Unaccompanied Minor Program
When children travel alone on our flights, we take every step to make sure your child is safe, comfortable and enjoying a positive travel experience. Explore our unaccompanied minor program, which offers features like a trackable wristband, Sky Zone lounge for kids and a Delta personal escort for your child throughout their travel day.

Program Details
Program Details Table

CHILD AGE AT THE TIME OF UNACCOMPANIED TRAVEL
TRAVEL PERMITTED/NOT PERMITTED

UNACCOMPANIED MINOR PROGRAM FEE

4 YEARS & YOUNGER

May not travel alone (must be accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years old)

N/A 

5-7 YEARS

May travel on some nonstop flights only 

$150 each way for up to 4 children

8-14 YEARS

May travel on some nonstop and connecting flights

$150 each way for up to 4 children

15-17 (Who Have Opted to Travel as Unaccompanied Minor)

May travel on nonstop and connecting flights

$150 each way for up to 4 children

Children ages 15-17 are permitted to travel as a standard passenger, Go to footer note, provided they can present a valid ID to security personnel. If parents or guardians prefer, they can also travel as an unaccompanied minor.

Unaccompanied Minor Travel Journey

If your child is traveling alone as an unaccompanied minor, an adult (18 years old or older) must accompany the minor through the check-in process and pick up the child at their destination. Review the process to help your unaccompanied minor prepare for their flight.

How to Book

To determine eligibility and book a reservation for an unaccompanied minor, you must contact Reservations at 800-325-8847 to ensure that the travel is permitted and correctly documented. When you book, the adult making the reservation will provide a 4-digit PIN configuration that will be required to make any changes to the itinerary.

Getting Ready to Fly

When it’s time to travel, we recommend talking with your child about the journey, reminding them only to speak to Delta Air Lines representatives if they need anything. Remind them not to leave the gate area at any time and notify Delta if your child has any special needs. When packing, we recommend bringing:

  • Snacks, games, books or other entertainment
  • A single, small carry-on like a backpack, so nothing’s left behind
  • A checked suitcase for larger items, which your child and accompanying adult can pick up after their flight
  • An ID card contact information attached to your child’s carry-on bag or jacket

Required Check-In Documents

When you arrive at the airport, please see a Delta Airport Customer Service Agent for information regarding drop-off and pick-up for unaccompanied minor travel. You will receive a  wristband for your child to wear in-flight and create a package of boarding documents and ID for your child to use as they travel. At check-in, the accompanying adult must provide the following:

  • Photo ID (license, passport, etc.)
  • Address (as shown on ID)
  • Contact phone number
  • Name, address and phone number of the adult meeting the unaccompanied minor at their destination

Unaccompanied Minor Boarding & Takeoff

A parent or designated accompanying adult must take the unaccompanied minor to the departure gate and remain until the flight has left the ground. 

If the minor is connecting though another city, the child will be assisted by a Delta or business partner employee.

  • Delta recommends that children be seated in the rear of the aircraft to be near a flight attendant for safety
  • For questions or concerns, please contact Delta Air Lines at 800-325-8847 (U.S./Canada/Guam/Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands) or find numbers for all other locations

Delta Sky Zone

If your child has a connecting flight through Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City or Seattle, we offer Delta Sky Zones for their entertainment. In these children-only areas, children flying alone can wait for connections, use complimentary phones to call parents/guardians and take advantage of activities like books, toys and video games. Staffed by Delta representatives, your child will find staff members always there to help them feel secure and comfortable.

Unaccompanied Minor Pick-Up

A valid ID must be presented and signature captured of the person meeting the child. Delta will not release to anyone other than the person named. A parent or accompanying adult should report to the destination airport two hours before scheduled arrival to obtain a gate pass. Please note:

  • If the pickup person at the destination changes, the accompanying adult must call Delta at 800-325-8847 to provide the new information.
  • Upon arrival, if someone other than the person named at check-in is at the destination to pick up the child, a Delta representative will contact the original accompanying adult to verify the identification of the pickup person at the destination.
  • The pickup person at the destination will typically be issued a gate pass to pick up the unaccompanied minor at the gate. In some locations, the pickup person will be directed to the local Delta Baggage Service Office for pickup.
  • At the point of departure, the accompanying adult must remain at the gate until the flight is off the ground.

Unaccompanied Minor Program Fees & Rules

The Unaccompanied Minor Program requires a fee of $150 USD/CAD/EUR each way, with CAD and EUR used when departing Canada or Europe. This fee applies to travel within the United States and International on both nonstop and connecting flights, in addition to the ticketed adult fare.

  • The $150 fee is mandatory for children ages 5-14, and for 15-17-year-olds if a parent chooses to enroll in the unaccompanied minor program
  • The fee covers up to 4 children if multiple children, such as siblings, are traveling together
  • The fee can be paid one-way or round-trip at the time of check in or in advance by calling
  • Unaccompanied Minors must be ticketed on an adult fare
  • Travel is permitted on Delta and Delta Connection
  • Travel is permitted on Domestic and International itineraries
  • Unaccompanied Minors can only connect to other Delta, Delta Connection, Air France, KLM and Aeromexico flights
  • Travel is not permitted on the last connecting flight of the day, except in markets with only one flight per day.
  • Travel is not permitted on Red Eye flights (Red Eye flights are between 9:00pm-5:00am).  Exceptions below apply only if a qualifying connection flight is not available for:
    • International flights
    • Connecting to/from international flights
    • Connecting to markets with only one flight per day

Unaccompanied Minor Frequently Asked Questions

A Delta Air Lines employee will take your child on board before general boarding begins. This allows time to:

  • Introduce your child to the flight attendants
  • Introduce your child to the cockpit crew, time permitting
  • Take your child to his or her seat and assist with carry-on items
  • Familiarize your child with the safety features of the aircraft
  • Advise your child of lavatory locations
  • Inform your child if assistance is required to contact a flight attendant and to remain in their seat upon landing as a flight attendant will get them when it is time to deplane

No. You will be asked to say goodbye in the terminal area because access is restricted to ticketed passengers only. We do ask, however, that you stay in the gate area until the child's plane takes off in the event the flight returns to the gate.

A badged employee will meet your child's arriving flight. If your child's connection time is short, the unaccompanied minor escort will take your child directly to the connecting departure and will escort him or her on board.

If your child's layover is longer, the employee will take him or her to the Delta Sky Zone or other secure location, and turn the ticket and the Unaccompanied Minor over to the next Delta Air Lines representatives in the room (the employee keeps your child's documentation until it is time to go to the connecting flight). Another representative will escort your child onto the connecting flight at the appropriate time and introduce him or her to the flight attendants.

If we have any indication that your child’s flight may not operate as scheduled, we'll advise you and suggest that you book travel for another day. If the delay or cancellation occurs en route, Delta employees will:

  • Rebook your child on the next available departure to their destination
  • Stay with your child until they can be boarded on an alternate flight
  • Contact the person at the destination who is designated to pick up the child and/or the person listed as the emergency contact. We will continue to attempt contact until contact is made

Under very rare circumstances, an overnight may be required (e.g. a major snowstorm). In these situations, we will provide overnight and meal accommodations for your child. And a Delta employee(s) will provide supervision to ensure your child's safety during an overnight stay. You will be contacted with pertinent information if this unusual circumstance occurs.

Enrollment in the Delta Air Lines Unaccompanied Minor program is mandatory for children 5 to 14. If you prefer that your 15 to 17-year-old travel without supervision, please advise the agent at the time of the reservation and it will be noted. Your child will be expected to handle boarding and deplaning as well as transfers to connecting gates on their own.

  • Remind your teenager never to leave the airport for any reason unless accompanied by a badged Delta employee or uniformed police officer until they have reached their destination city
  • She or he should never seek help from or leave the airport with strangers
  • Provide your teenager with instructions, phone contacts and a small amount of money for food in the unlikely event their flight is missed, delayed, canceled or rerouted
  • Remind your teenager that they can seek the assistance of any Delta employee if they have questions, concerns or need reassurance
  • Remember most hotels will not accept young people who are not accompanied by an adult

Yes. If you are dropping off or picking up your minor but opted out of the Unaccompanied Minor program, we will issue you a pass to accompany your child to the gate. Please check with an airport agent at the time of check-in to have the gate pass issued.

Due to safety concerns, gate passes are not issued for the person picking up the minor (15-17) unless they are enrolled in the Unaccompanied Minor program.

Yes. International UMNR travel resumed April 1, 2021. However, there are some restrictions on travel based on individual country requirements or travel on other airlines. Contact Reservations at 800-325-8847 for more detail related to international travel for UMNRs.