Taking care of your child
We offer a special service for children travelling alone called Skyflyer Solo to make sure they have a safe and fun flight.
On British Airways flights children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a person of 16 years of age or above. The person accompanying the child can be a family member, guardian or other appointed person. If this is not the case, the child must be registered with our Skyflyer Solo service.
The Skyflyer Solo service must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of the flight departure, otherwise it will not be possible for your child to travel.
On occasions where a large number of unaccompanied children are travelling on the same flight, British Airways provides an in-flight escort. Due to the lengthy process for gaining visa clearance for the escort on routes to Algeria, Libya and Russia, British Airways can now only offer a limited number of bookings for unaccompanied children on these flights. You will be offered an alternative flight at the time of booking, should this limit have been reached. To avoid disappointment please book as early as possible.
We do charge for this service, which must be booked and paid for together with your child’s flight. At present the flight and service cannot be booked online.
Age restrictions
Children aged 5 years
Your child can travel from age five upwards on a single sector, direct, non-stop flight only.
Children aged 6-12 years
Your child can travel from the age of six on any British Airways flight. Your child must be registered for the Skyflyer Solo service unless they are accompanied by a person of 16 years of age or above. The person accompanying the child can be a family member or an appointed person.
Children aged over 12 years
The service is also available on request for children up to their 18th birthday.
Special conditions
- The Skyflyer Solo service must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of the flight departure, otherwise it will not be possible for your child to travel.
- On occasions where a large number of unaccompanied children are travelling on the same flight, British Airways provides an in-flight escort. Due to the lengthy process for gaining visa clearance for the escort on routes to Algeria, Libya and Russia, British Airways can now only offer a limited number of bookings for unaccompanied children on these flights. You will be offered an alternative flight at the time of booking, should this limit have been reached. To avoid disappointment please book as early as possible.
- We cannot accept children travelling alone on any itineraries which include a transfer between London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports.
- We cannot accept children on any itineraries which involve a night-stop or a transfer/stopover exceeding six hours, unless you have arranged for your child to be met and cared for at the transfer point. Full contact details must be provided before the child can be accepted for their first flight.
- We cannot accept children who are flying on a standby basis.
How to make a booking
You can book your child’s flight and the Skyflyer Solo service by contacting:
- your local British Airways office
- or your travel agent
Please note that the Skyflyer Solo service cannot be booked on ba.com.
Booking instructions
- You must request the Skyflyer Solo service at the time of booking and at least 48 hours in advance of travelling.
- Please note a cancellation or re-issue fee will be incurred if the service is not requested at the time of booking.
- If you are booking through your travel agent, please take your child’s passport with you, as you will need to show this to make the booking.
- It is important to check that all visas and other formalities have been completed.
- Additional documentation is needed for some countries when your child is travelling alone.
Cost of the service
In addition to the flight price, the Skyflyer Solo service fee per child, per sector, is approximately:
- US $50 ($100 return trip)
- UK £32 (£64 return trip)
Exchange rates fluctuate, so the example above is not exact.
- British Airways codeshare and franchise partners have their own charges.
- Please contact your local British Airways office or your travel agent for further information.
- Other airlines, with whom we have alliances, may have different regulations, age limits, and charges, so do check when you make your flight booking.
When your child travels
check-in at the airport
- Please be at the airport with your child to check in at least 60 minutes before departure and remain at the airport until their flight has departed.
- At most airports there is a designated desk for children travelling alone. Please ask a member of airport staff for directions.
- You will need to complete check-in formalities in order for us to accept your child for travel.
- You will be asked for the completed and signed Declaration Form, contained in a distinctive blue wallet with red and white stripes, that advises us who will be collecting your child at the end of the journey.
- We will also ask for your contact details just in case there is any disruption to flights.
The Declaration Form will require the following information:
- age and date of birth of your child
- languages your child speaks if they do not speak English
- whether they have any allergies or additional needs
- name/address and telephone number both of the person delivering your child into our care and the name/address and telephone number of the person collecting your child at the destination; or the airline to which they are transferring, if applicable
- a contact telephone number on which nominated parents/guardians can always be contacted both at the departing and arrival airport. This is particularly important should there be any disruption to flights.
Taking your child into our care
A member of staff will host your child throughout their journey, until they are collected by the nominated adult at the arriving airport, or by the transferring airline if applicable. It is essential that we know who will be collecting your child as they will be required to show us formal identification.
At London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, we have dedicated lounges for children travelling alone, where they will be cared for until they board their flight.
On board
Our cabin crew will look after your child for the duration of the flight.
On some of our flights, where several unaccompanied children are travelling together, we have dedicated Skyflyer escorts to assist the cabin crew.
On arrival
Our ground staff will host your child from the aircraft through all the arrival procedures until they have met up with the person nominated to collect them, or the staff of the airline to which your child is transferring.
If the person collecting your child is delayed, it is essential that you advise us as we have limited hours of operation at some airports.
The safety and security of your child is of utmost importance and we do ask for identification of the person collecting your child to make sure it is the person you have asked to meet them.