Children travelling alone

Important notice when booking Italian children travelling alone

Laws in Italy have changed which affect Italian national children under 14 years of age when travelling alone.

All Italian national children travelling alone under 14 years of age must hold a completed Dichiarazione Di Affido, which can be obtained from all local police offices (this is not available at airport police offices).
These forms must be carried with your child's passport at all times.
Your child may be denied travel if these forms are not completed.
If this affects you and you live outside Italy, the authorisation can be issued by the Italian Embassy or consulate.

As a result of this change, British Airways requires any Italian passport holder under 14 years flying out of Italy on their own to travel on the Skyflyer Solo service.

You cannot make a Skyflyer Solo booking on ba.com. Please contact your local British Airways office to make the booking.

Important notice when booking children travelling alone

On British Airways operated flights, children under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by a person of 16 years of age or above.
On flights operated by our codeshare partner Meridiana, children under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by a person of 18 years of age or above.
The person accompanying the child can be a family member, guardian or other appointed person.
If the child cannot be accompanied by a family member, guardian or other appointed person, he/she must be registered with our Skyflyer Solo service or we will be unable to accept them for travel.
You cannot book the Skyflyer Solo service on ba.com

Please note that rules and regulations for children travelling alone may vary by country, so please check the applicable regulations with the local country authorities.

Skyflyer Solo service booking information

When you book your child to travel on a flight by themselves, we know you want to make sure they’re safe and have a fun flight. We offer a special service for children travelling alone called Skyflyer Solo for just that reason.

Things you need to know before booking

Girl smiling at crew member.

All children travelling alone, between the ages of 5 and 12 years old must be booked with the Skyflyer Solo service.
Children between their 12th and 18th birthdays requesting assistance can also be registered as unaccompanied minors by following the same booking process.
We charge for the Skyflyer Solo service, which must be booked and paid for together with your child’s flight. If not, cancellation and re-issue fees will be charged.
The Skyflyer Solo service must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of the flight’s departure, otherwise it will not be possible for your child to travel.
All flights must be confirmed at the time of booking.
Children from age five upwards can travel alone on a single sector, direct, non-stop flight only.
Children from the age of six can travel alone on any British Airways flight.
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.
Check that all visas and other formalities have been completed.
Additional documentation is needed for some countries when your child is travelling alone.

Please note that we cannot accept:

children travelling on any journeys which include a transfer between London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports
children on any journeys which involve a night-stop, transfer or 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

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.

The Skyflyer Solo service cannot be booked on ba.com.

Cost of the service

In most cases we will charge the adult fare for children travelling alone. In addition to the flight price, the Skyflyer Solo service fee per child, per sector, is approximately:

US $50 ($100 return trip) for shorthaul flights and flights within the UK
US $75 ($150 return trip) for longhaul flights

Exchange rates fluctuate, so the price may vary.

Other airlines, with whom we have alliances, may have different regulations, age limits, and charges, so do check when you make your flight booking.

Please contact your local British Airways office or your travel agent for further information.

Limitation of Skyflyer Solo service on some flights

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, Saudi Arabia and Russia, we can only offer a limited number of bookings for unaccompanied children on these flights.

Should this limit have been reached, you will be offered an alternative flight at the time of booking, so please book as early as possible.

Please note : the Skyflyer Solo service is not available on flight numbers BA001, BA002, BA003 and BA004 (Club World London City).

When your child travels

Check-in at the airport

You will need to accompany your child to the airport and go to the designated check-in desk, to hand your child into our care.

You will not be able to use online check-in or an airport check-in kiosk.

Please be at the airport early, with your child, to check in - at least one hour before the flight's scheduled departure - and remain at the airport until their flight has actually 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 their journey.
We will also ask for your contact details 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 care of your child

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 photographic 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.
The cabin crew will retain your child's passport during the flight, and will return it to your child after landing. This will be done in the presence of the ground team member who has been assigned to look after your child.

Arriving at their destination

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 photographic identification of the person collecting your child to make sure it is the person you have asked to meet them.