UM Status?

What is Unaccompanied Minor Status?

Most airlines provide special supervision for young people traveling without an older companion. This special supervision requires a special designation of the traveler as an Unaccompanied Minor (UM), and requires payment of an additional fee. Depending on the airline, UM status may be optional or required (with age restrictions).

The benefits of official UM status include peace of mind that a young person will always be supervised throughout their travel – from the time they board their first flight (a designated non-traveling adult will be required to accompany the young traveler to their gate and wait with them until departure) to the time they reach their final destination (when a designated receiver will be required to collect the young traveler directly from the gate attendant).

Each airline has its own UM guidelines, fees, and provided services. We have compiled some information at the bottom of this page, current as of March 2020, for all airlines that fly to Bradley International Airport (BDL). However, parents/guardians should check with the airline before booking. We encourage parents/guardians to also do their own research of the airline policies and have it available when trying to make a booking, as in our experience some agents may not be very familiar with UM status and policies.

Travel Together. In an area with several MathPath students, one parent can be the guardian for multiple MathPathers on a flight to avoid UM fees and restrictions. Some airlines also may allow one unaccompanied minor fee (or a discount) for multiple minors flying together. In these cases, usually all tickets must be booked together on the same reservation. Again, check with airlines and research their specific policies.

Third-Party Travel Sites. None of the comparative online travel websites will allow one to book a traveler under 18 traveling alone. Booking must be done directly with the airline - sometimes a phone call to an agent is required. We recommend using an online service to compare flights and prices, then contacting the airline(s) with the best price. The prices found on the comparative websites might not be the same prices published at the airline's site.

Designated Receiver. Airlines will require specific information about the person to whom they will deliver the UM to upon arrival at the final destination. We determine our receivers in April, and we will provide the sensitive information to families who request it. Airlines will allow changes of the designated receiver, usually up until check-in. It is essential that the information the airlines ultimately have is exactly as we specify, or else our receivers will not be able to collect the student. If a booking must be made before we are able to provide this information, we will provide the family with a place-holder that must be changed to the final information we provide.

Travel interruptions. Persons traveling with official UM status have nothing to worry about should a flight be delayed (so that a connection is missed) or canceled. Airline staff will not release the UMs; they will rebook UMs on a later flight and assist the UMs with making their new flight.



Airline     Mandatory minor (a)       Minor Fee (b)     Fees for 3 bags
-------     --------------------      -------------     ---------------
Aer Lingus     (c)                      NA                   (d)
Air Canada     to age 11 (e)            $100 CAD             (f)
American       to age 14 (g)            $150 (h)        $30, $40, $150
Delta          to age 14 (i)            $150 (j)        $30, $40, $150
Frontier       (k)                                           (l)
JetBlue        to age 13 (m)            $150            $35, $45, $150
Southwest      to age 11 (n)            $50              $0, $0,  $75
Spirit         to age 14 (n)            $100                 (o)
United         to age 14 (e)            $150 (p)             (q)

Amtrak         ages 13-14 (r)           $0 (s)           $0, $0,  $20, $20

Greyhound      ages 12-14 (s)           $15 (u)          $0, $20, $20


(a) "to age x" means all children age x or lower must fly UM

(b) Per child unless otherwise noted

(c) Aer Lingus does not allow children 11 or younger to travel alone.
    Children ages 12-15 may travel alone if parents sign a Form of Indemnity,
    but Aer Lingus does not provide UM service. Aer Lingus' partner airlines
    that operate connecting flights have specific rules (disallowing UMs under
    certain ages), so please check with those airlines before booking.

(d) Depends on fare and when checked bags are purchased. Please see Aer Lingus'
    checked bags policy for more information. 

(e) UMs may only fly on nonstop flights. UM cannot be purchased for flights
    operated by a partner airline.

(f) Depends on itinerary and fare. Please see Air Canada's checked bags policy
    for more information. 

(g) UMs age 8-14 can travel on any nonstop or direct flight, or connecting flights
    through specific airports: Charlotte NC (CLT), Washington-Reagan D.C. (DCA), 
    Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), New York (JFK), Laguardia (LGA), Los Angeles (LAX),
    Miami (MIA), Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL), and Phoenix (PHX). 
    Must contact Reservations to ensure that the documentation is correct. UMs are
    not permitted on flights on a partner airline or on the last flight of the day
    for any connection (unless that is the only option).

(h) Per family

(i) UMs age 8-14 can travel on nonstop or connecting flights. Connections are only 
    accepted between Delta, Delta Connection, Air France, or KLM flights. UMs are 
    generally not permitted on the last connecting flight of the day or Red Eye
    flights. (There are a few specific exceptions, such as for overseas or if
    such a flight is the only choice.)

(j) Only one fee will be charged for up to four UMs traveling together. Must book
    together or contact Reservations to guarantee correct documentation.

(k) Frontier does not allow children 14 or younger to travel alone.

(l) Depends on itinerary and when bags are paid for. Carry-ons also require a fee.
    Please see Frontier's baggage policy for more information.

(m) UMs may only fly on nonstop flights. Maximum of three UMs per flight.

(n) UMs may only travel on itineraries where the plane and flight number do not change.
    (Such as nonstop flights, or flights where the plane stops in one city and continues
    to another and the UM may stay on the same plane.)

(o) Depends on itinerary. Carry-ons also require a fee. Please see Spirit's 
    baggage policy for more information.

(p) Two UMs may travel together for one fee.

(q) Depends on itinerary. Please see United's baggage policy for more information.

(r) Children age 12 and under cannot travel alone. UMs cannot change trains and must travel
    between 5:30am and 9:30pm. UM tickets cannot be purchased online. One child 12 or under
    traveling with an adult can travel for half price. A second child 12 or under with an
    adult will pay the full price for an adult.

(s) Must pay full adult fee.

(t) Children age 11 and under cannot travel alone. UM tickets must be purchased in person
    at a station. Trips cannot contain transfers, and the departing and arriving station 
    must be fully staffed (not curbside) and open at departure/arrival time.

(u) UMs must pay a full adult fare. Any child (age 11-14) traveling with an adult will
    be eligible for a 5% fare discount.

Please see links for each airline's UM policy below. The information above was compiled in March 2020 and may no longer be accurate. The most accurate information can be found on each airline's website.

Aer Lingus
Air Canada
American
Delta
Frontier
Jet Blue
Southwest
Spirit
United

Amtrak

Greyhound