Guide

Unaccompanied Minors (UM)

All useful information for Unaccompanied Minors

UM passengers must check-in at least 45 minutes (internal flights) or 1 hour (international and transatlantic flights) before the check-in deadline for the flight in question.


When the child is checked-in at the departure airport, , he or she will receive a special UM pouch to be kept throughout the flight.

The pouch contains:

  • the child's flight ticket,
  • identity papers (identification document with photo or, for international flights, a passport or identification document plus a certificate entitling the bearer to leave the territory delivered by the prefecture)New regulations are in place since 15 January 2017 concerning minors leaving the country. An authorisation to leave the country is required for a minor child who lives in France and travels abroad alone or without parents. It is a form established and signed by a parent (or legal guardian). The form must be accompanied by a photocopy of an identity document from the signing parent. More information here
  • parental authorisation 
  • an identity form stating the details of the person responsible for collecting the child at the destination airport. It is imperative that this person carries some form of official identification.

During the journey

  • Any child travelling without an adult is assisted by the airline staff, who take care of the child, accompany him or her during boarding and then again when it is time to disembark.
  • During the flight, the flight crew will watch over the child. If the child has to make a connection with the same airline, he or she remains in the charge of that airline.
  • If, on the other hand, the child has a connection with a different airline, formalities must be completed with each airline individually before departure.

Arrival

  • For their own security, unaccompanied minors are taken to the specially designated children's area (with play area for tots) in the arrivals zone (one in each the terminal). Adults collecting them can enter the luggage collection zone once they have shown their ID.
  • In Terminal 2, children are usually the last passengers to reach the arrivals area and are handed over to authorised adults after their identity has been checked. If a child is not claimed, he or she will be taken to the airline's offices situated on the 1st floor of the terminal.

Children over 12

  • Airlines are not legally responsible for children over 12 years of age travelling alone .
  • However they will assist such passengers in case of difficulty.

For more information contact your airline.