Under Delta Airlines unaccompanied minor policy ensures that your child travels safely and reaches his destination on time and without any delays or interruptions. The airline takes every step mentioned in this policy for a comfortable and secure landing of your child at his destination.

Under this policy, your child belonging to the age group of 5-14 receives special flight services during his aloof journey without any adult. This program offers features such as a wristband to track your child, a lounge meant for kids, and Delta personnel to escort your child throughout their travel day. It means a Delta representative will always escort your child right from the arrival at the airport to dropping him at the destination. He or the airline will be responsible for taking care of your child throughout their journey.

In other words, Delta relaxes parents and guardians in that they can freely send their children alone to their destination through Delta flights. What does the policy cover? Let’s understand

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Delta Unaccompanied Minor Policy Details

Delta Unaccompanied minor policy mentions the age group of children who can or cannot travel without any parent or guardian. Not more than 4 children together can travel alone at once. This policy applies to one-way, return, or multi-city tickets. Following are the age groups that this policy covers-

4 years and younger– The airline suggests that parents should not send their children of this age group on a flight journey. Its policy also does not cover children belonging to this age group of 0-4 years.
5-7 years- Children belonging to this age group should travel alone only on non-connecting flights. Connecting flights may not be suitable for them. A fee of USD 150 will be applicable for sending them away on a flight journey alone
8-14 years– Children of this age group of 8-14 can travel without any adult on some connecting flights. They cannot travel on any of the connecting flights. Otherwise, the airline advises that they should travel unaccompanied only on non-stop flights. Again, you have to pay USD 150 for their unaccompanied minor ticket
15-17 years– Booking the unaccompanied minor ticket for children of this group is optional. Delta does not make it mandatory for your child of this age group to resonate with special flight and airport services during their journey. They can travel on both unaccompanied minor tickets as well as on normal tickets too. Both of the options are open to them. A fee of USD 150 will be applied for this age-group too

Rules for Unaccompanied Minors on Delta

Delta mentions the following rules in its unaccompanied minor policy-

You need to book the Delta flight ticket for your minor on the adult fare
Delta necessitates minors of the age group of 5-14 to travel on unaccompanied minor tickets
They can travel only on Delta, its partner airlines, or any other related entity
Unaccompanied minors can book connecting flights only of Delta, Delta Connection, Air France, and KLM flights
Delta does not allow the traveling of unaccompanied minors on the last connecting flight of the day
A Delta or its business partner representative will assist your minor child throughout the journey even if the flight is operating through another city.
Delta recommends that your minor remains seated in the rear of the aircraft to sit near a flight attendant for his safety
You can contact Delta Air Lines at 800-325-8847 (U.S./Canada/Guam/Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands) or numbers designated for all other locations for doubts or concerns
These minors cannot travel on Red-Eye flights. These Red-eye flights mean flights that operate between 9:00 pm- 5:00 am.

However, certain exceptions allow minors to travel on Delta red-eye flights. These are-

If the itinerary is international
Domestic flights of less than 2 hours
A flight from/to Hawaii and Alaska
If only one connecting flight of the day is left in all the airline networks

Delta Unaccompanied Minor Journey Guidelines

Delta suggests that you must come along with your child to the airport while he is traveling alone. This airline allows you as his guardian to accompany him until he enters the plane. You can assist them during the check-in and security check-up processes too. An adult should also reach the airport at least 2 hours before the arrival of your child to pick him up.

Moreover, Delta enables children to entertain themselves during the waiting time if their flight is connecting through Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, or Seattle. Its play area known as Delta Sky Zones allows children to make a phone call to their parents. They can also engage themselves in activities such as books, toys, and video games. A Delta personnel escorting them will remain available for their safety and comfort.

Documents required for check-in-

You are required to meet a Delta Airport Customer Service Agent for information regarding drop-off and pick-up for unaccompanied minor travel. At the check-in time, the agent will give you a wristband for your child to wear during the entire journey. You are also required to create a package of boarding documents and ID for your child to use as they travel. The agent will also ask you to submit the following documents during the check-in

Photo ID of the license, passport, etc
Address as shown on the ID
Contact phone number
Name, address, and phone number of the person receiving unaccompanied minor at their destination

Boarding & Takeoff of the Unaccompanied Minor

Delta obligates you or any designated adult to take your minor to the departure gate and remain with him until he boards his flight and takes off.

Before boarding or while at the airport, you should explain to him to be alert. You should be instructing your minor to inform the assisting Delta representative of any special needs. He should not leave the airport premises or his flight seat without informing him.

During the journey

Delta recommends the following things to pack for the in-flight period-

Games, snacks, books, and other entertainment medium
A small hand-carry bag for keeping the essentials
A checked bag that can be picked up on arrival by the adult receiving your child
Contact information and a valid photo-identity proof attached to your minor’s carry-on bag or jacket

Pick-up of the unaccompanied minor

Delta does not allow the release of your child to any other person than the named one. The receiving adult should be holding a valid photo identity proof and his signature at the airport. He should reach the airport at least 2 hours before the arrival of your child.

However, if the pickup person picking up your child changes, you should notify Delta at this number 800-325-8847 and provide the new information related to that person. He will need to obtain a gate pass after verification.

Even during the arrival, if you have sent somebody else to accompany your child, then a Delta representative will contact you to verify the identification of the person.