Lufthansa unaccompanied minor policy: ages, fee and rules
A guide to the Lufthansa unaccompanied minor service. Find rules for kids flying alone, including required ages, optional service for teens, and fees.
Lufthansa offers a care service for children traveling by themselves, which is required for ages 5 to 11 unless they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old, and is optional for teens up to age 17. A key detail for families is that the service fee is charged for each child and for each flight segment, so siblings traveling together will each have a fee for every leg of the journey.
| Topic | What Lufthansa says |
|---|---|
| Youngest age to fly alone | Children must be at least 5 years old to fly unaccompanied using the airline's care service.Source |
| Service required for | Children aged 5 to 11 can only fly alone if they use the airline's care service or travel with a companion who is at least 12 years old.Source |
| Service optional for | Parents can book the care service for unaccompanied children from the age of 12 up to 17.Source |
| Service fee | A care service charge applies for unaccompanied children in addition to the flight price. The fee is charged per child and per flight segment, even for siblings traveling together.Source |
| Flights allowed | The care service for unaccompanied children is offered on all direct flights and on connecting flights in Zurich, Geneva, Brussels, Munich, Frankfurt, and Vienna.Source |
| At the airport | The person picking up the child must present a valid ID or passport, and Lufthansa will verify their identity against the name provided on the care service form.Source |
| Older kids and teens | If no care service is booked for a young traveler and an overnight hotel stay is needed, the hotel may require a parental declaration of consent. It is strongly recommended the child carries this form.Source |
Kids flying alone
On Lufthansa, children between 5 and 11 years old must use the airline’s care service if they are not flying with a companion who is at least 12 years old. For travelers aged 12 to 17, you have the option to book the service or to let them fly independently.
If you choose not to book the service for a young traveler and an unexpected overnight hotel stay is required, Lufthansa strongly recommends that the child carry a signed parental declaration of consent.
“Children aged between 5 and 11 may only fly unaccompanied if they are using our care service or if they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Children aged between 5 and 11 may only fly unaccompanied if they are using our care service or if they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“The care service can also be booked by parents for unaccompanied children from the age of 12 up to 17.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Yes, for the Lufthansa care service for unaccompanied children, in addition to the price of the flight, a care service charge applies per flight segment and per child (even in the case of siblings travelling together):”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“We currently offer our care service for unaccompanied children on all direct flights and on connecting flights in Zurich, Geneva, Brussels, Munich, Frankfurt and Vienna*.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Before entrusting your child to the person collecting them, Lufthansa will check by asking to see a valid ID that this is the person named on the Lufthansa care service form. Please let the person collecting your child know that he or she must produce a valid ID or passport.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“If no care service has been booked for the young traveller and an overnight stay in a hotel is required, the hotel may require a declaration of consent from the parents or legal guardians. We therefore strongly recommend to complete and sign the following form and that your child takes it along.”
Official wording, lufthansa.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
More on Lufthansa:
Same topic, other airlines: