Is it true that you have to be 15 or older to fly alone now?

Question

We were going to send a 12 year old cousin to london for a week so she could stay with her grandparents, but on all the sites we went to (such as expedia and orbitz), they said something along these lines:

"Due to airline restrictions, we can only book children ages 15+ on trips without adult or senior travelers"

Does this mean you have to be 15 or orlder to fly alone now, or is it just that they can't book it online?

Anyone encounter similiar problems?

Oh yeah, maybe this is a new rule that just arrived recently?

Answer 1

The 12 year old can fly. So can younger children. Some airlines will allow a 12 year old on board with no restrictions, while others want a higher age. Under-age travellers are called Unaccompanied Minors (UMs)

The usual restrictions are that an adult family member or guardian must be nominated to bring the child to the airport and another person must be nominated to pick up the child from the destination airport. This information has to be on the airline reservation file, in advance of the flight date.

All such arrangements must be made directly with the airline.

Documents must be presented at the check-in desk, and a signature of a parent or guardian is required at that time.

The airline representatives will hand over the child to the crew on board the aircraft, against a signature, and the crew will get a signature when the child comes off the aircraft at the next airport.

The child is accompanied by airline personnel through Customs /Immigration clearance (family members who are at the airport waiting for the child may be invited into the process by Customs/Immigration) and then given to the receiving family member at the destination airport, where the person receiving the child will also provide personal identification and sign the Unaccompanied Minor document.

Answer 2

Nope. that is not true. I just flew Delta to Buenos Aires in December, (I'm 14), with my 16 year old brother. I had an attendant, but on Delta, if you are over 16 but under 18, you can have unaccompanied status, but be left alone to navigate things by yourself.
Expedia and Orbitz may say that because you generally have to book directly through the airline in order to pay the unaccompanied fees.
I'm pretty sure that even 8-year olds can fly alone.
So, your cousin should be able to go with no problems.

Answer 3

i don't think that's true- my 13-year old cousin Brooke flew from Florida to New York on her own. Maybe it depends on the airline??