The age at which you can fly by yourself depends on the airline and whether you use their unaccompanied minor service.
Flying alone is possible for children starting at different ages, depending on the airline's specific policies. These policies often distinguish between flying with a mandatory unaccompanied minor (UM) service and flying completely alone without supervision from airline staff.
Here are examples based on the provided information:
Airline Regulations for Unaccompanied Minors
| Airline | Regulation with UM Service | Regulation without UM Service |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | From 5 years old (with UM Service) | From 15 years old (without UM Service) |
| Turkish Airlines | From 7 years old (with UM Service) | From 12 years old (without UM Service) |
As you can see from the table derived from the reference data, American Airlines allows children as young as 5 years old to fly alone with their unaccompanied minor service, while Turkish Airlines requires a child to be at least 7 years old for solo travel with their UM service.
For children to fly without the unaccompanied minor service, the minimum age is higher. American Airlines permits this from 15 years old, and Turkish Airlines allows it from 12 years old.
It is essential to check the specific policies of the airline the flight is booked with, as regulations can vary significantly between carriers.
