UM-Service: Making sure your child arrives safely

Our Unaccompanied Minor service (UM service) for children travelling alone is for youngsters from 5 to 12 years of age. By the time our crew gives your child a big welcome, he or she will have safely passed through all the stations in the airport in our care. When he checks in, he will be given his own special shoulder bag. This bag will have all his important travel documents for the flight. He won't have to go through customs and the safety checks by himself; a staff member of our ground crew will stay with him. We also pamper our mini guests once they are on board. And when he arrives at his destination, the ground crew there will receive him and hand him over to the contact person waiting for him. He will not be left to his own devices for a single moment, and will have a pleasant escort to rely on.

Age rules for the UM service

Some countries have different age requirements. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to inform themselves of the relevant regulations.

• Children under the age of 2 years must be accompanied by an adult (minimum 18 years of age)
• Children under the age of 5 years must be accompanied by an adult (minimum 18 years of age) or by a sibling aged 16 or older
• The UM service is compulsory for children aged between 5 and 11 years (inclusive), if accompanied by a person of minimum 12 years the UM service is not mandatory*
• The UM service is voluntary and available to children aged between 12 and 17 years

*For travel to / from Pristina, the UM Service is compulsory until the age of 14. If a person with the same surname who is at least 14 years of age accompanies the child, the UM Service is not required. If the companion does not have the same surname, a legal authorization from the parents must be carried along or the UM Service has to be booked.

Charges in all travel classes per child and per flight

Register for UM service

Please register for the UMNR service through our Service Center, at the latest 96 hours before your departure, via telephone +41 (0)848 333 593 or via our contact form.

• Contact form

Documents

Please make sure that all the necessary travel documents are available. Complete the form found below on a computer and print out enough copies. The child will need two copies of the form for each sector. So, if travelling, for instance, Zurich-Marrakech-Zurich, four copies will be required. Your signature confirms that the costs for meals, overnight accommodation or transfers will be paid if the person who is to meet your child fails to turn up at the destination and the child has to fly back. Please note that there exist special entry requirements for unaccompanied minors with South African, Brazilian and Dominican Republic citizenship.

• Assistance form

And the adventure can begin!

If you are sending a child to travel as an unaccompanied minor, you want to be sure that he or she will be well looked after. In the first instance, please contact the Goldair desk at Check-in 1 at Zurich airport, and leave your address and the address of the person who is to collect the child at the destination.