Unaccompanied Minors

Travelling independently is a great way for young people to gain independence and confidence, but there are no consistent rules for airlines and travel providers. If you are considering giving your child the chance to travel to a summer camp, language course or work experience abroad, make sure you check the rules for your chosen airline to avoid disappointment and frustration when you arrive at the airport.

In general, young people aged 16 and over can travel without adult supervision by air or rail from the UK. However, some carriers are more flexible and will allow 12-year-olds to travel unsupervised.

Unaccompanied travel for younger children

Many of our Summer Camps are available to younger children aged 12 and over as an exciting way to learn a language, make friends and have fun. Although some airlines allow children aged 12 and over to travel unaccompanied, we recommend travelling with them if they are travelling alone for the first time or to an unfamiliar destination.

Unaccompanied travel for older children

In general young adults can travel independently from the age of 16 with any airline or on Eurostar, by train. However, we strongly advise that you check your chosen airline’s guidance before booking to avoid frustration, disappointment and expense if you arrive at the airport only to be told your child cannot travel unaccompanied.

British Airways

For guidance about travelling as an unaccompanied minor, from 14 years old, please refer to the British Airways guidance.

Iberia

Iberia allow children aged 12 and over to travel unaccompanied. They also offer an optional service to escort unaccompanied minors through the airport, for a fee: see the detailed Iberia Guidance on minors. Younger travellers aged 5–11 must be accompanied by an adult or escorted by the Iberia Unaccompanied Minor service..

KLM

KLM offer an optional service to escort unaccompanied minors through the airport, for a fee. For guidance about travelling as an unaccompanied minor, from 14 years old, please refer to the KLM Guidance. Younger travellers can travel independently with a mandatory charged escort service.

Ryanair, EasyJet and other budget airlines

Young people aged 16 and over can travel unaccompanied on the main budget airlines. Travellers aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, but the adult is not required to be a parent or carer.

Travelling by Train

Eurostar allow younger travellers from the age of 12 to travel unaccompanied, but there are additional requirements. Unaccompanied travel is permitted from the age of 16 in the same manner as adult travellers. Please refer to the Eurostar guidance.

Some Considerations

Transfers on arrival and departure are included in our Summer Camp packages from the local airports. Third party transfers or private arrangements such as a taxi may not be possible and would not be recommended for most of our youngest travellers.

If your child is aged under 16, check the airline’s rules on unaccompanied minors before booking. You may need to consider alternate routes.

Additional documentation is sometimes required to travel as an unaccompanied minor. Some airlines have their own form to complete and have signed by a parent/carer. It is also often the case that the traveller needs to be checked in at the departure airport by a parent/carer. Blue Stamp recommend taking a letter signed and dated confirming the purpose of the trip and the address at which the student will be staying, with a copy of a parent/carer passport and any residency documents. We also recommend having proof of the return flights booked available. Airlines will each have specific requirements but these documents would be recommended regardless of whether the airline request them in advance as the experience on check-in can vary from the published guidance occasionally.