Can a child fly alone on LOT Polish Airlines? Yes, but the rules depend on the child’s age. Children under 5 cannot travel alone without a qualified escort, while children aged 5 to under 12 must use LOT’s dedicated assistance service. Travelers aged 12 and older can generally travel independently, although parents can request the assistance service for children up to 16.
The LOT Polish Airlines Unaccompanied Minor service provides assistance at the airport, during boarding, onboard the aircraft, during eligible same-day connections, and after landing. The service is available only on flights operated directly by LOT Polish Airlines.
Important: Parents or guardians should check the current LOT rules and destination-country requirements before travel because documentation and procedures can vary by route and country.
Yes. LOT allows children to travel without a parent or guardian, but the level of assistance depends on age.
| Child's Age | LOT Polish Airlines Rule |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years | Cannot travel alone without a qualified escort. |
| 5 to under 12 years | May travel alone only with LOT's dedicated assistance service. |
| 12 to under 16 years | Can travel independently or use LOT's optional assistance service. |
| Under 16 traveling alone | Cannot transport animals on the journey. |
LOT states that children aged 8 days to under 5 years may travel without a parent only when accompanied by a qualified escort. The cost of the escort's flight is paid by the passenger.
The LOT unaccompanied minor service is designed to help children traveling without an accompanying adult. LOT ground staff and cabin crew provide assistance at different stages of the journey.
The child must be accompanied to the airport by a parent or guardian, who must remain at the airport until the aircraft has departed.
Children aged 8 days to under 5 years can travel without a parent only when a qualified escort accompanies them. The assigned cabin crew member accompanies the child from check-in until the child is collected by the designated adult at the destination. Parents must pay the cost of the flight attendant's ticket for this escort arrangement.
Children in this age group can travel alone only when LOT's dedicated assistance service is arranged. LOT ground staff assist the child at the airport, while a LOT cabin crew member provides care during the flight.
Children aged 12 and older can generally travel independently without purchasing special assistance.
However, parents can request LOT's assistance service for additional support during the journey. If assistance is not purchased, the child is treated as an independent passenger.
If there is a delay or cancellation, a child traveling independently can tell LOT staff their age and request assistance.
Parents or guardians can arrange the assistance service through the LOT Polish Airlines Contact Center or LOT Sales Offices when purchasing the ticket.
Follow these steps:
Check-in for a flight using the assistance service must be completed at the airport rather than online.
Parents should prepare the required travel documents before going to the airport. Depending on the itinerary and destination, these may include:
Country-specific requirements can apply. For example, LOT identifies additional requirements for certain journeys involving Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Moldova and Georgia.
Parents should therefore check both LOT's requirements and the applicable government/immigration rules for the child's itinerary.
The Request for Carriage form is an important document for children traveling with LOT's unaccompanied minor assistance service.
Parents or guardians should print and complete the form and provide it to LOT staff during airport check-in and baggage drop-off. The form contains information used by LOT to assist the child and identify the authorized adult who will receive the child at the destination.
Children traveling with the assistance service must check in at the airport. At Warsaw Chopin Airport, LOT directs children using the service to the dedicated Family Check-in counter.
At other airports, passengers should use the applicable LOT check-in desk.
Once check-in is completed, LOT staff take responsibility for assisting the child through the next stages of the airport journey.
A LOT staff member accompanies the child through the airport security process. LOT says children using the service are assisted through the Fast Track security lane where applicable.
The child receives help reaching the aircraft and is assisted with boarding before the other passengers.
LOT cabin crew look after the child's comfort and well-being throughout the flight.
Yes, but the type of connection matters.
For a same-day connection, LOT staff can supervise the child between flights at the connecting airport.
However, LOT does not provide overnight supervision or accommodation during an overnight layover.
An overnight connection is possible only when a parent or guardian arranges for an adult to meet the child at the connecting airport, supervise the child during the layover and accompany the child to the next flight.
LOT's dedicated assistance service is available only on flights operated directly by LOT Polish Airlines. It is not available on flights operated by other airlines.
Therefore, parents should check the operating carrier, not just the airline shown during the booking process, before arranging travel for a child alone.
LOT charges an additional fee for its special assistance and escort service. The published fee depends on the destination:
| Route | Published Assistance Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic flights in Poland | 290 PLN / 70 EUR / 75 USD + VAT |
| Europe & Middle East | 390 PLN / 95 EUR / 105 USD |
| North America & Asia | 590 PLN / 135 EUR / 145 USD / 185 CAD / 20,000 JPY / 200,000 KRW / 56,000 HUF |
LOT states that the assistance fee is charged per route and per child. For example, a journey involving Krakow–Warsaw and Warsaw–New York is charged for each flight segment. Siblings traveling together are also charged per child.
Because airline fees can change, parents should confirm the applicable charge with LOT before booking or traveling.
After landing, a LOT ground staff member meets the child at the aircraft. The staff member:
Parents should make sure that the receiving adult's details are correct before the journey begins.
Additional rules may apply depending on where the child is traveling.
LOT states that children under 14 traveling alone from Italy must present a declaration signed by both parents, which can be obtained through the applicable Italian authorities.
Additional travel-document and parental-permission requirements can apply to minors traveling alone from Spain, depending on their circumstances and documentation.
Children and young people under 18 traveling alone from France require parental or guardian permission and the applicable authorization document.
LOT notes that procedures can differ between airports, including whether a parent/guardian accompanies the child to the gate and how airport staff provide assistance.
LOT states that its unaccompanied minor service is not available for children who are citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
Children with Georgian citizenship may require a special certificate signed by a notary.
Because these requirements can depend on nationality, departure point and destination, parents should verify the applicable government requirements before travel.
Children under 16 who travel alone on LOT are not permitted to transport animals, either in the cabin or in the baggage hold. This restriction applies whether or not the special assistance service has been purchased.
Before sending a child to travel alone, parents should:
The LOT Polish Airlines Unaccompanied Minor policy depends primarily on the child's age. Children under 5 require a qualified escort, children from 5 to under 12 require LOT's dedicated assistance service when traveling alone, and children aged 12 and older can generally travel independently, with assistance available on request.
Parents should arrange the correct service before travel, complete the required documentation, verify destination-country requirements and confirm the current applicable fee with LOT. The parent or guardian taking the child to the airport must also remain there until the aircraft has departed.