Children travelling alone age chart
The maximum connection time for children travelling alone is two hours between domestic flights and three hours between flights involving an international sector.
Children travelling without an adult 15 years or older must meet the unaccompanied minor requirements outlined in this table.
| Under 5 years | 5 to 7 years | 8 to 11 years | 12 to 16 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same day domestic New Zealand journey e.g. Invercargill - Christchurch - Auckland | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
| One single sector international flight e.g. Auckland - Tokyo | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
| One single sector international flight within the South West Pacific plus one same day domestic New Zealand journey e.g. Rarotonga - Auckland - Gisborne | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1 | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
| One single sector international flight to/from the South West Pacific plus one same day domestic New Zealand journey e.g. Nelson - Auckland - Hong Kong | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1 | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
| One single sector international flight to/from the South West Pacific plus one same day single sector international flight within the South West Pacific e.g. Los Angeles - Auckland - Sydney | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1 | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
| Two single sector international flights within the South West Pacific e.g. Sydney - Auckland - Rarotonga | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older | Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1 | Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor | May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request |
Same day domestic
New Zealand journey
e.g. Invercargill - Christchurch - Auckland
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
One single sector international flight
e.g. Auckland - Tokyo
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
One single sector international flight within the South West Pacific plus one same day domestic New Zealand journey
e.g. Rarotonga - Auckland - Gisborne
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
One single sector international flight to/from the South West Pacific plus one same day domestic New Zealand journey
e.g. Nelson - Auckland - Hong Kong
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
One single sector international flight to/from the South West Pacific plus one same day single sector international flight within the South West Pacific
e.g. Los Angeles - Auckland - Sydney
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older, except for all flights to and from Canada whereby the adult must be 16 years or older
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
Two single sector international flights within the South West Pacific
e.g. Sydney - Auckland - Rarotonga
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older
Must travel with an adult 15 years or older1
Permitted as an Unaccompanied Minor
May travel alone or as an Unaccompanied Minor at parent/guardian request
Notes:
1. Where specified, travel is permitted as an unaccompanied minor if a parent/guardian meets the child on arrival at any intermediate point(s). The child must be checked-in only as far as the intermediary point, claim baggage and clear customs (if applicable) and be handed over to the parent/guardian to check in for the next flight. The parent/guardian will need to remain in the intermediary airport until after the aircraft departs. In the case of delays or flight cancellations, the parent/guardian is responsible for the unaccompanied minor's care.
2. Where transits are permitted the maximum connection time for unaccompanied minors is two hours between domestic flights and three hours between flights involving an international sector.
3. This table is for Air New Zealand operated and marketed services only.
4. Tasman and Pacific flights are services between New Zealand and Australia, Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Fiji and include the same fare rules as adult fares.
5. If your child is connecting to or from another carrier they will only be accepted if a parent or guardian is available to deliver and receive the child at both ends of the Air New Zealand flight. The child must be checked-in for only the Air New Zealand flight, claim baggage and clear customs (if applicable) and be handed over to the parent/guardian to check in for the next flight. The parent/guardian will need to remain in the intermediary airport until after the aircraft departs. In the case of delays or flight cancellations, the parent/guardian is responsible for the unaccompanied minor's care.
6. Travel as an unaccompanied minor requires additional check-in procedures. To ensure you are able to complete all check-in procedures prior to the final bag drop/check-in time shown on your electronic ticket we recommend you allow an additional 30 mins to do so. Failure to have completed check-in prior to the final bag drop/check-in time stated may result in you being unable to travel as planned. Remember to carry proof of identity (passport for international travel, please check that your passport and any visas are valid) and your e-ticket with you as Aviation Security may require you to present this when in a security area. If travelling without checked baggage you are still required to complete the additional check-in procedures for travel as an unaccompanied minor.
Definitions:
South West Pacific - for this rule the following countries are considered part of the South West Pacific: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna Islands.
Journey - is a flight or a series of flights from a point of origin to a point of destination, including transits and stopovers.
Sector - means an aircraft's single scheduled Flight between two different points.
Flight - means any one way travel (without a stopover) on an airline's scheduled air service that keeps the same flight number even if there is a change of aircraft. Travel on the same aircraft but with a flight number change qualifies as two flights.
See more information on children and young people travelling alone.
See the Children travelling alone terms and conditions for details.