Cheapest Airline for Unaccompanied Minors

Southwest lets 5–11-year-olds fly alone on domestic flights. The cost is $50 each trip.

Youths 12 and older may utilize Young Travelers for free. However, parents cannot accompany youngsters to the gate.

Unaccompanied minors may only travel nonstop or directly in the U.S. Parents/guardians must present I.D. at dropoff and pickup. Southwest allows unaccompanied children to order tickets online, at the counter, or by calling 1-888-649-0391.

Here is the guide on how to book a Cheapest Airline for Unaccompanied Minors online or offline: 

You must provide the child's name, gender, and date of birth. You will also be required to provide the following information about the person dropping off the child, the person picking up the child at their destination, and an alternate person available at the destination:

• Name 
• Relationship to the child
• Address
• Phone numbers (including area code)

The paperwork must be fully complete for the child to travel. You may also need to provide proof of the child's age. 

Rules & Restrictions for Unaccompanied Minors

The first step in having a good journey overseas is to familiarize oneself with the policies of the relevant governments, airlines, and airports. That is especially true for a child travelling without a parent or guardian. Your Child Needs a Passport.

The acquisition of a passport is the first step. A valid United States Passport is required for travel to any destination outside the United States by any citizen of the United States. It makes no difference whatsoever how old the traveller is.

Getting a passport for a minor is similar to getting a new ticket for an adult. That said, some additional steps must be followed if the person needing access is under 16. Most of these involve establishing one's entitlement to parental and guardian responsibilities.

For further information on this subject, please refer to our Passports for Minors FAQ, which addresses some of the most frequent issues we have been asked over the last twenty years.

Your Child Needs Additional Travel Documents

In addition to a passport, it is essential to have a travel consent document for minors that has been notarized. By providing the airline and customs authorities with this document, you will guarantee they will have access to crucial information on your kid travelling without you.

It authorizes:

• the child's legal name,
• the child's legal parent(s) and/or guardian(s), 
• The child's overseas residence and contact information for the child's parent(s) and guardian(s). 
• The child's legal name, the child's legal parent(s) and guardian(s), and overseas residence.
• Details on staying in contact with the child and whoever is caring for them while their parents are abroad.

This document might be the key to keeping your kid safe if there is any mistake or a disaster with their travel plan. It provides the workers of the airline and the customs authorities with the information they need to deliver the youngster to the person they are meant to be with and to the correct location.

Age Restrictions for Minors Travelling Unaccompanied

The U.S. Department of Transportation has guidelines for unaccompanied minors flying on planes. Airlines can interpret them as they wish, but most follow them closely.

Some of the critical guidelines include:

• Children younger than five years old can't travel solo.
• Children ages 5 through 7 can travel solo, but only on nonstop and through flights. That may not be allowed by all airlines.
• Children ages 8 through 11 can travel solo on any flight with a flight assistant. In some cases, minors in this age group may be limited from certain flights that involve connections.

Again, these policies may be stricter depending on the personal airline approach. Some airlines prohibit this outright. Others enhance this age limit to 14 years of age.

Children aged 12 through 17 may be subject to the same or fewer restrictions as those of the 8 to 11 age group. Most airlines will only give unaccompanied minor accommodations for this age group upon request for domestic flights. However, international travellers under 18 usually must pay an unaccompanied little fee.

Cheapest Airline for Unaccompanied Minors Age Limits

When a kid reaches their fifth birthday, the best airlines in the United States will allow them to fly without an adult present. If a child travels alone between the ages of 5 and 11, they must follow specific "unaccompanied minor" protocols. These processes must be followed by unaccompanied minors as young as 14 years old on certain airlines.

Cheapest Airline For Unaccompanied Minors Policies

Several airlines allow children to travel alone; however, the age criteria and route requirements vary from one airline to the next. Ensure you do your homework to protect your youngster's safety when they can fly in a specific way, whether there's an added fee, the age requirements, etc. Here's some info on some of the major US airlines:

What is an Unaccompanied Minor?

When a child becomes five years old, their parents can pay a fee to register their child as an unaccompanied minor with numerous airlines. That allows the youngster to travel without an accompanying adult. In exchange for this charge, the airline will offer the youngster supplemental monitoring, help boarding and deboarding the aircraft, escorting through any connections, and service if there are irregular operations.

A parent or defender will do the inside work and acquire the boarding pass at the check-in counter, obtain a gate pass, lead the kid through security, and then wait at the child's gate until their aircraft is in the air. This procedure takes place in an airport. On the other end, when the passenger gets to their destination, a chosen adult will go through a process similar to the one they went through before and wait at the gate until the aircraft arrives.

Cheapest Airline for Unaccompanied Minor

Southwest Airlines is the cheapest airline for minor travelling. This airline lets 5–11-year-olds fly alone on domestic flights. The cost is $50 each trip. Youths 12 and older may utilize Young Travelers for free. However, parents cannot accompany youngsters to the gate.

Unaccompanied minors may only travel nonstop or directly in the U.S. Parents/guardians must present I.D. at dropoff and pickup. Southwest allows unaccompanied minors to order tickets online, at the counter, or by calling 1-888-649-0391 or 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792).

Conclusion

Sending your child to travel as an unaccompanied minor is an exciting adventure. Still, it's always essential to ensure your child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of a solo trip.

If you think your child is up for the challenge, this post is for you. Each airline has different age limits, restrictions, and fees, so it's always best to check the airline's most current policies before booking your child's travel. While at it, remember to sign your child up for the airline's frequent flyer program. It's always early enough to get a head start on earning miles and points!

Also Read: Frontier Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy