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What Are the Fees for Children Flying Alone on the Airlines?

Whether your youngster is traveling by himself on a plane to see a relative or your teenager is going with his friends to Europe for the first time, flying solo can be an exciting opportunity for your child. But it may not be so exciting for you. Added to the worry about your child's safety are the fees that come with this option. Children who travel alone are known as unaccompanied minors; this requires an airline staff member to oversee them throughout the flight.

Process
- You will need to register your child with the airline's "unaccompanied minors" program and pay a fee for the service at the time of registration or at the time of check-in. Most airlines will not allow you to book this type of ticket online. You will need to book this service directly through the airline's phone reservation system or through a travel agent. You will also need to complete paperwork about your child. Information will include names, addresses and contact information for adults who will be dropping off and picking up your child. It may also include relevant medical information about your child. Your child will need to keep this form with her throughout the flight. The airline might "tag" your child in some way, such as with a wristband.
Age Policies
- Airlines differ in where they make age-range cut-offs for the unaccompanied minor service. In general, airlines will not accept children under five without an adult. For some airlines, the service is mandatory for children ages five to 11 and optional for children 12 to 17 years old. Other airlines do not make a distinction and require you to pay the fee for any child between the age of five and 14, 15 or 16. For example, JetBlue considers children five to 14 to be unaccompanied minors.
Travel Rules
- To complicate matters, airlines make rules about what types of flights children can take given their age. For example, on Delta or United, children between the ages of five and seven can only take nonstop, direct flights. Older children are allowed to take connecting flights and no child is allowed to take the last flight of the day. Additionally, airlines have specific rules about international travel and countries impose their own rules on unaccompanied minors leaving the country.
Service Fees
- Fees range from about $50 to $100 for each way, with most charging closer to $100. At $50 for each way, Southwest offers the best rate as of March 2011. These rates are imposed in addition to the regular ticket you will need to buy for your child. However, some airlines, such as American, Delta and United charge a single fee for two or more children from the same family traveling together. These fees do not include snacks or entertainment.