Unaccompanied Minors question

[mom2boys]

There is a possibility that our boys might be taking an airplane trip without us this summer. They will be 13 and 12 at the time. Both are seasoned travelers It would be a direct flight & my brother will meet them upon arrival. Will I have to pay two separate "unaccompanied minor" charges? Is one airline any better than another for such travelers?

 

[87Heel]

Every airline has a different policy. My DD13 can fly without the UM fee on Southwest and Airtran (and could last year when she was 12). She can also count as the "adult" for her sister, who is 8. But on USAirways, she's still a minor and we would have to pay the fee. Some airlines allow one fee to cover multiple kids; others require a fee for each. I've only had to use those three for my kids when they flew, so I don't know other policies. I've found the info with a lot of digging on the airline websites. There are also policies about direct and connecting flights to consider (but that doesn't apply in your situation).

 

[missypie]

AA doesn't want them. They charge a steep fee, and I think the age is 14.

Two years ago my DDs, then 12 and 9, flew on Southwest. Neither was considered an unaccompanied minor-DD12 was old enough, and since she was old enough, she was considered to be "in charge" of DD9.

 

[funhouse8]

My Neices now 23 were flying in to see us from Ca. when they were much and my sister wasn't sure if she should pay for both or just one. Well she decided that she should pay for both. Well it was a good thing she did because the flight kept having problems and instead of a direct flight they landed 3 times. It took them 14 hours to get here. Everytime they landed the plane they brought the unaccompanied minors to a holding room till the next plane was ready. It was a good thing that she paid for both so this way they kept them together. Hopefully this won't happen to your kids but just a thought. Maybe a call to the airline what their policy is. This being said our kids have traveled back & forth for years and this was the only time we had a problem. Good luck.

 

[bevtoy]

My neice is a minor and her parents pay the airline 75 dollars extra for a adult employee who walks her to connecting flights and to game rooms where they give her pizza and stuff at lay overs.......... its a pretty good deal. Just need a adult to dtrop her off and pick her up at the gate.

 

[Freyja]

DS 12 will be flying on his own to Denmark in April. He will be flying completely on his own. Not as an UM. It is a direct flight and he has flown this route a billion times so I think he´ll be fine.

I know that with Icelandair you have to pay the fee for both kids if they are flying as UM´s.

 

[Jestocost]

As noted, American (as an example) will require that you pay an unaccompanied minor charge of $60 each way unless one of the children is over 15. You do only have to pay one charge for two children traveling together, however.

Also as noted, every airline is different. Most have their policies posted on their Web sites. It's also frequently not possible to book unaccompanied minors through airline Web sites. You must do it through their telephone reservation service.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD has flown on US Air and United without paying the fee and on both it was 12. If it is a direct flight and they have flown before there is no way I would pay the fee to have them walked off the plane because in this case that is all the would do. I wonder if US air changed their' s because I know she was 12 and may have only been 11 on them when she flew on her own.

 

[Amberle3]

I believe the policies were changed relatively recently in light of a few UMs missing their flights.

 

[Freyja]

My DD has flown on US Air and United without paying the fee and on both it was 12. If it is a direct flight and they have flown before there is no way I would pay the fee to have them walked off the plane because in this case that is all the would do. I wonder if US air changed their' s because I know she was 12 and may have only been 11 on them when she flew on her own.

How far can you bring the kids before they take off on their own?

Because here I can only follow them to the check-in counter, after that they´re on their own. Through security, finding the gate and then when they get off the plane they have to go through passport control and find their luggage before they go through customs. All in their own.

 

[Hannathy]

Here you are able to get a pass for 1 parent to go thru security to the gate with the child and sometimes you can get a pass on the other end to go to the gate and meet them. If you can't get a pass to go to the gate on the arriving end you can always meet them right at security and go with them to get their
luggage. Luggage pickup is not thru security and anyone can go there.


I was remembering that my nephew flew from pitts. on his own and we flew in from ORD and we all meet at Cincinnati and then connected together to MCO. He was 13 at the time.

 

[KelNottAt]

I had NO IDEA there are fees for kids travelling without adults. My kids did it once (together) last year. They were 11 and 13. It was SWA. Jeez, I hope my dad didn't have to pay something extra at the gate. Or, maybe the 13yo was considered supervisor to the 11yo.

Learn something new every day.

 

[marianas00]

delta

 

[mom2boys]

I knew I could count on my DIS buddies to give me the 411.

I did a little bit of research on United & American. United wants $100 each way. Over 11 - which both of mine will be - the escort is optional. American charges $60 but requires it for children under 15. Both airlines will only charge one unaccompanied minor fee for both of my children. One required that they be "immediate" family, both required simultanious booking.

I will ahve to do more research IF we decide to do this. I have mixed feelings about it and would definitely be more comfortable if someone was watching out for them.

 

[arminnie]

I believe the policies were changed relatively recently in light of a few UMs missing their flights.

Many years ago I remember my cousin bringing UMs home with him because they had missed their flight. He was a baggage handler and had no direct contact with passengers.

Back then they would just send them home with any employee willing to take them. He and his wife and kids were great people, but honestly I still remember being amazed by the casualness of it all.