel agent.

Booking a young passenger

If your child is aged between 12 and 17 years and comfortable travelling alone, you can make their booking online, or by contacting your local Qantas office or travel agent.

You'll need to contact your local Qantas office or your travel agent to request they're identified as a Young Passenger travelling alone.

Before travel

Whether your child has travelled alone before or this is their first time, we recommend talking with them about the trip and what to expect.

Let them know that the Qantas team is here to help keep them safe.

Unaccompanied Minor travel form

Before your child can fly with us, and for safety and security requirements, a legal parent or guardian must complete and sign a Qantas Unaccompanied Minor travel form.

Complete the form online, then print it and bring a signed copy to the airport to present at check-in. The details on the form must match the details recorded in the booking, and we’ll confirm this information with you at the airport.

Download the form [PDF]

Note: If you're unsure how to complete the form, view the example to ensure you have entered the right information.

Completing the form on a tablet or mobile

To complete the form, first you'll need to save it in your files folder. Once you've done that, open the form to make the updates.

Before departing for the airport, make sure you have:

a valid form of identification for the person taking your child to the airport,
a separate Unaccompanied Minor form for each sector of the trip; all forms need to be signed by the parent or guardian as well as the people bringing and picking up your child at the airport,
one or two of their favourite things in their carry-on luggage; all heavy and unnecessary items should be placed in their checked baggage, and
their passport if they're travelling internationally.

Valid forms of identification include:

One (1) form of acceptable photo ID is required for verification of the identity of person dropping off and person picking up. Acceptable forms of photo ID are:

a valid national passport,
a valid motor vehicle Driver’s Licence issued under a law of the Commonwealth of Australia, or of a State or Territory of Australia,
a current document issued by the Commonwealth of Australia, or an Australian State or Territory, or by an authority of the Commonwealth of Australia, or a State or Territory of Australia, that identifies the person,
a current Aviation Security Identity Card issued by the operator of the aircraft, or the operator of an airport in Australia, and
other documents issued by the Commonwealth or authority of Australia, or an Australian State or Territory, which can include:
- current university photo identification card,
- current TAFE identity card, and
- current APEC card – Australian issued only.

Where the parent or guardian, or pick up/drop off person does not have access to photo ID due to specific state limitations, two (2) forms of acceptable non-photo ID are required for verification of identity of the person. Acceptable forms of non-photo ID are:

Australian Medicare card,
debit or credit card,
Government issued card;
library card; and
Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card.

Travel documents

Some countries have additional documentation requirements for children travelling into and out of the country. See travel documents for more information.

Unaccompanied Minors must be capable of self-administering their medication to travel alone. Medication includes any medicine prescribed by a doctor or dentist, or over the counter from a supermarket or pharmacy. Examples of over-the-counter medication may include antihistamines, hydrocortisone creams/ointments, painkillers such as Panadol, auto-injectors and inhalers.

Your child must:

be capable of identifying the need for the medication,
be capable of self-administering their medication, and
carry a letter or medical certificate from their doctor stating the medication needs. This document must be less than two years old and must be written in English.

If your child needs to travel with medication, you’ll need to:

notify us at the time of booking, and
advise us of any allergies or any special requirements.

If your child becomes ill while in our care and alternative arrangements need to be made, the parent or guardian or responsible adult identified on the Unaccompanied Minor travel form is solely responsible for making such arrangements.

If your child has special dietary requirements, or you'd like to book a child’s meal, you can request one at least 24 hours before your first flight via Manage booking or by calling your local Qantas office Although special meals must be requested 24 hours before travel, we’re unable to guarantee availability, and we recommend that you pack a small snack in your child's carry-on baggage.

You’ll need to ensure you're familiar with the Australian Border Force regulations and limits on what you can take onboard. When travelling internationally, or on an Australian domestic sector of an international flight, you’re not permitted liquids, pastes or gels that are more than 1OOmls.

Contact information

The 'Main Contact' nominated by the Parent, Guardian or Responsible Adult noted on the Unaccompanied Minor travel form must be available by telephone at any time without delay while your child is in our care.

If the nominated pickup person doesn't meet your child on arrival at the gate for Australian domestic flights, or at the designated area for international flights, and we cannot contact the Main Contact, we may take any action we deem appropriate including contacting the Police for the safety and welfare of your child.

Day of travel

Check-in for children travelling alone is available at Special Assistance counters. The team will check your photo identification and contact details for the adult collecting the child, which should match all the details in the online booking. Ensure your child carries paper copies of any travel documentation.

Make sure you arrive nice and early for your flight:

one-hour before departure for Australian domestic flights, and
two hours before departure for international flights.

Online check-in and pre-selecting seats aren’t available for children travelling alone.

Children travelling alone are subject to the same security and quarantine procedures as other customers.

The person escorting your child for an Australian domestic flight must escort them to the boarding gate. The Qantas team will then escort your child from the gate to the aircraft. For an international flight, we'll escort your child through security and to the departure gate, where the onboard Cabin Crew will assist.

Note:

If your child is travelling alone in Business, they’re not eligible to access the Qantas Lounge.
The person escorting your child to the airport must remain at the airport until the flight has departed and is in the air.

We’ll endeavour to seat Unaccompanied Minors together near Cabin Crew work areas. Young flyers will always board the aircraft with Cabin Crew, after the main customer flow. Our team will help them stow their hand luggage, provide a safety briefing and make them comfortable. Food and beverages are available on most flights. During the flight, we’ll regularly check on your child.

If your child has a connecting flight, they’ll be supervised at the airport by the Qantas team and escorted to the next flight provided:

your child isn’t booked on connecting flights with a transit time of more than four hours, and
the next flight is operated by Qantas and departing from the same terminal.

Transferring to another airline

If your child needs to connect to a flight operated by another airline, you'll need to book directly with that airline, and check with them about their individual requirements. Many airlines either don't offer an unaccompanied minor service, or have specific criteria and age requirements that may be different.

We're not able to transfer your child to another airline or between terminals, and alternative arrangements will need to be made.

Note: Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for booking an unaccompanied minor.

On arrival at their destination, your child will be escorted to the arrivals area by our team. If travelling internationally, we’ll help them through Customs and Immigration, and with their baggage.

In the arrivals area, our team will take your child to the nominated pick-up person. This person must be aged 18 years or older, or a sibling aged 15 years or older. Valid identification is required from the person collecting your child and must be identical to the name on the Unaccompanied Minor travel form.

Booking changes

If you need to make any changes to your booking, including updating the contact details of the person dropping or collecting your child, contact your local Qantas office

We’ll only accept changes to Unaccompanied Minor bookings by:

the Main Contact,
a parent or guardian,
a travel agent or person acting on behalf of any of the above, or
Qantas airport customer service staff in the event of a disruption.

If your child's flight is delayed or cancelled, we'll be in touch with the Main Contact, as provided on the Unaccompanied Minor travel form.

The Main Contact is then required to advise the pickup person of this delay or make alternative arrangements if required. In the event of a flight cancellation, they must notify the parent or guardian where to meet to pick up their child.

Real time information and any changes can be sent to your phone. Simply download the Qantas App and add the flight number from the booking, or register your email or phone number at Flight Status

Travel requirements

Some countries have additional documentation requirements for children travelling into and out of the country, such as the United States and South Africa. This documentation may vary, and you’ll need to check with the relevant government authorities to make sure you have everything you need before arriving at the airport.

It’s the parent or guardian's responsibility to manage any entry requirements for your child's destination and any transit cities, and ensure your child carries paper copies of any travel documentation required for their destination, including any visas and proof of identity.

If your child is travelling to or from the United States of America, the child's parent or guardian is required to drop them off at the nominated location within the airport and must always be contactable.

On arrival, we'll escort your child to the parent or guardian as nominated on the Unaccompanied Minor travel form.

The Republic of South Africa Department of Home Affairs has outlined the conditions for children travelling unaccompanied and the documents they need to provide when entering and leaving the country.

For more information, visit the Republic of South Africa Department of Home Affairs This is information may change and recommend you check the website regularly for any updates.