If a child is between 12 and 18 and wants to buy an airline ticket for travel inside the U.S., there's often really nothing stopping her. Even after the 2010 incident when a 15-year-old bought tickets on Southwest Airlines for herself, her 11-year-old brother and her 13-year-old friend without their parents' knowledge, Southwest Airlines representatives said they would not change their policy allowing minors to purchase tickets.
Every airline has its own rules about minors and whether they can fly alone. Some airlines allow minors to fly alone at age 12; on other airlines it's age 15. Minors only need the cash to pay for a ticket at an airport ticket counter or a credit or debit card if booking online. With a passport, a child can even travel across international borders. If you're a parent who's concerned about your child purchasing a ticket, the U.S. Department of Transportation suggests paying special attention to your child's activities and canceling any credit cards to which he may have access.
