Before you book a child onto a flight alone
- Book the young traveller directly with the airline, not just through a travel agent or third-party site — solo bookings for under-16s usually can't be completed online and need the airline to flag the reservation
- None of these UK airlines still run a full chaperone service — a "young person travelling alone" is unescorted, so make sure your child is confident finding the gate, boarding and disembarking on their own
- Budget airlines are stricter: easyJet and Ryanair simply won't carry an unaccompanied under-16 at all, so a younger child must travel with an adult (18+ on Ryanair since June 2025)
- Some airlines don't allow solo young travellers on connecting flights — Virgin Atlantic limits 14–15s to direct routes only, so avoid itineraries with a change of plane
- Check the destination's own rules: countries such as France and Portugal require a signed parental authorisation letter for under-18s leaving the country
- Send your child with a charged phone (international roaming for overseas trips), a payment card or cash, and the consent paperwork the airline asks for
- Planning the trip on points? Compare the best UK travel rewards credit cards
Rules and fees last verified 2026-07-16 against each airline's own policy pages. Always confirm directly with the airline before booking — policies change.