More than 65,000 unaccompanied minors use the Lufthansa supervision service every year. A personal service ensure that our young guests feel they are in good hands both before take off and after landing.
The following information and range of services apply exclusively to Lufthansa flights. If your child is flying with another airline, please ask that airline which regulations apply.
Who must be looked after and who can be looked after?
Children aged between five and 11 may only fly unaccompanied if they are using our supervision service or if they are travelling with someone who is at least 12 years old. Children aged from 12 up to a maximum of 17 years old can also be looked after at the request of their parents.
Travel preparations for children travelling alone
Travel documents
When purchasing your ticket, you must declare that your child will be travelling alone. You will then receive a small yellow shoulder bag which your child must carry and keep clearly visible during the journey. Please put all necessary travel documents in the bag. For example:
- Airline ticket or print out of the etix® reservation and the supervision form*
- Valid passport/child’s identity card*
- Visa for destination country**
- Travel insurance certificate**
- Information on allergies***
- Receipt for pre-paid fees for the care service, if applicable
- Declaration of consent from parents/legal guardians that their child may travel unaccompanied**
*necessary in every case
**necessary depending on destination country
***recommended
Your child may of course keep the shoulder bag and a Lufthansa key strap after the journey.
Hand baggage and free baggage
For your child’s hand baggage the usual measures apply; your child should however be able to carry the bag comfortably. Essential medicines, warm clothing, a small amount of spending money and of course a favourite cuddly toy should also be included. Dangerous objects such as pen knives, scissors or even toy guns or similar items are not permitted in hand baggage. Please also ensure that your child’s checked-in baggage does not exceed the free baggage allowance. Please also note the latest hand baggage regulations.
Supervision before departure
At the airport contact a Lufthansa Service counter. A Lufthansa representative will accompany your child from check-in desk onto the plane. Please note that you must remain at the airport until the flight is airborne so that you are able to take your child home again should the flight be cancelled.
Some airports may offer the possibility to have the child accompanied to the gate by a parent or appointed person. Please inquire with the corresponding local airport authority. For flights departing from US airports gate passes may be issued by Lufthansa after clearance from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). A valid passport must be presented in order to obtain a gate pass.
Supervision rooms at Frankfurt and Munich
At Frankfurt and Munich specially furnished care rooms are available for children. A wide range of board games, computers with Internet access and games consoles provide lots of fun for our many small visitors and help pass the time before boarding the plane
Check-in desk at Frankfurt and Munich
At Frankfurt airport Lufthansa provides a designated check-in desk for unaccompanied children in departure hall B. At Munich, desk 431 in the departure hall on level 4 is especially for unaccompanied children.
Supervision on board
On board your child is welcomed and looked after by a stewardess during the flight. On the plane the child has a special seat located close to the flight attendants so that they can be on hand immediately. Games, crayons and colouring books and their own entertainment programme ensures - irrespective of the length of the flight and the route - that your child feels comfortable throughout.
Our special children’s menus are not just lovingly served and presented, they are also healthy and delicious. Meals can be ordered up to 24 hours before departure (no later than 48 hours prior to departure for tour groups) through the Lufthansa Service Centre. You can learn more about our children’s programme, Lu’s World, here:
Children on board
Supervision after landing
A Lufthansa representative will also be waiting at the destination airport to meet your child and hand him over to the person designated to collect him. Even if a flight is delayed, your child is in safe hands with us. Naturally the parents/guardians and the person due to collect the child will be informed by telephone of the delay and the new flight arrival time. For security reasons, the person collecting the child must produce valid identification, which is then compared to the information in the shoulder bag, before the child is entrusted to them. Please communicate this information in good time to whoever is collecting the child.
The supervision form
Save time by printing out the supervision form at home. We recommend three copies: one for you, one for your child’s small yellow bag (which you will receive when you book) and one for us.
Supervision form
Tariffs and charges
Air fare
The air fare for children up to 12 years of age is determined by the rules of the tariffs which apply. For exact information on prices please contact the Lufthansa Service Centre, your local Lufthansa Airport Ticket Team or your travel agent.
Supervision charges
In addition to the air fare, supervision charges apply per flight section:
| Charge in Euros | Charge in USD | Where applies |
|---|---|---|
| EUR 40 | USD 60 | flight within Germany or within Europe |
| EUR 80 | USD 120 | Intercontinental flight |
Examples of calculation of the charges
Flight from Vienna via Munich to New York EUR 40 / USD 60 (for the flight within Europe) + EUR 80 / USD 120 (for the intercontinental flight) = EUR 120 / USD 180.
Flight from Delhi via Frankfurt to New York EUR 80 / USD 120 (for 1. intercontinental flight) + EUR 80 / USD 120 (for 2. intercontinental flight) = EUR 160 / USD 240
Booking
Tickets for children travelling alone cannot be booked online; they can only be booked through the Lufthansa Service Centre or at your travel agency. Bookings made via the Lufthansa Service Centre will incur a Ticket Service Charge.
Further information
For enquiries please contact the Lufthansa Service Centre. The Lufthansa Airport Team at your local airport will also be happy to help with any queries.
