From the check-in desk through the arrivals hall, we are here to turn your child’s experience into a wonderful adventure. On this page, you will find more information about our unaccompanied minor service and important notes for young travellers travelling alone. We are pleased to see children and young travellers travelling alone on board!
Unaccompanied minor service
We offer an unaccompanied minor service which is a guidance service for children aged from 5 to 11 years old travelling alone to ensure their trip is as safe and smooth as possible. From the check-in desk to the arrivals hall where their legal parent or guardian is expecting them, we will take care of your child’s journey so that you can have peace of mind.
The unaccompanied minor service is required for all children between 5 and 11 years old travelling alone and is available for all flights marketed by Finnair (flight number starts with AY) and operated by Finnair or Norra. The children who have unaccompanied minor service reservations can have connecting flights if the flights are on the same day and both operated by Finnair.
Children between 5 and 11 years old can travel without the unaccompanied minor service if they are travelling on:
- Finnair flights within Finland are accompanied by a family member at least 12 years old, or a companion at least 16 years old who has the consent of the child’s legal parent or guardian.
- International Finnair flights are accompanied by a family member at least 16 years old, or an adult at least 18 years old who has the consent of the child’s legal parent or guardian.
Our care from booking to arrival
Booking flights for a child travelling alone
- Book the unaccompanied minor service
You can book the tickets and purchase the unaccompanied minor service by contacting our customer service by chat or phone, or a travel agency. The easiest and fastest way to contact us is via chat. Please note that you will need to provide your contact information as well as the contact information (name, phone number and postal address) of the person who will greet the child at the destination airport. Both the person who purchases the ticket and the person who will meet the child at the destination airport, must be adults. - Fees
Children aged between 5 and 11 travelling alone will need to fly at an adult fare. Along with the ticket price, there is a service fee for an unaccompanied minor service reservation for each leg of the journey. The unaccompanied minor service fee for each leg is €40 for flights within Finland, €60 for flights within Europe and €120 for long-haul flights. - Travel documents
Children may need to have specific travel documents while travelling. Please check our travel documents page to get more information. - Baggage allowance
Children’s baggage allowance while travelling alone depends on the ticket type they have. Please check our baggage on Finnair flights page to get more information about our baggage allowances for different routes and travel classes. Please remember that you can always purchase additional baggage as a travel extra.
Before travel
- We understand that travelling might be an exciting adventure for children. It might be a good idea to prepare them for their trip by letting them know that our ground and cabin crew will take care of them throughout their journey.
- We always encourage you to check the necessary documents and make sure to have them ready before the trip.
- It is also recommended to remind the legal parent or guardian who will welcome the child at the destination airport to have proof of identification with them.
We no longer accept cash payments onboard our flights to encourage contactless payment for our customers’ health and safety. For onboard shopping, Visa Electron is accepted on flights with an internet connection. If your child’s ticket type doesn’t include meal service already, you can pre-order meals or sandwiches for most of our European routes. We also recommend packing your child’s favourite snacks with them to enjoy during the flight.
At the departure airport
- Checking in
It's advisable to arrive at the airport earlier than usual on the day your child is travelling. We have a check-in desk dedicated to our special customers, meaning that unaccompanied minors can check in from this desk conveniently. Please note that you will need to fill in 3–4 copies of the UM handling advice form (PDF) at the check-in desk. To speed up the process, you can fill in the forms in advance. - Securing the documents
Our ground crew will give your child a neck pouch where all important travel documents such as unaccompanied minor handling forms, boarding passes, passports or visas can be secured throughout the journey. - Going to the gate
You are welcome to accompany your child to the departure gate at Helsinki Airport. Please consult the ground crew at the check-in desk and be prepared to show your passport as identification. If your child is travelling within the Schengen area, you may also prove your identity with an official photo ID card.
The legal parent or guardian must stay at the airport until the flight has departed. - Boarding
We offer priority boarding to unaccompanied minors so they can board the aircraft first. A crew member will help your child to settle comfortably into their seat and help them to stow their carry-on items. - Flight disruptions
In case of a flight disruption (flight delay or cancellation), we will take care of your child and guide them to the next step, and they will always be under our supervision. We will make sure to inform you of all the information and updates.
During the flight
- Care onboard
Our cabin crew will keep an eye on your child and make sure they have everything they need throughout the flight to ensure their comfort and safety. - Food onboard
On our long-haul flights, children will love the tasty hot meal we serve. On European flights longer than 2 hours, we offer a free snack from our onboard menu. We will also serve our most-loved blueberry juice and, water is always free of charge on all our flights. You can pre-order a savoury sandwich or a tasty light or hot meal for your child to savour in Economy Class on short-haul routes longer than 2 hours. Children can also purchase snacks or soft drinks from our Nordic Kitchen onboard menu. It is possible to make a payment with Visa Electron on the flights with an internet connection. Children can always bring their snacks from home. - In-flight entertainment
On long-haul flights, our in-flight entertainment has a wide range of movies, TV series, music and games for children to keep your little one entertained throughout the flight.
At the connecting airport
- During the layover period
If your child has a connecting Finnair flight on the same day, a ground crew member will take care of your child while waiting for the next Finnair flight.
At the destination airport
- Guidance to the arrivals hall
When the flight arrives at the destination airport, our ground crew member will accompany your child through immigration, baggage claim area and arrivals hall. Our ground crew member might not speak your child’s language but will make sure that your child is always under supervision and ensure their safety. When your child meets the designated legal parent or guardian at the arrivals hall, we will verify the legal parent's or guardian's identity before saying our goodbyes.
Children under 5 years old
We know that travelling is a thrilling experience, and even children as young as 5 years old or younger might be excited to travel with us. We welcome children under 5 years old on Finnair flights within Finland with a family member at least 16 years old of age or, with an accompanying adult over 18 years old who has the consent of the child’s legal parent or guardian.
On our international flights, children under 5 years old can enjoy travelling with an accompanying adult at least 18 years old who has the consent of the child’s legal parent or guardian. Unfortunately, our unaccompanied minor service is not available for children under 5 years old.
Young travellers travelling alone
Young travellers travelling alone who are 12 years old or older are welcome on Finnair flights without an accompanying adult. We don’t require a consent letter from their legal parent or guardian, but authorities of some countries may do. You may contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the destination country to find out about these requirements. If a consent letter is needed, you can check the example of a consent letter (PDF).
The unaccompanied minor service is also available on an optional basis for young travellers aged 12 to 17 years old who are travelling alone. Please note that unaccompanied minor service is required for everyone under 15 years old travelling alone to and from the United States.