How Are Unaccompanied Minors Are Helped With A Connecting Flight?

Children 5 to 11 years of age who are not accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years of age on the same aircraft are considered unaccompanied minors. Travel arrangements for young travelers can be booked at any of the following:

• united.com
• United Reservations call center
• Your local travel agent

• United allows unaccompanied minor travel only on United Airlines and United Express® flights.
• Unaccompanied minors under 5 years of age are not accepted.
• Unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 7 may only travel on nonstop flights.
• Unaccompanied minors ages 8 to 11 may travel on any flight (nonstop or connecting) operated by United or United Express. However, travel will not be allowed on the last connecting flight of the day — unless the connecting flight is the only published service to that destination. Unaccompanied minors are not accepted on flights which require an overnight stay in order to make a connection.
• Children ages 12 to 17 have the option to pay the fee and use the unaccompanied minor service or they may travel as adults with no unaccompanied minor service provided

A minor child is helped by a United employee if they are in Houston, Newark and Cleveland and members of the Young Travelers Club (see: bottom of page) and would be escorted.

To prepare the child, it would be a good idea to print a map of the connecting flight airport so that the flight attendants or the gate crea can park the route carefully if you provide a highlighter with the map. (make more than one copy so that the map can be in a carry-on as well as a pocket for easy access.

It is also a good idea to provide a carefully marked map of the final destination airport so that the child will know where to expect the party who will be meeting him/her. This would be the best meeting point in Houston, Newark or Cleveland.

You should also learn more about the Young Travelers Club:

The Young Traveler Clubs provide an enclosed, secured area at select airports where unaccompanied children can wait for a connecting flight or to be picked up by the party meeting them. The clubs are supervised by United employees and provide entertainment and snacks for kids who have to "hang" for a while. Television, books, games and toys are available.

United has Young Travelers Clubs in Houston, Newark and Cleveland that are open daily.

The United employee(s) on duty is responsible for:

• Coordinating connections
• Providing comfort to anyone who needs comforting
• Ensuring enough snacks are available
• Negotiating differences between children should they arise

How the club works:

• A United representative escorts your child to the Young Travelers Club and gives their travel documents to the United employee in the club.
• The employee on duty keeps your child's documents until you arrive or it's time to board their flight.
• A United representative will escort your child to their flight at the appropriate time and introduce them to the flight attendants.

We recognize your concern that your child travels safely and comfortably to their destination. We make it a priority to create a pleasant experience for you and your child.