Lufthansa Unaccompanied Minor Policy

This article details Lufthansa unaccompanied minor policy, including age requirements, booking details, documents needed, fees charged, airport procedures, inflight experience, terms and conditions, and why Lufthansa is a great choice for independent children. Families can prepare kids for travel with confidence knowing Lufthansa promotes child safety, security, and assistance during the trip.

Unaccompanied Minor Definition and Age Restrictions

Lufthansa defines an unaccompanied minor (UM) as a youngster between 5 and 11 traveling alone. Minors 12–17 qualified, although the airline treats them as young adults unless parents request differently.

Key requirements for minors traveling solo include:

• Ages 5–11: Considered unaccompanied minors and required to use the airline’s UM assistance services, fees apply.
• Ages 12-17: Can optionally register as an UM or travel independently.
• Under 5: Not permitted to travel unaccompanied

For children with connecting Lufthansa or partner flights, there is sometimes flexibility if age requirements vary. For example, if one flight segment permits UMs starting at age 6, that lower limit would apply for the entire journey if booked together.

The maximum age varies for designating a minor as an UM based on the destination:

• Flights within Germany: 17 years
• Flights within Europe and North Africa: 17 years
• Intercontinental flights: 15 years

Parents should check for any upcoming birthdays that would disqualify UM eligibility for the return trip. Unaccompanied minors who turn 18 before booking travel dates are not accepted.

 When making multi-airline bookings, keep in mind that each carrier’s unaccompanied minor policies can differ, so always verify.

Booking Requirements and Fees for Unaccompanied Minors

Unaccompanied minors must call Lufthansa 24 hours before travel to book. Not allowed: last-minute bookings.

The following details should be ready when reserving:

• Minor passenger’s full name, gender, age, nationality, and contact information
• Flight itinerary for all segments
• Accompanying an adult’s name or number for drop-off or pickup
• Parents’ or guardians’ contact details
• Special assistance requests

A one-way flight fee between €60 and €100 is charged per minor (discounts may apply for mileage members). Payment methods include credit cards and invoices. The unaccompanied minor service charge covers airport supervision and inflight attendance. Some airport taxes may also apply.

It’s mandatory for an adult to drop off or collect the minor at their origins or destinations. If not the parent, Lufthansa needs the responsible parties’ details during booking. The adult must remain at the airport until 1 hour after departure.

Guardians should budget extra time for check-in and pickup to meet attendants and verify paperwork. Missing forms or escorts can risk travel.

The airline restricts transporting unaccompanied minors on the following itineraries, so confirm if applicable:

• The first or last connecting flight
• The final destination for Germany is a non-EU country.
• Flights heading to or from the USA and Canada

Booking for more than one minor per flight requires advance arrangements. Siblings can travel together, but each needs their own booking reference.

Special Assistance and Amenities Provided

Unaccompanied minors on Lufthansa receive premium care and heightened attention throughout their independent travel.

Airport Check-In and Lounge

• Designated check-in counters and attendants
• Expedited luggage and security processing
• Private waiting areas and airport lounge access

During Boarding

• First onboard priority
• Cabin crew introduction
• Pre-reserved window or aisle seats in the first rows
• Welcome goodie bags and special kids’ meals!
• Free headsets, games, books, and magazines

Inflight Experience

• Inflight systems are pre-set with child profiles.
• Regular crew and companion visits
• Help serving meals, drinks, blankets, etc.
• Escorting visits to restrooms when needed
• Supervising during periods of sleep

Arriving Airport

• Connecting flight assistance
• Fast-track transfers, if applicable
• Priority: claiming baggage
• Dedicated pickup and exit attendants

Parents appreciate Lufthansa’s mix of inclusive amenities, personalized care, entertainment options, and proper supervision. From favorite snacks and guardianship to professional staff helping navigate airports, Lufthansa strives to ease concerns for both minor passengers and those sending them off.

Priority boarding and deplaning

As an unaccompanied minor policy priority, Lufthansa supports early secure boarding and deplaning. This reassures both children and parents while minimizing possible delays.

Pre-Boarding
Attendants arrange an initial meet and greet at the departure gate 30 minutes prior to the scheduled boarding time. Here, final travel documents are verified before ushering minors on board first. Kids get hands-on introductions to the smiling flight crew in a casual, friendly setting. Attendants then seat UMs near the front by windows, close to galley service areas for convenience.

Boarding: When general priority boarding starts, staff walks minors through uniq queues to optimize cabin storage space for carry-ons and get comfortably settled in assigned recliners. Flight attendants make sure special kids’ backpacks, amenity kits, headsets, and pre-ordered meals arrive before other passengers begin entry.

Deplaning

Concluding the trip, staff again escorts UMs off first after landing. This includes accompanying children during the short walk across airports for fast-tracked connections. For final destinations, approved receiving adults meet planeside, then take custody after verified identification check-ins. Attendants stay present throughout goodbyes to answer any last questions before officially releasing minors.

The supervised acceleration helps lower unneeded anxieties children often feel in unfamiliar transit spaces without parents physically near. It’s one more way Lufthansa demonstrates customer care for the smallest flyers.

Required Documents and Airport Check-In Process

Escorting adults must provide specific paperwork when checking in unaccompanied minors at origins, while parents or guardians confirm reception readiness at destinations. Details include:

Documents Requirements

Identificationflights Minor travel form

• Birth certificate copies or passports
• Parent/guardian government-issued ID copies
• Signed custody information and permission verifications
• Emergency contacts or information (2 copies minimum)
• An accompanying adult ID is required for check-in or release.

Where applicable, extra documents like visas or customs authorizations may be necessary.

The airline reviews files carefully to safeguard oversight. Make sure children understand not to leave attendants unless instructed once traveling.

Check-in and Airport Process

Standard check-in deadlines apply for unaccompanied minors. Arrive at airline counters 90 minutes before departure for domestic and 2 hours for international. Attendants meet arriving UMs and take charge through an exclusive escort pathway:

1. Verify paperwork and flight status.
2. Specialized luggage tagging and priority loading
3. Security fast tracks, sometimes private when available
4. Escorting around airport restaurants, shops, and lounges
5. Last bathroom break before heading to gates
6. First onboard seating assignments

At final destinations, the receiving adult (parent, guardian, or other approved party meeting the minor) must arrive no later than flight touchdown plus 60 minutes. Tardiness risks customs and immigration problems that could necessitate taking children into custody. Proper, timely pickups are mandatory.

Guardianship Requirements and Restrictions

Lufthansa maintains firm guardianship rules for unaccompanied minor travel. On top of verifiable custodial contacts, parents must follow strict family accompaniment guidelines that can restrict bookings if unsupported:

• Children under 5 cannot travel unescorted.
• Infant carry-ons require an adult guardian onboard.
• Only 1 lap infant is allowed per accompanying adult.

Additionally, minors with conditions needing specialized assistance must bring guardians despite medical clearance to fly independently.

• Physical disabilities
• Learning disorders like autism
• Serious allergies or medical issues
• Mental health obstacles

Make sure to disclose and document health challenges beforehand when booking UMs requiring supplementary aid.

Contact Information

For questions regarding Lufthansa’s unaccompanied minor services and policies, multiple contact options are available:

Phone Support: (open daily, 24 hours a day).
Email: [email protected]

Parents can also use Lufthansa’s online contact form or reach out via social media channels like Twitter and Facebook. Preparing key details on hand (such as booking references, flight dates and numbers, and named contacts) helps expedite responses from customer service teams. Expect fast, friendly assistance.

Domestic vs. International Unaccompanied Minor Policies

While the core basics stay consistent, some variance exists between Lufthansa’s domestic and international unaccompanied minor travel policies regarding:

Domestic Flights: Unaccompanied Minor Rules

For travel within Germany or between German airports and European destinations, Lufthansa’s unaccompanied minor policies include:

• Age: 5–17 years old
• Multi-segment journeys are allowed.
• Flight connections under 90 minutes are accepted.
• Web check-in is unavailable.

International Flights Unaccompanied Minor Regulations

For long-haul intercontinental flights to and from North America, Asia, and beyond, the rules for unaccompanied minors include:

• Age: 5–15 years old
• Only nonstop routes without connections
• No first or last flight legs as an UM

Differing country entry rules can also apply (passports, visas, customs, etc.), so confirm specifics based on destinations. Domestic travel within Germany or the EU involves less bureaucracy than overseas journeys.

In-flight Experience and Support

From pre-boarding through final deplaning, Lufthansa’s helpful flight attendants devote focused attention to ensuring unaccompanied minors stay safe, relaxed, and entertained in the air.

Kids receive amenities bags with activities like storybooks, playing cards, madlibs games, and custom Lufthansa hero figurines to unwrap. Fun airline-branded giveaways help pass the in-flight hours. Courtesy comfort items such as cozy blankets, soft pillows, eyeshades, and slippers make settling in easier too.

Complimentary premium headsets allow you to watch personalized entertainment choices on seatback touchscreens. Lufthansa’s dedicated kid’s programs have hundreds of popular movie hits, TV shows, audio books, games, and music. Friendly crews visit periodically to follow up on meal and snack preferences as well.

With Lufties Kids Club perks, minor passengers can learn about aviation through illustrated guides explaining first-flight preparations. Themed activity packs have figurine puzzles, logbook stickers, certificates, and more. Lufthansa champions its smallest VIPs.

Terms and Conditions

Use of Lufthansa’s unaccompanied minor services constitutes agreeing to specific legal conditions covering:

• Compliance with all eligibility prerequisites for minors, routes, documents, booking times, etc. Outlined earlier.
• Signature authorizations from parents or guardians permitting travel without company plus liability releases.
• Mandatory provision of minor passengers, adult contacts, and complete journey information. Failure risks denial of transport.
• Allowing airline communications about bookings with named responsible parties.
• Assumption of full supervisory duties and costs for drop-off and pickup adults.
• Risk acknowledgments regarding potential duty of care transfers to authorities for stranded minors.
• Accepting sole caretaker decisions by airline staff and supporting minors when unavoidable.
• Route restrictions forbid first- or last-leg unaccompanied minor travel.
• Airport attendees release only pre-designated individuals with verified identification.
• Warning that failure to pickup from final destinations on time enables the airline to report circumstances to authorities like police or immigration. Ultimately, allowing transfers to custody-like holding areas.
• Potential country entry bans for repeat stranded minor incidents involving release to state care.
• Luggage content searches under suspicious circumstances with attendant witnesses.
• Mandatory escorts for medical cases limit self-care during journeys.
• Fee/fare forfeitures if attempting web-check-ins when prohibited.
• General travel policy and procedure adherence, like any ticketed flyers.

Responsible guardians should ensure full awareness and agreement with all applicable Lufthansa terms before unaccompanied minor travel.

Why Choose Lufthansa for Unaccompanied Minors

As a longtime global airline leader transporting over 100 million passengers annually, Lufthansa is an excellent choice for confident, reliable, unaccompanied minor travel.

Key advantages include:

• Industry Experience: With 60+ years of experience, especially serving smaller flyers, they focus enormous resources on perfecting UM programs. From attendant training to personalized processes, they understand this sensitive customer segment.
• Staff Professionalism: Elite team members support young passengers end-to-end. Qualified agents book travel, while tender customer service reps and vigilant flight crews oversee individual needs.
• Travel Scope Flexibility: They permit domestic German and European routes from age 5, plus intercontinental itineraries between ages 5 and 15. There are wide options for many destinations.
• Premium Inflight Care: enhanced amenities, preferred seating, customizable entertainment, and guardian-level attention in the skies.
• Seamless Airport Assistance: Reduced stresses navigating terminals with expedited check-ins, security fast lanes, private lounges, and helped connections.
• Convenient Nonstop Policy: Some airlines require connections for UMs under 8. Lufthansa allows simpler point-to-point itineraries.
• Reassuring Reputation: A storied legacy as a high-caliber airline representing European luxury, precision, and hospitality.

When only the best is acceptable for independent youth travelers, Lufthansa has trustworthy processes parents can believe in.

Conclusion

For over 60 years, Lufthansa Airlines has made the safety, security, and support of unaccompanied minor passengers their prime priority. As a global airline industry leader transporting more than 100 million travelers across the world annually, they have unparalleled experience and expertise specifically dedicated to unaccompanied children ages 5–17.

Lufthansa’s customizable premium care and enhanced policies for minors traveling independently focus on providing seamless, stress-free journeys from start to finish. Their exclusive services blend sensible guidelines and restrictions covering eligibility requirements, booking processes, necessary documentation, approved routes, and guardianship terms with family-friendly amenities and personal touches, making kids feel happily at home in the skies.

This includes trained attendant staff guiding tiny travelers through expedited airport check-ins, security fast lanes, special lounges, customs/immigration, pre-boarding priority, reserved first-row seating, and helpful inflight visits ensuring requests are met, from meals to bathroom breaks. Plus, kids receive backpacks with themed games, toys, headsets, and more, so flights whisk by with fun.

When only the best experience is essential, where child passengers’ contentment, safety, and supervision take center stage, Lufthansa has shaped reliable caring policies that both parents and minors can trust completely. By focusing extensive resources expressly on tomorrow’s VIP flyers today, young adventurers can feel secure and excited about seeing the world all on their own with Lufthansa’s five-star treatment.

FAQs

1. What is the minimum age for an unaccompanied minor on a Lufthansa flight?

Lufthansa allows unaccompanied minors ages 5–17 based on the flight destination. For domestic flights within Germany or to/from European destinations, the airline accepts unaccompanied minors ages 5–17 traveling alone. However, for long-haul intercontinental flights between Germany and international destinations like North America, Asia, the Middle East, etc. Lufthansa only allows children ages 5–15 to fly as unaccompanied minors. This narrow age range for teens reflects international flight complexities.

2.  What extra fees apply for unaccompanied minors?

Lufthansa charges a €60-€100 ($100 USD approximate) one-way service fee per minor to cover the costs of providing airport supervision and inflight monitoring by trained attendants. Additionally, some airport taxes may apply on top. It’s important to note there are no discounts for roundtrip bookings; the €60-€100 UM fee still applies per child on each flight leg separately if traveling alone both to and from a destination.

3. Can unaccompanied minors travel on connecting flights?

For Lufthansa flights within Germany or connections across Europe, unaccompanied minors as young as age 5 can travel on multi-segment itineraries with connecting routes, as long as layover durations are 90 minutes or less in the same terminal. However, for intercontinental long-haul flights linking Germany with overseas destinations, the airline prohibits unaccompanied minors on any indirect routes requiring flight changes. They restrict booking children ages 5–15 traveling alone only on nonstop point-to-point international flights without connections.

4. What documents do unaccompanied minors need?

Unaccompanied minors must supply identification like passports or birth certificates, written custody permission forms from parents or guardians, emergency contact information sheets (2 copies minimum), and detailed data on the responsible adults dropping off and picking up the children at start and end airports. Additional entry documents, like valid visas or other authorizations, may be necessary too, depending on the destination.

5. Can Lufthansa refuse to transport an unaccompanied minor?

Yes. While extremely rare, the airline can refuse transport of a minor passenger deemed unaccompanied if guardianship rules are unmet, attendants aren’t present when children are dropped off, customs and immigration delays risk temporarily stranding kids without parents, or minors have supplemental medical needs exceeding flight crew capabilities while in the air.

6. How are unaccompanied minors supervised in airports?

From exclusive check-in assistance to personalized priority luggage tagging and security fast lane access, use of private airport lounge spaces, and escorted walkabouts in terminals for bathroom visits or meals together before boarding, attendants provide specialized supervision, monitoring minors each step while airside. Staff stay beside unaccompanied kids continuously through airports until handing off to flight crew during pre-boarding.

7. How does the boarding process work?

The boarding process involves an early meet-and-greet at departure gates 30 minutes prior to facilitate introductions between children and airline crews. Unaccompanied minors are then ushered on-board flights first before other passengers, with pre-reserved window or aisle seats near galleys and lavatories for attendant access. Welcome goodie bags, children’s meals, and entertainment are prepared in advance.

8. What special in-flight services do attendants provide?

Inflight, airline crew make regular cabin companion visits, checking on unaccompanied minors to see if needs are met, assisting in serving adapted meals and snacks, escorting for bathroom trips, supplying extra blankets and pillows, helping manage entertainment systems with kid’s programming, and providing general guardianship care through attentive customer service focused exclusively on minor passengers.

9. Must an adult guardian pick up unaccompanied minors?

Yes. Lufthansa only releases unaccompanied minors into the custody of the child’s parent, guardian, or adult designee named during booking. Identification is mandatory to verify custody transfers accurately at flight endpoints. Failure to collect minors on time can enable the airline to report circumstances to authorities like police or immigration officials. This risks placement in supervised holding areas.

10. When should unaccompanied minor bookings be made?

Unaccompanied minor reservations require booking at least 24 hours before flight departure times. Lufthansa does not accept last-minute UM walk-ups. The day advance window secures needed arrangements from attendant scheduling to special meal ordering for individual minor passengers.