Tailored Policies for Every Flight

Travel is very important for people. Everyone, no matter their age, travels at some point in their life, whether it’s for fun or work. Children also need flight services, just like adults. Sometimes, they have to travel alone. One reason could be that they want to spend their summers with their grandparents. Another reason could be that they want to travel to school for educational or recreational activities. Traveling for youngsters is made convenient and safer with Turkish Airlines’s unaccompanied minor policy. 

In this post, we will give you all the important information about minors traveling alone. We will cover the eligibility criteria and the conditions they need to meet. The service fee is connected to the services provided by Turkish Airlines and other things. 

Turkish Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Service Include

Turkish Airlines provides services for young passengers who need to fly alone. For the benefit of this, airlines provide two types of services:

  • Unaccompanied Minor Service 
  • Escort Assistance Service

Parents or legal guardians can sign up for any of the above services if they want their child to be taken care of during the trip. Let’s figure out what’s different about the two:

Type of service

Escort Service

Unaccompanied Minor Service

Age group

2-6 years

7-11 years

Definition

A dedicated crew member would be given to the child who helps them and follows them at every point of the journey. If needed, an end-to-end drop service will be considered

There will be an early boarding, which will give the child more time to get comfortable and meet the flight crew. During transfers, a flight assistant will walk with the child. When the person who needs to pick up the child is there, the child will be given to them.

Eligibility and Criteria for Unaccompanied Minor

Children between the ages of 4 and 12 can travel on Turkish Airlines without an adult. Or if they are with someone under 18 who is not their parent. Both of the kids have to pay service fees for single minors. 

Based on the following rules, kids under 18 would be allowed to travel alone or not:

  • The child cannot be with an adult who is older than 18 years.
  • The airline does not provide a service for children traveling alone on flights that are part of a codeshare or interline agreement. Additionally, children are not allowed to travel on overnight flights.
  • Turkish Airlines may cancel a flight if there are unexpected problems that disrupt the flight. 
  • Children between the ages of 2 and 7 who are traveling alone will be taken care of by a flight attendant.
  • The child traveling alone will be charged the same fare as an adult and will have the same baggage allowance. 
  • To have the service for minors flying alone with Turkish Airlines, you must make a booking at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure.
  • Children who are traveling alone should arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight is scheduled to leave. 
  • Please note that young passengers are required to go to different counters at Istanbul Airport.

Guidelines to Book the Unaccompanied Minor Service

Children who are between the ages of 7 and 12 can use Turkish Airlines’ unaccompanied service. There are other conditions that may also be applicable, just like this one. 

  • To let a young person fly alone, their guardian or parent needs to sign a consent document.
  • The escort service is necessary for any children under 7 years old who are traveling alone. 
  • To reserve the unaccompanied minor service, you need to have a ticket at least 48 hours before your departure. 
  • If a child is traveling alone, their parent or guardian will need to pay the unaccompanied minor fee charged by Turkish Airlines.
  • When you book a flight for a child traveling alone on an intercontinental trip, the airline will add a service fee of $40. You will need to pay this fee when you make the booking.
  • At the check-in counter for Turkish Airlines, parents or guardians will need to sign some paperwork. The staff will also give guidance on any other requirements and documents needed.
  • According to the Turkish Airlines unaccompanied minor policy, parents should wait at the airport until the flight has departed.
  • Children are given seats near the senior cabin steward.
  • Turkish Airlines Seat Selection policy is very strict against minors. They don’t allow minors to sit on emergency seats.
  • When the plane lands, the cabin crew gives the young passengers to their parents who are waiting to greet them.
  • To arrange an unaccompanied minor service, the parent of the child passenger or someone authorized by the parent must make the booking.

Documents Requirements

When you get to the airport, make sure to bring a signed copy of the Turkish Airlines form for unaccompanied minors. Also, they need to have the following documents easily accessible when they check in:

  • You can use a valid photo ID like a passport or any government-issued photo ID. 
  • Please provide proof of address for the city you are going to. Also, provide the name, phone number, and address of the person who will be picking up the child at the airport. 
  • According to the Turkish check-In Policy, minors cannot perform online check-in. They only do offline check-ins.
  •  

Unaccompanied Minor Service Fee and Charges

According to the policy of Turkish Airlines, they charge a fee of 40 USD for unaccompanied minors who are traveling within Turkey. The amount you have to pay for the service fee depends on the specific travel routes listed below:

Travel Route

Direct flight (in USD)

Connecting flight (in USD)

Turkey

40

80

Europe

125

250

Asia

150

Not applicable

Africa

150

Not applicable

North & South America

200

300 (permitted only in the US and Canada)

Conclusion

The airline cares about your child’s safety and has created this protocol to ensure they have the best travel experience. The Escort service helps you with all the important paperwork and support at every stage of your child’s travel to make sure they are safe and have good company!

FAQs

Does Turkish Airlines offer services for children traveling alone?

Yes, Turkish Airlines offers services for children traveling alone through their Unaccompanied Minor Service and Escort Assistance Service.

What is the age group eligible for the Unaccompanied Minor Service?

Children between the ages of 2 and 6 are eligible for the Escort Assistance Service, while children between the ages of 7 and 11 are eligible for the Unaccompanied Minor Service.

Do Turkish Airlines allows pet to travel?

Yes, Turkish Airlines allows pets to travel on their flights, But you have to follow Turkish Airlines pet policy to book a seat for your pet.

Can children under 18 travel alone on Turkish Airlines flights?

Children between the ages of 4 and 12 can travel on Turkish Airlines without an adult, or they can be accompanied by someone under 18 who is not their parent. However, children under 18 cannot travel with an adult who is older than 18 years.

What is the minimum time required to reserve the Unaccompanied Minor Service?

To reserve the Unaccompanied Minor Service with Turkish Airlines, you need to have a ticket at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure.

How much is the Unaccompanied Minor Service fee for different travel routes?

The Unaccompanied Minor Service fee for Turkish Airlines varies based on the travel route. For flights within Turkey, it is 40 USD for a direct flight and 80 USD for a connecting flight. For other destinations, the fees range from 125 USD to 300 USD, depending on the region and whether it’s a direct or connecting flight.

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