Unaccompanied Minors

We are pleased to offer services to assist your family with the travel needs of unaccompanied minors:

Age	Requirements
Infant under 2 years old	Cannot travel alone as an unaccompanied minor. Must be accompanied by another person 15 years of age or older, or their parent or legal guardian aged 13 years or above.
Child 2 to 4 years old	Cannot travel alone as an unaccompanied minor. Must be accompanied by another person 15 years of age or older, or their parent or legal guardian aged 13 years or above.
Child 5 to 11 years old	To travel alone must be booked as an unaccompanied minor or be accompanied by another person 15 years of age or older, or their parent or legal guardian aged 13 years or above.
Child 12 to 15 years old	Can travel alone or can be booked as an unaccompanied minor. If going to travel alone we recommend you advise us at the time of booking so they are identifiable to crew in the event of a flight disruption.
Young person 16 to 17 years old	Can travel alone and we recommend you advise us at the time of booking so they are identifiable to crew in the event of a flight disruption.

Booking process

In order to provide the best possible service to your family and child/children, we require advance notice of your needs before your booking can be confirmed. You can give this notice to us directly, or via an Authorised Agent, by completing our Unaccompanied Minor Form and submitting it to reservations@linkairways.com. If you do not advise us that your child is travelling as an unaccompanied minor at the time of booking, your child may not be accepted for travel alone and may be denied travel at the airport. Should this occur, your booking may be cancelled and any applicable Fare Rules (including Fees) may be applied. If no unaccompanied minor booking is made, no special arrangements will apply.

Fee

In order to meet the cost of providing additional services and care to unaccompanied minors, we charge an Unaccompanied Minor Fee per Passenger, per destination.

At the airport

We suggest you arrive at the airport least 75 minutes prior to your child’s scheduled departure time. Please ensure that you present to the check in counter no later than 60 minutes prior to your child’s scheduled departure time so as to ensure adequate time for you and your child to comfortably complete your child’s check-in procedures. Also please remember to bring a signed hard copy of the Unaccompanied Minor Form.

When you arrive at our check-in counter, we will adequately identify your child as an unaccompanied minor. Please ensure your provide adequate documentation to identify your child’s age and identity. Photo identification is also required from the person escorting the child on departure. Once the check-in process is complete, make your way to the boarding gate as indicated on the boarding pass.

We require that you stay with your child at the nominated boarding gate, your child will be one of the first to board and will be escorted by one of our friendly staff from the boarding gate to the aircraft.

After your child has boarded the aircraft we require you to remain at the departure gate until 10 minutes after the flight has taken off (i.e. is in the air). As you are the primary contact don’t forget to keep your phone on until the child would be at the destination and into the care of the person meeting them.

In transit

Unaccompanied minors are normally seated towards the front of the cabin. Where possible, unaccompanied minors may be seated adjacent to a vacant seat, however this will be determined on the day of travel and subject to operational requirements. Our crew will check on your child throughout their flight to ensure their well being.

For operational and crew availability reasons, we do not carry unaccompanied minors who have connecting flights with any other airline.

Should an unaccompanied minor not be met at the destination, we will take whatever action is considered necessary to ensure the child’s safe custody. This may include returning the child to the airport of departure. We will seek reimbursement for any costs or expenses incurred in ensuring the child’s safe custody.

On arrival at your child’s destination

On arrival at your child’s destination, our agent will escort your child off the aircraft and into the care of the person nominated by you to meet them. This person will be required to provide valid photographic proof of their identity before your child will be passed into their care. If photo identification is not available, then three other forms of identification must be provided (e.g. Medicare Card, credit card, debit card).

If your child is not collected at the destination attempts will be made to contact the person nominated by you to meet your child or the main contact. If this attempt is unsuccessful, the Police will be contacted for the safety and welfare of the child. If we incur any costs associated with ensuring the safe custody of your child, we will seek reimbursement for those costs and expenses from you.

Tips to make your child’s flight comfortable

Flying as an unaccompanied minor can be daunting for some children. In order to make your child’s flight more comfortable, we recommend you:

dress your child in comfortable clothes for the flight; as it can sometimes be cool in the airport terminal buildings or aircraft cabin, consider packing a light cardigan or jumper which your child can put on if necessary. You may also wish to pack your child a spare set of clothes in their Cabin Baggage in case they might need them; and
encourage your child to bring a favourite small toy or doll on the flight to help them feel secure and comfortable. Reading books, drawing and personal entertainment devices are also useful items to consider packing in your child’s Cabin Baggage.