The Columbus Dispatch has an article about unaccompanied minors on airplanes that contains the following interesting nugget about Southwest Airlines’ policy:
Southwest escorts children 5 through 11 who are traveling alone, but “once you hit 12, you’re considered a youth and not an unaccompanied minor,” said Teresa Laraba, the airline’s vice president for ground operations.
Unlike most airlines, Southwest is nice enough not to charge for escorting younger kids, but you’re out of luck once your precious little brat turns 12. So what should you do?
Here’s a summery of various policies from different airlines, to help you find a policy you’re comfortable with. There are more specific policies in the article:
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American:
- $75 each way for children 5 to 14 flying domestic and international flights.
- You can opt to have your 15-17 year old treated as a minor if you want to lay down the cash.
- Kids 5-7 have to fly direct, 8-14 can’t transfer to another airline.
Continental:
- $50 each way for kids 5-15 traveling non-stop, $95 for a connecting flight within the U.S. or Mexico. $70 and $95 for international flights.
- No connections for kids 5-7.
Delta:
- $50 each way for children 5 to 15, $100 for connections.
- 5-7 not allowed on connecting flights.
Northwest Airlines:
- $50 each way for children 5 to 14 on nonstop flights and $75 with a connection within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. $60 and $90 for international trips.
Southwest Airlines:
- No fee. 5-11 on non-stop flights only. No connections.
United Airlines:
- $99 fee each way for children 5 to 11.
- Children 5 to 7 are allowed only on nonstop or direct flights.
US Airways:
- $50 each way for children 5 to 14.
- Kids are only allowed on non-stop flights.
Minor passengers, major worries [Columbus Dispatch]
(Photo:Jay Adan)
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They design airports to be easily navigated. Hell, if folks who can’t even read English can traverse them safely, then what’s wrong with your child?
I had the kind of parents who if they had an inkling I’d acted up on a plane they’d whupped my ass up and down the terminal. Today, someone’d be screaming child-abuse and calling the cops on them (good luck with that!).
As a former teacher, my expereince has been that MOST kids are well-behaved when they know you expect good behavior. But if you give kids an inch, they’ll run all over you. your “little angel” is usually a holy terror when you’re not around. If you’ve ever said these words: “That teacher is picking on my child!” then heaven help you when little Paris gets 14.
kids should not be allowed to fly without a parent period up to 17, there are many things that could go wrong, weather plane get diverted to another airport, plane gets stuck, pedofiles. be a damn responsible parent and watch your fucking children just because you did something flew on a plane alone when you were so and so age doesnt make it right.
Some airports are easier to navigate than others, I have seen some pretty bad ones at times (but in general they are pretty good)…
ANY AGE number is too proprietary. There are 18 year olds who shouldn’t be flying by themselves, there are 13 year olds who can travel better than most people ever will. I can say that I was not any better able to fly by myself at 16 than I was 18, and would have missed out on some valuable trips if I couldn’t fly by myself. And do you really expect a parent to spend up to a couple thousand dollars to fly their son or daughter and then straight back home, only to repeat their process when they return? The ridiculousness of that thought is incredible. Could bad things happen? Sure. What is the probability? Pretty low, especially when they are just traveling on a direct flight between two cities.
in addition to baby sitting my 12 year old I would also like the airlines to polish my shoes and repair my car while I am gone! what do you mean that is not a service they provide!? Im calling the consumerist…they will take care of it.
the parent is either made for 1 of 2 reasons.
1. they are afraid their kid will get lost/sidetracked/distracted and miss their flight, if that is the case, then teach them not to. The staff only walk you to the gate anyway and you can wonder off, only then the parent can bitch and the person who was watching them.
or
2. they are worried about their kids safety and think they might get kidnapped. If this is the case then you shouldn’t trust a stranger to watch them.
either way, don’t bitch at the airlines.
@scampy: I most sincerely hope that this is, in fact, how you are raising your children, so that when they turn 18 and go away to college (or, God forbid, 22 and you finally let them leave home after FINISHING college), you can enjoy the spectacle of newfound freedom going to completely to their head that they drink themselves into alcohol poisoning.
Good parents help their children into independence. Bad parents, like you apparently are or would be, overprotect them into either incompetence or rebellion. Good luck with that.
nothing, but at least then they can be charged as an adult for any crimes they commit…at 18 they should be an adult
@bluebuilder:
@North Antara: only if they are 25 years old
Man I was so relieved when I turned 12 and didn’t have to fly with an escort!