Booking air tickets for international students under 18 years old: airline support service

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

More and more students are studying abroad from high school, even middle school, and many of them have to fly alone. When booking air tickets for international students under 18 years old, parents need to understand each airline's specific regulations regarding children traveling alone, support services that can be registered, and accompanying documents. This article summarizes important points for children to have a safe flight and for parents to feel secure.

What is the Unaccompanied Minors Service (UM).

UM (Unaccompanied Minor) is a service where the airline sends staff to pick up children from the carrier at the departure airport, assist with check-in, boarding, in-flight monitoring, support through connecting points (if the airline allows) and hand-deliver to the registered pick-up person at the arrival airport. The person picking up must present documents that match the information declared.

Depending on age and company, UM may be mandatory, optional (additional registration possible) or not applicable. For students 14–17 years old, most airlines do not require it, but many parents still choose to register when their children fly for the first time or on connecting flights.

UM regulations of some carriers

The table below summarizes as announced by the companies at the time of updating the article. Rules and fees are subject to change, please check directly before booking.

Note: UM services usually only apply on flights operated by the airline. With codeshare tickets or multi-carrier itineraries, the airline may not accept UM or only accept it on some routes - this is the reason why you need to check carefully before issuing tickets.

Note when booking air tickets for international students under 18 years old

1. Prioritize direct flights or few stops

The fewer connections, the lower the risk of missing a flight or getting lost. If you must connect flights, choose the itinerary on the same ticket, with the same airline or alliance, with enough connecting time (not too short to miss the flight, not too long so that your child has to wait alone for many hours), avoid spending the night at the transit airport. See more first transit flight.

2. Check transit visa

Some countries require a transit visa even when not leaving the airport, or have separate regulations for minors. Please verify before finalizing your itinerary.

3. Landing at a convenient time for the pick-up

Schools or homestay families often arrange someone to pick up students under 18 years old; Choose a daytime landing time for easy handover. Many schools require flight information to be declared in advance – see Airport pick up and accommodation for the first days.

4. Register for the service early

The number of UM slots per trip may be limited. Please register as soon as you book your ticket, don't leave it too late.

5. Reasonable luggage

It's difficult for a child to manage on her own with a suitcase that's too heavy. Choose a ticket with enough luggage, pack neatly - for reference Tips for packing a 46kg study abroad suitcase.

Documents need to be prepared

• Student's valid passport and visa.
• The company's UM service registration form (if used) or service refusal form (if the company requires an optional age).
• Letter of consent/authorization from parents or guardian when required by the company or destination country (some cases require translation or notarization).
• Documents proving relationship (birth certificate), ID card of the mourner.
• Pick-up person information: full name, documents, phone number, address.
• School documents regarding guardian and approved residence (if any).

The study abroad application of a minor student has many unique requirements, read more articles Study abroad documents for students under 18 years old.

Flight day: what parents need to do

1. Arrive at the airport early, at least according to the airline's requirements (with UM, you usually need to check in earlier than regular passengers).
2. Stay at the airport until the plane takes off – many airlines require carriers to wait until this time with children using UM.
3. Track your flight status and stay in touch with your pick-up.
4. Remind your child not to accept things from strangers and keep their passport in their bag.

Procedures at Vietnam airports are carefully guided in the article Departure procedures at the airport; The things parents should tell their children are in the article First time flying alone to study abroad.

For young students, VeDuHoc chooses a suitable itinerary for its UM service, checks transit visas, guides registration documents and sends flight status messages via Zalo for parents to track each step - see Parents track flights via Zalo. The 24/7 support team is ready to handle any flight changes.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 16 year old child required to use UM services?

For most airlines, 16 years old is not required, but you can register if the airline offers it for this age. Please check the company's specific regulations.

Are there any fees for UM services?

There are often fees, calculated by segment or journey, fees vary between airlines.

Can I register for UM when flying with multiple airlines?

Often difficult, because UM applies on flights operated by the airline itself. Traveling with the same airline is a safer choice.

Can students under 18 years old complete their own exit procedures?

Students with valid passports and visas can check in, but parents should bring them to the airport and prepare authorization documents when required.

Your baby's first flight will go much more smoothly when every detail is prepared in advance. Contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 or view services air tickets to study abroad for advice.

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