Things to Know about Booking Tickets for Unaccompanied Minors
For those who are allowing their children to fly alone as an unaccompanied minor, should ensure that they take all necessary measures to be sure of their children's safety. There are few airlines that now offer unaccompanied minor services to children from 5-14 years of age and flying alone. Such service is mandatory to take, and the children are escorted to the flight and further to the responsible adult named by the parent or guardian prior to departure. One should be sure to read each airline's policies carefully before booking.
What exactly constitutes an unaccompanied minor?
An unaccompanied minor is a child between the ages of 5 and 14 who travel without a parent or a guardian.
Do minors need ID to fly alone?
An unaccompanied minor does not typically need to show ID, however, adults accompanying the minor through the airport do need to bring their own IDs to complete the process.
What does an unaccompanied minor booking entail?
To send an unaccompanied minor by plane, parents need to do the unaccompanied minor booking. To do the booking, parents need to fill a form detailing the child's name, age, and other relevant information. Unaccompanied minor fee is applied on such bookings. After filling the details and paying the fees, one parent or guardian will receive a special pass that will allow him/her to get through the security checkpoint. After the check-point, the child is escorted by the airline staff.
Do I need to make a special booking? My child is mature and can navigate the airport on their own.
If the child is from 5 to 14 years of age and traveling alone, he/she has to book unaccompanied minor service. Children from 14 to 17 years of age can also apply for unaccompanied minor service but for them, the service is optional not mandatory.
Can a 6-year-old fly alone?
Yes, a 6-year-old can fly alone by taking unaccompanied minor service
What are the popular airlines policies for Unaccompanied Minors?
Some of the major airlines offering UNMR service are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines. These airlines offer this service to children who are from 5-14 years of age and are traveling alone. It is a paid service for which parent or guardian needs to fill a form requesting for the same. Most of these airlines do not allow unaccompanied minors to travel on connecting flights. However, the rules may differ depending on the airline; for example, Spirit Airlines allows unaccompanied minors to travel only on domestic direct flights. In many airlines, UNMR service request can also be made for unaccompanied children from 14-17 years of age.
How much is an unaccompanied minor fee?
Airlines charge anywhere from $50 to $150 each way as the unaccompanied minor fee. The exact amount depends on the airline, the age of the child, and whether the flight involves connections. Few airlines charge fees per child, while few will allow multiple children to travel together under a single fee.
How to Book Flight for a Minor on CheapOair
You can call 1-888-315-5760 to speak with a customer service representative and make an unaccompanied minor booking.
