Travel insurance for children travelling alone

So, one way or another, they’re going to be covered under an adult policy, either as a dependant or as an adult covered under their own policy. The only real difference is when you’re travelling with multiple children; in this situation, most insurers will cover multiple dependent children under the family travel insurance policy.

Are there any differences between travel insurance for children and adults?

There are very few differences between travel insurance for a child or an adult. Since your child is being insured by their own cover, they will likely be covered to the same extent as you are when you travel. However, some exclusions may apply depending on the age of the traveller. Before taking out a policy, read through the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or speak directly to the insurer for full details on their coverage to ensure your cover suits your needs.

Are there any restrictions on children flying alone?

Airlines have different rules for kids travelling unaccompanied compared to adult travellers, but those rules often remain consistent across different carriers. Some of these rules can include:

• Children must travel with identification (e.g., a passport, birth certificate).
• Many airlines consider children aged over 5 fit to travel alone. Not all airlines apply the unaccompanied minor status to children aged 12 to 17. Anyone older than 12 may be considered ‘an adult’ passenger.
• Airlines will have different requirements for booking an unaccompanied minor. For example, you’ll need to outline who’s picking up your child from the airport. Legally, the airline won’t be able to hand over your child to anyone besides the documented person, so make sure they travel with their own ID and the details or ID of who is picking them up from the airport.
• There may be restrictions on how many unaccompanied minors can book flights on their own, due to the logistics of the airline caring for them throughout the journey.
• You cannot book your child on a flight with an overnight stopover.
• Your child won’t be allowed to fly if they require medication and cannot self-administer that medication.
• You might have to pay extra for child-minding services and unaccompanied minor tickets, especially ones booked at the airport. However, you may be able to avoid some additional costs by booking in advance.

However, as mentioned, children over the age of 12 can usually book as an adult and travel under the same guidelines and restrictions that the rest of us must adhere to.

Always check with your airline prior to making any bookings to ensure your situation meets their conditions. In addition, check your chosen insurance cover aligns with your chosen airline’s rules concerning unaccompanied minors.

What happens if something goes wrong?

Every parent’s nightmare is something going wrong on their child’s journey. The flight could be delayed or there may be cancellations due to bad weather. Once they’re overseas, they could become injured and require medical treatment, or lose their belongings. This isn’t to say these things will happen; however, it’s important to be prepared for these scenarios.

It may be prudent to have a copy of the insurance policy for your child to take with them in case something goes wrong so they can present it to an authority figure. You could also send it to the family member or trusted adult who is meeting your child at the airport too so they can help sort out anything that goes wrong on your child’s trip from their end.

Many travel insurance companies will have 24/7 global assistance on hand to help in case something goes wrong. The phone numbers for these assistance services are designed to be reached from anywhere around the world.

What should my child’s travel insurance include?

What you should include in your child’s travel insurance policy depends on what their journey will involve. If they’re just flying from point A to point B in Australia, you may wish to include cover for delayed and cancelled flights. Should your child be spending some time overseas, you may want to get a policy which covers medical expenses and lost or stolen belongings.

Your child’s travel insurance cover will likely have exclusions just as regular travel insurance, such as winter sports like skiing or if they have pre-existing medical conditions. Suppose your child is travelling on a school ski trip to Europe, for example. In that case, you may want to check the insurance policy’s PDS for the full details on what level of cover is included and what can be purchased for an additional premium.

In the event something does go wrong, contact your insurance provider for assistance.