Key Facts for Managing a XiamenAir Booking
XiamenAir primary sources reviewed April 19, 2025. Before you pay, check these details against your child's specific flights and documents. This summary covers the key points of the XiamenAir process.
The most important rule: XiamenAir requires the unaccompanied minor service for children aged 5 to under 12 who are not traveling with an adult 18 or older. Children under 5 cannot travel alone. For teens aged 12 to 15, the service is optional. Use this age rule as your starting point for any booking or change.
Your Action Center for XiamenAir Bookings
Every step—from booking to the airport handoff—depends on XiamenAir accepting the child and the service for your specific route.
This guide walks you through reservations, changes, costs, check-in, documents, baggage, and the handoff to the guardian.
How to Make a XiamenAir Unaccompanied Minor Booking
The Booking Rule: You must apply through XiamenAir at least 24 hours before departure. This is a formal process, not just a request at the airport.
When you call or apply, provide the child's full legal name and date of birth. Save the booking reference, ticket number, and the service confirmation. This is your proof that the service is booked.
Changing or Updating Your Booking
You can retrieve your reservation through the agency or website where you booked it. Always double-check names, flight numbers, the operating airline, seat assignments, and contact information before making any changes.
After you make a change, pull up the record again and ask XiamenAir to confirm that the unaccompanied minor service and all passenger details are still correct.
Adding or Changing the Minor Service
To add, remove, or update the unaccompanied minor service, you must speak to an authorized XiamenAir representative. Make sure the names of the adults dropping off and picking up the child are exactly as they appear on their IDs.
It is the airline's record—not a text message—that must show any changes to the escort or pickup person.
Flight Changes, Delays, and Rebooking
The Route Rule: This service is only available on XiamenAir-operated, direct, non-stop flights.
If there's a delay or you miss a flight, check the new operating carrier, stops, and arrival time before you accept any alternative flight. The new flight must still be eligible for the service.
When Things Go Wrong: If XiamenAir changes the flight, both the sending and receiving adults must be reachable. The child's travel arrangement must be re-approved by the airline before you accept a new operator, connection, or arrival time.
Cancellations, Refunds, and Travel Credits
When you cancel, ask the ticket issuer for a breakdown of the refund for the airfare versus the service charge. Confirm the refund policy, if you'll get a travel credit, and any no-show fees.
Save all cancellation and refund receipts for your records. The processing time will vary based on the payment method and XiamenAir's current terms.
Understanding XiamenAir Fees
The Fee Point: There is no separate fee for children aged 5 to 11, except for a Singapore airport fee (SGD32/CNY180) when applicable. For teens aged 12 to 15, the service costs the adult fare plus CNY200 per segment.
When you book, ask for an itemized total that includes the airfare, any service charges, baggage costs, and taxes. Ask about discounts for siblings or any waivers.
Check-in, Boarding Passes, and the Gate Process
The Airport Rule: At the airport, the adult dropping off the child must go to the counter with the child, the completed handling forms, and their own ID. You'll be told where to wait until the plane has taken off. The person picking up the child must have a matching photo ID.
Online check-in is often blocked for unaccompanied minors. Plan to use the staffed counter and arrive early. Ask if you can get a gate pass to accompany your child to the gate.
Airport Assistance and the Guardian Handoff
Confirm who will escort your child on and off the plane and how the handoff will work at arrival. The meet-and-assist service is not always the same as the unaccompanied minor service.
The person picking up your child should arrive before the plane lands with a current photo ID. A late or unapproved pickup can lead to extra delays or fees.
Carry-on, Checked, and Delayed Baggage
The Baggage Rule: The child gets the baggage allowance that comes with their ticket. The service fee does not give them any extra allowance.
Keep all documents, medicine, and contact information in the child's carry-on bag. Make sure it's easy for them to handle. Save baggage tags, and report any delayed baggage before you leave the airport.
Passport, Visa, Consent, and Child ID
The Document Rule: You will need XiamenAir's handling form, your child's original ID (birth certificate or passport), any required visas, consent letters, and the IDs of the adults dropping off and picking up the child.
Important: The airline's forms are not a substitute for government-required documents like passports, visas, or notarized consent forms.
Domestic vs. International Travel
The International Point: For international flights, the airline's form does not replace a passport, visa, exit permission, notarized consent, or custody documents that a country may require.
What works for a domestic trip might not work for an international one. Always review the entry, transit, and exit requirements for all countries involved.
Authorized Pickup and Drop-off Contacts
Confirm the type of ID accepted, the meeting point, the local time, and how long the dropping-off adult needs to stay at the airport. Ask XiamenAir how to change the pickup person if needed.
Both adults should track the same flight. Remember, the airline must approve any backup pickup person.
A Real-World Booking Management Example
Imagine a parent gets an email saying their child's flight time has changed. They check the new schedule, the carrier, and whether the flight is still eligible for the service. They do not accept the change until they've called XiamenAir and had the service re-confirmed.
Next, they check both adults' contact details, the service fee, baggage, and travel documents. They save the new confirmation and share it with the pickup person. If the new route is not eligible, they look into other flights, cancellation, or refund options.
On travel day, both adults use the same flight status tool. The sender follows the waiting instructions at the airport. The receiver arrives early with their ID.
Tips for Keeping Your Booking Accurate
Keep a timeline of your booking: who you spoke to, what they said, and which flight it was for. This helps both adults stay on the same page.
Check the booking again after any change: after a ticket is reissued, after a schedule change, or if you update contact or seat details. Special requests can disappear when a booking is modified.
Keep your child's documents simple and accessible. The child should know the name of the adult meeting them and carry a paper contact card. Essential medicine and travel documents should stay in the cabin bag.
Before you leave for the airport, compare your booking with the main policy page on the XiamenAir website. If something doesn't match, pause and ask the airline for a written clarification.
After your child arrives, keep all receipts and service records until any baggage or refund issues are settled. Protect your child's personal information and avoid sharing their full itinerary or boarding pass on social media.
Give each adult a short action sheet. It should show the booking reference, service status, flight number, local airport time, meeting point, and an emergency contact. Review this sheet with the child in simple terms. If anything changes, update both copies before travel. This final check gives everyone a clear, consistent plan.
Final Action Checklist
Booking Management Summary
| Age/Category | Eligibility | Service | Fee or Fare | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to under 12 | Mandatory | Full unaccompanied minor handling on direct flights | No service fee (Singapore airport fee may apply) | Must use the service |
| 12 to 15 | Optional | May use the service | Adult fare + CNY 200 per segment | Decide if needed |
| Under 5 | Not allowed | N/A | N/A | Must travel with an adult 18+ |
| 16 and over | Independent | Not required | Adult fare | Travels as an adult |
Primary Source for This Guide
Always check this official source before you pay, change, or cancel a booking, and before you go to the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find practical answers to common questions about managing a XiamenAir unaccompanied minor booking.
What is the minimum age for a child to fly alone on XiamenAir?+
XiamenAir requires the unaccompanied minor service for children aged 5 to under 12 who are not traveling with an adult 18 or older in the same cabin. Children under 5 cannot travel alone. The service is optional for ages 12 to 15.
How much does the XiamenAir unaccompanied minor service cost?+
There is no separate fee for children aged 5 to 11, except for a Singapore airport fee of SGD32/CNY180. For teens aged 12 to 15, the service costs the adult fare plus CNY200 per segment.
Which flights are eligible for the XiamenAir unaccompanied minor service?+
This service is only available on XiamenAir-operated, direct, non-stop flights. Connecting flights, even on the same airline, are not permitted.
How do I book the unaccompanied minor service on XiamenAir?+
You must apply through XiamenAir at least 24 hours before the flight departs and complete all required paperwork.
What documents are needed for a child to fly alone on XiamenAir?+
You will need the airline's handling form, the child's original ID or passport, any required visas, consent forms, and the IDs of the adults dropping off and picking up the child.
What is the baggage allowance for an unaccompanied minor on XiamenAir?+
The child receives the standard baggage allowance that comes with their ticket. The unaccompanied minor fee does not grant any extra baggage allowance.
Can I send a stroller or car seat with my child on XiamenAir?+
Yes, but the rules for transporting these items are separate from the unaccompanied minor policy. Check with the airline for specific instructions on your flight.
What is the airport procedure for an unaccompanied minor on XiamenAir?+
At the airport, the sending adult must go to the check-in counter with the child, the completed forms, and their ID. You will be told where to wait until the flight departs. The receiving adult must show matching ID to collect the child.
Can the unaccompanied minor service support a child with special needs?+
Children must be able to follow instructions and manage their own basic needs. Any special medical, mobility, or communication needs require separate, advance approval from the airline.
Can an infant travel alone on XiamenAir?+
No, infants under 5 years old are not permitted to travel alone. They must be accompanied by an adult on the same flight.
What happens if my child's XiamenAir flight is delayed or canceled?+
If there is a disruption, both the sending and receiving adults must remain reachable. The airline must re-validate the child's travel arrangement before you accept any new flight.