Flying solo is a thrilling experience for children — and a heart-stopping one for parents. Fortunately, UAE’s national carriers, Emirates and Etihad Airways, have special Unaccompanied Minor (UM) services in place to make traveling alone a hassle-free, secure experience for children flying by themselves.
Both carriers have definite age eligibility policies: Emirates makes children aged 5 to 11 use the service, while Etihad makes it mandatory for children 5 to 11, with optional service for teenagers 12 to 17. For infants, a guardian has to accompany them to the check-in counter and stay at the airport until the flight takes off.
Booking an Unaccompanied Minor ticket has to be made via the airline’s customer service or a travel agent — not on the web. There’s a fee besides the standard ticket price. Emirates charges USD 50–75 per sector, while Etihad charges its service at around USD 100 per trip, depending on destination.
At the airport, dedicated airline staff assist with check-in, immigration, and boarding, and remain with the child until they are handed over to the designated guardian at the arrival destination. Safety and comfort are a top priority — from supervised lounge access to priority boarding and personalized care throughout the flight.
