Air India unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules
A guide to Air India's unaccompanied minor service. Find rules for children ages 5 and older, flight restrictions, and airport form requirements.
Children aged 5 and older can travel alone on Air India; an unaccompanied minor service is available, which is optional for passengers aged 12 to 17. A key rule to note is that the service is only available on flights operated by Air India. It cannot be used on codeshare flights or on trips that involve a connecting flight with another airline.
Airline policies can be updated, so it is always best to confirm the specific requirements directly with Air India when you book your child’s travel to get the most current information.
| Topic | What Air India says |
|---|---|
| Youngest age to fly alone | Children below 5 years of age are not permitted to travel alone and must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an authorized adult.Source |
| Service optional for | The unaccompanied minor assistance service is optional for children aged 12 to 17 years, who are considered "young passengers" and can travel alone. The service can be requested by a parent or guardian.Source |
| Flights allowed | The unaccompanied minor service is only available on flights operated by Air India. It is not offered on codeshare flights or on connecting flights where any part of the journey is on another airline.Source |
| At the airport | The parent or guardian must fill out, sign, and submit four copies of the unaccompanied minor form for direct flights, or six copies for connecting flights.Source |
| Older kids and teens | Children aged 12 to 17 years are considered young passengers and can travel alone. They are charged a full adult fare.Source |
Kids flying alone
Children must be at least 5 years old to travel alone on an Air India flight. For older children aged 12 to 17, the airline considers them “young passengers” who are able to travel without supervision. Parents or guardians can, however, request the unaccompanied minor assistance service for this age group if they wish. The DATA we reviewed states that young passengers aged 12 to 17 are charged a full adult fare.
“At Air India, we do not permit infants, that is, children below 5 years of age, to travel alone. They must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an authorised adult.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Children aged 12 years to 17 years, who can travel alone, are considered young passengers. We offer assistance for young passengers if requested by the parent or legal guardian.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“The unaccompanied minor assistance service is applicable only on Air India operated flights. We do not offer this service on codeshare flights. Additionally, this service is not extended to connecting flights where any part of the journey is operated by another airline.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Unaccompanied minor form: The parent or legal guardian must fill, sign, and submit four copies of the form for direct flights and six copies for connecting flights.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Children aged 12 years to 17 years, who can travel alone, are considered young passengers. … A young passenger will be charged a full adult travel fare.”
Official wording, airindia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
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