Travelling with children

Here is what you need to know about travelling with children by airplane.  

Airplane ticket fares & seating options vary according to the child’s age. When stating your child’s age at the booking stage, make sure you explore all the information available at your airline’s website about all the rules & requirements applying to travelling with children. Check the baggage allowance, the limits for the number of babies/children traveling per adult, the stroller / baby seat/ car seat transportation requirements etc. 

You can also find relevant information here.

An official document determining their identity is required for every person travelling, including children. The type of document depends on the child’s nationality & destination.  You may contact the embassy /consulate of the destination country or your airline to find out whether a child passport or ID card is required for your trip. Make your enquiry early enough in order to have sufficient time to issue any required documents you don’t have.

The unaccompanied minors service is a paid service offered by many airlines for minors traveling alone from the age between 4 & 12. This service must be reserved with the airline when you book your ticket. However, it is not offered by all airlines. The age range of the service & the number of unaccompanied minors accepted per flight may vary from one airline to another.

Additionally to the child’s ID or passport, if your child is traveling with relatives or friends, remember that a documented permission from both parents or legal guardians is required. That also applies when only one of two parents/ legal guardians is traveling. 

Please check with the embassy of your destination country early enough whether the signatures on the consent form need to be notarized.  

You can find information provided by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs here: 

Travel documents for minors (www.gov.gr) 

EU Rules for minors traveling can be found here: 

Documents for minors travelling in the EU. Rules and authorisations needed - Your Europe (europa.eu) 

For security reasons strict procedures & thorough identity checks apply to unaccompanied minors. Young passengers travelling on their own must be presented by their parent, legal guardian or authorized adult, to the airline’s ground personnel, who is responsible to take care and safely deliver the child to the airline’s cabin crew. The parent or legal guarding must remain at the airport until the flight is airborne. 

Upon arrival, the child is escorted by the airline staff to the parent or legal guardian waiting at the Arrivals Level. The necessary documentation returning responsibility to the parent or legal guardian is completed. The parent/legal guardian is then escorted to the Baggage Reclaim Area to retrieve the child’s luggage. 

Please check with your airline directly how late into your pregnancy you are allowed to fly. Ask if you need a doctor's certificate to be allowed to fly.  

If necessary, you can also request the assistance service for persons with reduced mobility. 

The metal detector at the security control is not hazardous to pregnant women or their unborn babies.

You may find baby rooms for feeding babies and changing diapers at both public and passenger areas. Specifically, at the Departures All Users’ Area, opposite WHSmith & at the Arrivals Passengers’ Area, Intra & Extra Schengen baggage reclaim hall. Additionally, there are baby changers in various toilets throughout the terminals, which are indicated by the baby care symbol.

Aiming to meet family needs, there are also specially outfitted bathrooms at various locations (both at public and passenger areas) throughout the terminals where parents of either gender may enter when escorting their children. Look for the facilities with the respective signage.