The big fees some of the largest airlines now charge to
fly unaccompanied minors are just one of many things that have changed in the airline world since I was a kid flying solo in the»80s, but there are ways around them.
One of these involves some rewards credit cards, which include annual travel credits that could cover the expense of
flying an unaccompanied minor.
With JetBlue, when you call to say that a child will be
flying unaccompanied, you will be asked to supply the following information for both the person dropping off and picking up the child: name and address (as it appears on government - issued ID) and phone number.
Not exact matches
Especially considering that, across the board, airlines will not allow children under the age of five to
fly as
unaccompanied minors — which is what I think a child should be considered if they are not under the immediate and direct supervision of their parent or guardian while on the flight.
Almost across the board, the minimum age for an
unaccompanied minor to
fly on a plane is five.
There are no Department of Transportation regulations concerning travel by these «
unaccompanied minors,» but the airlines have specific procedures to protect the well - being of youngsters
flying by themselves.
Unless you can find a flight in which your
unaccompanied minor tops out of the age bracket, you'll most likely wind up paying some fees to
fly your kid (s) solo.
An added benefit of
flying your child on an alternative airline: You might spare your teen the humiliation of what my best friend's teenager refers to as «
unaccompanied airline jail.»