Cape Air’s unaccompanied minor service allows children in certain circumstances to travel alone on our flights. For additional information, please view our Contract of Carriage.
Unaccompanied Minors (“UM”)
General. We welcome young Customers on our flights, but, for their safety, have policies about when a minor can travel alone and when an adult must accompany the child during travel.
Age and Requirements
| Age of Minor Traveling Alone* | Rule |
| Minors < eight (8) years | Not accepted for travel if traveling alone* |
| Minors eight (8) – fourteen (14) years, up until the fifteenth (15) birthday, Unaccompanied Minor Rule applies |
Accepted for travel on non-stop Cape Air (9K-only) marketed flights under the rules and requirements for travel as an Unaccompanied Minor. No online or interline connections permitted. |
| Minors or adults 15 years and older | Parents or guardians may request any person to be escorted as an Unaccompanied Minor per the Unaccompanied Minor rules on non-stop Cape Air (9K-only) marketed flights. |
"Traveling Alone” means a minor traveling physically unaccompanied or traveling with a Passenger who is
not at least the age of a “Young Traveler” as defined below.
Restrictions – When travel as an Unaccompanied Minor is NOT permitted
- Not permitted on any connecting Cape Air itinerary. Travel must be on a non-stop flight.
- Not permitted on any interline connecting itinerary, including flights to/from codeshare partners. Travel must be on a 9K-marketed non-stop flight.
- Not permitted on any international flight.
- Not permitted on the last flight of the day from any Cape Air location, UNLESS at the time of accepting the Unaccompanied Minor at the departure location, the Cape Air agent is able make contact with the responsible adult at the destination location and the responsible adult is either at the destination location or is able to demonstrate to Cape Air’s satisfaction that he or she will be at the destination location prior to the flight’s arrival. Cape Air strongly recommends against booking an Unaccompanied Minor on the last flight of the day from any Cape Air location.
Service Charge and Fares - A $25 fee will be applicable for unaccompanied minors, and must be paid at the departure airport by the adult brining the child to the flight, applicable to all bookings made May 9, 2024 and onward.
Positive Identification for Custody - The Unaccompanied Minor must be brought to the airport by a parent, guardian or responsible adult, provide Cape Air with the name, address and phone number of the parent, guardian or responsible adult who will meet the Unaccompanied Minor at the destination airport, and remain with the Unaccompanied Minor until the flight is boarded. Appropriate identification must be presented to Cape Air before the Unaccompanied Minor will released into the custody of the designee at the final destination. We recommend checking-in early to ensure there is adequate time to complete the required paperwork.
Refusal to Transport - The welfare of Unaccompanied Minors is a matter we take very seriously. Cape Air reserves the right to refuse transportation if the Company believes there is a significant chance that the flight on which the Unaccompanied Minor holds a reservation may be delayed or terminate at an airport other than the intended destination.
Flight Cancellations and Diversions - In the event of flight cancellation, diversion, substantial delay or other irregularity within the Cape Air route system, the agent in charge or crew member will retain custody of the Unaccompanied Minor until that custody is transferred to a Cape Air agent or the parent, guardian or responsible adult named on the UM paperwork. In the event of a flight diversion to an airport not staffed by Cape Air personnel, Cape Air will make
every effort to contact the parent, guardian or responsible adult identified on the UM Form to coordinate agreeable and suitable arrangements. A crew member will retain custody of the Unaccompanied Minor until such arrangements are coordinated. Cape Air will bear all reasonable costs associated in this instance to ensure the safety of the Unaccompanied Minor.
Cape Air Assumes No Additional Responsibility - Cape Air assumes no responsibilities for Unaccompanied Minors beyond those applicable to an adult Customer.
Young Travelers
Young Travelers are young adults between fifteen (15) and seventeen (17) years (up until the 18th birthday) who may travel independently, as adults, on Cape
Air (9K-only) marketed flights. Escort services like those provided for Unaccompanied Minors are generally not provided for Young Travelers.
Connecting and Interline Itineraries
- The minimum age requirement for traveling alone varies and Customers must consult connecting airlines directly to ensure that the Young
Traveler connecting to or from Cape Air will be accepted for independent travel on our interline or codeshare partner airline.
When Accompanying Minors
- Minors who travel on Cape Air (9K-only) marketed flights with a Young Traveler are not “unaccompanied” or “traveling alone” and therefore are not subject to the rules for travel as an Unaccompanied Minor. Please be sure to consult with any connecting carrier as a partner airline may or may not
permit a Young Traveler to serve as an accompanying adult for a minor.
Infants
Under two (2) years of age, infants are accepted at no additional charge if seated on the lap of an adult Passenger. Proof of age of the infant Passenger may be
required. An FAA or aircraft-approved infant or child-safety seat (“CRS”) may be used on board when a seat is purchased for the infant. For some destinations (typically international) even when an infant travels free of charge, government taxes may apply. Travel by air for infants less than 7 days of age is not recommended and we suggest Customers consult their physicians for further guidance. Infant travel policies differ for each airline partner so it’s important to check with each individual airline if you have a connecting itinerary.
