Porter Airlines provides an Unaccompanied Minor Service (UMS) for children from 8 to 17 years old travelling without an adult on certain nonstop Porter flights within Canada and the United States. This service provides airport help, priority boarding, and assistance during the flight and if there are any disruptions to your travel.
The Porter Airlines unaccompanied minor age rules depend on the child’s age and whether an adult passenger aged 16 or older is travelling with them.
| Child’s age | UM service | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 8 | Not available | The child must travel with an adult at least 16 years old and must be seated adjacent to the accompanying adult. |
| 8–11 | Mandatory | The service is required when the youngster travels without an adult passenger aged 16 or older. |
| 12–17 | Optional | The service can be purchased, but it is not required when the child travels alone. |
Porter does not serve children with specific medical or assistance needs that they cannot manage themselves. This can be severe visual or hearing impairments, cases where the child requires assistance in taking necessary medication, and some allergies that require an EpiPen when the child cannot use it properly by themselves.
The Porter Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy limits the service to specific flights.
| Flight type | UM service |
|---|---|
| Porter-operated nonstop flight within Canada | Available |
| Porter-operated nonstop flight between Canada and the U.S. | Available |
| Connecting flight | Not available |
| Flight with a stopover | Not available |
| Flight operated by an airline partner | Not available |
Unaccompanied minor reservations are accepted by Porter, subject to availability, up to a maximum of four per flight.
The Unaccompanied Minor Service provides assistance at different stages of the journey.
Porter provides assistance at the airport, during boarding, onboard, and after arrival, but the service is not described as constant one-to-one supervision.
Porter Airlines unaccompanied minor booking cannot be completed online. A parent or guardian must contact Porter directly.
To arrange the service:
The Porter Airlines unaccompanied minor fee is $100 plus applicable taxes per child, per direction.
Porter current fees are $115 CAD/USD depending on taxes applied. The fee applies regardless of the fare type.
| Service | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Unaccompanied Minor Service | $100 plus applicable taxes |
| Displayed range | $100 plus applicable taxes ($100–$115 CAD/USD) |
| Charge basis | Per child, per direction |
This fee is not included in the cost and is applied to qualified flights operated by Porter.
The Porter Airlines unaccompanied minor documents required at the airport depend on the destination.
| Travel | Required identification |
|---|---|
| Within Canada | Government-issued ID with child’s name, gender, and date of birth |
| To or from the United States | Valid passport |
| Pickup at destination | Valid government-issued photo ID for the designated adult |
Original documents are needed at the check-in process. Photocopies are not accepted for the UM identification requirement.
A valid passport is required for travel to or from the United States,” Porter says. Additional destination-entry requirements may also apply.
A parent or designated guardian must take the child to the Porter airport check-in counter. Online check-in is not available for unaccompanied minors.
Porter suggests reaching at least 90 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This allows adequate time to complete the UM form, submit required documentation and complete the check-in process.
In some airports, parents are permitted to get a gate pass allowing them to travel with the child up to the gate.
If the gate pass is not available, a Porter agent could be asked for at the time of arranging for UM services. The parent/assigned guardian must stay in the airport until the aircraft departs.
Children travelling through the Porter Airlines UM service are boarded before other passengers.
After landing, the child is normally among the last passengers to leave the aircraft.
The designated adult should arrive at the airport no less than 30 minutes before scheduled arrival time.
In case of a delayed or cancelled flight, unaccompanied minors receive priority care and attention from its staff,” says Porter.
Porter also states that its UM service will not be provided during extreme weather conditions or a labour disruption.