airlines and children

[spiceycat]

my niece is 13 and so is her friend - the internet sites that I have been too - expediate, travelocity, delta, southwest - all say she can't fly without an adult.

is this a new policy?

 

[monarchsfan16]

It must be new, because my 12 year old sister flew with just me on Southwest last August. And I was 16 at the time. Definitely not an adult. As of last summer at least, I think that the regulation for Southwest was under 11 had to do the whole "unaccompanied minor" thing. Meaning they have certain documents, they are met at the gate by a parent or whoever is in charge, etc. Other airlines had different ages but it was a similar policy.
I did just check the Southwest Airlines site though, and they don't say that a 13 year old can't fly without an adult. Here is a link for children flying . This is just SWA, but it's something to look at at least.

 

[dcgrumpy]

this is from Delta's site http://www.delta.com/travel/special_services/services_for_children/child_traveling_alone/index.jsp

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

On most airlines children can fly alone from age 5 onward.
There are restrictions. Best to check with the airline on the phone for the restrictions and the regulations.

 

[megan2346]

I was looking this up because my 7 year old niece was going to fly to see us. You have to book flight directly throught airline for children traveling alone. Expedia, Travelocity, and etc will not let you book. I think Southwest makes you call them directly.
Megan

 

[Chicago526]

Children 5 to 14 can travel alone, but you have to pay an un-accompanied child fee, to cover the cost of an airline employee escorting your child on and off the plane, and between gates if it's a connecting flight. Fees vary by airline but can really start to add up, especially on connecting flights. Due to all the extra stuff the airline needs, you must contact the airline to book, you can't (I don't think) do it on a web site. You can research and find the lowest fares and schedule info on the web, then call the airline to get their child policies, fees, and to book the tickets.

 

[spiceycat]

thanks everyone!!! very helpfully!!!

 

[mobetsy]

SWA doesn't charge an unaccompanied minor fee; my 9 y.o. ds flew alone last winter and I've just booked him again this summer. I don't think Jet Blue charges either. Some others do, and if can be very high; I think it's Alaska that charges $40 per flight segment!

On most airlines, at somewhere between 12 and 14 kids cease to be unaccompanied minors and are basically on their own. Seems like I've seen 5 or 6 as the minimum age on virtually every airline I've looked at. I booked on-line to take advantage of the good on-line fares and then called afterward.

It's quite straightforward; I simply had to bring ds's birth certificate (which they didn't look at...maybe if the child doesn't look old enough?) and info about his granddad who was meeting him at the other end, including 2 contact phone #'s. Filled out a short form, he was given a document pouch to go around his neck, and I was allowed to walk him to the gate. It varies, but I think around 10 or 11, SWA stops letting parents go through security and to the gate. At the other end, granddad had to provide positive ID.