Unaccompanied minor rules on Indian airlines — age thresholds, fees and what really happens at the airport (2026)
By Priya Nair (Priya Nair covers India's beach destinations — Andaman, Lakshadweep, Goa, Kerala — with a focus on the practical bits: which gateway airport, which ferry connects to which island, the permits, the scuba seasons, the budget math.) · Published · 11 min read
On IndiGo, the UM service is mandatory for children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone and available (but optional) for ages 12 to 17. Air India runs similar tiers. Fees are typically in the range of ₹3,000–₹5,000 per sector, the child cannot travel on a connecting flight under the UM service, and the handover process at both ends involves paperwork and a designated guardian pickup. Here is the complete picture.
TL;DR — the quick answer
Children aged 5–11 travelling alone on IndiGo or Air India must be booked under the airline's Unaccompanied Minor (UM) service — it is mandatory, not optional. For ages 12–17, UM service is available but airlines treat them as 'young adults' who can fly without it (though some parents still book it for peace of mind). UM service attracts a per-sector fee — typically around ₹3,000–₹5,000 on IndiGo and in a similar range on Air India, though check the current rates on the airline's site at booking. Crucially: no airline in India permits an unaccompanied child under the UM service to travel on a connecting or transit flight — only direct, non-stop sectors qualify. Under 5s simply cannot fly alone on any Indian carrier.
Age thresholds: what each age group means
| Age | IndiGo policy | Air India policy |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Cannot travel alone. Must be accompanied by a passenger aged 18+. | Cannot travel alone. |
| 5–11 | UM service mandatory. Must be booked through IndiGo's call centre or airport, not the website. | UM service mandatory. Can be booked online via Manage Booking or through Air India reservations. |
| 12–17 | May travel alone without UM service. UM service available optionally on request. | Treated as 'young adult'; may travel without UM. UM available if requested and airline capacity allows. |
One thing the age tables do not always spell out: the child's age on the date of travel matters, not at booking. If your 11-year-old turns 12 between booking and flying, double-check whether the UM requirement still applies or has automatically lapsed — the booking may need to be updated with the airline.
Fees — how much does UM service actually cost?
UM service fees are charged per sector (not per round trip — so both legs attract a fee). Fees have shifted across years as airlines restructure ancillary revenue, so treat any figure here as a directional range. As of mid-2026:
- IndiGo: Typically around ₹3,000–₹4,500 per sector, varying by route and demand. Short domestic sectors (say, Bengaluru–Chennai or Delhi–Chandigarh) may be at the lower end; longer domestic sectors (Bengaluru–Delhi, Mumbai–Kolkata) may be higher. Verify the exact amount on IndiGo's contact centre at booking — this cannot be added online for mandatory UM ages.
- Air India: In a broadly similar range per sector for domestic routes. International UM sectors attract higher fees — often USD 50–100 equivalent per sector depending on the route. Air India's website under 'Additional Services' lists current UM charges.
- Akasa Air: Has a UM service policy for children 5–11 on select routes; fees and availability should be confirmed with Akasa's reservations team directly as the airline is still relatively young and policies evolve.
- SpiceJet: UM service availability has been inconsistent given the carrier's operational challenges; call their customer service to confirm before booking.
The UM fee covers escort from check-in through to handing the child to the receiving adult at the destination — it is not cheap, but it is a genuine ground-handling service.
The no-connection rule — why it matters and what it means practically
This is the rule parents most often discover too late: unaccompanied minors under 12 on Indian airlines cannot travel on flights involving a connection, stopover, or transit — only non-stop, direct sectors are permitted under the UM service.
In practice this means that if you are in, say, Kochi and want to send your 9-year-old to visit grandparents in Guwahati, you need to find a non-stop flight between those cities — IndiGo and Air India both operate some Kochi–Guwahati routes, but not daily. If the only option on a given date requires a stop in Kolkata, the child cannot travel under the UM service that day. Your only alternatives are to travel with them yourself, find a trusted adult to accompany them, or choose a different travel date with a non-stop option.
International UM with a connection is similarly off-limits. If you are sending a child to visit family in London via Delhi (a typical IndiGo + Air India code-share or separate booking scenario), the child cannot travel alone — an accompanying adult must handle the connection.
Use the FlightGPT search or check the airline's route map to identify non-stop options for your city pair — filtering for 'non-stop only' on the results page will save you the pain of discovering a hidden connection at check-in.
How to actually book UM service — step by step
The process varies by airline, and one universal truth is that UM service for ages 5–11 cannot be booked online on IndiGo's website — you have to call their contact centre or go to the airport counter. Here is the typical flow:
- Book the flight ticket (online or at the airport) in the child's name. Select the non-stop route.
- Call IndiGo reservations (or Air India's reservations line) and request UM service for that PNR. Provide the child's full name, age, a pickup adult's name and contact at the destination, and an escorting adult's name and contact at origin. Both adults will need to provide a photo ID at the airport.
- At departure airport: The escorting adult must accompany the child to the check-in counter (not just drop off outside). You may be required to stay at the airport until the flight departs — airline staff will confirm this. The child is handed a UM pouch (a tag worn around the neck with the child's details and the contact of the receiving adult).
- On board: Cabin crew are briefed about the UM. The child is seated, typically in a window seat near the front of the aircraft where crew can keep an eye. Do not book an exit row — minors cannot sit there.
- At destination: The receiving adult must be at the airport with a valid photo ID. The child will only be released to the specific named adult. If there is any delay or mix-up — the designated adult being held up in traffic, for example — the child waits with airline staff until they arrive. This is reassuring in theory; make sure your designated pickup adult is reliably punctual and reachable by phone.
What happens if the flight is cancelled or significantly delayed?
Disruptions are the scenario that worries parents most, understandably. Under DGCA's passenger rights notification, airlines must arrange care and meals for passengers on delayed flights. For a UM, the airline's ground staff (or the contracted ground handler) is responsible for the child until they are handed over to the designated adult.
In practice:
- If the flight is cancelled, the airline should rebook the child on the next available direct flight. The escorting adult or the parent (via phone) should be contacted immediately.
- If the delay is at the destination, the receiving adult must still wait — the child does not leave the airline's care until the handover is complete.
- Keep both the escorting and receiving adult's phones on and charged on the travel day. Give the child a charged phone too if they are old enough — IndiGo and Air India staff are generally good about this, but an independent communication channel is priceless in disruption scenarios.
You can check real-time flight status on the airline app or on FlightGPT before heading to the airport — knowing early that a flight is delayed saves everyone a lot of stress.
A few things worth knowing that nobody tells you upfront
Some hard-won knowledge from parents who have done this:
- UM service does not mean priority boarding. The child boards with the general queue, not ahead of it, on most IndiGo flights. Arrive early so the crew can get acquainted with the child before the rush.
- The UM tag/pouch can scare younger children if they have never seen one. Tell them in advance what it is and why they are wearing it.
- Confirm the receiving adult's ID requirements in advance. Air India may require the adult to show the same ID used when naming them at booking. A mismatch — say, an Aadhaar with a slightly different name spelling versus the booking record — can cause a painful delay at the destination.
- IndiGo allows the receiving adult to wait at the airside area if they are a passenger on another flight. If not, they wait at the arrivals hall and airline staff escort the child through. The handover typically takes 20–30 minutes after landing — do not expect an immediate exit.
- Do not book UM service on the last flight of the day if you can help it. If that flight is cancelled, the next direct flight may be the next morning, and arranging overnight care for an unaccompanied minor is a complication airlines prefer to avoid and you definitely want to avoid.
For more on family travel logistics, see our articles on DGCA's free seat rule for families and flying while pregnant on Indian airlines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for a child to fly alone in India?
On IndiGo and Air India, the minimum age is 5 years old under the UM (unaccompanied minor) service. Children under 5 cannot travel alone on any scheduled Indian carrier and must be accompanied by a passenger aged 18 or over.
How much does IndiGo's UM service cost in 2026?
IndiGo's UM fee is typically in the range of ₹3,000–₹4,500 per sector as of mid-2026, but this is a one-way sector fee — a round trip means two charges. Verify the exact current amount with IndiGo's reservations team at the time of booking, as fees adjust periodically.
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on a connecting flight in India?
No. All major Indian carriers — IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express — restrict UM service to non-stop direct flights only. If the route requires a connection or transit at any airport, the child cannot travel under the UM service. You must find a non-stop sector or have an adult accompany them through the connection.
Can I book IndiGo UM service online?
For children aged 5–11, where UM service is mandatory, it cannot be completed online — you must call IndiGo's contact centre after booking the ticket to add the UM service, or go to the airport counter. Air India allows UM booking to be added via Manage My Booking in some cases, but it is safer to call reservations to confirm.
What ID does the receiving adult need at the destination airport?
The receiving adult must carry a government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport or driving licence) and their name must match the name given to the airline at the time of booking the UM service. A mismatch — even a minor spelling difference — can delay the handover, so check this carefully when you provide the details.
What happens if the receiving adult is late to the airport?
Airline ground staff will keep the child in their care in a designated area (usually an airline lounge or ground-handling office) until the named adult arrives. The child will not be released to anyone else. Make sure the receiving adult's phone is on and charged — airline staff will call as the flight lands.