Does Air China allow Unaccompanied Minors?

Yes, Air China has the Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service that recognizes the travel needs of unaccompanied minors. This service is applicable to children aged between 5 and 18 years, so long as they are flying on one-way direct flights or specific connecting flights that fall within either a same-day or overnight criterion. The airline has specific criteria for age, health of the child, and the booking period. However, children who are below the age of 5 are not supposed to travel alone.

What is the Air China Unaccompanied Minor Policy?

The Air China offers a special Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service which is aimed at the safety and comfort of unaccompanied children during travelling. This service is available for children aged 5 to under 18, with specific eligibility, booking procedures, and service guidelines depending on the child’s age and flight type. The highlights of the unaccompanied minor policy of the airline are as below:

As per Air China Unaccompanied Minor Policy, children aged 5-11 years travelling alone, without an adult (18 years or older), must be enrolled with the Unaccompanied Minor service.
The UM service is voluntary in healthy minors of 12-17 years of age and minors aged 16-17 with vision, hearing and illness conditions.
Children under the age of 5 years and deaf/blind children under 16 years of age cannot travel alone.
The service is applicable on the Air China-operated direct, domestic, international, regional and connecting flights with CA flight numbers.
The UM service is not available in flights operated in interline operating with other airlines.
On any given flight there should not be more than 5 unaccompanied minors aged between 5-7years and there is no limit to those between 8-12 years.
According to Air China Unaccompanied Minor Policy, minors have to travel with proper travel documents and airline’s issued travel document wallet.
A parent or other authorized guardian shall accompany the child on drop-off and pick-up with appropriate identification.
Air China staff offers personalized ground and on-board support including escorting through boarding gates, security, customs and to the connecting flights or destination.
Through tracking system on Air China, parents and guardians are able to track their UM journey status.
There is no service charge on domestic flights of unaccompanied minors aged 5-11; a fee is charged on the 12 to 17 aged unaccompanied minors.
All unaccompanied minors are charged service fee per flight segment on international and regional flights.
In case of flight delays, flight cancellations, Air China takes care of the minor and informs the parents in time.

These measures provide unaccompanied minors with safe transport and provide comprehensive support to them during the flight through Air China.

Air China Unaccompanied Minor Age Guidelines

The following table briefly shows the Air China Unaccompanied Minor Service Age requirements:

Age Group	UM Service Requirement	Additional Notes
Under 5 years	Children under this age group are not permitted to travel alone	Travelling alone is not possible due to health and safety
5 to 11 years	The unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for this age group.	Should apply UM service; no more than 5 children aged 5-7 in a flight
12 to 17 years	The UM service is optional / voluntary.	The healthy minors and the minors with disabilities have an option to opt in
16 to 17 with impairments	The UM service is optional.	Involves vision, hearing impairment or disease
Deaf/Blind under 16	Unaccompanied not allowed.	Should be accompanied by adults

What Documents Are Required for Minors Traveling Alone with Air China?

As per Air China Unaccompanied Minor Service the following documents are necessary when the minors travel alone:

A valid travel document of the minor (a passport, a visa, or an ID card depending on the destination).
Completed Unaccompanied Minor Travel Request Form or Unaccompanied Minor Service Application Form
The ticket or service receipt of the child of the Unaccompanied Minor service.
All these documents together with the personal items of the child are stored in a special ID pouch that Air China provides.
The minor must present a valid identification that matches the one submitted at the time of ticket purchase.
As per Air China UMNR Policy, all other documents indicated as necessary for travel such as health certificates, visas etc. must be carried by the children.
Parents/guardians are required to show proper identification and be present at the airport during drop-off and pick-up and complete all necessary custody arrangements.
The minor has to get to the airport 2 hours before the departure time for a smooth processing procedure.

Air China personnel accompanies the unaccompanied child in the check-in, security, customs, boarding, and in-flight care, taking into consideration the documents and safety of the child during all stages of the flight.

How Much Does It Cost to Avail Air China Unaccompanied Minor Service?

The price to use Air China Unaccompanied Minor Service is as follows:

Route Type	Minor Age Range	Service Fee (Approximate)	Remarks
Domestic (within China)	5 to 11 years	No service fee	The service is mandatory for this age group
Domestic (within China)	12 to 17 years	$30 USD (CNY 200) per segment	The service is optional for this age group
International and Regional Flights	5 to 17 years	$40 USD (CNY 260) per segment	The service is mandatory or optional per rules
Connecting Flights (including interline segments)	5 to 17 years	$40 USD (CNY 260) per segment	Fee applies per segment and accumulates

Therefore, the Air China Unaccompanied Minor Fee is dependent on the age of the child and the type of flight, being free of charge on domestic flights and with a differentiated price per segment on international flights or those carried by older children.

Read More: Icelandair Child Travel Policy

Smartwings UMNR Policy

How to Book a Flight for Unaccompanied Minors with Air China?

In order to book a flight of an unaccompanied minor via Air China, please go through the following steps:

Check Eligibility: Children between the ages of 5 and 11 should have a compulsory Unaccompanied Minor Service when travelling without their parents. The service can be used optionally by children between the ages of 12 and 17. Children below 5 years are not allowed to travel alone.
Apply for the UM Service: As per Air China UMNR Policy, the service needs to be requested at least 48 hours prior to the departure: either online, via the website or the app, or in person at the ticket office.
Prepare Necessary Documents: Make sure that the child possesses a valid ticket, travel documents and the completed UM application form, backed by copies of the IDs of both the child and the pick-up person.
Pay the Applicable Service Fees: Prices depend on age and the route, domestic service being free to children aged 5 to 11, and CNY 200 to CNY 260 per segment among older children or in international flights.
Print and Bring Required Materials to the Airport: After this is approved, just print four copies of the application form and one UM ID tag and present it on the departure date in the airport.

Be at the check-in terminal at least 2 hours before the flight and ask the adult who drops the child to stay till the time the aircraft departs.

Conclusion

Air China features an effective and stable Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service with the intention to make children feel safe, comfortable, and supported during their traveling. The clear age-based eligibility rules, the presence of staff answering their questions, and full-fledged procedures, which include booking, arrival, and all the process in between can help the parents to feel sure about their child travelling alone. Whereas the service is compulsory with younger children (aged 5 to 11), it is non-compulsory yet beneficial to older minors (until 17 years old) particularly those with special needs. With a clear set of booking procedures, documentation needed during the flight and arrival guidelines, families may rest assured about their child being in good hands during their flight when travelling with Air China.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unaccompanied minor service Air China?

Air China Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service offers children between the age of 5 and 18 traveling unaccompanied with a dedicated and personalized assistance throughout the process of check-in, security, onboarding and arrival. It involves on the ground and inflight support, safety tracking, and guardian communication during the travel.

How much does an unaccompanied minor service cost?

Children of 5-11 years of age get the UM service free on domestic flights. Customers aged between 12 and 17 or those that have international routes pay a service fee between $30 and $40 (CNY 200 and 260) per flight segment, depending on the route and the age.

What documents do minors need to travel alone?

Minors should have appropriate passport or identification document, the filled UM service form, the flight ticket, the needed visas, and the papers on their health. On Air China, one will get a document pouch that will accommodate all the travel items in a secure and easy to reach place.

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