In accordance with its policy regarding unaccompanied minors, Qantas offers a fee-based service for children traveling alone, called Unaccompanied Minor (UM), on all flights operated by Qantas (flight number QF), both domestically in Australia and internationally. The child is taken into care as soon as they are handed over to a Qantas agent at the departure airport, assisted during boarding, monitored regularly during the flight, and then escorted to the designated person waiting to pick them up upon arrival.
Important: Jetstar (Qantas’s low-cost subsidiary) does not offer this service. It only offers a “young passenger traveling alone” option, without dedicated supervision.
Who is considered an unaccompanied minor?
Qantas considers a child to be an unaccompanied minor if the child is traveling without a parent, guardian, sibling aged 15 or older, or an adult designated by the parents, or if the child is traveling in a separate cabin from such a person.
– Age groups and requirements:
|
Child’s age |
Domestic and international flights |
|
Less than 5 years (or 6 years for long-haul flights) |
The passenger must be accompanied by an adult aged 15 or older. |
| 5-11 years (domestic) / 6-11 years (long-haul) |
Mandatory on certain roads |
|
12-15 years old |
Optional (UM or “young passenger”) |
| 12-17 years old |
“Young passenger” option available |
Please note: A child aged 5-11 traveling with a “travel companion” aged 12-14 is not considered to be accompanied by a responsible adult; the child must still be registered as an unaccompanied minor, even if the companion is traveling at the adult fare.
The UM service cannot replace the specific assistance required by a child with a disability or requiring special care: in such cases, a paying escort aged 15 or older is still required.
What the Qantas UM service does not include:
Qantas will not accept check-in as an unaccompanied minor in the following cases:
- Connections between two different airports in the same city (e.g., Melbourne Tullamarine ↔ Avalon, Brisbane ↔ Toowoomba/Gold Coast, London Heathrow ↔ Gatwick/City, Tokyo Narita ↔ Haneda);
- Connections with another airline;
- Any flight involving a codeshare (e.g., a Qantas flight operated by Emirates, or vice versa);
- A layover of more than 4 hours between two flights;
- The last flight of the day (unless it is the only flight of the day);
- An overnight connection.
If a child is not registered as a UM when required by regulation, the child may be denied boarding at the airport.
Qantas UM service fees:
A supervision fee applies to each trip, in addition to the ticket price, only on flights operated by Qantas:
|
Qantas UM Service |
Booked online | Booked at the airport |
|
Domestic flight |
60 AUD |
120 AUD |
| International flight | 100 AUD |
195 AUD |
Please note that these fees do not apply to QantasLink flights to Longreach, Barcaldine, and Blackall. In other words, the escort service is still provided, but the supervision fees that are usually charged as an additional charge do not apply to these three routes.
Example of how Qantas calculates UM service fees:
Sydney → Melbourne → Denpasar: If both segments are booked as part of a single reservation, the single international fee applies (100 AUD). If they are booked separately, or if the layover in Melbourne exceeds 24 hours, the combined fee is higher (160 AUD).
Supervision fees also apply if a parent is traveling on the same flight but in a different cabin class than their child.
How to book the Qantas’ Unaccompanied Minor service?
– Australian domestic flights:
Children ages 5-11: Book online at Qantas.com without selecting any adults on the ticket; the fee is charged at the time of booking.
Children ages 12-15: Book the ticket online (as you would for an adult passenger), then contact a local Qantas office at 13 13 13 to officially register the child as an unaccompanied minor.
Children aged 5-11 traveling with a “companion” aged 12-14: Book two tickets (one adult, one child), then contact Qantas to register the child as an unaccompanied minor (UM).
You can also modify your child’s flight booking information online, from the Qantas Manage my Booking section.
– International flights:
The reservation cannot be made online on its own; you must contact a local Qantas office or a travel agency.
After payment, the unaccompanied minor form is sent by email. It must be completed, signed by the parent/guardian, printed and presented at check-in (a separate form is required for each leg of the journey).
Required documents and identification
A photo ID is required for both the person dropping off the child (the guardian) and the person picking the child up: a passport, driver’s license, or ID card; or, if none are available, two non-photo IDs (Medicare card, bank card, library card, Qantas Frequent Flyer card, etc.).
For international flights, the child must have a passport and, depending on the destination, any required visas or travel documents in duplicate on paper.
What baggage allowance do UM passengers get on Qantas flights?
At Qantas, an unaccompanied minor is not treated as a separate category when it comes to baggage. They benefit from the same allowance, both in the hold and in the cabin, as any adult traveling in the same fare class. There are no penalties or hidden restrictions related to the status of an unaccompanied minor.
The real factor that determines the number of kilos or pieces allowed is therefore the fare booked, not the passenger’s age. → Read more about the baggage allowance offered on Qantas flights.
What to anticipate before departure:
Some practical points to keep in mind to ensure a smooth trip:
The cabin baggage must be portable enough for the child to carry themselves. It’s best to choose a suitcase or a lightweight bag that’s easy to handle independently in the airport corridors.
No additional baggage can be purchased online for UM bookings. If you need extra baggage allowance, you’ll have to go through a Qantas agency or pay for the excess directly at the airport, usually at a higher price than pre-purchasing it.
The allowance varies depending on the destination and class. The exact figure (number of pieces, weight in kg) is never universal: it depends on the flight booked, so checking your booking confirmation or the Qantas baggage page is essential.
Bringing medication on board:
If the child is traveling with medication (prescription or over-the-counter: antihistamines, Panadol, auto-injector, inhaler, etc.), you must:
- Notify the airline at the time of booking;
- Provide a medical certificate in English, dated within the last two years, stating that the child knows when to take the medication and can self-administer it;
- for an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), a simple anaphylaxis action plan (such as ASCIA) is not sufficient: a medical letter is required.
The child must also be able to eat, drink, and use the restroom independently: these are eligibility requirements for the service.
What to expect on the day of departure:
Recommended arrival time: 1 hour and 30 minutes before a domestic flight, 2 hours before an international flight.
Check-in takes place at the special assistance counters (online check-in and advance seat selection are not available for unaccompanied minors).
The person dropping off the child must accompany them to the boarding gate (for domestic flights) or to a security checkpoint (for international flights, where Qantas staff will take over); they must remain at the airport until the aircraft actually takes off.
The child boards with the crew, after the other passengers, and is generally seated near a cabin crew work area.
Upon arrival, the Qantas team will escort the child (and assist with customs/immigration for international flights) to the person designated on the form, who must present identification that exactly matches the name listed. This person must be 18 years of age or older, or a sibling who is at least 15 years old.
What if there’s a connecting flight?
A child may have a connecting flight only if:
- The next flight is also operated by Qantas;
- The layover does not exceed 4 hours.
Qantas staff do not assist with transfers to other airlines: if a connection with another carrier is necessary, parents must arrange for the child’s care themselves and verify that carrier’s terms and conditions (which often differ).
Traveling to destinations with stricter requirements:
United States: The parent or guardian must drop off the child at the designated location in the airport and remain reachable at all times. Upon arrival, the child is handed over to the person named on the form. In the event of a connecting flight with another airline in the United States, you must check that airline’s specific rules, as Qantas does not provide transfer assistance.
South Africa: Additional documents are required by South African authorities (Department of Home Affairs) for entry into and exit from the country.
Thailand: Unaccompanied minor check-in is mandatory if the accompanying adult is under 16 years of age, or for any child aged 5 through 12, inclusive. The authorities retain a copy of the identification document of the person dropping off or picking up the child for 90 days.
In the event of a flight disruption:
If the child’s flight is delayed or canceled, Qantas will contact the primary contact listed on the form. It is then up to that contact to notify the person who is supposed to pick up the child and, in the event of a cancellation, to arrange a new meeting point. We recommend downloading the Qantas app and tracking the flight status in real time.
About Qantas’ “Young Traveler” program:
This option is different from the Unaccompanied Minor service (which is completely free) and is reserved for passengers aged 12-17 who are traveling alone on Qantas without the need to be accompanied by an adult.
Key difference: Under normal circumstances, no special assistance is provided (no escort, no in-flight supervision). Qantas will only intervene in the event of a flight disruption (cancellation, delay): staff will then notify the parent or guardian, find an alternative flight, and, if necessary, arrange accommodations, transfers, and meals. Reservations can be made online or through a Qantas office, but you must contact Qantas to have the child identified as a “young passenger” in the system.
FAQ
Q: Where does an unaccompanied minor sit on a Qantas flight?
A: According to Qantas regulations, the rule is as follows:
Qantas strives to seat unaccompanied minors near the cabin crew work areas; that is, near the galleys; where the crew can easily keep an eye on them throughout the flight.