Our son Joaquin looks up at the departures board on a recent flight. Photo by Barb DeLollis.
Travel Weekly reports that American Airlines is about to extend the age at which parents can stop paying an unaccompanied minor fee.
American Airlines’ $150 unaccompanied minor fee each way ($300, round trip) will now apply to kids aged 5 to 14 years old, instead of 5 to 11 years old, the story says. The new policy will begin on Sept. 3. The airlines’ website page that describes the fee has not yet been updated to reflect the pending change.
The new policy will match US Airways policy. If a parent bought a ticket prior to Sept. 3 for a child, Travel Weekly says kids ages 12 to 14 will receive the service at no extra cost.
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United Airlines also charges a fee of $150 for unaccompanied minors; other airlines charge less. Fees at other airlines, according to a review of other airline websites:
- Delta charges $100 each way for an unaccompanied minors ages 5 to 14
- JetBlue charges $100 each way for passengers ages 5 to 13
- United charges $150 each way for kids ages 5 to 11
- Frontier charges a $100 each way fee for kids aged 5 to 14
- Spirit Airlines charges $100 each way for kids aged 5 to 14
- Virgin America charges between $75 and $125, depending on destination for kids aged 5 to 14
- Southwest charges $50 each way for passengers ages 5 to 11
Some airlines, such as Delta, Virgin America and Frontier, let parents buy the service for children up to 17 years of age.
Readers: Parents, any comments on this policy change?
