What services are provided to unaccompanied minors on Turkish Airlines?
Turkish Airlines offers 2 types of services for children travelling alone: Escort Service and Unaccompanied Minor Service.
Snapshot of Turkish Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Service
Per Turkish Airlines Unaccompanied Minor policy, children travelling as unaccompanied minors must be booked under any one of the following services, depending on their age:
- Travel Companion/Escort Service
- Under this service, children between 2 and below 7 years who do not have an adult guardian to accompany them will be assigned a travel companion/cabin staff escort for a fee—they cannot travel alone.
- The travel companion will travel with your child throughout the journey, look after your child’s needs, and deliver your child to the adult nominated by you to receive your child at the arrival airport.
- Unaccompanied Minor Service
- Children between 7 and below 12 years who are travelling without a guardian must be booked by the parent or legal guardian under the Unaccompanied Minor Service—the service is mandatory for them.
- The flight attendant will look after the unattended child passenger.
- Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on connecting flights (domestic or international) unless accompanied by a parent, first-degree relative, or guardian.
- AnadoluJet flights charge an additional service fee for unaccompanied child passengers.
How to Book the Travel Companion/Escort Service for Children
Turkish Airlines Travel Companion/Escort Service is for children travelling without a parent or adult legal (at least 18 years old). Under the service, Turkish Airlines will assign a travel companion for your child, provided you book the service at least 48 hours before flight departure.
- The service can be booked for child passengers aged between 2 and below 7 years.
- The service is mandatory for unaccompanied children—they cannot travel alone.
- Your child will be escorted by a responsible adult travel companion throughout the journey.
- The adult travel companion will look after your child’s needs throughout the journey and hand over your child at the arrival airport to the adult nominated by you.
- You must pay for your child’s ticket plus all the costs relating to the travel companion.
- You, i.e., the parent or legal adult guardian, must accompany your child to the airport and hand her/him over into the care of a Turkish Airlines customer service agent. You must also carry a notarized document stating that you are authorized to hand over the child passenger to the airline staff.
- Documentation
You (i.e., the parent/adult guardian) must sign a child carriage form (also known as the unaccompanied minor declaration form) and provide the following documents and information at the airport’s check-in desk:
- A valid photo ID, such as a passport, license, etc.
- Address as it appears on the ID
- Phone number
- Name, address, and phone number of the parent or adult who will meet the child at the destination airport
- During the flight
- Turkish Airlines escort/travel companion will travel with your child.
- The escort/travel companion will check on your child from time to time to ensure that she/he feels secure and comfortable.
- The escort/travel companion will provide assistance during the flight.
- The escort/travel companion will also ensure that your child follows the safety instructions.
- Arrival and pickup
At the arrival airport:- The travel companion will:
- Escort your child to the gate after landing.
- Hand over your child to the parent or adult guardian nominated by you to meet your child.
- The parent or designated adult guardian must:
- Reach the airport at least 2 hours before the flight’s scheduled arrival.
- Carry a valid ID (with signature).
- Obtain a gate pass.
- Meet your child at the gate.
- The travel companion will:
How to Book the Unaccompanied Minors Service for Children
Turkish Airlines’ Unaccompanied Minor Service is available for children between 7 and under 12 years of age.
- The Unaccompanied Minors service is mandatory for children in this age group—they cannot travel alone.
- You must pay for your child’s ticket plus an Unaccompanied Minors service fee.
- Unaccompanied Minors will only be accepted:
- If all journeys in the itinerary are confirmed.
- On direct flights.
- The parent or legal adult guardian must reach the airport’s check-in counter with the child at least 2 hours before departure and complete all the required documentation.
- Documentation
- The parent/adult guardian must complete and sign an Unaccompanied Minor Authorization Form at the airport.
- The parent/adult guardian must provide the following documents and information at the airport’s check-in desk:
- A valid photo ID, such as a passport, license, etc.
- Address as it appears on the ID
- Phone number
- Name, address, and phone number of the parent or adult who will meet the child at the destination airport
- Boarding and takeoff
- The parent/adult guardian must accompany the child to the departure gate and remain there until the flight has departed.
- A Turkish Airlines staff member will escort your child to the aircraft and introduce him/her to the flight crew. The flight crew will apprise your child of the plane’s safety features.
- Your child will be seated comfortably near the cabin crew.
- If you have any questions, call customer service number for assistance.
- During the flight
- The Turkish Airlines flight crew will check on your child from time to time.
- Ask your child to:
- Inform a flight attendant if (s)he requires any assistance.
- Follow the safety instructions at all times.
- Wait for a staff member to escort him/her to the gate after landing.
- Arrival and pick-up
- At the arrival/destination airport, the parent or designated adult guardian must:
- Reach the airport at least 2 hours before the flight’s scheduled arrival.
- Carry a valid ID (with signature).
- Obtain a gate pass.
- Meet your child at the gate.
- Sign a note of acknowledgment after receiving your child.
- At the arrival/destination airport, the parent or designated adult guardian must:
Note: In case connecting flights are required (domestic or international), Unaccompanied Minors between 7 and 12 years of age will be allowed to travel only if they are accompanied by a parent, first-degree relative, or guardian.
If you have any doubts, call Turkish Airlines for assistance.
Country-specific Regulations for Unaccompanied Minors
Some countries (Italy, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico) have added regulations for Unaccompanied Minors and children traveling with guardians, so do find out in advance what these regulations are. You may also need to comply with the health advice for some destinations—such as vaccinations and medicine requirements.
- Italy. Under-14 children traveling out of Italy:
- Must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old.
- Must carry a passport.
- Must carry a sworn and signed statement by both parents/legal guardians. The statement must include the airline’s name in which the child is traveling and it must be authenticated by the local police headquarters.
- Brazil. If your child is traveling alone or with only 1 parent, the child must carry a birth certificate and a notarized travel authorization from both parents (authenticated by the Brazilian embassy/consulate). For details, refer to the guidelines of the Brazilian National Council of Justice (CNJ).
- Mexico. Minors traveling alone to/from Mexico, or accompanied by a non-parent or non-legal guardian, must carry a document—either signed by both parents or by the parent with legal custody or guardianship—before a recognized authority or notary attesting that the child can leave the country. If the document is issued abroad, it must be apostilled or authorized and translated if it is not in Spanish. If traveling to/from Spain, the local police there can provide a document of authorization for such cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must be at least 12 years old to travel alone without booking the unaccompanied minor/travel companion service on Turkish Airlines.
Yes, Turkish Airlines accepts unaccompanied minors on international and domestic flights. A few important things to remember:
Children between 2–7 years of age must either be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old or booked under the Escort/Travel Companion Service.
Children between 7 and under 12 years of age travelling alone must be booked under Turkish Airlines’ Unaccompanied Minor service—they cannot travel alone.
Unaccompanied Minors between 7 and under 12 will only be accepted on direct flights.
Unaccompanied minors are accepted on Turkish Airlines international flights also.
Turkish Airlines offers 2 types of services for children travelling alone: Escort Service and Unaccompanied Minor Service.
The Escort Service/Travel Companion service is available for children between 2 and below 7 years who do not have an adult guardian to accompany them. The travel companion will be assigned to supervise them and travel with the child. This is a paid service and includes the cost of your child’s ticket plus all the costs relating to the travel companion.
The Unaccompanied Minor Service is available for children between 7 and below 12 years who are travelling alone. The service is mandatory for children in this age group. To book the service, you must pay for your child’s ticket plus an Unaccompanied Minors service fee (which depends on the fare class and flight route).
You can book an Unaccompanied Minor on Turkish Airlines by calling customer service number or at the airport. However, if you want to book the Escort/Travel Companion Service for children between 2 and under 7 years of age, you must do it at least 48 hours before your flight’s departure.
The parent or legal adult guardian accompanying the child to the airport must carry a notarized document stating that they are authorized to hand over the child passenger.
They must also provide the following documents and information at the airport’s check-in desk:
* A valid photo ID, such as a passport, license, etc.
* Address as it appears on the ID
* Phone number
* Name, address, and phone number of the adult who will meet your child at the destination airport
You should book the Unaccompanied Minor service on Turkish Airlines at least 24 hours before your flight’s departure. Although this is not mandatory, it will ensure that your paperwork is in order, as you will be required to carry a notarized document stating that you are authorized to hand over your child at the airport. However, if you want to book the Escort/Travel Companion Service, you must do it at least 48 hours before departure.
Yes, the unaccompanied minor service is mandatory for children between 7 and under 12 flying on Turkish Airlines, unless they are accompanied by a parent, relative, or legal guardian who is at least 18 years old.
When you book the Unaccompanied Minor service, you will need to provide the following information:
Details about your child (name, flight date, flight number, passport/ID details, etc.)
Name, address, and phone number of:
The person bringing your child to the airport
The person you’ve authorized to pick up your child at the destination airport
When booking the service, make sure you have all the information with you.
If your child’s itinerary on Turkish Airlines includes a connecting flight (domestic or international) and your child is between 7 and 12 years of age, she/he must be accompanied by a parent, first-degree relative, or guardian who is at least 18 years old.
The Turkish Airlines unaccompanied minor service fee will depend on the flight route and fare class. It is charged in addition to an adult ticket fare for the child. For details, call Turkish Airlines.
Yes, children between 2 and under 7 years of age can only travel if they are accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old or booked under the Escort/Travel Companion service. Other restrictions are as follows:
* Children between 7–12 years cannot travel alone–they must be booked under the Unaccompanied Minors service.
* Unaccompanied Minors (7–12 years) will not be accepted on connecting flights—they must be accompanied by a parent, first-degree relative, or adult guardian who is at least 18 years old.
No, you will have to see off your child in the terminal area because only passengers are allowed beyond the gate. You will, however, be asked to remain there until your child’s flight takes off.
Yes, a 14-year-old child can fly alone to Turkey on Turkish Airlines, as long as all the travel documents are in place. However, the child has the option to travel as an unaccompanied minor after paying the applicable service fee.
Yes, 15-year-old passengers are not considered unaccompanied minors. They are allowed to fly alone from Turkey on Turkish Airlines. However, they can also travel as unaccompanied minors by paying the applicable fees.
Larry C. Casper says:
Greetings,
My 18-year-old child is traveling from Oman to Dallas, TX, USA via Istanbul (stay over 2.5 hours connecting flight). As he is traveling alone for the 1st time. We would like to avail assistance service during the flight change over at Istanbul and end to end. Please advise, is there any facility available with Turkish Airlines?