Minor Denied Boarding On Dubai Flight: Understanding Rules For Children Traveling Without Parents
Minor Denied Boarding On Dubai Flight: Understanding Rules For Children Traveling Without Parents
A Chennai-based woman, Nisha, recently shared her disappointment after her minor daughter was denied boarding on a flight to Dubai, despite carrying a parental consent letter and other required documents. The child was set to travel with her grandmother and cousins, but airport authorities refused boarding, citing a recent rule change that restricts minors from traveling with relatives without parents.
Nisha recalled that just months ago, children in her family had traveled to Dubai under similar circumstances without any issues. However, the new regulation, implemented in November 2024, mandates strict parental authorization for minors flying to the UAE without their parents to prevent child trafficking.
In India, domestic flights allow minors aged 5-12 to travel alone with an airline-provided assistance service, while for international flights, the age range extends to 5-15 or 18 years, depending on airline policies.
Parents planning to send children abroad with relatives should check airline and destination country requirements carefully. Standard documents include a birth certificate, consent letter signed by both parents, valid ID, and full contact details of guardians at both ends. Some airlines also require passport copies, medical certificates, and proof of vaccination.
