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Can a 13-year-old US citizen travel alone to Thailand?

Unaccompanied Minors Traveling to Thailand Visa Requirements Airline Policies International Travel Child Travel Policy

Mar 2, 2025

7 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello, 

Does anyone know offhand if a 13 yr old can enter Thailand unaccompanied? He is a US citizen flying from NYC. I can get the flight from AA, and I presume they will help with immigration, but if anyone knows anything or has some recent experience with this.

Many thanks,

Ali

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A 13-year-old US citizen can travel unaccompanied to Thailand. Airlines provide services for unaccompanied minors, including escorting them through the airport and assisting them with immigration. It is advised to book direct flights from JFK to BKK, as this simplifies the process. While most airlines have unaccompanied minor services for children, some may charge extra for teens over 12. Booking through major airlines like JAL can help navigate these policies effectively.

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Radost **************************

The problem is that this is only for kids until 12 years old after this age many airlines don't offer or you have to pay extra for the service, I know Emirates offered it for free bc my kids were flying 10 times with them as teenagers

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Ali ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you everyone for the very helpful comments and suggestions. You helped me figure out that he needs to be on one airlines from JFK to BKK and that the best carrier is JAL for this as a person is considered an adult at 12 yrs old which eliminates the red tape. So that ticket is bought. Next is to get him the DTV which he qualifies automatically for through mine. Thanks again

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Dca *****

Yes, airlines offer additional services for Unaccompanied Minors and no issues with Entry into Thailand.

Personally, I would choose an airline that has a direct from New York (JFK), connecting somewhere only once, then direct into Bangkok (BKK). Some airlines that come to mind are: ANA at HND, Asiana at ICN, EVA at TPE, Korean at ICN, China Airlines (CI) at TPE, Japan at HND, Emirates at DXB, Qatar at DOH, Turkish at IST, Etihad at AUH ....

All these major airlines have Unaccompanied Minor Service, but contact them for cost....

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Jennifer ****

Yes. Unaccompanied minors will have an airline escort for the entire duration of their journey. Helping with immigration and finding gates and boarding. They are not just left alone. When you book the ticket you can state this and call the airline to confirm. Staff should meet the child at check in and they will be literally tagged with a neck ID card and helped the entire way until a parent or guardian signs off for them on the final destination.

(Journey must be on 1 ticket of course, buy direct and not from a site like kiwi)

Google Unaccompanied Minors on the AA website and there should be a whole section on children traveling alone.

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Wayne ********

There are no direct flights from US to Thailand

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Jennifer ****

I didn’t say there was. I said buy direct meaning from the airlines website, not a website like Kiwi that doesn’t guarantee connections and often paste together two separate tickets that you might have to check in for separately. Hence saying the journey has to be on 1 ticket. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.

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Jennifer ****

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Wayne *********

In Australia airlines charge for this service to escort minors

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Jennifer ****

@Wayne ********

probably all airlines do. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s a big responsibility that they take seriously with many people helping.

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Jennifer ****

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Jack ********

AA doesn’t even fly to Thailand

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Wayne ********

They partner with JAL

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Jennifer ****

the original post said they were getting it from AA. I assume with a co share partner…

Not my ticket. Just answering their question.

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Jennifer ****

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Chang ******

good answer 👌

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Chang ******

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Braulio *********

Why would the airline help with immigration? The carrier will check documents at check in on departure and upon arrival at BKK, passengers deplane and make their way to the passport control both. Then the immigration officer decides to admit or deny entry

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Jennifer ****

@Braulio ********

no child passes immigration on their own. Kids “flying alone” are accompanied the entire way. They are the first/last to enter/exit the plane and do so with an appointed airline staff member who does everything with them from waiting outside the bathroom to security checks to immigration to baggage and stays with them during layovers or they are sent to a holding area and then taken to their gate for the next flight.

The only thing they actually do alone is FLY, and the air staff know who they are and take over in flight. Upon landing they are handed off to the next appointed airline ground staff who gets them safely to their next flight or through immigration, collecting bags to their waiting guardian.

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Wayne ********

@Braulio ********

Because that is the service they provide to unaccompanied minors.

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Wayne ********

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Tony **********

I'd be more concerned about the connection given there are no direct flights from the USA.

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จอนห์ *******

@Tony *********

children are assisted during the process of connections.

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จอนห์ *******

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Farang *********

My daughter at 12 travelled to Thailand by herself in around 2007. No issues that I remember.

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Farang *********

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