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Children Traveling Alone

At Hawaiian Airlines, we know that children are a precious part of every family, or ‘ohana in Hawaiian. So when you entrust us with your child, we take our job extra seriously.

Our guidelines for our youngest solo travelers are designed to deliver them safely to their destinations, with maximum peace of mind for you. From the time they board our aircraft until we hand them off to the adult you designate at the end of their journey, we’ll take good care of them. Read on for all you’ll need to know about each step of your child’s journey.

To make sure we give your child the special attention they need when traveling alone, please call Hawaiian Airlines Reservations to notify them that your child will be traveling alone — Let us know if you want to arrange our Unaccompanied Minor Service, as well.


Can your child fly alone?

Your child is an Unaccompanied Minor if he or she is:
  • 5 to 11 years old, and
  • Traveling without a companion on the same domestic flight and in the same compartment who is 15 years of age or older, or
  • Traveling without a companion on the same international flight and in the same compartment who is 18 years of age or older

Please note that we never allow children under 5 years old to travel alone.


Who Can Travel Alone?

How old must a child be in order to fly alone? The conditions depend on the destination. Are there any conditions? The answers depend on the destination.  

Domestic Flights (State of Hawaii / North America)

  • Passengers 12 years old and above may travel alone
  • Passengers from 5 to 11 years old may travel with a companion who is at least 15 years old as long as they are traveling on the same flight, in the same compartment

International Flights

  • Passengers 12 years old through 18 may travel alone and may need additional documentation when traveling with only one parent or neither parent
  • Unaccompanied minors (5-11 years old) are not permitted on International Flights
  • Passengers under 12 years old must travel with a companion who is at least 18 years old as long as they are traveling on the same flight, in the same compartment  


Making a Reservation

It’s important to us that your child’s journey be as safe as possible. To make sure your child gets our special care, attention and supervision, their seat will be assigned on the day of departure by our airport agent. Contact Reservations and ask an agent for assistance.

Please have the Unaccompanied Minor form completed to present to the Hawaiian Airlines agent upon check-in.


What You'll Need to Pay

The safety and well-being of your child are of highest importance to us. Our ground and flight crews are specially trained to give extra care to children traveling alone.
  • You can pay a single fee for up to two (2) children between 5 and 11 years old in an immediate family with the same drop-off and pick-up information. If more than two children from the same family travel together, you’ll need to pay for each additional child.
  • Fees must be paid by a parent or responsible adult upon check-in

Age (years)
at last birthday

Unaccompanied Minor Service Assistance

Route

Hawaiian Airlines Mandatory Fee

1 - 4

Not Permitted

N/A

N/A

5 - 11

Required

Within the State of Hawaii
(non-stop)

USD $35.00 per flight segment*
Between North America and Hawaii
(non-stop)
USD $100.00 per flight segment*
International Not Permitted
12 - 17

Optional (with fee)

Within the State of Hawaii
(non-stop)

USD $35.00 per flight segment*
Between North America and Hawaii
(non-stop)
USD $100.00 per flight segment*
International

N/A

*For tickets issued on or after May 15, 2017, Unaccompanied Minor Fees will be charged per flight segment. Unaccompanied minors booked on eligible connecting flights will be required to pay the applicable fee for each flight segment.


Children in First Class/Business Class

We welcome all our guests to enjoy the First/Business Class experience. Children are no exception!


What Flights are Off-Limits?

It’s important to us that your child’s journey be as safe and short as possible. For that reason, Unaccompanied Minors are not allowed to fly on the following flights:
  • Any flight departing between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless the flight:
    1. Operates out of Honolulu, Hawaii AND
    2. Is the only flight of the day
  • International flights including flights to and from American Samoa
  • Flights that require an overnight stay in order to make a connection
  • Any codeshare flights
  • Connecting flights to or from another carrier
  • Certain Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaiian Airlines connecting flights (applicable restrictions are listed below)
    • Unaccompanied Minors cannot travel on the last connecting flight of the day
    • Unaccompanied Minors cannot travel on connecting flights where the connection time is longer than 2 hours
  • Exception: If the next scheduled connecting flight departs more than 2 hours after the previous flight’s scheduled arrival, unaccompanied minors must be booked on that flight the same day and not on a later flight. If no seats are available on this flight during booking, the child must travel on another day when these conditions can be met.
  • Whether in advance or at check-in, if there is a possibility that an unaccompanied child’s flight may be delayed or there may be a misconnection, we may change the child’s flight schedule, including the departure date.


At the Airport: Dropping Off and Picking Up Your Child

Following these steps when you entrust your children to us will help make the start and end of their journey smooth and secure. The child’s parent or a responsible adult must:

Drop off:

  • Bring Unaccompanied Minors who are 5 to 11 years old to the airport
  • Complete our required documentation for unaccompanied minors
  • Provide us with the name, phone number and address of the parent or responsible adult who will meet the child at his or her destination
  • Accompany the child to the gate for the departing flight and remain at the gate until the flight has departed

Pick up:

  • Pick up the child at the designated area of the destination airport upon arrival
  • If gate passes are available at your pickup airport, please arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the flight's arrival
  • The parent or responsible adult meeting the child must be one of the contact person listed on the unaccompanied minor form submitted at the time of the child's departure. We will only release the child to the individual(s) named on the document.

Click here to download and complete the Unaccompanied Minor form to present to the Hawaiian Airlines agent upon check-in.
 

Airport City Unaccompanied Minor Pick-up Location
HNL Honolulu, Oahu Parent or responsible adult should check-in with a Hawaiian Airlines agent in Terminal 1, Lobby 2 or Lobby 3, to receive a gate pass to meet their child at the arrival gate.
OGG Kahului, Maui Baggage claim, located at far end of baggage carousel. Gate pass are available at the ticket counter.
JHM Kapalua, Maui No designated pick-up location. Parent or responsible adult should check with ticket counter for further instructions.
ITO Hilo, Hawaii Island No designated pick-up location. Parent or responsible adult should check with ticket counter for further instructions.
KOA Kona, Hawaii Island Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at the exit door of the holding area. 
LIH Lihue, Kauai Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at the Baggage Service Office.
LNY Lanai City, Lanai In front of the main terminal entrance next to the Security Desk.
MKK Hoolehua, Molokai Meet at the arrival gate in the baggage claim area.
LAS Las Vegas, NV Please report to the ticket counter one (1) hour prior to arrival of aircraft for your gate pass. One (1) adult will be allowed through security to pick up the child.
LAX Los Angeles, CA Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at the Baggage Service Office.
SMF Sacramento, CA A Hawaiian Airlines agent will attempt to contact the adult listed in the reservation and make arrangements and issue a gate pass. If unable to contact, the unaccompanied minor can be picked up at the Baggage Service Office.
SFO San Francisco, CA Parent or responsible adult must go to the security check point. A Hawaiian Airlines agent will escort the unaccompanied minor to security. Signature and picture ID is required for pick up. Hawaiian Airlines agent will try and contact parent or responsible adult before arrival of aircraft to advise estimated time of arrival. Please make sure to add your cell and home phone numbers to your reservation for courtesy call.
SAN San Diego, CA Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at the Baggage Service Desk near carousel 3. Gate passes will not be issued for arrivals.
OAK Oakland, CA Parent or responsible adult must wait outside of security. An agent will escort the unaccompanied minor to the adult after all passengers have deplaned. 
PHX Phoenix, AZ Parent or responsible adult must go to the security check point. A Hawaiian Airlines agent will escort the unaccompanied minor to security. Signature and picture ID is required for pick up. Hawaiian Airlines agent will try and contact parent or responsible adult before arrival of aircraft to advise estimated time of arrival. Please make sure to add your cell and home phone numbers to your reservation for courtesy call.
PDX Portland, OR Parent or responsible adult must check-in at the Hawaiian Airlines ticket counter. A Hawaiian Airlines agent will issue gate pass to meet unaccompanied minor at gate. Please contact an agent on duty at (503) 572-8848 to obtain a gate pass or to coordinate pickup if you arrive too close to arrival time.
SJC San Jose, CA Parent or responsible adult must wait outside of security. An agent will escort the unaccompanied minor to the adult after all passengers have deplaned.
SEA Seattle, WA Parent or responsible adult must check in with a Hawaiian Airlines agent at baggage claim. Hawaiian Airlines agent will not be available at baggage claim until approximately 20-30 minutes after the arrival of the unaccompanied minor's flight. The Hawaiian Airlines agent will then escort the unaccompanied minor to baggage claim (Carousel 1).
BOS Boston, MA Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at Carousel 1 near the Dunkin’ Donuts. Gate passes will not be issued for arrivals.
JFK New, York, NY Parent or responsible adult can pick up the unaccompanied minor at the Baggage Service Office.
International Destinations Not Permitted

Check-in: In-Person, Please

Both you and your child must check in with an agent at the airport. This is so you can complete some required forms and pay the unaccompanied minor fee. Children traveling alone will not be allowed to check in on the web or at an airport kiosk.


Can children use cash in-flight?

Only major credit cards are accepted for in-flight purchases.


Need More Information?

For more about travel by unaccompanied minors on Hawaiian Airlines, please view our Domestic Contract of Carriage.


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