Children
travelling alone
We'll take extra care of children flying alone to make sure they have a safe and happy journey – with total peace of mind for parents too. Our Unaccompanied Minor service is available for children aged 5 to 17 years old. Before you can request the service, the first thing you need to do is book your child's flight.
Always remember to check the latest travel regulations before your child's trip.
Children under five are not permitted to fly alone. They must travel with a parent or guardian at all times.
Children aged 5 to 11 can use our Unaccompanied Minor service for free. They must be booked on a normal adult fare.
Children aged 12 to 17 are permitted to travel on their own adult ticket, but you may prefer to pay to use our Unaccompanied Minor service. Guests between 12 and 17 are not permitted to escort an Unaccompanied Minor. Legal parents below the age of 18 will be permitted to accompany infants or children with relevant identification.
You can also call our contact centre to book or for more information.
If you change your child’s flight, you will need to submit a new Unaccompanied Minor service request. Make sure you do this at least 24 hours before your child’s flight – you may be charged if you request the service at the airport. For children aged 12 to 17, you will only be requested to pay again if you change from a direct flight to a connecting flight.
Make sure you have completed an Unaccompanied Minor form and your child has all the documents they need to fly.
Your child must be checked in at the airport at least two hours before their flight. Please stay at the airport until their flight has departed.
One of our friendly hosts will stay with your child until they board. If your child is flying in Business or First, they may use our lounges in Abu Dhabi only.
Our cabin crew will make sure your child has a safe, comfortable and fun flight. With E-BOX and an activity pack, there's plenty to keep them entertained. Remember, your child will need to bring their own phone or tablet to watch E-BOX on our A320 or A321 aircraft.
Whilst they are transferring to another Etihad flight, your child will be met and accompanied to our lounge in Abu Dhabi. Our Unaccompanied Minor service is not available on connecting flights operated by other airlines.
One of our hosts will guide your child through immigration, baggage claims and customs. Please meet your child at Arrivals at the scheduled arrival time of their flight – you’ll need to show your ID to one of our team.
We’re here to help! Simply visit Manage my booking to change your child’s flight, then submit a new Unaccompanied Minor service request form.
Make sure you have submitted a new request form at least 24 hours before your child’s flight – you may be charged if you request the service at the airport. For children aged 12 to 17, you will only be requested to pay again if you change from a direct flight to a connecting flight.
Please get in touch with us if you need any assistance.
At the airport, your child can use any of our check-in counters. You must stay with your child at check-in and stay in the airport until their flight has departed.
As your child is travelling on an adult fare, their baggage allowance will be as per our standard baggage policy. Use our baggage calculator to understand how much checked and cabin baggage your child can carry. You’ll also find these details on your booking confirmation.
Yes! You can reserve your child’s seat any time after you’ve booked up to one hour before they fly. Otherwise, we’ll automatically allocate a seat for free. See our seat choices.
The UK government has removed Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax for children aged 12 to 15 travelling from the UK in Economy.
If you made a booking on etihad.com and were charged APD tax, please email APDtaxrefund@etihad.ae with the booking reference and child’s passport copy. We will refund the full APD amount to your original form of payment.
If you booked with a travel agent, they will be able to arrange a refund for you.
Children must be between 12 and 15 years old at the time of travel, booked on an Economy ticket departing from a UK airport.
The South African Department of Home Affairs requires additional documents for children under 18 travelling to and from South Africa. All required documents must be presented at check in.
You can contact the South African Department of Home Affairs by calling 0800 60 11 90 (toll-free from South Africa) or speak to your local South African Embassy.
Spanish citizens under the age of 18 must carry a signed declaration of travel if they intend to travel outside of Spain without their parents or legal guardians. The permit must be carried in addition to their passport and can be obtained from the Spanish Police, Civil Guard, Courts, Notaries, Town halls or Consulates.
All foreign minors in Spain must carry their passport and all valid travel documents in order to leave the country. Always check with the relevant authorities to ensure that you have the correct documentation in advance of travel.
Our Unaccompanied Minors service is available on Etihad-operated flights only. Please carefully check that all flights are operated by Etihad Airways before making your reservation.
There’s plenty to keep children entertained on board. They’ll love our animated movies, TV and cartoons on E-BOX, and they'll receive their own activity pack of games and puzzles.
