Many children travel overseas as unaccompanied minors. Many parents consider this as an option and wonder what are the procedures, what tips can give and what are the complications and problems of sending your child alone.

Most airlines have set programs that set the specific needs of children who fly alone. The term they use is unaccompanied minors, or Ums. The age requirement is different for the different airlines, as a general is from 5 to 12 and sometimes 15. It is always best to find out information specifically for the airline that you are traveling with.

Some airlines will permit a child who is over 12 to accompany a child who is between five to eleven years old ( or 14 for the restrictive airlines ) without requiring the younger child to travel as unaccompanied minor.

Children that are 12 and older can be accepted as unaccompanied minors as long as the fee is paid. If parent wish they can travel by themselves. Again restrictive airlines let children travel alone after age of 15.

For two or more children traveling together, most airlines will assess only one fee, and not charge per child.