As a parent, I would say that it can be scary when your child flies miles above the ground without an adult, but it`s also one of those situations where the more you – and your child – know, the less intimidating it becomes. Here`s what you need to know before using an airline`s Unaccompanied Minor service. Ultimately, it`s up to parents to decide what their child can handle, even though airlines have rules that allow flights and connections beyond those limits. Children under the age of 18 may need consent to travel abroad without both parents. The Embassy or Consulate of Brazil must issue, legalize or legalize this travel authorization. Delta Airlines` Unaccompanied Minor program offers features such as a traceable wristband and a children`s lounge in select cities. This service charges a fee of $150 per trip and is valid for U.S. and international travel on nonstop and connecting flights in addition to the adult ticket. This fee applies to a maximum of four children. This is a mandatory service for children between 5 and 14 years old and optional for children between 15 and 17 years old.

Some countries impose additional restrictions on children travelling with legal guardians or as unaccompanied minors. Note: Children between the ages of 2 and 14 may travel as an “accompanied minor” with a person 16 years of age or older. Airlines generally consider children between the ages of 5 and 14 travelling without parents or guardians to be “unaccompanied minors.” Click on the link below to find your airline`s policy for children travelling alone. Children 12 years of age and older may travel alone on Hawaiian Airlines, while children between the ages of 5 and 11 must travel with someone at least 15 years of age traveling on the same flight. Hawaiian Airlines does not allow children under the age of 12 to travel alone on international flights. but allows people 12 years of age or older to travel alone with the appropriate documents. Hawaiian Airlines` comprehensive policy for unaccompanied minors also includes the additional fare structure. Never wait until you arrive at the airport to inform the airline that you have a minor travelling unaccompanied. Always give this information to customer service by phone and inquire about all your options, fees, etc. Familiarize your child with their itinerary and make sure all travel documents are kept in a safe place, especially if they are needed for a return flight.

Airline rules vary, but here`s a good idea of what to expect. Note that the age listed below reflects your child`s age on the day of travel, not at the time of booking. Try to buy your child a non-stop ticket to minimize the risk of travel, even if they are old enough to connect. If a transfer is necessary, try using a smaller, less intimidating airport for the transfer. However, some airlines restrict the connecting cities allowed for children travelling alone. FamilyVacationist.com covers family vacation ideas; destinations for families; all-inclusive resorts; and essential travel accessories for families of all shapes, sizes and orientations. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Whether your child has travelled alone or is travelling for the first time, we encourage you to talk to them about the trip and what to expect. Reassure them that our team is here to protect them. The minimum age for children to travel alone, as adults pay adult fares, varies: children must be 12 years old to travel alone on domestic flights from Hawaiian, Southwest, Air Canada and WestJet; 13 years in Alaska; 14 years to fly JetBlue as an adult; and 15 years on Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit and United. Just because a 5-year-old is allowed to fly alone doesn`t mean your 5-year-old can fly alone, especially if your child hasn`t flown yet.

Parents should use common sense and make a decision based on their own child`s maturity level. Southwest Airlines does not have an unaccompanied minor program for international flights, but allows children ages 5 to 11 to travel alone without accompanying passengers 12 years of age or older. They charge a fee of $50 per trip. American Airlines requires all children between the ages of 5 and 14 traveling alone to use its Unaccompanied Minor service, but is optional for children ages 15 to 17. There is a $150 fee for this service in addition to the ticket price, but includes siblings on the same flight. In many families, parents or grandparents sometimes have to send children from one family group to another, resulting in situations where children fly alone. However, airline standards on the minimum age of travel for unaccompanied minors vary, and guidelines for unaccompanied minors on flights are an area where major U.S. airlines don`t work together. Of the 12 major North American airlines, only Allegiant and Frontier do not allow unaccompanied minors to fly.

Many airlines also offer an unaccompanied minor service for children who are a few years above the adult minimum age, which may be suitable for nervous families when teenagers are traveling alone. Italian citizens under the age of 14 travelling abroad must have their individual passport and the Dichiarazione di Accompagno (Declaration of temporary guardianship to travel abroad). The document must include: Arrive at least 2 hours before your child`s scheduled flight departure time and speak at a counter. Unaccompanied minors cannot check in online or at the kiosk. We want your child to have a safe and positive trip. For safety reasons, we ask unaccompanied minors between the ages of 5 and 14 to use our Unaccompanied Minor service. This service is optional for children between the ages of 15 and 17, but fees apply upon request. Spanish authorities require that all Spanish children travelling alone, with only one parent or with a third party have a travel authorization requested by the parents or guardians. This permit must be issued by one of these persons: police, Guardia Civil, notary office or town hall. Parents of responsible tweens and young teens would do well to compare flights and airlines, as the minimum age for children to travel unaccompanied is so far.

With an unaccompanied minor fee of $150 each way, it may be cheaper for a family member to purchase a round-trip ticket to accompany the children on a short trip. If your child is travelling unaccompanied or with only one parent, you will need: Jet Blue has a mandatory program for unaccompanied minors between the ages of 5 and 14. Although children over 14 years old must be booked as adults, additional services may be requested. Jet Blue charges a fee of $150 per person per way for unaccompanied minors. If you allow your child to fly alone as an unaccompanied minor, take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. Millions of children fly alone every year, most without incident. But there are occasional horror stories, like the time JetBlue confused two little boys and sent them to the wrong airports. That`s why it`s important that you and your child are fully prepared for the trip. Read on for important family travel tips for children traveling alone. For more TPG news and travel tips delivered to your inbox every morning, sign up for our free daily newsletter. Sun Country Airlines does not offer service for unaccompanied minors.

Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. For domestic travel, including Puerto Rico, a passenger between the ages of 15 and 17 may travel with up to one child between the ages of 5 and 14 on the same reservation. United`s Unaccompanied Minor Program is mandatory for unaccompanied minors ages 5-14 and is available as an option for children ages 15-17. They only allow unaccompanied minors to travel on direct flights for a service fee of $150 per way for up to two children. Persons under the age of 17 travelling alone on an international flight may be required to present a consent form signed by a parent or responsible adult. There, your child can wait for their connection and play games while being supervised by staff from U.S. business partners. This staff will take your child out of the lounge to buy food and drinks, but they are not allowed to walk outside alone.