Kids Fly Solo, Airline Escort Fees And Tips For Unaccompanied Minors

Do you have kids that want to fly on their own, but you are not sure how to book them? We have some details and the fees right here to help make the process easier!

Airlines have different rules when it comes to kids flying solo and each carrier has its own stipulations, as well as rules imposed by customs, and government agencies.

Our number one tip is to check the ‘unaccompanied minor’ fees before you book because they vary by airline and can cost more than the airline ticket itself on some routes.

Alaska Airlines currently has the cheapest fees, with charges of $25 for a nonstop or direct flight and $50 for a connecting flight, AirTran charges $49 for nonstop or direct flights and $69 for connecting, Southwest charges $50, Frontier charges $50 for nonstop or direct and $100 for connecting, Virgin America charges $75 for short haul (under 2 hours) and $100 for long haul flights, United charges $99 and American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and US Airways charge $100.

These fees are one-way, so you could pay up to $200 in unaccompanied minor fees for a roundtrip flight. The fees listed above are for domestic flights and fees for international flights can be higher. If you are sending more than one child as an unaccompanied minor, many airlines will only charge one fee, as long as the children are on the same itinerary.

If you’ve got a younger child traveling with an older child who is 12 or older, you may be able to avoid the unaccompanied minor fee if you are comfortable with your 12-18 year old being responsible for the younger child. The minimum companion age requirement varies by airline, for example on Southwest and AirTran it is 12, on Frontier it is 15, on American it is 16 and on Alaska, Delta and United it is 18.

If you are flying a 12-14 year old from Dallas to Atlanta, and you are comfortable sending your child without an airline escort, you can avoid the fee on American. You would be dollar foolish to choose Delta because you would be required to use the service and pay $200 roundtrip. If you have kids under 12, the rates can vary greatly and on flights from Dallas to Houston I would choose Southwest and pay $100 roundtrip, versus $198 on United or $200 on American.

On most airlines, kids ages five to seven can only fly on nonstop flights or on direct flights that do not require a change of planes. Some airlines only allow unaccompanied minors on nonstop flights, no matter what the age. When you are shopping for flights, I would choose a nonstop flight or a direct flight over one that makes a stop with a change of planes, even if it costs a little more. That way you don’t have to worry about delays or cancellations that might occur during a layover.

I have heard some horror stories about kids getting on the wrong plane. If there is bad weather, mechanical delays, etc., your child could have to stay overnight, alone in a different city. Most airlines will not allow unaccompanied minors on the last flight of the day if it is not a nonstop flight and many won’t allow children to fly solo from 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. I would choose morning flights anyway, because you’ll have more options if the flight gets cancelled.

You may be required to purchase your child’s ticket through the airline phone reservations, or through a travel agent, so check before you make any ticket purchases. When you book the ticket, be sure to request a seat assignment. Sometimes if you are nice, the airline may assign a seat in the front of the plane that is usually reserved for elite flyers.

On international flights, some airlines allow kids ages five to seven to fly on flights that require a connection, so check with the airlines. If your child is traveling internationally, you will need to check with government officials because passports, notarized shot records and temporary visas may be required.

When children fly as unaccompanied minors, you will get a pass at the ticket counter that will allow you to pass through security and wait at the gate with your child and the person picking up the child will also get a security pass at the ticket counter at the destination airport so he/she can wait for the child at the gate.

Many airlines require that you wait at the gate until the flight takes off, but I advise people to wait a little longer in case the plane can’t take off and has to return to the gate. It’s also a good idea to arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time for paperwork and getting through security. The person dropping off the child will need to have a government issued I.D. and so will the person picking up the child and you’ll need to provide the name address and phone number for the person picking up your child.

Make sure you send your child with a prepaid credit card. If they have a lengthy layover or a delay, they can purchase food or beverages at the airport. During busy times, like summer and winter break, airlines often use interns for jobs like escorts and interns usually don’t have a lot of cash to spare. Also, if kids want to make purchases on the plane, I can’t think of any airline that isn’t cashless, so they’ll need a card to buy a snack or meal. You’ll also want to keep carry-on luggage to a minimum and make sure your child has snacks and some of their favorite entertainment with them such as toys, books, iPod, DVD player or a handheld game console to help keep the child occupied during the flight.

Most airlines will have the child wear a button or a lanyard around their neck so they can be easily identified by airport personnel and staff. Prior to take off you will be required to provide the following information:

1. Child's name, age and flight itinerary.
2. The name, telephone number and home address of the person bringing the child to the airport.  Give them as many phone numbers as you have, including your cell, home and work, in case there is a weather delay or flight cancellation, the adult will be able to be reached to come back to the airport to pick the child up.
3. The name and phone numbers of the person or persons meeting the child at the final destination airport.
4. Be sure to give everyone back up numbers, including the child, so they will be able to call home if an emergency arises. 

Below is a chart listing the current fees associated with unaccompanied minors. All fees are listed one-way, so remember if your child is flying roundtrip, and will be unaccompanied the entire trip, you will need to double these prices.

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