DUBAI UAE, 26 August 2024: Emirates is currently operating one of its busiest periods for its Unaccompanied Minors service, as many children return to Dubai after summer holidays abroad to start the new school year. In the coming week alone, Emirates will welcome more than 900 children flying alone using the acclaimed family-friendly service.
Over the past five years, more than 120,000 children have used Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors and Young Passengers services. Most children travelling alone in Emirates’ care are aged 11 or younger. The families currently using the service are British, then Indian, followed by American, Filipino and French. When children fly without their families, Emirates is there every step of the way. For children aged between 5 and 11, Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors service ensures young people enjoy a supervised and safe journey from check-in to their destination, with plenty of fun and memorable moments along the way.
What does Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minor service include?
A safe place to relax and play – Emirates Lounge for Unaccompanied Minors
When parents and guardians bring their young passengers to Dubai International Airport (DXB), they can go straight to the Unaccompanied Minors Lounge near the check-in area. The person dropping off the child must provide Emirates with proof of identity and the guardian must sign a consent form. Children are checked in quickly and can relax with video games, free Wi-Fi and on comfortable sofas. In the dedicated and private area, supervised by the Emirates team, children can enjoy free drinks and snacks while waiting for their flight and use the children’s toilets.
Support and assistance from a trained Emirates specialist throughout the entire trip
At the airport, the child will be met by a specialist member of the Emirates team at the unaccompanied minor check-in desk. The Emirates specialist will accompany the child throughout the airport, look after them and carry their passport for security reasons. The specialist will assist them through security and immigration checks and provide priority boarding so the child has time to adjust to the flight before being introduced to cabin crew at the aircraft door for the next step. During the flight Emirate Cabin crew are on hand to ensure the young passenger has an enjoyable and memorable journey. Parents and guardians can indicate in advance any special dietary requirements and whether the child would like to sit window or aisle, or siblings sitting together. Emirates cabin crew will check on the child regularly to ensure they are enjoying their journey, eating their meals and if they need any help adjusting their seat or using the in-flight entertainment system.
Fun on board with Emirates cabin crew
Children on board Emirates can enjoy free Wi-Fi when they sign up to Emirates Skysurfers, free toys and giveaways, more than 100 video games and a huge range of kids’ content in the award-winning inflight entertainment program. Iceincluding new releases, movies, Disney classics, Marvel Studios and Star Wars collections, as well as the complete Harry Potter film series, CBeebies, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
If it’s the child’s birthday, parents and guardians can order a cake 48 hours before the flight and Emirates cabin crew will celebrate the special occasion. Special memories will be captured with a Polaroid camera so children have a keepsake of their travels.
Once children have landed at their destination, a dedicated member of the Emirates team will greet them at the aircraft door. The child will be escorted through the airport until they meet their parents or guardians on arrival. The person collecting the child will be required to provide Emirates with proof of identity.
Support for older children and young people
Children aged between 12 and 15 years may fly alone without using Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minor service at the discretion of parents and guardians. However, parents and guardians who wish to have additional support and supervision for their unaccompanied minors aged between 12 and 15 years may request this service. For an additional fee of USD 50 for each leg of the journey, children aged between 12 and 15 years will be offered support that includes all aspects of the Unaccompanied Minor service.
Emirates Unaccompanied Minor Service for Transfer Customers
Child safety is of paramount importance to Emirates – a family-friendly airline. There are a few terms and conditions in place to protect children from an uncomfortable journey. If the child is transferring from one Emirates flight to another at Dubai International (DXB), the maximum transfer time allowed is 8 hours. If the transfer time is more than 8 hours, this requires Emirates’ approval. Children on connecting flights will be taken to an unaccompanied minor lounge where they can rest and wait before being transferred to their flight and handed over to cabin crew. If they need to go to the airport for a meal, they will be accompanied by an Emirates specialist. A young passenger will not be permitted to stay overnight at the connecting airport unless an adult guardian is arranged to meet and look after them at the transit point and this requires Emirates’ approval.
Fares and booking for Emirates Unaccompanied Minors service
To fly alone, children aged 5-11 must book an adult fare to use Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minor service. Children aged 5-11 can also travel in a different cabin class to their parent or guardian on the same flight, but will be charged an adult fare. The child will be considered ‘accompanied’ and will not have access to the Unaccompanied Minor lounge and special services. The Unaccompanied Minor service can be booked up to 12 hours before departure via Emirates LiveChat, by calling 00971600555555 or at any local Emirates office.
